In expansion of the community development objectives contained in Article
III, §
160-8, it is hereby declared to be the intent of this article to establish two administrative and research districts having the following purposes:
A. Purposes of A-R District.
(1)
Provide for nonpolluting administrative, research
and office uses that take advantage of superior locations and highway
accessibility.
(2)
Prohibit polluting or noxious uses by providing
strict performance standards while limiting the types of permitted
uses to only those having no adverse effect.
(3)
Establish standards which encourage orderly
and planned development of office parks, including an internal road
network and spacious building lots, while avoiding areas unsuitable
for development.
(4)
Preserve natural features and other natural
or man-made amenities; encourage superior site design and plan for
the needs and safety of prospective tenants and the residents of the
community.
B. Purposes of A-R-1 District.
(1)
In addition to those purposes stated above,
provide for nonpolluting administrative, research and office uses
in areas adjacent to previously zoned and developed A-R Zoning Districts
that take advantage of superior locations and highway accessibility.
(2)
Ensure that residential and institutional development
will be buffered against A-R-1 Districts and prevent encroachment
upon existing roads and highways by the use of substantial yard setbacks,
strict building bulk controls and installation of new landscape materials
and/or require the preservation of existing natural features to accomplish
the same effect.
[Amended 9-4-1985 by Ord. No. 4-83; 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 4-128; 10-6-1997 by Ord. No.
4-157; 4-5-2005 by Ord. No. 4-205]
A building or group of buildings may be erected,
altered or used and any lot or premises may be used or occupied for
any of the following purposes and no other:
A. Offices for administrative, executive, professional,
sales and other similar uses, the normal attributes of which do not
involve the actual storage, exchange or delivery of merchandise on
the premises.
(1)
Banks, savings and loan associations, credit
unions and other financial institutions.
[Added 4-18-2006 by Ord. No. 4-217]
B. Laboratory for scientific, agricultural or industrial
research and development.
C. Signs, subject to the provisions of Article
XXVI, and further provided that no freestanding sign shall be at its highest point greater than 12 feet above ground level.
[Amended 12-20-2011 by Ord. No. 4-234]
D. Any use of the same general character as any of the
uses hereinbefore specially permitted when authorized as a special
exception.
E. Any of the following purposes when authorized as a
special exception:
(1)
Educational, religious, philanthropic use, excluding
correctional or penal institution.
(3)
Municipal use, excluding dump.
F. Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily
incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses, including:
(1)
Cafeteria for employees and guests.
(2)
Recreation facilities for tenants and their
employees.
(3)
The following personal service shops primarily
for the convenience of tenants and their employees and, as such, open
for business only during the hours of operation of the largest shift
of employees within the building so long as such facility or any total
combination thereof shall not constitute more than 10% of the first-floor
gross floor area of such building and shall be located only within
the confines of the building:
(b)
Transportation ticket office.
(d)
Restaurants, but excluding establishments maintaining
drive-in, drive-through, curb service, outdoor counters or otherwise
permitting or facilitating eating or drinking on the exterior of the
building, provided that the restaurant premises shall be equipped
with refrigerated garbage disposal facilities.
G. Limited storage and service of electronic, computer,
pharmaceutical, optical and mechanical components as accessory to
a foregoing permitted use, by special exception when authorized by
the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the following conditions:
(1)
Special exceptions shall be authorized only
when accessory to a permitted use within the district.
(2)
The area devoted to limited storage and service
shall not exceed 10% of the total floor area specifically used and
occupied by the principal use to which the storage and service is
accessory.
(3)
The limited storage and service shall be permitted
only within an enclosed building, and no exterior alterations, such
as loading docks and garage doors, shall be permitted.
(4)
The accessory use shall be specifically limited
to materials and products such as electronic, computer, pharmaceutical,
optical or mechanical components and pieces which are capable of being
held in one hand by the average worker.
(5)
No separate signage shall be permitted for this
activity.
[Amended 1-6-1992 by Ord. No. 4-128; 10-6-1997 by Ord. No. 4-157; 4-5-2005 by Ord. No.
