1. 2017
Zoning
Update
New Sewickley Township

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. Proposed Zoning Map