City of Scranton, PA General Regulations

A principal building shall only be built upon a lot with frontage on a public street improved to meet City standards abutting the lot or for which such improvements have been insured by the posting of a performance guaranty pursuant to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, except:

A single lot that existed as a lawful recorded lot of record prior to the adoption of this chapter and that is not proposed to be subdivided and that is to be used for a single-family detached dwelling shall be permitted to have access onto a public street by means of a paved public alley/court with a minimum cartway width from the subject lot to a public street of 10 feet if:

Such alley/court provides legally permanent access to the property; and

The Zoning Officer determines there are no other feasible methods of providing access to the property.

A townhouse or condominium apartment development may have access to individual dwellings using a parking court and a shared accessway/private street within the tract, provided that such shared access/private street guarantees permanent access (with a method for funding perpetual maintenance approved by the Planning Commission under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance) from such dwellings to reach a public street.

Any new lot that is granted subdivision approval shall have frontage onto a public street, except as permitted above for a townhouse or condominium apartment development.

Multiple uses in a building. Occupancy of a principal commercial or industrial building by more than one permitted use is specifically allowed, provided that all other requirements of this chapter are satisfied.

Multiple buildings on a lot. An approved commercial, institutional, industrial, townhouse or garden apartment lot may include more than one principal building. In such case, the minimum front, side and rear yard requirements shall only apply at exterior lot lines of the property, except as otherwise provided by this chapter. Individual buildings or portions of such buildings may be held in approved condominium ownership, but the lot shall be owned by a single legal entity. In cases not meeting this § 445-72C, only one principal building shall be permitted per lot. See § 445-77I concerning the creation of new nonconforming business lots.

Minimum size of dwellings. Each dwelling unit shall include a minimum of 700 square feet of habitable indoor heated floor area, except:

Such minimum for apartment units shall be 600 square feet.

Such minimum for apartment units within buildings containing six or more dwelling units that are specifically limited to persons over 55 years old and the spouses and/or the physically handicapped shall be 450 square feet.

§ 445-73 Height exceptions; airport approaches.

Height exceptions. The maximum structure height specified for each district shall not apply to farm silos and associated agricultural structures, commercial communications antennas, household antennas (see § 445-35), water towers, cupolas, clock or bell towers, steeples or spires of places of worship, electrical transmission lines, industrial raw material storage silos (other than for fuels), flagpoles, elevator shafts, ventilators, skylights, windmills, smokestacks, chimneys or other similar appurtenances usually required to be and customarily placed above the roof level and not intended for human occupancy.

Height and airport approaches. At a minimum, any structure proposed to have a height of 75 feet or more above average surrounding ground level shall present sufficient information to the Zoning Officer to prove that the structure would comply with all applicable federal, state and City requirements regarding airport approaches and warning lights.

§ 445-74 Special lot and yard requirements; sight distance and buffer yards.

In general.

No lot, structure or use shall be created or developed in such a way that it would result in another lot, building or use not being able to meet the requirements of this chapter. This includes, but is not limited to setback areas, nonimpervious areas and off-street parking areas.

Emergency access. All uses and structures shall have adequate provisions for access by emergency vehicles.

Accuracy. The applicant is responsible to make sure that all measurements submitted to the City are accurate. See revocation of permits in Article I.

Exceptions to minimum lot areas, lot widths and yards.

Nonconforming lots. See § 445-77.

Through lots. Any lot in the R-1 or R-1A District having frontage on two approximately parallel streets (not including an alley) shall provide a required front yard setback abutting each of these streets.

Corner lots.

For R-1, R-1C and R-1A Districts, see setback from public street in § 445-30B(2).

For a corner lot, the applicant may choose which shall be the front, unless the Zoning Officer determines that one side clearly should be the front based upon the predominate pattern on that block. The front door shall face the front yard.

Triangular lots. If a three-sided lot does not have a rear lot line, then the required rear yard shall be measured from the corner that is furthermost away from the front lot line. In such case, the lot shall have two side lot lines.

