Township of Lower Gwynedd, PA Chapter 1276 MF-3 Multifamily Residential District

STATUTORY REFERENCES

General provisions and definitions — See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.

GENERAL REFERENCES

Establishment — See Ch. 1254, Section 1254.01.

Townhouses in E District — See 1268.06(a) and 1268.08(h)(1).

Signs — See Ch. 1292.

Off-street parking and loading — See Ch. 1294.

Nonconforming uses — See Ch. 1296.

General provisions and definitions — See Ch. 1298.

Fire separations in multifamily dwellings — See Ch. 1440, Section 1440.03 (BOCA Sec. 910.3).

§ 1276.01 Application of chapter.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985]

In an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, the regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply.

§ 1276.02 Permitted uses.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985]

In an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, a building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes and no other:

(a) Housing for the elderly.

(b) Residential nursing care facilities.

(c) Municipal use.

(d) Accessory uses in accordance with Section 1250.04(2) and Chapter 1298.

§ 1276.03 Lot area and width.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985]

(a) Minimum Lot Area. In an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, a lot area of not less than 20 acres shall be provided for every development.

(b) Minimum Lot Width. A lot width of not less than 200 feet shall be provided along a public street or way for every access to the development.

§ 1276.04 Yards.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985; Ord. 395. Passed 2-19-2001]

In an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, the front yard provided on each lot shall not be less than 200 feet in width. The side yards and rear yards shall not be less than 75 feet in width.

§ 1276.05 Lot coverage.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985]

(a) Building Coverage. In an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, the total building coverage shall not exceed 20%.

(b) Impervious Coverage. The total impervious coverage shall not exceed 45%.

§ 1276.06 Building height.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985]

(a) The maximum height for dwellings, buildings or other structures erected or enlarged in an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District shall be 30 feet, not exceeding two stories.

(b) The maximum height for any building accessory to any dwelling shall be 14 feet, not exceeding one story.

§ 1276.07 Off-street parking and loading.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985; Ord. 395. Passed 2-19-2002]

(a) For each dwelling unit in an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, 0.85 of a parking space shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 1294.

(b) For employee and accessory uses, parking shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 1294.

(c) Areas for loading and unloading of delivery trucks and other vehicles, and for refuse collection, fuel and other service vehicles, shall be provided, shall be adequate in size and shall be so arranged that they may be used without blocking or interfering with the use of access roads or automobile parking facilities, and all such areas shall be in accordance with Chapter 1294.

(d) No parking area shall be located within 75 feet of the property line and no service or loading area shall be located within 200 feet of any property line, except as required for normal ingress or egress.

§ 1276.08 Development standards.

[Ord. 223. Passed 12-10-1985; Ord. 251. Passed 2-16-1988; Ord. 395. Passed 2-19-2002]

(a) Density. In the "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District, the number of residential units per acre shall not exceed 8.04. For the purposes of this calculation, the gross acreage of the tract shall be used for lands zoned MF-3. Apartments and personal care beds shall each be equal to one residential unit. The ratio of apartments to personal care units shall not exceed 9.05 to 1.

(b) Building Plan. Buildings shall be in accordance with an overall plan and shall be designed as a single architectural scheme. The distance at the closest point between buildings shall be not less than 30 feet.

(c) Preservation of Natural Features. The development plan shall preserve and incorporate natural features such as woods, streams and open space areas, which add to the overall cohesive development of this district and to the overall Township development.

(d) Lighting; Utility Lines. Spaces between buildings, parking areas, loading areas, access areas and service areas shall be adequately illuminated at night. Lighting, including sign lighting, shall be arranged to protect the highway and adjoining property from direct glare or hazardous interference. Utility lines servicing the area shall be placed underground.

(e) Storage of Refuse. Raw materials, supplies, trash, rubbish and other refuse shall be stored in covered containers within an adequate enclosure and handled and disposed of in such a manner so as not to give rise to smoke, odor or litter.

(f) Landscaping. All development in an "MF-3" Multifamily Residential District shall be designed and maintained in accordance with the landscape provisions of the Subdivision Regulations.

(g) Common Open Space. Any development in such district shall contain a minimum of five acres of common open space. Such common open space shall be of a character and quality acceptable to the Board of Supervisors. In addition, there shall be such provision for the ownership and maintenance of the common open space as is reasonable to ensure its preservation. To this end, the Township may accept the dedication of land or any interest therein for public use and maintenance, but the Board need not require that land proposed to be set aside for common open space be dedicated as a condition of the approval of the subdivision or land development. The Board shall require the landowner to provide for and establish an organization for the ownership and maintenance of the common open space consistent with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act, and such organization shall not dispose of the common open space by sale or otherwise, except to the Township or, after approval of the Board, to an organization established to own and maintain the common open space. If the common open space deteriorates or if, in the judgment of the Board, it is not maintained in a reasonable manner in accordance with any approved plan or otherwise, the Township may proceed to remedy any such deficiency by enforcement of any applicable Township ordinance or by injunctive relief or otherwise.

(h) (Reserved)[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection (h), Detention Basins, was repealed 8-22-2017 by Ord. No. 513.

(i) Personal Care Units. In an MF-3 Project with only apartment units, the owner may apply one time for conditional use approval to convert up to four apartment units to personal care units at a ratio of five personal care units to one apartment unit.

§ 1276.09 (Reserved) [1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Section 1276.09, Application procedure, was repealed 2-21-1995 by Ord. No. 314.