The C Residence District is designed to provide opportunities
for medium- to high-density single-family detached and semidetached
residential development, compatible with existing residential uses
in the district. The district is also designed to permit uses related
to such residential development and to establish regulations to maintain
and/or improve the character of the district.
A building may be erected, altered or used and a lot or premises may be used or occupied, subject to the provisions of Article XIII, for any of the following uses and no other:
B.Â
Permitted accessory uses.
(1)Â
Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incident to any
of the above-permitted uses and not detrimental to the residential
character of the neighborhood.
(2)Â
Parking, in accordance with Article XV and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, provided that:
(a)Â
No private driveway or off-street parking area shall be used
for the storage or parking of any commercial vehicle, except that
a single commercial vehicle which does not have more than four wheels
and which does not exceed a gross vehicle weight of 9,500 pounds or
is greater than 84 inches in height may be stored or parked, per residential
lot, in the following instances:
[1]Â
When construction or other work is being done on the premises
and the parking or storage is of a temporary nature. (For the purpose
of this section, "storage or parking" shall be defined as the leaving
of such vehicle or truck unattended for a period in excess of two
hours);
[2]Â
The commercial vehicle is parked completely within a garage;
[3]Â
The commercial vehicle is parked behind the front building line
of the residence of the premises; or
[4]Â
All lettering and commercial advertising of any nature (other
than lettering contained on the front doors within an area of two
square feet) is covered by any opaque neutral covering of vinyl or
other similar material.
(b)Â
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no private driveway or off-street parking area shall be used for the storage or parking of any commercial vehicle on which ladders, racks or other equipment or materials are stored which exceed eight inches from the roof of the vehicle or protrude from the front, rear or sides of the vehicle; nor shall ladders be stacked upon one another on the roof or roof rack of said vehicle. In addition thereto, notwithstanding the exceptions noted herein above in Subsection B(2)(a)[1] through [4], no more than one commercial vehicle shall be permitted to be stored or parked on any residential lot.
(4)Â
Public transit station parking area for commuters and employees,
provided that such parking area shall not exceed 50,000 square feet
nor be created, maintained or otherwise established by any transit
company unless in conjunction with an existing or planned station,
and provided further that such parking area is entirely within 500
feet of said station and such parking area and its approaches are
surfaced in a manner satisfactory to the Code Enforcement Officer.
It shall be the duty of any transit company desiring to create, establish
or alter any such parking area to present to the Code Enforcement
Officer detailed specifications of the surfacing materials to be used
and plans showing the size of the proposed parking area, its distance
from the station and the location of the proposed means of ingress
and/or egress, and no permit shall be issued until the Code Enforcement
Officer has determined that the proposed parking area is in complete
conformity with the terms of this ordinance, the Subdivision and Land
Development Ordinance and the Stormwater Management Ordinance.[1]
(5)Â
Communications antennas, when mounted on one of the following existing
locations: public utility transmission tower; public or municipal
structure; public or municipal building; other building or structure.
Proposed locations shall be considered in the order listed. After
all viable options for that alternative have been exhausted, the next
location may be considered. The applicant shall not propose one of
the latter locations if a preceding alternative is available within
a 1/2 mile radius of the proposed location.
(6)Â
Equipment buildings accessory to communications antennas shall be
permitted as a conditional use and shall be no larger than 250 square
feet in area.
(7)Â
No-impact home-based business, as detailed in § 143-9, Terms defined, provided the following eight requirements are satisfied.
(a)Â
The business activity shall be compatible with the residential
use of the property.
(b)Â
The business shall employ no employees other than family members
residing in the dwelling.
(c)Â
There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling
of inventory.
(d)Â
There shall be no outside appearance of a business.
(e)Â
The business or activity may not use any equipment or process
which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors or electronic
interference, including interference with radio or television reception.
(f)Â
The business activity may not generate any solid waste or sewage
discharge which is not normally associated with residential use.
(g)Â
The business activity conducted may not occupy more than 25%
of the floor area.
(h)Â
The business activity may not involve any illegal activity.
C.Â
Uses by special exception.
(1)Â
Educational use which is not for profit and when licensed as such
by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the location applied for,
specifically excluding a trade or business school or any building
or use akin thereto.
(2)Â
Family day-care home use, as defined in this ordinance and subject
to the following requirements:
(a)Â
The caregiver shall be registered or licensed by the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania to provide child-care services in the dwelling.
