Steep Slopes

Attached is Art. V of the Allegheny County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance. Also attached isArticle IV, which is the required information for sketch plans, and preliminary and final applications. Chapt. 1, Part 2 contains model regulations for environmetal protection and hazrd control. Pgs. I-56 and I-62 are the model regulations for geologic hazards and steep slopes.

This 26 page research paper address the economics of hillside slope development. It includes topics such as the ecological values of hillside slopes, public and private values of hillsides, tax issues and economic valuation studies.

Zoning ordinances for East Vincent Township, Chester County, PA, Chapter 27, which include steep slope ordinances. The township excludes steep slopes, floodplains, and jurisdictional wetlands from its definition of “net tract area,” which is used to establish the maximum number of dwelling units permitted on a tract of land.

County-wide zoning ordinance for Lycoming County. Includes environmental protection standards that regulate the use and disturbance of steep slopes.

An excellent model ordinance prepared by the 10 Towns Great Swamp Watershed Committee as a prototype for adoption by its municipal government members in the Passaic River Basin.

Municipalities use zoning regulations to limit disturbance of steep slopes in order to prevent erosion, reduce the risk of dangerous landslides, and preserve scenic hillsides. WeConservePA guide. 8 pages.

A concise example of a steep slope ordinance, this ordinance includes standards and criteria for reviewing special exceptions.

The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission’s model steep slope regulations are primarily use-based in that each slope tier (15 to 25 percent and 25 percent and greater) has a series of permitted, prohibited, and conditional uses. Performance-based standards are embedded in the model ordinance’s “General Provisions” section.

A major landslide in Kilbuck Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in September of 2006, demonstrates the disastrous consequences of failing to protect the municipality’s steep slopes from disturbance. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Joint State Government Commission's Task Force on the Kilbuck Township Landslide, which conducted an in-depth investigation into the landslide.

Commonwealth Court ruling upholding the steep slope ordinances of a municipality. Appellant wanted to disturb nearly 6 acres of land for development, but the township’s steep slope ordinances only permitted the disturbance of just over two on this parcel.

The Pennsylvania Appalachian Trail Act requires Pennsylvania municipalities along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail to adequately protect it as a public natural resource. Planning and architecture firm Wallace, Roberts, and Todd was hired by a steering committee of municipalities subject to the Act to develop strategies and guidelines for trail corridor protection. This website describes various zoning tools for landscape protection and includes examples of steep slope and ridge regulations.