The R-4 Multifamily Residential District is
intended to provide sites for multifamily residential dwelling units,
together with such limited subsidiary residential related and support
uses as may appropriately be located in the same district. This district
is intended to ensure adequate light, air, open space and other amenities
commensurate with multifamily development and site utilization.
The following conditional uses may be permitted, subject to the issuing of a conditional use permit in accordance with the provisions of Article
XIV of this chapter and the standards and criteria listed herewith:
A. Cluster development for residential use which consists
of a variety of housing types, including single and/or multifamily
structures may be permitted on a single development site pursuant
to the following standards and criteria:
(1) The development site must be a minimum of three contiguous
acres.
(2) Maximum density shall not exceed an average of 15
dwelling units per gross acre for the total site.
(3) There shall be a yard setback of at least 25 feet
along the perimeter of the site.
(4) There shall be no minimum lot size, setback or lot
coverage requirements; however, every dwelling structure shall have
access to a public street, court, walkway or other use dedicated to
public purpose.
(5) No structure or group of related structures shall
be erected within 20 feet of any other structure or group of structures.
(6) No structure shall exceed three stories or 50 feet
in height.
(7) A minimum of 20% of the total land area of the development
site shall be reserved and maintained for open space for the use of
the site residents. Such open space shall be defined as space designed
and developed for use by the occupants of the development for recreation,
courts, gardens or household-related activities, which space is effectively
separated from automotive traffic and parking and is readily accessible.
Streets and space devoted to parking shall not be included in this
land reservation requirement.
(8) All open spaces shall be protected by adequate covenants
running with the land or by conveyances or dedications, as the Planning
Commission shall specify, consistent with applicable legal statutes.
(9) The dimensions and construction of all roads, accessways
and parking areas within the development, whether or not dedication
to the Township is contemplated, shall conform with all applicable
Township ordinances and requirements.
(10)
All cluster development proposals shall be served
by public sewerage and water systems. No such development shall be
approved which proposes private alternative systems.
(11)
All development sites shall be provided with
a storm drainage system of sufficient design and size to collect,
carry off and dispose of all predictable surface water runoff within
the development.
(12)
Off-street parking shall be provided at the rate specified for single-family dwellings in Article
XVII of this chapter, plus one additional space for every two dwelling units in the development.
(13)
Sign requirements specified for dwellings in Article
XVI of this chapter shall apply to all developments approved under this section.
B. Business and professional offices may be permitted
in the R-4 Multifamily Residential District pursuant to the following
standards and criteria:
[Added 6-18-1984 by Ord. No. 280]
(1) Business and professional activities shall be limited
to:
(a)
Professional services, such as those provided
by a physician, dentist, lawyer, realtor, broker, architect, engineer
and similar activities and services which, in the opinion of the governing
body, are synonymous therewith.
(b)
Business activities, such as sales, management,
executive and administrative offices, technical services, telephone
answering, computer programming and similar activities and services
which, in the opinion of the governing body, are synonymous therewith
and which do not involve the reduction, manufacture or the assembly
of products for distribution or sale.
(2) The following uses and activities are prohibited:
(a)
Retail and wholesale commercial outlets for
the purpose of vending products.
(b)
Dancing studios, nursery schools and related
tutoring services.
(g)
All other uses or activities which, in the opinion of the governing body, do not meet the intent and descriptions given in items specified in Subsection
B(1)(a) and
(b) of this section.
(3) All existing and proposed structures which are authorized
for permitted conditional uses shall be architecturally and aesthetically
similar to and compatible with nearby existing structures and the
surrounding neighborhoods in which they are situated.
(4) The following site and performance standards shall
apply:
(a)
Lot, area and dimensional requirements as specified in §
190-32 of this chapter shall apply to permitted conditional uses.
(b)
Signs shall be limited to the following provisions:
[1]
One permanent identification sign shall be permitted
for each approved business activity at the site. Such signs shall
not exceed five square feet in area. All such signs shall be affixed
flat on the wall of the structure in which the business activity is
situated.
[2]
One permanent announcement sign pertaining to
the activities to be conducted at the business site may be permitted
if it is adequately demonstrated that such advertising is necessary
for the reasonable operation of the projected activities. Such signs
shall not exceed 12 square feet in area.
[3]
Moving, flashing or intermittently lighted signs
shall be prohibited.
(c)
Parking facilities shall be provided consistent
with the following provisions:
[1]
All required parking shall be located on the
same lot as the use for which it is provided.
[2]
No on-street parking shall be authorized in
conjunction with the conditional use.
[3]
Parking shall be provided at a minimum rate
of one space for each 600 square feet of net floor area. Additional
parking amounts may be specified as a prerequisite to conditional
use approvals if, in the opinion of the governing body, the proposed
activities require such increases.
[4]
All parking facilities shall be paved and adequately
landscaped to achieve visual buffering of the facilities from adjacent
residential uses.
(d)
All conditional use sites shall be adequately
landscaped to achieve visual and aesthetic compatibility with adjacent
neighborhood areas.
(5) No conditional use shall be established or permitted
to continue that:
(a)
Materially modifies the residential qualities
and characteristics of the zoning district in which it is located
or of zoning districts contiguous thereto.
(b)
Generates traffic, utility use, water runoff
or related conditions in excess of what is considered normal in R-3
and R-4 neighborhoods.
(c)
Creates a hazard to person or property; results
in interferences, such as electrical or visual; or becomes a nuisance.
