Section 501- R-1 One-Family Residential District

The "R-1" One-Family Residential District is composed of certain quiet, low density residential areas of the Township, plus certain open areas where similar residential development appears likely to occur. The regulations for this district are designed to stabilize and protect the essential characteristics of the district; to protect the amenities of certain areas of the Township where the pattern has already been established with single-family developments on relatively large lots; to promote and encourage a suitable environment for family life, and to prohibit all activities of a commercial or industrial nature except home offices of doctors or ministers and certain home occupations, controlled by specific limitations governing the size and extent of such non-residential activities. Therefore, development is limited to a relatively low concentration with relatively large lot sizes, and permitted uses are limited basically to single-family dwellings, plus certain additional uses such as schools, parks, churches, and certain public facilities which serve the residents of the district.

A. Permitted Uses
A building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes:
1. One-family detached dwelling.
2. Public school, or private school having a curriculum similar to that ordinarily given in a public school, including religious instruction in parochial school.
3. Church and similar place of worship.
4. Convent, monastery, rectory or parish house to be occupied by not more than ten persons.
5. Temporary building and use for construction purposes, not to exceed a period of one year.
6. Public and private outdoor recreation areas and facilities.
Forestry.
Home Office.
Similar type uses not specifically listed herein when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board.

B. Accessory Uses
Accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses and including but not limited to:
1. Private garage.
2. Off-street parking and loading facility.
3. Cultivation of plants, non-commercial.
4. Private swimming pool appurtenant to a dwelling when meeting the requirements of this ordinance.
5. Signs as provided under this ordinance.
6. Parking of boats, boat trailers, and trailers not used as dwellings on the premises.
7. Such permitted accessory uses as listed in the definition of Accessory Use and which are incidental to residential use.
8. Similar type uses not specifically listed herein when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board.

C. Uses by Special Exception
1. Child Day Care Facilities.
2. Home Business.
3. Telecommunications Tower and Antennas as permitted in Section 909 of this ordinance.

D. Non-Permitted Uses
Based upon the consideration of the following factors, including, but not limited to, prevailing wind, topography, paths of odors during thermal inversion, obstructions in the path of exhausted air, visibility of the operation, special protection waters, water resources, soils suitability, local and regional transportation infrastructure, areas for application of manure, agricultural security areas, and effect/affect on adjoining lands/people, and as a result of the extensive undermining of the township by the bituminous mining industry, the offensive odors/noxious fumes and/or noise emitted and/or generated by certain processes, operations and/or businesses, and the desire of the township to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the township through community planning efforts, the following Uses are determined to be Non-Permitted Uses in this District:
1. Surface Mining.
2. Management of livestock on less than five (5) acre tract.
3. Commercial and Industrial establishments.
4. Mobile Home Parks.
9. See also Section 410 - General Conditions.

E. Setbacks
No building or structure shall be erected or enlarged unless the minimum yard areas and setbacks are provided as follows:

1. Yard Setbacks
a. Front Yard - Not less than forty feet (40').
b. Rear Yard - Not less than fifteen feet (15').
c. Side Yard - Not less than fifteen feet (15').

2. Corner Lots
a. Front Yard - Not less than forty feet (40').
b. Side Yard Abutting Side Street - Not less than forty feet (40').
c. Interior Side Yards - Not less than fifteen feet (15') feet.
d. Rear Yard - Not less than fifteen (15') feet.
Note: Landscape area is included in setback dimensions.

3. Exception
Where more than fifty percent (50%) of the lots within a block contain existing structures, the front yard setback may be reduced to conform to the setback lines of the existing structures.
Small utility sheds not exceeding 160 square feet (10 feet high) may be placed on any residential lot with a minimum setback of five (5) feet from rear or side property lines.

4. Height
The maximum height of buildings hereafter erected or altered shall be as follows:
a. One-family detached dwelling - thirty-five (35') feet.
b. Church or similar place of worship - forty-five (45) feet for the principal building and seventy-five (75) feet for steeples or towers.
c. Accessory building - twenty (20) feet.
d. Any other permitted building - thirty-five (35) feet.

5. Lot Area
The minimum lot area for every building hereafter erected or altered shall be as follows:

a. One-family detached dwelling, convent, monastery, rectory or parish house -- a minimum of fourteen thousand five hundred twenty (14,520) square feet and width at the building line of not less than one hundred (100) feet in areas with public sewer and water. A minimum lot size of twenty one thousand seven hundred eighty (21,780) square feet per unit and a minimum width of one hundred (100) feet at the Building Set Back Line in areas where water supply or sanitary sewage disposal are provided by individual on-lot facilities. A minimum lot size of one (1) acre and one hundred fifty (150) feet width at the setback line is required in areas without sewer and water.

b. Church or similar place of worship -- one and one-half (1-1/2) acres and a width at the building line of not less than two hundred (200) feet.

c. Public or private school:
(1) Elementary School: five (5) acres plus one (1) acre for every one hundred (100) students at design capacity.
(2) Junior High School: eight (8) acres plus one (1) acre for every one hundred (100) students at design capacity.
(3) High School: twelve (12) acres plus one (1) acre for every one hundred (100) students at design capacity.

6. Percentage of Lot Coverage
All buildings, including accessory uses, shall cover not more than thirty (30) percent of the area of the lot.

7. Dwelling Standards
Every one-family dwelling hereafter erected or altered shall have a floor area of not less than nine hundred (900) square feet.

8. Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities
Shall be provided as required or permitted under this ordinance.

Back to top
Return