Borough of Media, PA Article III R-1 Residential District

§ 311-13 Legislative intent.

[Amended 1-15-2004 by Ord. No. 984]

The purpose of this article is to protect, maintain and preserve the existing low density residential development in the district; to provide for adequate open spaces between houses to ensure a desirable living environment; and to permit continued development consistent with existing housing types and lot sizes

§ 311-14 Uses by right.

In the R-1 Residential District, land, building or premises shall be used by right only for one or more of the following uses:

A. Single-family detached dwelling.

B. Single-family detached dwelling used as a community residence facility, mentally retarded.

§ 311-15 Uses by special exception.

[Amended 8-15-1996 by Ord. No. 903]

The following uses shall be permitted as a special exception when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board. All special exceptions are subject to the provisions of Article XVII as well as any specific conditions listed below in this section:

A. Church or other place of worship, including rectory or parish house.

B. Municipal or public use.

C. Passive recreation area.

D. (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection B, permitting the conversion of a single-family dwelling to a multifamily dwelling, amended 1-15-2004 by Ord. No. 984, was repealed 9-17-2009 by Ord. No. 1065.

§ 311-16 Accessory uses.

A. Off-street parking space or private garage.

B. Utility/tool shed and similar accessory structure.

C. Private swimming pool and other recreational use.

D. Fence, when erected and maintained subject to the requirements of Article XII of this chapter.

E. Any accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the uses permitted above and not detrimental to the neighborhood.

F. No-impact home-based business or commercial activity administered or conducted as an accessory use which is clearly secondary to the use as a residential dwelling and must satisfy the following requirements:

[Added 6-19-2003 by Ord. No. 973]

(1) The business activity shall involve no customer, client or patient traffic, whether vehicular or pedestrian, pickup, delivery or removal functions to or from the premises in excess of those normally associated with residential use.

(2) The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use of the property and surrounding residential uses.

(3) The business shall employ no employees other than family members residing in the dwelling.

(4) There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling or inventory of a substantial nature.

(5) There shall be no outside appearance of a business use, including, but not limited to parking, signs, lights, or storage.

(6) The business activity may not use any equipment or process which creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical or electrical interference, including interference with radio or television reception, which is detectable in the surrounding area.

(7) The business activity may not generate any solid waste or sewage discharge in volume or type which is not normally associated with residential use.

(8) The business activity including but not limited to storage of inventory shall be conducted only within the dwelling and may not occupy more than 25% of the habitable floor area.

(9) The business may not involve any illegal activity.

§ 311-17 Area and bulk regulations.

Single-family detached dwellings.

A. Lot area. A lot area of not less than 6,600 square feet shall be provided for every dwelling hereafter erected.

B. Lot width. The lot for each dwelling hereafter erected shall have a width at the building line of not less than 60 feet.

C. Minimum yard requirements.

(1) Front yard. There shall be a front yard, the depth of which shall be not less than 25 feet.

(2) Side yards. There shall be two side yards, one on either side of each dwelling, which shall have an aggregate width of not less than 25 feet, and neither side yard shall be less than 10 feet.

(3) Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard which shall be not less than 20 feet in depth.

(4) Corner lot setbacks.

[Amended 8-15-1996 by Ord. No. 903]

(a) In case of a corner lot where the right-of-way dimension of both streets is identical, a front yard setback of not less than 25 feet shall be required from the street line fronted by the shortest lot dimension, and a front yard setback of not less than 15 feet shall be required from the street line fronted by the longest dimension. The yard opposite the shortest lot dimension shall comply with rear yard setback requirements, and the yard opposite the long lot dimension shall comply with the minimum side yard setback requirements.

(b) In case of a corner lot where the right-of-way dimension of both streets is not identical, a front yard setback of 25 feet shall be required from the street with the widest right-of-way dimension, and a front yard setback of 15 feet shall be required from the street with the narrowest right-of-way dimension. The yard opposite the street with the widest right-of-way shall comply with rear yard setback requirements, and the yard opposite the street with the narrowest right-of-way dimension shall comply with the minimum side yard setback requirements.

(c) In the case of a corner lot where the lot dimensions along the streets are identical and the right-of-way dimension of both streets is identical, the property owner shall select one side abutting the street to be the front yard, consistent with other uses prevailing on the same block.

D. Building coverage. The aggregate area of all buildings on a lot shall not exceed 30% of the lot area.

E. Height regulation. No building shall have a height exceeding 35 feet with a maximum of three stories above grade.

F. Off-street parking. As required by Article XIII of this chapter.

G. Accessory structures. As required by § 311-63 of this chapter.

H. Impervious surface requirements. Not more than 35% of any lot area shall be covered by impervious surfaces.

[Added 5-15-2008 by Ord. No. 1047]