Unless otherwise provided by state or federal statutory or common
law, any land or structure shall only be used or occupied for a use
specifically permitted in the district in which the lot is located
and only if in compliance with the requirements of this chapter for
such use and district in which it is located.
A. Permitted uses include:
(1)
Uses permitted by right. The administration of this chapter
to such uses is made by the Zoning Officer.
(2)
Uses permitted by conditional use, subject to approval by the
Board of Supervisors.
(3)
Uses permitted by special exception, subject to approval by
the Zoning Hearing Board.
Mount Joy Township is predominantly rural in nature and characterized
by open space and low density residential development served by a
local road system and on-lot water and sewer systems. While small
and predominantly locally owned and operated farms exist throughout
the District, the purpose of the Open Countryside District is to provide
for and continue the established pattern of low density residential
uses. Nonintensive farming is provided for in the District. Nonresidential
uses exist and are provided for in the District as nonconforming uses,
no-impact home-based business uses, and permitted uses limited in
scale and impacts and otherwise compatible with the residential uses
in the District.
State Road 97 (Baltimore Pike), a long-established and well-known
historic roadway, is the major roadway in and through the Township.
Enhanced road infrastructure and utilities are present at the intersection
of U.S. Route 15 and State Road 97. Commercial development in the
Township is concentrated at the intersection of U.S. Route 15 and
State Road 97. The remainder of the corridor is characterized by an
intermix of residential and nonresidential uses on lots generally
fronting on State Road 97. Historic properties, structures, and districts
also are located along State Road 97. The purpose of the BPC Baltimore
Pike Corridor is to take advantage of the corridor's historic function
as a major thoroughfare and to continue the established mixed use
and intensive development pattern along the corridor, subject to appropriate
siting and design controls that foster the continued efficiency of
State Road 97 as a major corridor, enhance the appearance of land
use along State Road 97, protect and preserve the historic features
along State Road 97, and minimize adverse impacts of nonresidential
uses on residential uses.
The purpose of the Baltimore Pike Corridor Intensive Uses Overlay
District is to provide for nonresidential uses that are more intensive
and/or generate greater impacts in the area of the Township served
by central sewer and water and/or located in close proximity to U.S.
Route 15.