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Township of Washington, PA
Berks County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (3) Index
[Amended 10-24-1996 by Ord. No. 1996-10; 6-28-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-05]
The purpose of this article is to:
A. 
Promote the general health, welfare, and safety of the community.
B. 
Encourage the utilization of appropriate land use planning practices in order to prevent or minimize flood damage in the future.
C. 
Minimize danger to public health by protecting water supply and natural drainage.
D. 
Reduce financial burdens imposed on the community, its governmental units and its residents by preventing excessive development in areas subject to flooding.
E. 
Comply with federal and state floodplain management requirements.
A. 
The Floodplain Overlay District is defined, and its boundaries are established, as set forth in Chapter 59, entitled "Floodplain Management," of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Washington, and more specifically Article III, entitled "Identification and Regulation of Floodplain Areas."
B. 
The provisions of the Floodplain Overlay District shall be an overlay to the underlying zoning districts as illustrated on the Official Zoning Map of Washington Township.[1] As such, these provisions regulating floodplain management shall be a supplement to the underlying zoning district provisions.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is located in the pocket at the end of this volume and is also on file in the Township offices.
C. 
All activities within the Floodplain Overlay District (identified floodplain area) shall conform to the provisions and requirements of Chapter 59, entitled "Floodplain Management," of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Washington.
In the Floodplain Overlay District, a lot or tract of land may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes, and no other purpose; all such uses shall be subject to the provisions and requirements of Chapter 59, entitled "Floodplain Management," of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Washington:
A. 
Cultivation and harvesting of crops in accordance with recognized soil conservation practices.
B. 
Pasture and grazing land in accordance with recognized soil conservation practice.
C. 
An outdoor plant nursery or orchard in accordance with recognized soil conservation practices, but permitting no structures.
D. 
A wildlife sanctuary, woodland preserve, arboretum, passive recreation or park.
E. 
Recreational uses, such as a park; day camp; picnic grove; golf course; game farm; fish hatchery; and hunting, fishing and boating clubs, excluding structures, but permitting piers, docks and floats.
F. 
Forestry, lumbering and reforestation in accordance with recognized natural resource conservation practices, but permitting no structures.
G. 
Utility transfer lines.
H. 
Accessory uses customarily incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses, but permitting no structures.
I. 
Front, side or rear yards and required lot areas in any zoning district.
The following uses are prohibited in the Floodplain Overlay District:
A. 
Sanitary landfill, dump or junkyard.
B. 
On-site sewage disposal systems.
C. 
The construction, enlargement or expansion of a manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision.
D. 
The storage or use of recreational vehicles.
E. 
The construction, enlargement or expansion of hospitals, public or private.
F. 
The construction, enlargement or expansion of nursing homes, public or private.
G. 
The construction, enlargement or expansion of jails or prisons.
H. 
The construction, enlargement or expansion of any structure used for the production, storage and/or maintenance of more than 550 gallons, or other comparable volume, of the following substances:
(1) 
Acetone.
(2) 
Ammonia.
(3) 
Benzene.
(4) 
Calcium carbide.
(5) 
Carbon disulfide.
(6) 
Celluloid.
(7) 
Chlorine.
(8) 
Hydrochloric acid.
(9) 
Hydrocyanic acid.
(10) 
Magnesium.
(11) 
Nitric acid and oxides of nitrogen.
(12) 
Volatile petroleum products (gasoline, fuel oil, etc.).
(13) 
Phosphorus.
(14) 
Potassium.
(15) 
Sodium.
(16) 
Sulphur and sulphur products.
(17) 
Pesticides, including insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides.
(18) 
Radioactive substances, insofar as such substances are not otherwise regulated.
The following uses shall be permitted in the Floodplain Overlay District when approved by the Township Board of Supervisors, upon advisement of the Township Planning Commission and the Township Engineer, and upon the receipt of required permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, when necessary. All such uses shall be subject to the provisions and requirements of Chapter 59, entitled "Floodplain Management," of the Code of Ordinances of the Township of Washington.
A. 
Flood-retention dams, culverts and bridges.
B. 
Sanitary sewer lines, pump stations and sewage outlet installations for treatment plants.
C. 
Temporary and permanent storm sewer systems.
D. 
Paved roads, driveways and parking lots, where required by the regulations for the zoning district applicable to the lot.
E. 
Sealed water supply wells.