17 Kratz Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438

Rural Residential District

In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent and statement of community development objectives found in Article I of this chapter, the primary purpose of the R-1 Rural Residential District is to preserve open land, sensitive natural areas, and rural community character that would be lost under conventional development. In addition, the intent of this district is to permit a reasonable amount of residential development in the form of small, compact neighborhoods of single-family detached homes in an open space setting, located and designed to reduce the perceived intensity of development, preserve natural features and farmland, and provide privacy and neighborhood identity. Specific objectives are as follows: To provide for a variety of lotting opportunities consistent with the primary purpose of this district; To preserve open land, including those areas containing unique and sensitive natural features such as woodlands, steep slopes, streams, floodplain and wetlands, by setting them aside from development; To preserve scenic views and elements of the Township's rural character, and to minimize perceived density, by minimizing views of new development from existing roads; To provide greater design flexibility and efficiency in the siting of services and infrastructure, including the opportunity to reduce length of roads, utility runs, and the amount of paving required for residential development; To create compact neighborhoods with direct visual access to preserved open land, with amenities in the form of neighborhood open space, and with a strong neighborhood identity; To implement the goals of the Township's Comprehensive Plan and open space/recreation plan; To reduce erosion and sedimentation by the retention of existing vegetation, and the minimization of development on steep slopes; To create new woodlands through natural succession and reforestation where appropriate, and to encourage the preservation and improvement of habitat for various forms of wildlife; To preserve areas of the Township with productive agricultural soils for continued or future agricultural use, by preserving blocks of land large enough to allow for efficient farm operations; To provide for the preservation and maintenance of open land within the Township to achieve the above-mentioned goals and for active or passive recreational use by residents; To provide standards for preservation of open land and neighborhood lotting to be used in this district.