Article 5
Conservation Recreation District (CR)

§14-501 Purpose.

The regulations of the Conservation Recreation District are designed to protect and preserve the environmentally sensitive and wooded areas of the Borough that also have significant value for passive and active recreational pursuits. Permitted uses within this district encourage conservation/recreation activities for these areas; however, some forms of development, including very low density residential development, are allowed under prescribed criteria.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §500)

§14-502 Permitted Uses.

1.    Conservation areas and structures for the conservation of open space, water, soil, forest, and wildlife resources.

2.    Park and recreation areas, forest preserves, campgrounds for tent camping only, game refuges, and similar nonintensive uses.

3.    Single-family dwellings.

4.    Group family dwellings subject to the conditions listed in §14-2606 of this Chapter.

5.    Family day care homes, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2607 of this Chapter.

6.    Home occupations, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2612 of this Chapter.

7.    Forestry activities, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2220 of this Chapter.

8.    Customary accessory uses and buildings incidental to any of the above permitted uses as provided for in Article 22 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §501)

§14-503 Conditional Uses.

Upon approval by Borough Council, the following conditional uses are permitted, provided the use complies with the conditions listed herein and the applicable requirements specified in Article 26 of this Chapter:

A.    Golf courses, country clubs, and semi-public or private recreation areas and structures operated by membership clubs solely for the benefit of their members and not for gain, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2618 of this Chapter.

B.    Day care centers, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2609 of this Chapter, and only when operated as an accessory use to a public, semi-public, and/or private golf course or country club.

C.    Home businesses, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2612 of this Chapter.

D.    Communications antennas, communications equipment buildings and communications towers, subject to the conditions listed in §14-2613 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §502)

§14-504 Lot Area, Building Height and Yard Requirements.

A lot width, lot area, lot coverage, yard setback and building height requirement of not less than the dimensions shown in the following table, unless otherwise specified heretofore in this Article or elsewhere in this Chapter shall be provided for every dwelling unit and/or principal nonresidential building or use erected, altered, or established in this district:

A.    District Requirements.

 

Lot Requirements

Yard Requirements

Min. Lot

Min. Lot

Max. Lot

Each

Use

Area

Width

Coverage

Front

Side

Rear

Nonresidential building/use or single-family detached dwellings1

5 acres

300 ft.

5%

75 ft.

50 ft.

75 ft.

1Maximum gross residential density is one dwelling unit for every 5 acres–see “lot averaging” regulations in §14-2206

B.    Height Requirements. No building shall exceed two and one-half stories or 35 feet, whichever is less, unless authorized as a special exception.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §503)

§14-505 Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements.

Off-street parking shall be provided for in accordance with Article 24 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §504)

§14-506 Signs and Advertising Structures.

Signs shall be permitted in accordance with Article 25 of this Chapter.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §505)

§14-507 Supplementary District Regulations.

The supplementary district regulations in Article 22 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §506)

§14-508 Environmental Improvements and Energy Conservation Requirements.

The environmental and energy requirements in Article 23 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district. In addition to compliance with the requirements of Article 23, the following shall be met for this district:

A.    In order to preserve forested land and to assure the environmental conservation of the district, on lots with existing tree crown cover of 50 percent or greater on June 11, 2001, the overall lot area and each individual property shall preserve sufficient mature trees to maintain 50 percent tree crown cover, over the area, for shade and buffer purposes. Where existing trees must be removed for development of the property (lot), the proposed development activity shall incorporate a reforestation plan to achieve the 50 percent tree cover.

B.    Removal of trees, shrubs, and other vegetative cover (excluding noxious weeds and plants as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture) shall be limited to 50 percent of the site, to prevent erosion and destruction of the natural forested habitat.

(Ord. 2008-1, 6/9/2008, §507)