786 Mill Rd, Harleysville, PA 19438

Rural Resource Residential District

This article is enacted for the purpose of promoting health, safety and welfare of the Township in accordance with the goals and objectives of the Joint Municipal Comprehensive Plan. It is designed to preserve the rural atmosphere of the Township, to lessen congestion on the roads and highways, to prevent overcrowding of the land, to provide adequate light and air, and to encourage the most appropriate use of the land in the Township.; The intent of this district is to provide the opportunity for low-density single-family development while at the same time preserving as open space an amount of land approximately equal to the amount of land being developed. The density is one single-family residence per 2 developable acres and the lot size is 35,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft; the difference between the two, approximately 1 acre per new single-family residence goes into open space. The intent is to have a minimum open space ratio of 40 Percent, excluding any lots for existing uses based on the tract area.; A large parcel may be completely developed under the smaller lot regulations in the conditional use process, or it may be partially developed with the smaller lots leaving the balance developed or governed by the by-right provisions. There are also regulations for dividing off up to 2 individual lots from a parcel in excess of 10 acres.; The standards of the RR District will allow future residential development to occur in a manner that protects the existing agricultural lands, woodlands and open space, as well as other important rural environmental resources by maintaining a consistently low level of intensity of development in the area.; The open space may be considered a separate public or private permanent open space parcel deed restricted from further subdivision or from being separately sold, or it may be accomplished via a conservation easement over a parcel in a form approved by the Township Solicitor.