Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Westtown Township City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VI

R-1 Residential District

§ 170-600 Statement of intent.

In addition to the general goals in the preamble, the purpose, and the community development objectives, it is the purpose of this article to provide housing choices for residential development at low densities which will preserve and enhance the open space, natural, and scenic landscape character of existing residential and agricultural areas.

§ 170-601 Use regulations.

A. 
Uses by right. In the R-1 District, a building may be erected or used, and a lot or premises be used or occupied, by right, for any one of the following principal purposes and no other:
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-3; 3-3-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2]
(1) 
Single-family detached dwelling.
(2) 
Agricultural use, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1609 of this chapter. A principal dwelling may be permitted as a use by right on the same premises as a principal agricultural use.
(3) 
Buildings, structures and uses owned and operated by Westtown Township.
(4) 
Accessory uses. Only the following accessory uses shall be permitted, in addition to a permitted principal use:
(a) 
Uses customarily accessory to agricultural or residential uses, including but not limited to those uses described in § 170-1603B and C of this chapter.
(b) 
Swimming pool, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1611 of this chapter.
(c) 
Minor home occupation, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1605 of this chapter.
(d) 
Display and sale of farm products meeting the requirements of § 170-1603B.
B. 
Uses by special exception. The following uses shall be permitted when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception, in accordance with the terms of this article and the standards and criteria contained in § 170-2108 of this chapter. The design standards for uses permitted by special exception, as contained in § 170-603 of this article, shall apply to all uses permitted by special exception in the R-1 District.
[Amended 9-15-1997 by Ord. No. 97-3; 3-3-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2]
(1) 
Bed-and-breakfast facility, in accordance with provisions of § 170-1607 of this chapter.
(2) 
Day camp, riding academy, swimming club, athletic field, golf course (excluding golf driving range and miniature golf course), provided the Board concludes that there is sufficient acreage available for such uses. Area and bulk regulations contained in § 170-702E(2) through E(10) shall apply.
(3) 
Religious use or primary or secondary school, or college or university, which shall comply with § 170-702E of this chapter. Any dormitory shall meet all of the following additional requirements:
(a) 
Be restricted to occupancy by full-time students and staff of an accredited college or university,
(b) 
Be located on a lot with a minimum lot area of 25 acres (which may extend into another municipality), and
(c) 
Be setback a minimum of 250 feet from any line of an existing dwelling that is not owned by the college or university.
(4) 
Noncommercial recreational use such as nonprofit swimming pool, provided that the principal activity shall not be one which is customarily carried on as a business and provided that all services shall be for members and their guests. Area and bulk regulations contained in § 170-702E shall apply.
(5) 
Major home occupation, in accordance with the terms of § 170-1605 of this chapter.
(6) 
Accessory dwelling unit, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1603A of this chapter.
(7) 
Conversion of a single-family dwelling, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1608 of this chapter.
(8) 
Farm-related business meeting the requirements of § 170-1616.
(9) 
Conversion of an accessory dwelling unit into a rental, in accordance with the provisions of § 170-1619.
[Added 5-6-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-02]
C. 
Conditional use. The following use shall be permitted only upon approval as a conditional use by the Board of Supervisors in accordance with the terms of this article and § 170-2009 of this chapter:
[Amended 3-3-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2; 5-2-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-4]
(1) 
Residential development in accordance with the provisions of the flexible development procedure as set forth in Article IX of this chapter.

§ 170-602 Area and bulk regulations.

[Amended 5-1-1995 by Ord. No. 95-2; 3-3-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2; 5-2-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-4; 4-4-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02]
A. 
The maximum density of use on any tract within the R-1 District shall be as determined by § 170-1519B of this chapter.
B. 
Single-family detached dwellings.
(1) 
Lot size: one acre minimum.
(2) 
Lot width at building: 150 feet minimum setback line.
(3) 
Lot width at street line: 50 feet minimum, except 250 feet minimum at the future right-of-way lines of Routes 202, 352, 3, or 926, if the lot would have direct access onto any of these routes.
(4) 
Impervious coverage: 20% maximum.
(5) 
Minimum building setback line: 60 feet minimum, except:
(a) 
No structure shall be located within 100 feet of the future right-of-way line of Route 202 or Route 3. This requirement shall be reduced to 60 feet minimum for lots of record existing prior to the adoption of this chapter that have a lot depth from the future right-of-way line of Route 202 or Route 3 of less than 150 feet.
(b) 
The land within this required setback may be accepted as part of the requirements for open space of this chapter and Chapter 149, Subdivision of Land.
(6) 
Side yards: 25 feet minimum.
(7) 
Rear yard: 50 feet minimum.
(8) 
Maximum building height: three stories, not to exceed 38 feet.
C. 
Agricultural use: as required by the standards in § 170-1609 of this chapter.
D. 
Residential development as per flexible development procedure: as required by the standards in Article IX of this chapter.
E. 
Uses by special exception: as required by § 170-702E of this chapter.
F. 
Accessory uses: Accessory uses may be located in side and rear yards, but only in conformance with the standards of § 170-1502 of this chapter.
G. 
Conditional uses: Residential conditional uses, as applicable, shall conform to the standards for single-family detached dwellings in § 170-602B above. Nonresidential conditional uses shall conform to the standards for nonresidential uses in Article VII, § 170-702E, of this chapter.

§ 170-603 Design standards.

[Amended 3-3-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-2]
A. 
The following standards, as applicable, shall govern all uses permitted by right, special exception and conditional use in the R-1 District:
(1) 
Screening: As required by § 170-1508.
(2) 
Storage: As required by § 170-1509.
(3) 
Landscaping: As required by § 170-1507.
(4) 
Access and traffic control: As required by § 170-1510.
(5) 
Interior circulation: As required by § 170-1513.
(6) 
Parking: As required by Article XVII.
(7) 
Lighting: As required by § 170-1514.
(8) 
Signs: As required by Article XVIII.
B. 
Residential development as per flexible development procedure: As required by the design standards in Article IX, where those standards exceed, or address matters not covered by, the requirements of Subsection A above.