4-205]
A building or group of buildings may be erected,
altered or used and any lot or premises may be used or occupied for
any of the following purposes and no other:
A. Offices for administrative, executive, professional,
research, sales and other similar uses, the normal attributes of which
do not involve the actual storage, exchange or delivery of merchandise
on the premises.
(1)
Banks, savings and loan associations, credit
unions and other financial institutions.
[Added 4-18-2006 by Ord. No. 4-217]
B. Signs, subject to the provisions of Article
XXVI and as herein may be regulated for the A-R District, and further provided that no freestanding sign shall be at its highest point greater than 12 feet above ground level.
[Amended 12-20-2011 by Ord. No. 4-234]
C. Any use of the same general character as any of the
uses hereinbefore specially permitted when authorized as a special
exception.
D. Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily
incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses, including:
(1)
Cafeteria for employees and guests.
(2)
Recreation facilities for tenants and their
employees.
(3)
The following personal service shops primarily
for the convenience of tenants and their employees and, as such, open
for business only during the hours of operation of the largest shift
of employees within the building so long as such facility or any total
combination thereof shall not constitute more than 10% of the first-floor
gross area of such building and shall be located only within the confines
of the building:
(b)
Transportation ticket office.
(d)
Restaurants, but excluding establishments maintaining
drive-in, drive-through, curb service, outdoor counters or otherwise
permitting or facilitating eating or drinking on the exterior of the
building, provided that the restaurant premises shall be equipped
with refrigerated garbage disposal facilities.
E. Limited storage and service of electronic, computer,
pharmaceutical, optical and mechanical components as accessory to
a foregoing permitted use, by special exception when authorized by
the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the following conditions:
(1)
Special exceptions shall be authorized only
when accessory to a permitted use within the district.
(2)
The area devoted to limited storage and service
shall not exceed 10% of the total floor area specifically used and
occupied by the principal use to which the storage and service is
accessory.
(3)
The limited storage and service shall be permitted
only within an enclosed building, and no exterior alterations, such
as loading docks and garage doors, shall be permitted.
(4)
The accessory use shall be specifically limited
to materials and products such as electronic, computer, pharmaceutical,
optical or mechanical components and pieces which are capable of being
held in one hand by the average worker.
(5)
No separate signage shall be permitted for this
activity.
In the A-R Administrative and Research District,
the following regulations shall apply:
A. Minimum lot area and widths. A lot area of not less
than five developable acres and a lot width of not less than 300 feet
at the building line shall be provided for every building or other
structure erected or used for any use permitted in this district.
B. Front yard. The required minimum depth of a front
yard shall be as follows:
(1)
Where a building faces a street on the opposite
side of which the land is zoned residential: 150 feet from the ultimate
right-of-way line of the street.
(2)
Where a building faces a street on the opposite
side of which the land is zoned commercial, industrial, administrative
and research or research and engineering: 50 feet from the ultimate
right-of-way line of the street.
C. Side yards. There shall be two side yards on each
lot, which shall have an aggregate width of not less than 150 feet,
neither side yard having a width of less than 50 feet, and provided
that any side yard abutting a dedicated public street shall have a
width of not less than 100 feet from the ultimate right-of-way line
of the street. Where a building is not parallel or perpendicular to
a lot line, for purposes of determining whether the aggregate width
of the side yards is 150 feet, such distances shall be measured from
the lot line to the average distance that the building is set back
from the lot line and not from the point of the building closest to
the lot line.
D. Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot,
the depth of which shall be not less than 50 feet, provided that any
rear yard abutting a dedicated public street shall have a depth of
not less than 100 feet from the ultimate right-of-way line of the
street.
E. Building coverage. No more than 20% of the area of
any lot shall be occupied by buildings.
F. Lots near residential districts. In no case shall
any building or structure be erected closer than 150 feet to any residential
district.
G. Height. The maximum height of any building shall be
50 feet.
H. On-site parking and loading. No parking shall be permitted closer than 50 feet to the street ultimate right-of-way line along any lot, nor closer than 50 feet to any lot line abutting or opposite a street right-of-way from a residential district. All parking must be off street and shall be in compliance with the provisions of Article
XXVII.
