Worcester Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
R-AG-200 Residential-Agricultural District
§ 150-18 Legislative intent.
[Amended 5-20-1998 by Ord. No. 163]
It is the intent of this article to permit, as a conditional use, the development of large tracts of ground for single-family residences, while likewise encouraging the preservation of natural and environmentally sensitive areas, creating viable open spaces, providing areas for active and passive recreation and encouraging the efficient design and use of streets. In addition, it is the intent of this district to allow medium-density housing in portions of the Township that are appropriate for this density of housing, given the location of growth areas, sewer lines, water lines, major roads, commercial cores and Township uses.
§ 150-19 Use regulations.
A building may be erected or used and a lot may be occupied for any of the following purposes, and no other.
A.
Agriculture.
B.
A single-family detached dwelling:
D.
No-impact home-based business, as defined in § 150-9; provided that the permission for such use granted herein shall not supersede any deed restriction, covenant or agreement restricting the use of land, nor any master deed, bylaw or other document applicable to a common interest ownership community.
[Added 8-17-2011 by Ord. No. 230]
§ 150-20 Lot area and width regulations for cluster option.
A.
Tract size. The minimum contiguous tract size shall be 10 acres. For purposes of this article, the term "tract size" shall be the area measurement of all contiguous ground, as measured from the property boundary lines, which is proposed to be subdivided and developed under the terms of this article.
B.
Minimum lot area.
(1)
Lots with public water and public sewer services. On lots that are served by both public water and public sewer services, 11,000 square feet shall be the minimum lot area that shall be provided for every building lot; provided, however, that 35,000 square feet shall be the minimum lot size provided for lots directly abutting land in AGR, R-AG-175, R-175, R-150, R-125 or R-100 Zoning Districts and not otherwise separated by open space having a minimum width of 75 feet.
[Amended 3-19-1997 by Ord. No. 158]
(2)
Lots without public water and/or sewer services. On lots that do not have both public water service and public sewer service, 60,000 feet shall be the minimum lot area provided for every building or use.
C.
Minimum lot width. Ninety feet shall be the minimum lot width at the front yard setback line provided for every lot.
§ 150-21 Yard regulations for cluster option.
A.
Front yard. Thirty feet shall be the minimum size of the front yard on each lot. A corner lot shall have two front yards, each being at least 35 feet.
B.
Rear yard.
(1)
Thirty feet shall be the minimum size of the rear yard on each lot, except for lots directly abutting land located in the AGR, R-AG-175, R-175, R-150, R-125 or R-100 Zoning Districts, in which case, the minimum size of the rear yard shall be 45 feet.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection B(2), regarding setback requirements for a separate accessory structure to a single-family residential use, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 5-16-2018 by Ord. No. 277.
C.
Side yards. An aggregate total of 25 feet shall be provided for the two side yards with a minimum of 10 feet for any one side.
§ 150-22 Coverage regulations for cluster option.
§ 150-23 Height regulations for cluster option.
[Amended 8-20-2025 by Ord. No. 302]
A.
Building height. Thirty-five feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories, shall be the maximum height for any building or other structure erected or enlarged in this district.
§ 150-24 Parking regulations for cluster option.
A.
Residential. For each dwelling, no less than two all-weather off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article XXII of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
B.
Setbacks. No parking area or driveway shall be located within five feet of any property line for any use except as required for normal ingress and egress.
§ 150-25 Special requirements for cluster option.
A.
Non-dwelling structures. Swimming pools, tennis courts and animal shelters may be permitted in this district, subject to the applicable regulations under Article XXIV, General Regulations, of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
B.
Detention basins in yard areas. Detention basins shall be allowed in yard areas only in accordance with the applicable regulations under Article XXIV, General Regulations, of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
C.
Open space. Thirty percent of the tract within this zoning district shall be provided and designated as open space. The open space shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
The open space shall provide active recreation or preserve unique features on the site, such as woodlands, historic buildings, rural views or farmland. Open space that does not meet one of these requirements (including steep slopes, floodplains and wetlands) shall be limited to 40% of the open space requirement, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(2)
Open space may be provided in one or more parcels, but in no event shall any individual parcel be less than two acres, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(3)
All open space shall have access from a road, street or walking trail. Where deemed appropriate by the Board of Supervisors, access to the open space should be provided from the ends of culs-de-sac.
