[Amended 8-15-1983 by Ord. No. HR-76; 2-27-1984 by Ord. No.
HR-79; 10-5-1987 by Ord. No. HR-112; 9-9-1991 by Ord. No. HR-171; 12-3-1991 by Ord. No. HR-189; 5-1-2006 by Ord. No. HR-352]
RC Rural-Conservation Districts are designed
to encourage the preservation of sizable stream valley, wooded areas
and areas of steep slopes within the Township, for protection of the
Exception Value Waters Valley Creek Watershed, the limestone/carbonate
geology of the Great Valley, scenic and historic areas in proximity
to Valley Forge National Historic Park and other open space and historic
purposes. Accordingly, the district regulations contain a density
standard which, among other things, provides for agricultural and
low-density residential uses and facilitates the conservation and
proper utilization of groundwater supplies and the control of soil
erosion and surface water runoff and flooding.
Land and buildings may be used and occupied
for any one of the following purposes and no other:
A.
Woodlot, game preserve, environmental education or
conservation facility or other conservation purpose.
B.
Agricultural use, which may include a single-family
dwelling, tilling of the soil, nursery or greenhouse and the keeping
of livestock and poultry, but which may not include a piggery, poultry
hatchery or similar establishment, provided that any building used
for the keeping of livestock and poultry or as a greenhouse shall
be located not less than 100 feet from any street line and not less
than 150 feet from any other property line.
C.
Public park or recreation area owned and operated
by a governmental agency.
D.
One single-family detached dwelling.
E.
Utility line or any necessary governmental or public
utility use, provided that:
(1)
No such use shall include an office open to the general
public; the storage of materials; rotating equipment; trucking or
repair facilities; housing of work crews; a storage garage; or any
structure involving major traffic movements;
(2)
The portion of any such use not located within a building
is enclosed or adequately screened in such a manner as to not detract
from the character of the district; and
(3)
No advertising shall be affixed to any structure.
F.
The following uses when authorized as a special exception, subject to the general standards prescribed in §§ 208-105 and 208-150:
(1)
Memorial park type of cemetery, provided that no such
use shall be located closer than 200 feet to a residential property
line.
(2)
Conversion of a single-family dwelling to two-family or multifamily use, subject to the provisions of § 208-106.
(3)
Privately owned outdoor recreational area or use,
customarily located in natural and/or rural areas (such as park, picnic
ground, riding academy, golf course and swimming area, and including
a country club, tennis club or hunt club lodge in conjunction with
permitted outdoor use), provided that:
(a)
The use and its design are compatible with the
natural character of the area;
(b)
Each building or structure shall be clearly
incidental to the permitted outdoor use;
(c)
Any club or lodge building and its services
shall be for the use of members and their guests only;
(d)
No commercial activity shall be permitted except
for charging of admission, the sale of refreshments or such other
purpose as is clearly incidental to the permitted outdoor activity;
(e)
Each permitted use or activity shall be screened and separated from a public street and from an adjoining property by a landscaped planting strip not less than 100 feet in depth; subject to the requirements of § 208-103B relating to the location and buffering of off-street parking areas;
(f)
Each incidental commercial use shall be located
or screened so that it shall not be visible from a public street;
(g)
There shall be no overhead lighting other than
streetlight or parking lights;
(h)
Not more than 40% of the land area of the lot
shall be utilized for impervious surfaces; and
(i)
Any activity not located within enclosed walls
shall be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
G.
Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses. Each use shall comply with the provisions of §§ 208-103 and 208-104. The term "accessory use" shall not include a business except as expressly authorized herein, but shall include:
(1)
Private parking space, parking structure or garage;
private, noncommercial garden or greenhouse; private home swimming
pool or private tennis court.
(2)
Accessory apartment for a watchman, caretaker or the staff or employees of a permitted use subject to the area and height regulations of § 208-13.
(3)
Not more than one rental room, without housekeeping
privileges for boarders, provided that any such room shall not be
occupied by more than two persons and that one off-street parking
space is available on the same lot exclusively for each boarder.
(5)
The following uses when authorized as a special exception
and subject to the special requirements indicated for each use:
(c)
Office of a veterinarian or profession involving
the treatment, boarding or breeding of animals, provided that such
use is located on a lot of not less than 10 acres and that the facilities
so used are located a minimum of 150 feet from any street or property
line.
(6)
The parking or storage (outside of a garage) of not
more than one recreational or commercial vehicle, including but not
limited to motor homes, campers, boats and trailers, subject to the
following conditions:
(a)
Such vehicle shall not be used for living or
housekeeping purposes.
(b)
Such vehicle shall not exceed 26 feet in length,
exclusive of its trailer hitch or towbar.
(c)
Such vehicle shall not be stored within a required
front yard or in front of the facade of the residence on the property,
whichever is stricter.
(d)
Such vehicle shall not be stored within a required
side or rear yard unless screened from neighboring properties by evergreen
trees, hedges or other landscaping at least as high as the vehicle.
A.
Lot area and width. A lot area of not less than five
acres and a lot width of not less than 300 feet at the building line
shall be provided.
B.
Building coverage. Not more than 5% of the lot area
may be occupied by buildings.
C.
Impervious coverage. Not more than 10% of the lot
area may be covered by impervious surface.
D.
Front yard. There shall be a front yard on each street
on which the lot abuts, the depth of which shall be at least 100 feet.
E.
Side yards. There shall be two side yards not less
than 100 feet in aggregate width and neither less than 45 feet in
width.
F.
Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard, the depth of
which shall be at least 50 feet.
G.
Height. The height of any building shall not exceed
35 feet.
