In R-5 Residence Districts, the regulations contained in this article shall apply.
[Amended 11-22-1976 by Ord. No. 1636; 2-28-1977 by Ord. No. 77-06; 6-25-1984 by Ord. No. 84-16; 3-25-1985 by Ord. No. 85-07; 10-27-1986 by Ord. No. 86-39; 1-11-1988 by Ord. No. 88-04; 12-14-1992 by Ord. No. 92-22]
A building or, where authorized, a multiple-dwelling group may be erected or used and a lot may be occupied for any of the following purposes:
A. 
Any use permitted in R-4 Residence Districts.
B. 
Single-family semidetached dwelling, provided that the dwelling with which it has a party wall in common is erected at the same time.
C. 
Two-family detached dwelling.
D. 
Multiple dwelling, apartment house or townhouse as defined in § 280-4B.
E. 
Multiple-dwelling group, provided that the plan for such use is subject to approval in accordance with the requirements governing a unified group of buildings in § 280-4B and subject also to the requirements of § 280-36.
F. 
Accessory use to include home occupations as set forth in Article XX, § 280-115.1. In R-5 Districts, the term "accessory use" shall not be construed to permit a restaurant or any commercial facility in connection with the multiple dwelling or multiple-dwelling group.
[Amended 10-26-1998 by Ord. No. 98-09]
G. 
The following use, when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the general standards prescribed in § 280-145:
(1) 
Conversion of a single-family detached dwelling to a rooming house with accommodations for not more than three roomers, provided that:
(a) 
The dwelling proposed for conversion shall comply with all established lot area and width requirements for single-family detached dwellings within R-5 Residential Zoning Districts.
(b) 
Off-street parking shall comply with § 280-103 and shall be screened from adjacent residential properties by an approved buffer planting strip or fence of sufficient height and density not to be seen through.
(c) 
The dwelling proposed for conversion shall be owner occupied so long as roomers are permitted to reside there. Failure of the owner to continue to occupy the dwelling shall terminate any special exception granted under this section.
(d) 
Rental rooms shall comply with the minimum requirements of the Property Maintenance Code,[1] provided that no rental room shall contain more than two roomers.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 222, Property Maintenance.
(e) 
There shall be an additional separate bathroom facility provided solely for the use of the roomers.
(2) 
Student home, subject to the general standards and provisions of § 280-115.2.
[Added 3-14-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-10]
A. 
Regulations applying to uses other than multiple dwellings. The following area and height regulations shall apply to every building hereafter erected or used as a single-family or two-family dwelling and to every main building other than a dwelling:
(1) 
Lot area and width. Every building hereafter erected or used in whole or in part as a dwelling shall have a lot area and lot width at the building line of not less than the requirements set forth below, subject also to the provisions of § 280-101 relating to nonconforming lots:
[Amended 11-23-1981 by Ord. No. 81-28; 5-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-12]
Type of Dwelling
Minimum Lot Area per Family
(square feet)
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
Single-family detached
5,500
55
Single-family semidetached
5,445
40
Two-family detached
5,445
80
(2) 
Building area. Not more than 35% of the area of each lot may be occupied by buildings.
(3) 
Front yard. There shall be a front yard on each street on which a lot abuts, which shall be not less than 25 feet in depth.
(4) 
Side yards. Side yards shall be provided on every lot as follows:
(a) 
For every single- or two-family detached dwelling and its accessory buildings, there shall be two side yards, neither of which shall be less than 10 feet in width.
(b) 
For every semidetached dwelling and its accessory buildings, there shall be one side yard which shall be not less than 10 feet in width.
(c) 
For every building other than a dwelling and its accessory buildings, there shall be two side yards, neither of which shall be less than 15 feet in width.
(5) 
Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot which shall be not less than 20 feet in depth.
(6) 
Height. No building or structure shall exceed three stories or 35 feet in height, except that no accessory building shall exceed 20 feet in height.
(7) 
Accessory building exception. A private garage or other accessory building may be erected within three feet of a rear or side yard line or separated at least 10 feet from the main building, provided that the distance from the main building may be reduced to not less than three feet in the case of a lot existing at the effective date of this chapter.
(8) 
Maximum impervious surfaces: 40%.
[Added 11-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-37; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-19]
(9) 
Riparian buffer setback: 15 feet.
[Added 12-8-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-22]
B. 
Regulations applying to multiple dwellings. The following area and height regulations shall apply to every building or group of buildings hereafter erected or used as a multiple dwelling, apartment house or multiple-dwelling group. In the case of a multiple-dwelling group, the group of buildings as a unit shall comply with the provisions of this subsection:
(1) 
Lot area and width. Every multiple dwelling or permitted apartment use shall have a lot area per dwelling unit or, in the case of a multiple-dwelling group, an average lot area per dwelling unit of not less than 5,445 square feet and a minimum lot width at the building line of not less than 100 feet.
[Amended 11-23-1981 by Ord. No. 81-28; 5-12-1982 by Ord. No. 82-12]
(2) 
Building area. Not more than 30% of the area of each lot may be occupied by buildings.
(3) 
Yards.
(a) 
Front yard. There shall be a front yard on each street on which a lot abuts which shall be not less than 50 feet in depth.
(b) 
Side yards. There shall be two side yards for each multiple dwelling or permitted apartment use, neither of which shall be less than 30 feet in width.
(c) 
Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot which shall be not less than 30 feet in depth.
(4) 
Height. No building or structure shall exceed four stories or 40 feet in height, except that no accessory structure shall exceed 20 feet in height.
(5) 
Building size. The greatest dimension in length or depth of an apartment building shall not exceed 160 feet.
(6) 
Minimum room sizes. Rooms in multiple dwellings shall have the following minimum areas, exclusive of closet space. Any floor space exceeding 40 square feet, enclosed by partitions or walls having cased openings or doors of any type, shall be deemed to be a room. A basement shall not contain habitable rooms except for janitor's living quarters, which shall be counted as a dwelling unit.
Type of Room
Floor Area
(square feet)
First bedroom
160
All other bedrooms
120
Living room
240
Dining room
160
Dinette
120
Kitchen
80
Bath
40
(7) 
Minimum habitable floor area. Each apartment unit shall have not less than 600 square feet of gross habitable floor area, not including stairs and corridors.
(8) 
Accessory building exception. A private garage or other accessory building may be erected within a rear or side yard if separated at least 10 feet from the main building, provided that no such building shall be located less than three feet from a side lot line nor less than three feet from a rear lot line. Where a planting strip is required, no building shall be located therein.
(9) 
Maximum impervious surfaces: 36%.
[Added 11-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-37; amended 7-17-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-19]
(10) 
Riparian buffer setback: 35 feet.
[Added 12-8-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-22]
A. 
In addition to the requirements of this chapter, the plan for the proposed development shall comply with the special standards of Chapter 255, Subdivision of Land, relating to multiple-dwelling groups.
B. 
Along each side or rear property line which directly abuts a residence area not devoted to apartment use in the district or in an adjoining district or municipality, a buffer planting strip, as defined in § 280-4B, of not less than 10 feet in width shall be provided.
C. 
The off-street parking, off-street loading and special requirements relating to highway frontage prescribed in §§ 280-103, 280-104 and 280-105 shall apply in the case of the proposed use.