Projections into required yards. The following features may project into required yards as specified:

Emergency fire escapes, new or improved fire exits and handicapped access facilities added onto a building that existed prior to the adoption of this chapter, provided that a fire escape shall not intrude into a required front yard and that such features intrude a minimum of five feet into a required yard.

Routinely projecting architectural features such as bay windows, cornices, eaves, fireplaces, flues, gutters, chimneys, fire escapes or window sills which do not project more than three feet into a required yard.

Stairs and landings that are not covered by structural roofs that are necessary for entry into the main doors of a building.

Patios, porches and decks that:

Are not covered by a structural roof;

Are not enclosed and do not have walls of mostly solid material, glass or Plexiglas;

Are not closer than three feet to any side or rear lot line, (except zero feet at a shared lot line of attached dwellings); and

[4]

Are not raised an average of more than four feet above the surrounding average ground level.

(e)

If a covered or uncovered patio, porch or deck does not meet the standards of Subsection B(5) above and does not have enclosed walls of mostly solid material (including glass or Plexiglas), then such patio, porch or deck may be a minimum of five feet from a side lot line, 15 feet from a rear lot line and zero feet from any shared lot line of abutting dwellings.

(f)

Awnings and canopies may extend into a required yard if the following standards are met:

The awnings or canopies are constructed primarily of fabric (such as canvas) or closely similar material;

The awnings or canopies are maintained in good condition;

The awnings or canopies shall not be enclosed on the front or sides;

[4]

The awnings or canopies do not extend more than three feet into a street right-of-way, except that canopies covering a walkway to a main entrance of a principal apartment, institutional or business building and that has a maximum canopy width of 10 feet may extend to within one feet of a curb;

[5]

The canopies or awnings shall meet the requirements of the City building code as applicable; and

[6]

The awnings or canopies shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicle movement.

Previously approved setbacks. Where a subdivision or land development was granted final approval prior to the adoption of this chapter and the lawful setbacks in effect at such time are shown on the approved plans, at the option of the developer, those approved setbacks may apply in place of any revised setbacks in this chapter.

Front yard exceptions. When an unimproved lot is situated between two or more lots with principal buildings with principal building front yard setbacks with less depth than required in that district, the minimum front yard shall be reduced to the depth of such abutting improved lot that has the largest depth, down to an absolute minimum of 10 feet.

(8)

Parking lot planting strips. See § 445-75.

(9)

Depth of irregular lots. On irregularly shaped lots where the rear lot line is not parallel to the front lot line, the minimum depth may be based upon average dimensions.

(10)

Side yard variation. Where the side wall of a building is irregular and not parallel with the side lot line, the side yard may be varied as follows:

The average side yard width shall not be less than the required width; and

The side yard width shall not be narrower at any point than 75% of the minimum side yard requirement.

Sight distance at intersections.

Purpose. The purpose shall be to ensure that traffic passing through an intersection or turning onto a street can safely see oncoming traffic.

A triangular area as described in this section shall be graded and shall be kept free of sight obstructions between a height of two and one-half (2 1/2) and 10 feet, including structures, nontransparent fences, vegetation and signs (but not including sign posts or utility posts of less than one foot in width or the trunks of deciduous trees).

This sight distance triangle shall be shown on development plans submitted to the City and be shown on any plan required to be recorded. Such triangle shall serve as a permanent setback line for all such visual obstructions and shall be binding upon present and future owners of the land.

If a driveway, accessway or street would enter onto a state street, the required sight triangle to be included on the development plan shall be that necessary to achieve the minimum sight distance required by PennDOT regulations.

If minimum sight distance requirements would not be established by PennDOT, then the sight distance triangle shall be as follows: The triangle shall be measured based upon the intersecting point of the center lines of the street receiving the traffic and the entering street, accessway or driveway. The sight distance triangle shall be established by a distance along the center line of the receiving street (established below) and a distance (measured along the center line of the entering street, accessway or driveway) 25 feet back from the edge of the existing right-of-way of the receiving street. The following distances shall be used along the center line of the receiving street in each direction from the intersection to establish the sight distance triangle:

Three hundred fifty feet along the center line of any arterial street.

