Weisenberg Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Environmental Protection Overlay
§ 500-54 Permitted and accessory uses.
Within this Overlay, no building, structure, lot or land shall be used for other than one or more of the permitted or accessory uses listed in said district except for nonconforming uses and nonconforming buildings in § 500-80.
§ 500-55 Height.
No building or structure shall be erected to a height in excess of the maximum allowable height in said Overlay, except as provided for in supplementary regulations § 500-64.
§ 500-56 Types of environmental areas protected and determination of area.
Land with natural steep slopes (15% slope or greater), land in floodplains, or land with high-water table characteristics are included in the Environmental Protection District. The Zoning Map[1] indicates the general location of these environmentally sensitive areas within the Township. Whenever the Zoning Map, County Soil Survey, or a field inspection indicates that the lot for which a building permit is being sought or the lot(s) proposed for subdivision lie(s) wholly or partially in an area of steep slope, floodplain, or high-water table, the Zoning Officer shall require the applicant to provide field data information for each lot which shall be produced and certified by a registered professional engineer or registered surveyor. The Zoning Officer may consult the Township Engineer to review the accuracy of all information submitted. Once the Zoning Officer is satisfied that the information submitted is accurate, he shall use that actual on-site information to review the lot(s) for compliance with the minimum lot requirements.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is on file in the Township offices.
§ 500-57 Regulations for area after determination.
Upon determination that the lot(s) under consideration is/are partially or wholly within the Environmental Protection District, the following regulations, as applicable, shall apply:
A.
Floodplain area.
(1)
The permitted, accessory and special exception uses shall be permitted within the floodplain to the extent that they are not prohibited by other provisions of this chapter and provided that they do not require enclosed structures, fill or storage of materials or equipment, or dumping of any nature.
(2)
Floodplain soils are those classified in Group 13 in the Lehigh County Soil Survey or are subject to flooding as identified on the Flood Insurance Rate Map produced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and accepted by the Township.
B.
Steep slopes area.
(1)
The minimum standards and uses in § 500-59 shall apply where:
(a)
Earthmoving activities or removal of vegetation are proposed for any portion of the lot determined to be a steep slope area; or
(b)
Any portion of a steep slope is to be used to meet Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's standards for on-lot sewage disposal.
(2)
The requirements contained in other sections of this chapter for the use of the district in which the lot lies shall be applied where:
(a)
The lot(s) is/are partially in a steep slope area;
(b)
There are no earthmoving activities or removal of vegetation proposed for the steep slope portion of the lot(s); and
(c)
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's standards for on-lot sewage disposal will be met on other portions of the lot.
(3)
If development is proposed on slopes of 15% or greater, the applicant shall submit a site plan to the Zoning Officer with the following requirements.
(a)
Show detailed slope contours for all areas that are intended to be or that potentially may be disturbed and/or constructed upon;
(b)
Separately identify all areas of 15% to 25%, and all areas of greater than 25% slope using two-foot contour intervals. Isolated areas or pockets of 500 square feet or less in size shall be considered as part of the surrounding slope area;
(c)
Be to scale (such as one inch equals 50 feet);
(d)
Show proposed locations of buildings, driveways and on-lot septic fields and provide evidence that such features will meet applicable Township and Department of Environmental Protection's maximum slope regulations;
(e)
State the maximum slope of proposed driveways; and
(f)
Show the area defined by the required front, side and rear yard setbacks.
(4)
Man-made slopes. This section shall not apply to man-made slopes that the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer were not naturally 15% or greater slope. However, the maximum driveway slope shall still apply to man-made slopes.
C.
Excessive slopes.
(1)
For any earthmoving activities, except driveways (see Chapter 413, Streets and Sidewalks) on slopes of 15% or greater, the applicant shall submit an erosion and sedimentation plan approved by the Lehigh County Conservation District.
(2)
The building site on a lot in a steep slope area shall be on that section of the lot where the natural slope does not exceed 25%. The length and width of the building site shall include the area within the foundation walls and extend 25 feet beyond the foundation walls on all sides.
(3)
No development shall be permitted on slopes of 25% or greater.
D.
High-water table area.
(1)
The minimum standards and uses in § 500-60 shall apply where:
(a)
Structures are proposed for the high-water table portion of the lot; or
(b)
Any portion of a high-water table area is to be used to meet Pennsylvania Department of Protection's standards for on-lot sewage disposal.
(2)
The requirements contained in other sections of this chapter for the use of the district in which the lot lies shall be applied where:
(a)
The lot is partially within a high-water table area;
(b)
There are no structures proposed for the high-water table portion of the lot; and
(c)
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's standards for on-lot sewage disposal will be met on other portions of the lot.
(3)
All public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems located in a high-water table area shall be constructed to prevent infiltration of groundwater into the systems and vice versa.
(4)
High-water table type soils are those tabulated in Group 12 for Building Sites in the Lehigh County Soil Survey as well as any nonfloodplain soil where indications of the water table are found 20 inches or less from the ground surface.
§ 500-58 Floodplain area of the Environmental Protection District.
A.
Permitted uses.
(1)
Normal agricultural operations.
(2)
Animal preserve.
(3)
Forestry.
(4)
Game farm.
(5)
Nursery.
(6)
Park.
(7)
Picnic area.
B.
Accessory uses.
(1)
Accessory use or structure.
(2)
Sign.
C.
Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations.
Minimum Lot Area per Dwelling Units (acre) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Maximum Building Coverage of Lot | Maximum Building Height (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
With any type sewage disposal system: | ||||
All permitted uses | 3 | 210 | 1% | 20 |
D.
Minimum yard requirements.
Front Yard (feet) | Each Side Yard (feet) | Side Yard Abutting Street (feet) | Rear Yard (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
All permitted uses | 50 (or per § 500-71) | 40 | 60 | 60 |
§ 500-59 Steep slope area of the Environmental Protection District.
A.
Permitted uses. Any use permitted in the RC Rural Conservation District.
B.
Accessory uses. Any accessory use permitted in the RC Rural Conservation District.
C.
Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations.
Minimum Lot Area (acre) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Maximum Building Coverage of Lot | Maximum Building Height (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
With any type sewage disposal system: | ||||
All permitted uses | 3 | 210 | 3% | 35 |
D.
Minimum yard requirements.
Front Yard (feet) | Each Side Yard (feet) | Side Yard Abutting Street (feet) | Rear Yard (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Animal buildings and feeding areas | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
All permitted uses | 50 (or per § 500-71) | 40 | 60 | 60 |
§ 500-60 High-water table area of the Environmental Protection District.
A.
Permitted uses.
(1)
Any use permitted in the floodplain area of the Environmental Protection District.
(2)
Any use permitted in the RC Rural Conservation District, but not including businesses and cemeteries.
B.
Accessory uses. Any accessory use permitted in the RC Rural Conservation District.
C.
Lot area, width, building coverage and height regulations.
Minimum Lot Area (acre) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Maximum Building Coverage of Lot | Maximum Building Height (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
With any type sewage disposal system: | ||||
All permitted uses | 3 | 210 | 3% | 35 |
D.
Minimum yard requirements.
Front Yard (feet) | Each Side Yard (feet) | Side Yard Abutting Street (feet) | Rear Yard (feet) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Animal buildings and feeding areas | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
All permitted uses | 50 (or per § 500-71) | 40 | 60 | 60 |
