Conditional uses in areas of very steep slope. The Board of Supervisors is authorized to grant conditional uses for the following uses, subject to recommendations of the Planning Commission and Township Engineer and pursuant to the standards of Subsections G and H:
(1) Agricultural cultivation and agricultural uses requiring structures.
(2) Conservation uses requiring structures.
(3) Passive recreation uses requiring structures.
(4) Utility easements and rights-of-way.
Conditional uses in areas of steep slope. The Board of Supervisors is authorized to grant conditional uses for the following uses, subject to recommendations of the Planning Commission and Township Engineer and pursuant to the standards of Subsections G and H:
(1) Any conditional use identified in Subsection E.
(2) Recreation use, whether open to the public or restricted to private membership, such as parks, camps, picnic areas, and golf courses, when permitted in the district in which the property is located; not to include enclosed structures excepting toilet facilities and small shelters usually found in developed outdoor recreational areas.
(3) Stormwater management facilities.
(4) Roads and parking lots, where required by the regulations for the district applicable to the lot without consideration of this section, provided that no practicable alternative alignments or locations exist.
(5) Central sanitary sewer systems.
(6) Accessory uses and structures customarily incidental to uses identified in this Subsection F.
Standards for conditional uses or variances. The Board of Supervisors, in considering a use as a conditional use, and the Zoning Hearing Board, in considering a variance, shall bear in mind the objectives of Subsection
A and shall consider the following:
(1) Degree of modification proposed to the topographic, soil, and vegetation resources.
(2) Techniques and extent of mitigation proposed to offset potential adverse environmental effects.
(3) Effects on adjacent and neighboring properties.
(4) Consistency of proposed uses with the objectives of Subsection A.
Additional standards for conditional uses or variances. An affirmative decision shall not be issued by the Board of Supervisors for conditional uses nor by the Zoning Hearing Board for variances unless there is evidence that:
(1) Development is being proposed on areas of steep slope or very steep slope only because no other alternative location is practicable.
(2) Earthmoving activities and vegetation removal will be conducted only to the extent necessary to accommodate the proposed uses and structures and in a manner that will not cause uncontrolled surface water runoff, erosion, sedimentation, and unstable soil conditions.
(3) Mitigation techniques will be utilized, including, but not limited to, retaining walls, tree wells, the establishment of ground covers and/or low spreading shrubs, and the use of erosion control fabric.
(4) Proposed structures will be of sound engineering design, and footings will be designed in response to the site's slope, soil, and bedrock characteristics.
Application procedures for conditional uses or variances.
An application for a zoning permit shall be filed with the Zoning Officer who shall make an initial determination on the application. For a use other than those permitted in
§ 200-57C, an application seeking approval of a conditional use or variance shall be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors or Zoning Hearing Board, as appropriate, along with required studies or information and the findings of the Zoning Officer. The application for conditional use or use by variance shall be accompanied by the following:
(1) Plans drawn to a scale of at least one inch equals 50 feet depicting the following:
(a) Location, dimensions, and elevation of the property.
(b) Existing and proposed uses and development.
(c) Existing and proposed contours at two-foot intervals.
(d) Location and boundaries of steep slopes and very steep slopes.
(e) Cross sections and elevations of the property and proposed structures.
(f) Existing and proposed land cover characteristics of that portion of the property within the area of steep slope or very steep slope, indicating wooded areas, open areas, ground cover types, any areas with impervious surfaces, and subsurface soil types.
(2) Photographs showing existing uses, vegetation, and topography of areas of steep slope or very steep slope.
(3) Narrative report describing the slope, soil, and vegetation characteristics of that portion of the property within the area of steep slope or very steep slope. Such report shall also describe:
(a) Proposed types of structures and methods of construction, types of foundation system(s) to be employed, and proposed landscaping, sewage disposal, and water supply.
(b) Sediment and erosion control measures.
(c) Engineering and conservation techniques intended to alleviate adverse environmental effects that may be created by the proposed use.