[Amended 11-16-1999 by Ord. No. 4-168]
I. Special regulations for contiguous tracts of land
containing more than 35 developable acres which are zoned A-R Administrative
and Research. Where contiguous tracts of ground are located in an
A-R Administrative and Research District and contain more than 35
developable acres, the following provisions shall apply:
(1)
The requirement contained in Subsection
B of a front yard of 150 feet where a building faces a street on the opposite side of which the land is zoned residential is reduced to 70 feet, but in no event a distance less than twice the height of the building, if there are no existing residences constructed adjacent to the street or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(2)
The requirement contained in Subsection
C that any side yard abutting a street shall have a width of not less than 100 feet is reduced to 70 feet, but in no event a distance less than twice the height of the building, if there are no existing residences constructed adjacent to the street or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(3)
The requirement contained in Subsection
D that any rear yard abutting a street shall have a depth of not less than 100 feet is reduced to 70 feet, but in no event a distance less than twice the height of the building, if there are no existing residences constructed adjacent to the street or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(4)
The requirement contained in Subsection
F that no building or structure shall be erected closer than 150 feet to any residential district is reduced to 110 feet, but in no event a distance less than twice the height of the building, if there are no existing residences constructed immediately adjacent to the residential district boundary line or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(5)
The requirement contained in Subsection
H with regard to parking is reduced from 50 feet to 30 feet along a road right-of-way only if there are no existing residences constructed immediately adjacent to the proposed development or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(6)
A parking garage or covered parking structure,
whether detached or a part of a building, shall be specifically prohibited
from the reduced yards permitted in this subsection, unless said parking
is completely submerged below the existing ground elevation.
(7)
Only those uses permitted in Subsection
A under §
160-102 shall be permitted within the reduced yards permitted in this subsection, unless specifically waived by the Board of Supervisors.
(8)
Any structure, building, appurtenance, tower,
tank or chimney or any part thereof in excess of 50 feet in height
shall be specifically prohibited from the reduced yards permitted
in this subsection, unless specifically waived by the Board of Supervisors.
In the A-R-1 Administrative and Research District,
the following regulations shall apply:
A. Minimum lot area and widths. A lot area of not less
than 7 1/2 developable acres and a lot width of not less than
300 feet at the building line shall be provided for every building
or other structure erected or used for any use permitted in this district.
B. Front yard. The required minimum depth of a front
yard shall be as follows:
(1)
Where a building faces a street on the opposite
side of which the land is zoned residential: 150 feet from the ultimate
right-of-way line of the street; provided, however, that this requirement
is reduced to 110 feet from the ultimate right-of-way if there are
no existing residences constructed immediately adjacent to the proposed
development or there exists no approved residential subdivision proposing
three or more lots immediately adjacent thereto.
(2)
Where a building faces a street on the opposite
side of which the land is zoned commercial, industrial, administrative
and research or research and engineering: 50 feet from the ultimate
right-of-way line of the street.
C. Side yard. There shall be two side yards on each lot,
which shall have an aggregate width of not less than 150 feet, neither
side yard having a width of less than 50 feet, and provided that any
side yard abutting a dedicated public street shall have a width of
not less than 100 feet. Where a building is not parallel or perpendicular
to a lot line, for purposes of determining whether the aggregate width
of the side yards is 150 feet, such distance shall be measured from
the lot line to the average distance that the building is set back
from the lot line and not from the point of the building closest to
the lot line.
D. Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot,
the depth of which shall be not less than 50 feet, provided that any
rear yard abutting a dedicated public street shall have a depth of
not less than 100 feet.
E. Building coverage. No more than 20% of the area of
any lot shall be occupied by buildings.
F. Lots near residential districts. In no case shall
any building or structure be erected closer than 150 feet to any residential
district.
G. Height. The maximum height of any building shall be
three stories, and no part of any building or structure shall be higher
than 43 feet. A parking garage or covered parking structure shall
not be counted as a story if the roofline of the parking garage or
covered parking structure is not higher than three feet above the
proposed average grade elevation around the building.
