2017 Zoning Update New Sewickley Township

Background Current Zoning Established 1973 Established Residential Zoning Districts Encouraged low and high density residential development. District(s) were carved out of Agricultural District. Overwhelming majority fronted major township roads. Arbitrary District borders not delimited by roads, streams or property lines. Has directed residential property purchased for the past 43 years.

Why Revise? Adjust the residential to non residential zoned land ratio which is approximately 96% to 4%. Maintain a dominant rural character while providing reasonable opportunities for commercial, retail, service, office and light industrial development. Support the nonresidential development in appropriate areas closer to higher volumes roadways and possible future utility line extension apart from low-density residential and rural areas. Eliminate/reduce current non conforming uses To better comply with the objectives identified in the comp plan, to better balance residential and other districts . According to planners even the most rural communities that have zoning the ration is 80/20. Provide for income sustaining business that will provide a better balance than just home owner property tax

How Did We Get Here In addition to the efforts of the Township Staff and Professional Planner, the Planning Commission: Held approximately 27 special public work session meetings specifically to address updating the zoning. Held informational meetings with industry and business executives. Additional time and effort was provided by each PC member reviewing draft documents and preparing comments. Provided approximately 1000 man hours in supporting this effort

Status What have we done? What needs to be completed? Comprehensive Plan Completed and adopted by the BOS - 9/2013 Established Zoning Districts Established Uses for each Zoning District Permitted Uses Expanded Conditional Uses Expanded/Special Exemptions Eliminated Modified the General Terminology Standards regarding setbacks/parking/screening added and revised Isolated potentially injurious development Revised the Oil and Gas Regulations Allowed residential homes to be built on any legal and usable lot Streamlined the Ordinance with easier to find standards Amended the Official Map What needs to be completed? Present the plan to the BOS with recommendation to formally adopt Original 6 Districts reduced to 5 three were eliminated/combined and a new District added General Terminology modified, new terms added such as Alternative Energy/Wind Energy Conversion Systems other terms such as kennel clarified. Standards for setbacks/parking/screening and buffering revised or established to provide protection for existing residential districts while accommodating commercial development in high traffic areas. Isolated potentially injurious development such as bottle clubs, adult nightclubs and halfway houses. Developed standards for solar and wind energy.

Current Zoning Districts A-1 Agricultural 15,255 acres/23.8 sq. miles R-1 Suburban Residential 4,075 acres/6.4 sq. miles R-2 General Residential 665 acres/1 sq. miles C-1 Local Commercial 370 acres/.5 sq. miles C-2 Planned Commercial 124 acres/.19 sq. miles I Industrial 301 acres/.47 sq. miles

Future Zoning Districts A-1/ R1 become RA Rural Agricultural R-2 becomes MDR Mixed Density Residential C-1/ C2 become GC Neighborhood Commercial TND – Traditional Neighdorhood District I becomes LI Light Industrial District 8578 acres/13.4 sq. miles 6904 acres/10.74 sq. miles 1255 acres/2.0 sq. miles Under the existing zoning the A-1, R-1 and R-2 districts combined accounted for 19,995 acres and the combined acreage for the proposed zoning of MDR, RC, RA and TND districts would be the equivalent uses is 14,347 acres. Not considering the new TND , the largest gains are in the Industrial followed by General Commercial. 2301 acres/3.6 sq. miles 1884 acres/2.9 sq. miles

Affect On Landowners Current uses are “grandfathered” Only affects future development Most land owners will have new opportunities Current land uses are grandfathered and are only impacted when changes to the property exceed 50 % of the improvements An amendment to a zoning ordinance is forward looking. It cannot alter what is already in place Uses have been increased for almost every Zoning District, some previous uses that were special exemptions are now conditional eliminating or reducing the need for Zoning Hearing Board action

Proposed Zoning Map