West Vincent Township
City Zoning Code

To provide for a diversity of lot sizes, building densities and housing choices to accommodate a variety of age and income groups and residential preferences, so that the community's population diversity may be maintained;

To implement adopted Township land use, transportation and community policies, as identified in the Township's Comprehensive Plan;

To implement adopted Township policies to conserve a variety of irreplaceable and environmentally sensitive resource lands as set forth in the West Vincent Township Open Space and Recreation Plan, including provisions for reasonable incentives to create a greenway system for the benefit of present and future residents; and

To provide standards reflecting the varying circumstances and interests of individual landowners and the individual characteristics of their properties.

Tier I subdivisions: relatively low density, providing for rural residential uses with flexible and reduced design standards in instances where a permanent conservation easement is offered to maintain such uses;

Tier II subdivisions: moderate density, providing for rural-suburban residential uses in conventional layouts of standard house lots and streets;

Tier III subdivisions: higher density, providing for residential uses and neighborhood greenway land in flexibly designed layouts with (where appropriate) other improvements serving the community, such as central water systems and community sewage disposal facilities; and

Tier IV subdivisions: greater density, providing for residential uses and a larger percentage of neighborhood greenway land in more flexibly designed layouts with (where appropriate) other improvements serving the community, such as central water systems and community sewage disposal facilities.

Passive agricultural uses and buildings related to the same.

Woodlots, arboreta and other similar silvicultural uses.

Woodland preserve, game preserve, wildlife sanctuary, or other similar conservation use.

Subject to compliance with the provisions of § 390-163, the breeding, raising or boarding of animals (excluding, however, the breeding, raising or boarding of pigs, which is expressly prohibited), provided that the minimum area of the tract on which the use is conducted shall not be less than 10 acres, except as otherwise expressly provided in § 390-163.

Essential services.

Single-family detached homes.

Single-family attached dwellings in Tier III and Tier IV developments, subject to a maximum of four units within any single building and a maximum of 33% of all dwelling units within the development.[1]

Agricultural Village Community in accordance with § 390-172 of this chapter.

Low-intensity recreation use area.

Municipal building or use.

Bed-and-breakfast use on a lot of at least three acres, provided that:

Commercial greenhouses, provided they are situated no less than 100 feet from an adjoining property line or public right-of-way.

Church or similar place of worship, including rectory or parish house.

Boarding stables, excluding commercial hack stables, provided they meet the standards of § 390-163 and the following minimum requirements.

Cemetery, provided that the parcel devoted to this use shall not be less than 20 acres.

Governmental or public utility building or use; not to include business facilities, storage of materials, trucking or repair facilities, the housing of repair crews, private or municipal sanitary landfills.

Medium-intensity recreation use area. Clubs for swimming, golf, horseback riding, tennis, or other racquet sports, provided that:

Life-care community, subject to the provisions of § 390-155 of this chapter.

Bed-and-breakfast use on a lot less than three acres in area, subject to compliance with the requirements of Subsection A(12) of this section and § 390-219.

Educational, medical or religious uses, excluding correctional or penal institutions, but including schools, hospitals, animal hospitals, nursing or convalescent centers, in accordance with the standards contained in § 390-153.

Conversion of one or more farm buildings or structures existing at the effective date of this chapter, located in a cluster, or a close grouping of buildings or structures typically associated with a farm lot, into a single-family detached dwelling or multifamily dwelling, provided that the minimum total lot area for such a use shall be two acres for each dwelling unit so created, including the original single-family dwelling unit, and subject to the provisions of § 390-147.

Customary residential accessory uses. The total impervious coverage of all structures associated with such accessory uses shall not exceed a maximum of 5% of the gross lot area, unless authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception in accordance with § 390-228 of this chapter.

Customary agricultural accessory uses (including the raising, breeding, boarding of pigs, poultry and fowl) subject to compliance with the provisions of § 390-163.

Private, noncommercial greenhouses.

Home occupations, in accordance with the provisions of § 390-152.

Accessory dwelling units subject to the provisions of § 390-144.

Roadside stands for the sale of farm products and in accordance with the provisions of § 390-162.

Private, noncommercial nursery.

Communications antennas mounted on an existing public utility transmission tower, existing building or other existing structure, and communications equipment buildings subject to the provisions of § 390-167 of this chapter.

Community recreation buildings or structures associated with a Tier III or IV residential development.

Ownership. The tract of land may be held in single and separate ownership or in multiple ownership. However, when a tract is held in multiple ownership, it shall be planned as a single entity with common authority and common responsibility.

Site suitability. As evidenced by the existing conditions and site analysis plan, the conceptual preliminary plan, and the detailed final plan, the tract incorporating this design option shall be suitable for such development in terms of environmental conditions, its size, and configuration.

Intersections and access. New intersections with existing public roads shall be minimized. Although two accessways into and out of subdivisions containing more than 15 lots are generally required for safety, proposals for more than two entrances onto public roads shall be discouraged if they would unnecessarily disrupt traffic flow.

Sensitive area disturbance. The proposed design shall strictly minimize disturbance of environmentally sensitive areas, as shown on the existing conditions and site analysis plan. Lands within the one-hundred-year floodplain, or having slopes in excess of 25%, and rock outcroppings constitute such environmentally sensitive areas, where disturbance shall be strictly minimized. Demonstration by the applicant that these features will be protected by the proposed application shall be prerequisite to approval of both the conceptual preliminary plan and the detailed final plan.

Community wastewater systems. In developments that are proposed to be served by community wastewater disposal systems, the selection of wastewater treatment technique shall be based upon the Township's Act 537 sewage facilities plan.

Maximum density: one dwelling unit per 10 acres gross, except as noted below.