(b)Â
There shall be a minimum of 100 square feet of outdoor play
space per child available on the same lot. Said play area shall be
enclosed by a fence with a minimum height of four feet, substantially
constructed and closely maintained.
(c)Â
The hours of operation shall not be earlier than 7:00 a.m. nor
later than 7:00 p.m., prevailing time.
(d)Â
No home day-care use shall be permitted within a radius of 1,000
feet of any other home day-care use. The radius shall be measured
from the center of the home structure to the center of the nearest
home used as a family day-care home use.
(e)Â
The premises used for any home day-care use shall be subject
to inspection during normal business hours by the Township Health
Officer and/or Fire Marshal or their agent to ensure compliance with
all applicable Health and/or Fire Safety Codes.
(f)Â
All provisions of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
Regulations governing family day care and contained in Chapter 3290
et seq. of Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code are incorporated herein
by reference. Where this ordinance contains more stringent provisions
from said Department of Public Welfare Regulations, the provisions
of this ordinance shall control.
(3)Â
Place of worship, including education, child care and similar activities,
provided all related uses are undertaken by the religious organization
and not managed by an outside agency, company or any other entity.
A.Â
Residential uses, single-family detached dwellings.
(1)Â
Lot area. A lot area of not less than 5,100 square feet shall be
provided for every single-family detached dwelling or other structure
erected or used for any other permitted use. The minimum lot area,
whenever on-site sewage disposal is proposed and approved, shall be
1/2 acre. The Board of Commissioners shall determine when a lot cannot
be served by public sewer and may require the installation of capped
sewers if on-site sewerage is used temporarily.
(2)Â
Lot width at building line. A lot width of not less than 45 feet
at the building line shall be provided.
(3)Â
Lot width at street line. A lot width or lot frontage of not less
than 45 feet at the street line shall be provided.
(4)Â
Building coverage and impervious surface. Not more than 35% of any
lot area shall be occupied by buildings, and not more than 45% of
any lot area shall be covered by impervious surfaces.
(5)Â
Front yard setback. The front yard setback shall be at least 25 feet.
(6)Â
Rear yard. The rear yard shall have a depth of at least 20 feet.
(7)Â
Corner lot setback. In the case of a corner lot, a setback of 25
feet shall be provided from the front lot line, and a setback of 15
feet shall be provided from the side lot line adjacent to the street
line.
(8)Â
Side yards. There shall be two side yards, one on each side of the building. The aggregate width of side yards shall not be less than 20 feet, and neither side yard shall be less than eight feet in width, except that the side yard adjacent to the street line shall be a minimum of 15 feet in width in accordance with Subsection A(7) above.
B.Â
Residential uses, single-family semidetached dwellings.
(1)Â
Lot area. A lot area of not less than 5,100 square feet shall be
provided for every single-family semidetached dwelling or other structure
erected or used for any other permitted use.
(2)Â
Lot width at building line. A lot width of not less than 30 feet
at the building line shall be provided.
(3)Â
Lot width at street line. A lot width or lot frontage of not less
than 30 feet at the street line shall be provided.
(4)Â
Building coverage and impervious surface. Not more than 35% of any
lot area shall be occupied by buildings, and not more than 45% of
any lot area shall be covered by impervious surfaces.
(5)Â
Front yard setback. The setback shall be at least 25 feet.
(6)Â
Rear yard. The rear yard shall have a depth of at least 20 feet.
(7)Â
Corner lot setback. In the case of a corner lot, a setback of 25
feet shall be provided from the front lot line, and a setback of 15
feet shall be provided from the side lot line adjacent to the street
line.
(8)Â
Side yard. The individual side yard of every semi-detached dwelling
shall be 10 feet, except on corner lots where the yard on the long
side of the lot which abuts the street line shall be at least 15 feet.
C.Â
Uses by special exception. The area and bulk regulations for uses
by special exception shall be established after analyzing the particular
use which is proposed. In determining such regulations, the following
shall be considered:
(1)Â
The nature of the use and related activities conducted therewith,
in particular, the space needs or requirements of such uses and activities.
(2)Â
The area and bulk regulations set forth in this ordinance for uses
which are similar to those proposed, but in no case less than those
set forth above.
(3)Â
Recognized space standards published in the professional planning
design literature for architects, engineers and allied professionals
for educational or religious structures and uses.
(4)Â
The area required for off-street parking.