Township of Lancaster, PA Article VIII General Commercial District (GC) Regulations

§ 280-801 Intended purpose.

The intended purpose of this zoning district is to provide for commercial uses that generate high automobile traffic volumes in areas within the Township where existing roads can accommodate such traffic.

§ 280-802 Permitted uses.

A. Accessory structures and uses customarily incidental to the uses permitted in this Article VIII.

B. Adult-oriented establishment, subject to § 280-1503 of this chapter.

C. Amusement arcade.

D. Automotive sales and automotive service.

E. Bank and other financial institution.

F. (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection F, regarding bed-and-breakfast establishments, was repealed 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02.

G. Car wash.

H. Commercial recreational facility, subject to § 280-1529 of this chapter.

I. Communications antenna, subject to § 280-1603 of this chapter.

J. Convenience store.

K. Day-care facility, subject to § 280-1511 of this chapter. Family day-care homes and group day-care homes shall be permitted subject to § 280-1511 of this chapter only in residential structures that lawfully represent preexisting nonconforming uses.

L. Dwelling unit when in combination with a commercial use in the principal building.

M. Forestry.

N. Funeral home.

O. Gasoline and service station.

P. Medical clinic, subject to § 280-1518 of this chapter.

Q. Medical office.

R. Nonprofit public facility, subject to § 280-1522 of this chapter.

S. Office.

T. Place of assembly for worship/education, provided the gross floor area is less than or equal to 40,000 square feet.

U. (Reserved)[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Former Subsection U, regarding public utility corporations and municipal uses, was repealed 10-8-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-05.

V. Radio/television broadcasting studio/station.

W. Restaurant and tavern (including drive-through facility).

X. Retail sales/service.

X1. Short-term rental units single room rentals.

[Added 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02]

Y. Veterinarian office, provided no outdoor keeping of animals is permitted.

§ 280-803 Special exception uses.

A. Communications tower for radio/television signal reception and transmission in conjunction with a broadcasting station or studio or other commercial use, subject to § 280-1604 of this chapter.

B. Community shopping center, subject to § 280-1508 of this chapter.

C. Place of assembly for worship/education, provided the gross floor area is greater than 40,000 square feet, subject to § 280-1525 of this chapter.

D. Self-service storage facility, subject to § 280-1534 of this chapter.

[Added 8-13-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former Subsections D and E as Subsections E and F, respectively.

D1. Short-term rentals of up to eight existing bedrooms.

[Added 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02]

E. University, college, and other adult education institution, subject to § 280-1525 of this chapter.

F. Visitor accommodation, subject to § 280-1533 of this chapter.

G. Warehousing, distribution, and wholesaling.

[Added 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-03]

§ 280-804 Lot, yard, and height regulations of principal uses/structures.

A. Unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, the lot requirements in Table 8-1 shall apply:

Table 8-1
		Minimum Lot Width:
General Commercial District (GC)	Minimum Lot Area (square feet)	At Street Right-of-Way Line (feet)	At Building Setback Line (feet)	Minimum Lot Depth (feet)	Maximum Lot Coverage (impervious surfaces)
All uses (unless otherwise specified), no public water and no public sewer; or public water only	43,560	65	100	150	35%
All uses (unless otherwise specified), public sewer and no public water	32,000	65	100	150	50%
All uses (unless otherwise specified), public sewer and public water	10,000	50	80	125	70%

B. Minimum yard requirements.

(1) Unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, the yard requirements in Table 8-2 shall apply:

Table 8-2
	Minimum Front Yard
General Commercial District (GC)	Principal Arterial Road (feet)	Minor Arterial Road (feet)	Collector Road (feet)	Local Road (feet)	Minimum Side Yard (feet)	Minimum Rear Yard (feet)
All uses (unless otherwise specified)	50	40	30	25	6 [see exceptions in § 280-804B(3) of this chapter]	30

(2) A building may be permitted closer to the street than required above when there is an adjacent existing principal building on the same side of the street which is closer to the street than the minimum front yard requirement and is within 100 feet of the building to be erected. If the building to be erected is within 100 feet of only one such existing adjacent principal building, the minimum front yard shall not be less than the average of the setback of the existing principal building and the minimum front yard requirement; provided, however, that this formula shall not require the placing of a building more than 10 feet back from the front building line of the existing adjacent principal buildings. If the building to be erected is between two such existing principal buildings within 100 feet of the building to be erected, the minimum front yard shall not be less than the average setback of the two adjacent existing principal buildings.

(3) The minimum side yard shall be six feet, except where adjoining a residential zoning district, in which case the side yard shall be as required for "all other (nonresidential) uses" as required in the adjoining residential zoning district.

C. Maximum building height: 40 feet.

§ 280-805 Lot, yard and height regulations of accessory uses/structures.

A. Minimum front yard. With the exception of patios and decks, accessory structures shall not be permitted in the front yard, except for double-frontage lots, where accessory structures shall comply with the front yard requirements for principal structures. Patios and decks shall not encroach on the minimum front yard specified by § 280-804 of this chapter.

B. Minimum setback from front yard. Accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from all front yards.

C. Minimum side yard: six feet.

D. Minimum rear yard: 10 feet.

E. Maximum height: 25 feet.

F. Parking and loading regulations. Parking and loading shall be provided as specified in Article XIII of this chapter relating to parking and loading regulations. In addition, no loading facility shall be permitted on any side of a building facing adjoining lands within a residential zoning district, nor any side of a building facing an abutting street.

G. Sign regulations. Signs shall be permitted as specified in Article XII of this chapter relating to sign regulations.

H. Driveway and access drive regulations. All driveways and access drives shall be in accordance with § 280-1606 of this chapter.

I. Landscaping and screening regulations. Landscaping and screening shall be provided as specified in Article XIV of this chapter.

J. Nonresidential operations regulations. All nonresidential operations shall be in compliance with any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or federal government regulations, as required by the most-recent regulations made available from these governmental bodies.

K. Outdoor storage regulations. Within this zoning district, no outdoor storage or display of merchandise is permitted.

L. Waste product regulations. Dumpsters and waste receptacles may be permitted within the side or rear yard, in accordance with § 280-1403C of this chapter. All dumpsters shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from any adjoining property in a residential zoning district.

M. Lighting regulations. Lighting shall be shielded as to not impact adjoining properties. Light emanating from any source on the property shall not be greater than two footcandles measured at a height of three feet at the lot line.