Borough of Clifton Heights, PA Article VIII C-1 Commercial Districts

§ 340-39 Purpose.

It is the purpose of this district to provide retail and service facilities which serve the needs of Clifton Heights citizens and others who may come to Clifton Heights by private automobile or public transportation; to encourage attractive and efficiently utilized central business districts; and to retain the primarily retail character of street-level uses along the Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Avenue corridors.

NOTE: There are a number of areas along Baltimore Avenue and Springfield Avenue which are 125 feet deep, as measured from the center line of Baltimore Avenue and the center line of Springfield Avenue. Those areas are shown on the Official Zoning Map, dated February 15, 1993, which is on file in the Borough offices. A description of those areas may be found in Appendix A of this chapter.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.

§ 340-40 Uses by right.

In the C-1 District, land, buildings and premises shall be used by right only for one or more of the following:

A. Retail stores.

B. Personal service shop, including tailor, barber, beauty salon, dressmaker, shoe repair or similar use shall be allowed as a use by right only if no identical or similar use is located within a 500-foot radius from the proposed use.

[Amended 1-15-2019 by Ord. No. 866]

C. Sit-down restaurant.

D. Professional or business office, agency or studio.

E. Confectionery or bakery shop, which includes retail sales on the premises.

F. Bank or other financial institution.

G. Mortuary.

H. Utility service building, including telephone exchange building, customer service center or similar use.

I. Thrift store/consignment shop: A retail establishment that offers previously used items for sale, including but not limited to clothing, shoes and accessories, home furnishings, tools, equipment, appliances, toys, and other similar items shall be allowed as a use by right only if no identical or similar use is located within a 500-foot radius from the proposed use.

[Added 1-15-2019 by Ord. No. 866]

§ 340-41 Uses by special exception.

The following uses shall be permitted as special exceptions when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board. All special exceptions are subject to Articles XVIII and XIX of this chapter, as well as any specific conditions listed below in this section.

A. Laundry, dry-cleaning or dyeing establishment with pickup on the premises.

B. Theater, place of amusement, recreation or assembly.

C. Newspaper or printing establishment.

D. Community garage.

E. Mini mall, provided that the structure contains 10,000 square feet of interior floor space.

§ 340-42 Accessory uses.

The following are accessory uses:

A. Accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental and subordinate to any of the above permitted uses.

B. Storage when contained within a completely enclosed building in conjunction with a permitted use.

§ 340-43 Area and bulk regulations.

The following regulations shall be observed:

A. Lot size: 1,500 square feet minimum.

B. Building coverage: 40% maximum.

C. Building height: 35 feet maximum.

D. Total improvement coverage: 80% of the lot maximum.

§ 340-44 Additional regulations.

A. No building shall be constructed closer to the street right-of-way line than the average setback of the existing structures along the same block frontage.

B. All off-street parking shall be restricted to the rear of structures or on lots within 300 feet of the structure served by the parking and shall be subject to Article XII, Off-Street Parking and Loading, of this chapter.

C. Where properties in this district abut a residential district, a planted buffer shall be provided on the commercial property, between such property and the abutting residential property. Such buffer shall be a planted visual screen as described in Article II of this chapter. Said planted buffer shall be at least six feet in depth.