Proposed Middlesex zoning ordinance changes presented
MIDDLESEX TWP — Middlesex Township, with the help of engineering firm Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, is in the process of updating its zoning ordinance for the first time in several years.
HRG planner Lori Morgan presented the progress made so far to the township’s board of supervisors at Wednesday night’s meeting, July 19.
Middlesex Township’s zoning ordinance has not received a serious update since 2019. Much has changed in the average American towns and cities during that time, and the updated zoning ordinance is trying to account for that.
“The purpose is really just to update the zoning ordinance as it currently stands,” Morgan said. “There’s a few things that we see as current trends in zoning ordinances that we wanted to make sure your ordinance addresses.”
One key addition will add some clarity on the status of short-term residential rentals, such as Airbnbs. Under the current draft copy of the ordinance, short-term rentals would be allowed under a “special exception,“ but only in the town center and Route 228 overlay districts.
The draft ordinance takes into account the growing popularity of “agritourism” in Western Pennsylvania — the act of farms generating supplemental income by turning their farms into a tourist destination. Rural residential (AG-A), agricultural (AG-B), and residential agriculture (R-AG) areas would be open to agritourism use.
Solar and wind production also would have a place in the draft zoning ordinance, with residential solar and wind systems permitted as an accessory use in the AG-A district. Larger-scale, industrial wind or solar facilities are restricted to the AG-B district and are also required to have large setbacks and large lot sizes to mitigate noise pollution.
The draft ordinance also clarifies the status of breweries, wineries, distilleries and tasting rooms. These would be permitted on a conditional basis, meaning that operators would have to come before the township for approval.
Breweries, distilleries and tasting rooms would be conditionally permitted in the town center and the Route 228 district, as well as the neighborhood, highway and commercial zoning districts (C-1, C-2 and C-3, respectively). Wineries would be conditionally permitted in agricultural and rural residential zones.
Despite the proposed changes, township solicitor Mike Hnath said the zoning lines will remain the same as they were before.
HRG will present their draft zoning ordinance again to the Middlesex Township Planning Commission at their next meeting on Wednesday, July 26. Then they will send it off to Butler County, when the 30-day review period will begin.