Accessory dwelling units. A maximum of one accessory dwelling unit may be granted for any approved house lot in any Tier I residential development, in accordance with Subsection D(7) herein, unless otherwise permitted under § 390-144 of this chapter.

Minimum required greenway land: 80% of total tract area.

Minimum lot area: none. Although no minimum lot size is prescribed, lots in Tier I subdivisions shall be designed to include a substantial proportion of greenway land. Design standards and requirements for greenway land are contained in Article XX of this chapter.

Minimum lot width at building setback line and frontage requirement.

Yard regulations. The builder or developer is urged to consider variations in the principal building position and orientation, but shall observe the following minimum standards:

Maximum impervious coverage by buildings, structures and impervious surfaces. Maximum of 4% of adjusted tract acreage on entire subdivision tract (e.g., maximum 17,424 square feet of coverage per house lot, which may contain up to two ADUs, based upon a minimum ten-acre gross density per principal residence). The calculation of impervious coverage for the purposes of this provision shall not include impervious coverage attributable to public sidewalks or driveways serving the lot (the scope of such exclusion to include shared driveways but to exclude discrete parking areas other than those directly in front of an approved garage).

Maximum density. One dwelling unit per five acres of adjusted tract acreage. From the net area thus calculated, 5% shall be deducted to provide for street circulation, if applicable, prior to determining density.

Minimum required greenway land: 65% of adjusted tract acreage, plus all primary conservation areas. The minimum greenway land shall remain undivided to the extent practical. Any required public land dedication in accordance with § 315-47C of Chapter 315, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of West Vincent shall be in addition to the foregoing minimum greenway land requirement.

Minimum lot area (net): none.

Minimum lot width at street line (frontage requirement).

Yard regulations. The builder or developer is urged to consider variations in the principal building position and orientation but shall observe the following minimum standards:

Maximum impervious coverage by buildings, structures and impervious surfaces. Maximum of 15% of adjusted tract acreage on each lot, including all buildings and impervious cover. The calculation of impervious coverage for the purposes of this provision shall not include impervious coverage attributable to public sidewalks or driveways serving the lot (the scope of such exclusion to include shared driveways but to exclude discrete parking areas other than those directly in front of an approved garage).

Maximum density: one dwelling unit per 120,000 square feet of adjusted tract acreage.

Minimum required greenway land: 55% of adjusted tract acreage, plus all primary conservation areas. This minimum greenway land shall generally remain undivided. Exceptions are permitted, however, allowing larger building lots with conservation easements in accordance with § 390-123 of this chapter.

Minimum lot area: none.

Maximum lot area: none.

Minimum lot width at building setback line and frontage requirement.

Yard regulations. The builder or developer is urged to consider variations in the principal building position and orientation but shall observe the following minimum standards.

Maximum impervious coverage by buildings, structures and impervious surfaces. Maximum of 25% of adjusted tract acreage on each lot. The calculation of impervious coverage for the purposes of this provision shall not include impervious coverage attributable to public sidewalks or driveways serving the lot (the scope of such exclusion to include shared driveways, but to exclude discrete parking areas other than those directly in front of an approved garage).

Maximum density: one dwelling unit per 100,000 square feet of adjusted tract acreage.

Minimum required greenway land: 65% of adjusted tract acreage, plus all primary conservation areas. The minimum greenway land shall remain undivided to the extent practical. Any required public land dedication in accordance with § 315-47C of Chapter 315, Subdivision and Land Development, of the Code of the Township of West Vincent shall be in addition to the foregoing minimum greenway land requirement. Exceptions are permitted, however, allowing larger building lots with conservation easements in accordance with § 390-123 of this chapter.

Minimum lot area: none.

Minimum lot width at building setback line and frontage requirements.

Yard regulations. The builder or developer is urged to consider variations in the principal building position and orientation but shall observe the following minimum standards.

Maximum impervious coverage by buildings, structures and impervious surfaces. Maximum of 30% of adjusted tract acreage on each lot for single-family detached dwellings and 50% of adjusted tract acreage on each lot for single-family attached dwellings. The calculation of impervious coverage for the purposes of this provision shall not include impervious coverage attributable to public sidewalks or driveways serving the lot (the scope of such exclusion to include shared driveways but to exclude discrete parking areas other than those directly in front of an approved garage). With respect to each lot containing a single-family detached dwelling unit, an additional 20% of the adjusted tract acreage shall be permitted as impervious coverage to the extent that such additional impervious coverage is required in order to construct pools, patios, decks and other approved, permitted accessory structures, subject, however, to the property owner satisfying each of the following conditions:

In Tiers I, II, III and IV. For any principal building or any building used for dwelling purposes: 35 feet.

For any farm building or farm structure, except silos and silo-related equipment: 65 feet.

For any accessory building or structure, except accessory farm buildings and farm structures: 25 feet.

Parking: as required by § 390-135 of this chapter.

Access and highway frontage: as required by § 390-136 of this chapter.

Landscaping and screening: as required by § 390-139 of this chapter.

Lighting: as required by § 390-141 of this chapter.

Visual resource protection: as required by § 390-143 of this chapter.

Greenway land: as required by Article XX of this chapter.

Parking: as required by § 390-135 of this chapter.

Access and highway frontage: as required by § 390-136 of this chapter.

Interior circulation and emergency access: as required by § 390-137 of this chapter.

Loading and unloading: as required by § 390-138 of this chapter.

Landscaping and screening: as required by § 390-139 of this chapter.

Storage: as required by § 390-140 of this chapter.

Lighting: as required by § 390-141 of this chapter.

Visual resource protection: as required by § 390-143 of this chapter.