Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Township of Plumstead, PA
Bucks County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
[Ord. 01-09-18-1, 9/18/2001, § 1100]
1. 
The purpose of the R-5/CA-2 District is to recognize the development regulations for the Patriot's Ridge development. This development and the standards of this Part resulted from a zoning ordinance challenge filed by C&M Developers, Inc.. This District also provides for areas to be developed with multifamily dwellings in a variety of arrangements to meet the housing needs of future population.
2. 
A building or structure may be erected or altered, to be used either in whole or in part, and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following uses and no other, provided that such uses, buildings, or structures shall comply with such regulations as yards, lot sizes, lot width, building area, height, impervious surface, easements, buffer minimum yards, off-street parking, and other requirements as specified by this chapter.
[Ord. 01-09-18-1, 9/18/2001, § 1101; as amended by Ord. 2004-06, 11/10/2004, Art. II, III]
1. 
Uses Permitted by Right.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2020-04, 9/8/2020; and by A.O.]
A1
General Farming
A2
Agricultural Retail
A4
Forestry
B1
Single-Family Detached Dwellings
B4
Two-Family Dwellings
B5
Multifamily: Apartment
B6
Multifamily: Townhouse
B12
Home Occupation
B14
Accessory Building, Structures, or Use (accessory uses for Use B1, Single-Family Detached Dwellings only)
B16
Village Preservation Development
B17
Short-Term Rentals
C7
Municipal Use or Municipal Buildings
D1
Public Recreation Facility
G28
Small Wireless Communications Facility, co-located
G28
Small Wireless Communications Facility, requiring installation of new wireless support structure
2. 
Uses Permitted by Special Exception.
E1
Utilities
3. 
Uses Permitted by Conditional Use.
[Added by Ord. No. 2020-07, 11/10/2020; as amended by A.O.]
B18
Event Venue Use
G28
Non-Tower-Based Wireless Communications Facility
[Ord. 01-09-18-1, 9/18/2001, § 1102; as amended by Ord. 2003-08, 7/1/2003, Art. VI; and by Ord. 2004-06, 11/10/2004, Art. IV]
1. 
Use B1, Single-Family Detached Dwelling.
Minimum lot area
14,000 square feet
Minimum lot width
85 feet
Maximum building coverage
20%
Maximum impervious surface coverage
25%
Minimum yards
Front
35 feet
Sides
10 feet
Rear
30 feet
Off-street parking spaces
3 (including garage spaces)
2. 
Use B4, Two-Family Dwelling, Twin Dwelling.
Minimum lot area per dwelling unit
2,500 square feet
Maximum density
4 units per acre of base site area
Maximum impervious coverage
50%
Minimum lot width
40 feet
Minimum yards
Front
20 feet
Side
10 feet
Rear
20 feet
Minimum lot area per dwelling unit
2,500 square feet
Aggregate of front and rear
50 feet
3. 
Use B4, Two-Family Dwelling, Duplex Dwelling.
Minimum lot area (per unit)
2,500 square feet
Maximum density
4 dwellings/acre of base site area
Minimum lot width
50 feet
Maximum impervious surface coverage
50%
Minimum yards (per building)
Front
20 feet
Side
15 feet
Rear
20 feet
Aggregate of front and rear
50 feet
4. 
(Reserved)
5. 
(Reserved)
6. 
Transferable Development Rights for Uses B5 and B6.
A. 
The maximum density for the Uses B5 and B6 may be increased up to a maximum of 10 units per acre of base site area through transferable development rights.
B. 
For each dwelling unit added above the number permitted by right, one transferable development right shall be purchased and transferred to the site.
7. 
Use B16, Village Preservation Development.
A. 
All uses shall comply with the area and dimensional requirements listed in this Subsection 7, along with the site area and dimensional requirements listed in § 27-304, Use B16, Village Preservation Development. Area or dimensional requirements stated in § 27-304, Use Regulations, that directly conflict with this section's requirements are superseded by the requirements listed below:
(1) 
Use B1, Single-Family Dwelling:
Minimum lot area
5,000 square feet
Minimum lot width
50 feet
Maximum impervious surface ratio per lot
65%
Maximum building coverage
45%
Minimum yards
Front
10 feet*
Sides
10 feet
Rear
30 feet
Minimum setback for garage
Side
0 feet; 10 feet aggregate
Rear
10 feet
*A covered porch may extend up to five feet into the required front yard.