H. On-site parking and loading. No parking shall be permitted closer than 50 feet to the street ultimate right-of-way line along any lot, nor closer than 50 feet to any lot line abutting or opposite a street right-of-way from a residential district. All parking must be off street and shall be in compliance with the provisions of Article
XXVII.
[Amended 11-16-1999 by Ord. No. 4-168]
(1)
The requirement with regard to parking is reduced
from 50 feet to 30 feet if there are no existing residences constructed
immediately adjacent to the proposed development or there exists no
approved residential subdivision proposing three or more lots immediately
adjacent thereto.
(2)
Parking areas shall comply with the lighting requirements of §
160-220 of this chapter.
(3)
No parking or driveways, whether surface or
in an underground structure, shall be closer than 100 feet to a property
line that is not a street and adjacent to a residential or institutional
zoning district.
In the A-R Administrative and Research District
and A-R-1 Administrative and Research District, the following regulations
shall apply:
A. Smoke control.
(1)
No smoke shall be emitted from any chimney or
other source visible gray greater than No. 1 on the Ringelmann Chart
as published by the United States Bureau of Mines.
(2)
Smoke of a shade not darker than No. 2 on the
Ringelmann Smoke Chart may be emitted for not more than four minutes
in any 30 minutes.
(3)
These provisions applicable to visible gray
smoke shall also apply to visible smoke of a different color but with
an equivalent apparent opacity.
B. Control of dust and dirt, fly ash and fumes, vapors
and gases.
(1)
No emission shall be made which can cause any
damage to health, to animals or vegetation or other form of property
or which can cause any excessive soiling at any point.
(2)
No emission of liquid or solid particles from
any chimney or otherwise shall exceed 0.3 grain per cubic foot of
the covering gas at any point.
(3)
For measurement of the amount of particles in
gases resulting from combustion, standard correction shall be applied
to a stack temperature of 500° F. and 50% excess air.
C. Control of noises. Noise shall not violate the Township's Disturbing the Peace Ordinance, at §
83-1 of the Code of Ordinances of Whitpain Township.
E. Control of glare and heat.
(1)
Any operation producing intense glare or heat
shall be performed within an enclosed building or behind a solid fence
in such manner as to be completely imperceptible from any point along
the lot lines.
(2)
Exterior illumination shall comply with §
160-220 of this chapter.
F. Control of vibration. No vibration which is discernible
to the human sense of feeling shall be perceptible without instruments
at any point on the lot line.
G. Control of radioactivity or electrical disturbance.
There shall be no activities which emit dangerous radioactivity at
any point. There shall be no electrical disturbance (except from domestic
household appliances) adversely affecting the operation at any point
of any equipment other than that of the creator of such disturbance.
H. Outdoor storage and waste disposal.
(1)
No flammable or explosive liquids, solids or
gases shall be stored in bulk above the ground; provided, however,
that tanks or drums of fuel directly connecting with energy devices,
heating devices or appliances located on the same lot as the tanks
or drums of fuel are excluded from this provision.
(2)
All outdoor storage facilities for fuel, raw
materials and products stored outdoors shall be enclosed by a fence
adequate to conceal the facilities from any adjacent properties. No
storage shall be permitted in any required front yard nor closer than
150 feet to any residential or institutional district.
(3)
No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon
a lot in such form or manner that they may be transferred off the
lot by natural causes or forces.
(4)
All materials or wastes which might cause fumes
or dust, which constitute a fire hazard or which may be edible or
otherwise be attractive to rodents or insects shall be stored outdoors
only in closed containers.
I. Screening. All front yards and all areas delimited by a side or rear lot line abutting or directly across a street from a residential district and to a depth of 50 feet for the entire length thereof shall be maintained as green areas and planted in grass, shrubs and/or trees, except for necessary ways of access there through, which shall be planted in accordance with a plan approved by the Board of Supervisors following a recommendation by the Planning Commission, which shall, at least, conform to the standards and requirements of §
160-107A of the Code of the Township of Whitpain, including all regulations required for screen buffer.
[Added 8-3-2004 by Ord. No. 4-204]
Adequate off-street parking and loading space is permitted in accordance with Article
XXVII of this chapter.