(4)
Open space shall be located in a central and readily accessible location, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(5)
Open space shall remain undeveloped with the exception of recreation facilities, such as soccer fields, softball fields, playgrounds, tot lots, parking areas for such recreational areas and (with the permission of the Supervisors) stormwater management facilities. In developments containing 30 or more lots, the active recreation areas shall be physically constructed, at the cost of the developer, as approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(6)
Open space shall have minimum road frontage of 75 feet unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
D.
Residential density. The maximum number of single-family dwellings in a cluster development under this article shall not exceed a ratio of 1.65 dwellings per acre multiplied by the tract size.
§ 150-25.1 Lot area, width and yard regulations for medium-density residential option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275]
A.
Tract size. The minimum contiguous tract size shall be 150 acres. For purposes of §§ 150-25.1 through 150-25.6, the term "tract size" shall be the area measurement of all contiguous ground, as measured from the property boundary lines, which is proposed to be subdivided and developed under the terms of §§ 150-25.1 through 150-25.6.
C.
Design criteria for multifamily dwelling lots:
(1)
Minimum lot area: 3,120 square feet.
(2)
Minimum lot width at building setback line: 24 feet.
(3)
Minimum front yard: 30 feet.
(4)
Minimum side yard between buildings: 15 feet.
(5)
Minimum side yard between interior dwelling units: zero feet.
(6)
Minimum side yard abutting open space: 10 feet.
(7)
Minimum rear yard: 20 feet.
(8)
Rear yard deck - maximum encroachment into rear yard: 10 feet.
(9)
Minimum building separation (side to side): 30 feet.
(10)
Minimum building separation (other than side to side): 40 feet.
§ 150-25.2 Perimeter setback regulations for medium-density residential option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275]
There shall be a minimum of a fifty-foot-wide perimeter buffer setback surrounding the entire development, separating any lots from either bordering public roadways or bordering properties.
§ 150-25.3 Coverage regulations for medium-density option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275]
A.
Building coverage, single-family detached dwelling lots. Thirty percent shall be the maximum building coverage on a single-family detached dwelling lot.
B.
Impervious coverage, single-family detached dwelling lots. Forty percent shall be the maximum total impervious coverage on a single-family detached dwelling lot.
C.
Building coverage, multifamily dwelling lots. Sixty-five percent shall be the maximum building coverage on a multifamily dwelling lot.
D.
Impervious coverage, multifamily dwelling lots. Ninety percent shall be the maximum total impervious coverage on a multifamily dwelling lot.
§ 150-25.4 Height regulations for medium-density residential option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275; amended 8-20-2025 by Ord. No. 302]
A.
Building height. Thirty-five feet shall be the maximum height for any building or other structure erected or enlarged in this district.
§ 150-25.5 Parking regulations for medium-density residential option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275; amended 6-15-2022 by Ord. No. 290]
A.
Residential. For each dwelling, no less than two all-weather off-street parking spaces, which may include attached garages, shall be provided in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article XXII of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
B.
Setbacks. At all single-family detached dwelling lots, no parking area or driveway shall be located within five feet of any property line except as required for normal ingress and egress.
§ 150-25.6 Special requirements for medium-density residential option.
[Added 4-18-2018 by Ord. No. 275]
A.
Public water and public sewer service must be provided for any development pursuant to the medium-density residential option.
B.
Nondwelling structures. Swimming pools, tennis courts, sanitary sewer pump stations, and animal shelters may be permitted in this district, on single-family detached dwelling lots, subject to the applicable regulations under Article XXIV, General Regulations, of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
C.
Detention basins in yard areas. Detention basins shall be allowed in yard areas only in accordance with the applicable regulations under Article XXIV, General Regulations, of the Township Zoning Ordinance.
D.
Open space. Fifty percent of the net tract within this zoning district, being the gross tract area minus the ultimate right-of-way, shall be provided and designated as open space. The open space shall meet the following requirements:
(1)
Open space may be provided in one or more parcels, but in no event shall any individual parcel be less than two acres, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Supervisors.
(2)
All open space shall have access from a road, street or walking trail. Where deemed appropriate by the Board of Supervisors, access to the open space may be provided from the ends of cul-de-sac.
F.
All multifamily dwelling buildings shall be in accordance with an overall plan and shall be designed as a single architectural scheme.
G.
Raw materials, supplies, trash, rubbish and other refuse shall be stored in covered containers within an adequate enclosure and handled and disposed of in such a manner not to give rise to smoke, odor or litter.