(d)
Results in outside storage or display of any
type of stock or material.
C. A group residential facility may be permitted in the
R-4 Multifamily Residential District pursuant to the following standards
and criteria:
[Added 12-30-1985 by Ord. No. 283]
(1) All applicable requirements of the Pennsylvania Department
of Public Welfare as published in the Pennsylvania Social Services
Manual, Chapter 11, Section 30, Regulations for Personal Care Boarding
Homes, effective August 29, 1981, and subsequent amendments, shall
apply to group residential facilities. The following express standards
and criteria shall be provided and maintained as conditions requisite
to the authorization, establishment and continuation of a group residential
facility in the Township of Patterson.
(2) The services shall be provided in a family environment.
(3) The group residential facility shall not include business
or professional offices (other than incidental offices), business
activities, fraternal or social clubs, hospitals, clinics or other
activities.
(4) The total number of on-site residents in any single
group residential facility shall be limited to no more than 12 persons,
including clients, staff and family of staff. Clients shall be limited
to no more than eight persons.
(5) Supervision shall be provided by responsible and appropriately
qualified adults on duty, on the premises on a twenty-four-hour-a-day
basis. A minimum of one such adult shall be on duty for five or fewer
clients. A minimum of two such adults shall be on duty for six to
eight clients.
(6) Lot, yard and all other dimensional requirements of
the zoning district in which the facility is located shall be met,
except that such requirements may be reduced by the Township Commissioners
when the building proposed to house the facility is an existing structure.
(7) In addition to the parking requirements specified
for the zoning district, additional off-street parking facilities
shall be provided at the ratio of one off-street space for every two
full-time staff members, and one additional space for every nonstaff
resident permitted by the sponsor to operate a motor vehicle.
(8) Any structure of more than one story shall be equipped
with acceptable fire escapes for each level above the ground floor.
Said fire escapes shall provide access for all residents on each level.
(9) All structures shall be equipped with smoke alarm
devices. The quantity, type and installation of said devices shall
be subject to the approval of the Chief of the Patterson Township
Fire Department.
(10)
Sanitary facilities, consisting of a sink, water
closet and tub or shower, shall be provided at the ratio of one each
for every four inhabitants of the facility.
(11)
A minimum of 72 square feet of contiguous sleeping
and personal area shall be provided for each client. Said area, for
purposes of this requirement, shall be computed exclusive of areas
used for sanitary facilities, hallways, aisles, stairwells and other
circulation areas, storage areas, dining areas, kitchen and food preparation
areas, gamerooms and related recreation spaces, instruction areas
and other common use spaces.
(12)
All required licenses or certifications shall
be obtained prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. In
the event that an appropriate licensing or certifying agency does
not exist, the applicant shall demonstrate to the Township Commissioners
that the proposal for establishing such a facility satisfies a demonstrated
need and will be conducted in a responsible manner without detriment
to surrounding properties.
(13)
The sponsor shall file annually with the Township
Secretary and the Zoning Officer, information certifying that the
facility continues to adequately meet the conditions of the original
approval. Failure to file shall result in cancellations of the conditional
use permit.
(14)
Changes of sponsorship or of any conditions
of original approval shall constitute a new use, and the full conditional
use procedures for obtaining a new use shall be exercised.
(15)
All federal, state and municipal code requirements
and administrative regulations shall be met, consistent with the use
of the site.
(16)
The Township Commissioners may require as a
prerequisite to both the granting and continuance of a conditional
use approval such other specifications and operational procedures
as they deem necessary and essential for the maintenance of the health,
safety and general welfare of the clients of the facility and of the
public at large.
D. Keeping of horses, pursuant to the requirements specified in §
190-13C of this chapter.
[Added 2-13-1989 by Ord. No. 299]
E. Telecommunications towers may be permitted in the R-4 Multifamily Residential District pursuant to the standards and criteria set forth in Chapter
190, Article
XXIII, Wireless Telecommunications Towers and Antennas.
[Added 5-7-1997 by Ord. No. 360; amended
at time of adoption of 2002 Code revisions (see Ch. 1, Art. III); 10-14-2021 by Ord. No.
477]
The following uses may be permitted as special exceptions subject to approval by the Zoning Hearing Board, in accordance with the provisions of Article
XV of this chapter and the standards and criteria listed herewith:
A. Recreation or community buildings which complement
multiple dwellings, provided that:
(1) Such facilities are situated within a multifamily
structure or contiguous thereto on the same site.
(2) Such facilities are limited to not more than 20% of
the total gross floor area of the main structure or structures on
the site.
(3) The facilities are designed and constructed for the
primary use of the site occupants.
The following requirements shall apply in the
R-4 District:
A. All lot, area and dimensional requirements specified in Article
VII, §
190-20, for the R-2 Single-Family Residential District shall apply for permitted uses as authorized in §
190-28A(1) and
(2) above.
B. The following requirements shall apply for multiple-family residential dwellings and row housing as authorized in §
190-28A(3) above:
(1) Minimum lot area shall be 20,000 square feet.
(2) Minimum front setback shall be 30 feet from the front
lot line.
(3) Minimum side yard width on each side of the lot shall
be 15 feet. On a street side corner, lots shall be a minimum of 30
feet.
(4) Minimum rear yard depth shall be 15 feet.
(5) Not more than 30% of the total site shall be covered
by structures.
(6) No structure shall exceed three stories or 50 feet
in height.