(2) 
Use B4, Two-Family Dwelling Twin: a structure containing two dwelling units that share only one wall in common.
Minimum lot area per dwelling unit
3,000 square feet
Minimum lot width per dwelling unit
30 feet
Maximum impervious surface ratio per lot
50%
Maximum building coverage
40%
Minimum yards
Front
10 feet*
Side
10 feet
Rear
30 feet
Minimum setback for garage
Side
0 feet; 10 feet aggregate
Rear
10 feet
*A covered porch may extend up to five feet into the required front yard.
(3) 
Use B4, Two-Family Dwelling Duplex: a structure containing two dwelling units with one dwelling unit located above the other.
Minimum lot area per building
6,000 square feet
Minimum lot width per building
50 feet
Maximum impervious surface ratio per lot
50%
Maximum building coverage
40%
Minimum yards
Front
10 feet*
Side
10 feet
Rear
30 feet
Minimum setback for garage
Side
0 feet; 10 feet aggregate
Rear
10 feet
*A covered porch may extend up to five feet into the required front yard.
(4) 
Use B5, Multifamily Apartments.
Minimum setback of buildings
Street
10 feet*
Parking areas
20 feet
Other buildings
30 feet
Minimum setback of associated garages
Side
0 feet; 10 feet aggregate
Rear
10 feet
Minimum setback from site boundaries
25 feet
Maximum number of units per building
17
Parking spaces
Off-street
2 spaces per unit
Overflow
0.35 space per unit
*A covered porch may extend up to five feet into the required front yard.
(5) 
Use B6, Multifamily: Townhouses.
Minimum lot area per unit
2,000 square feet
Minimum lot width per unit
20 feet
Maximum impervious surface ratio per lot
75%
Maximum building coverage
50%
Minimum setback of townhouse buildings
Front
10 feet*
Side
10 feet
Rear
30 feet
Other buildings
30 feet
Minimum setback for garages
Side
0 feet; 10 feet aggregate
Rear
10 feet
Minimum setback from site boundaries
25 feet
Maximum front yard setback
35 feet
Maximum number of units per building
6
Parking spaces
Off-street
2 spaces per unit
Overflow
0.35 space per unit
*A covered porch may extend up to five feet into the required front yard.
B. 
Except for on-street parallel parking, no parking areas, including garages, shall be located between a building and a street line. These rear and side yard parking areas shall only be accessed by way of alleys. Garages and parking areas shall be located at least 10 feet behind the front building facade of the dwelling they serve, excluding the front porch, if any.
C. 
A Village Preservation Development shall be comprised of mix of the residential uses listed under Subsection 7A. The mix of uses shall comply with the following table:
Number of Dwellings in Development
Minimum Required Number of DU Types
Maximum Percent Any DU Type
Minimum Percent Any DU Type
1 to 40
1
100%
10%
41 to 80
2
80%
10%
81 and above
3
60%
10%
D. 
The requirements for special setbacks for reverse frontage lots listed under § 27-2309, Subsection A, do not apply to lots created within a B16 Development.
E. 
Bufferyards shall be required pursuant to § 27-2405 only where a proposed multifamily building or use directly abuts an existing use or road required to be buffered under § 27-2405.
F. 
Use of Transferable Development Rights (TDRs).
(1) 
Under this use, TDRs may be employed to increase the density of the development to 4.5 dwelling units per acre from 3.5 dwelling units per acre. For each dwelling unit added to the site above the 3.5 dwelling units per acre normally allowed, one transferable development right shall be acquired and transferred to the site.
(2) 
The use of TDRs shall be approved only where the benefits and purposes of the area to be preserved through the transfer of development rights meets Township goals of land preservation.
(3) 
The use of TDRs is only permitted where the TDRs are used to increase the density of a proposed development. Properties eligible for sending TDRs are defined in Part 27 and are limited to properties enrolled in the Township's Agricultural Security Area or properties nominated for preservation by the Township.
G. 
A minimum of half of the required open space shall be located in one parcel and shall not be divided by stormwater management facilities or lots. The remaining open space must be configured and used to provide areas of public internal greens, community squares or walking trails in accessible locations for use by all residents. All other open space requirements of this chapter shall be met. No utilities may be located within open space.
8. 
All Other Permitted Uses.
Minimum lot area
2 acres
Minimum lot width
200 feet
Maximum building coverage
10%
Maximum impervious surface coverage
45%
Minimum yards
Front
50 feet
Sides
50 feet
Rear
50 feet