Two hundred seventy-five feet along the center line of any collector street.

Two hundred feet along the center line of any local street.

These sight distance requirements shall apply to all intersections involving a public street and another street, accessway or driveway, except these requirements shall not apply to an individual driveway serving only one or two dwelling units that enters onto a local or collector street.

A sight distance triangle shall apply for each direction of approach to an intersection when two or more arterial or collector streets are involved.

Buffer yards. Buffer yards and screening complying with the following standards shall be required under the following situations:

When required. Buffer yards with evergreen screening shall be required whenever any new or expanded:

Principal commercial use, principal institutional use, principal industrial use, industrial outdoor storage area, tractor-trailer truck loading/unloading area or area routinely used for the parking of two or more tractor-trailer trucks has a side or rear yard that abuts or is across the street from a residential lot line (see definition in Article II); or

Off-street parking lot or parking deck containing six or more parking spaces that abuts and is within 200 feet of a residential lot line. See also requirements for junkyards in § 445-34.

In case of an expansion of an existing use, only the area abutting the expansion shall be required to provide the buffer yard, unless otherwise required as a condition of the Zoning Hearing Board if such use is within their purview. For a use approved by the Zoning Hearing Board, the Board may also require fencing where deemed necessary.

Width and plants. Any required buffer yard shall have a minimum width of 50 feet if an industrial use or industrial outdoor storage or a tractor-trailer truck loading dock abuts a residential district and eight feet in all other situations where a buffer yard is required. The buffer yard shall include plant screening with an initial height when planted of four feet. Ninety percent of the plants shall be evergreen. Plants shall be chosen and placed so as to reasonably be expected to form a solid year-round visual screen with a minimum height of six feet within three years of planting.

Location of buffer yards.

The buffer yard width shall be measured from the district boundary line, existing street right-of-way line or lot line, whichever is applicable.

Plants needed for the visual screen shall not be placed within an existing street right-of-way.

The buffer yard may include areas within a required front, side or rear yard or a paved area setback area, provided that the larger yard requirement shall apply in case of overlap.

Characteristics of buffer yards.

The buffer yard shall be a landscaped area free of structures, dumpsters, commercial or industrial storage or display, manufacturing or processing activity, materials, loading and unloading areas or vehicle parking or display. No new driveways or streets shall be permitted in the buffer yards except at points of approved perpendicular crossings for ingress or egress, which shall have a maximum width of 35 feet.

Maintenance. In buffer yards, all areas not covered by trees and shrubs shall be well-maintained in an all-season vegetative ground cover (such as grass) and shall be kept free of debris and rubbish and shall not include grass areas higher than eight inches.

Fence. Any fence in a buffer yard shall be placed on the inside of any required evergreen screening.

Modifications. In situations where it would be impractical to develop a screen that would meet all City requirements or where an undue hardship would be created to an applicant, the Zoning Hearing Board may as a special exception agree to modify these requirements to allow an acceptable alternative. Such alternative may, for example, involve the development of a solid wooden fence that has been treated to be weather resistant. Such modification shall only occur after a review by the Planning Commission.

Buffer yard plans.

Prior to the issuance of a permit under this chapter where a buffer yard would be required and on any required subdivision or land development plan, the applicant shall submit plans showing:

The location and arrangement of each buffer yard.

The placement, general selection of species and initial size of all plant materials.

The placement, size, materials and type of all fences to be placed in such buffer yard.

The Zoning Officer shall review such plans to determine that the plans are in conformance with the terms of this chapter.

See also planting strips along parking streets in § 445-75 below.

§ 445-75 Landscaping.

Ground cover. Any part of a commercial, industrial, institutional or garden apartment lot which is not used for structures, loading areas, parking spaces and aisles, sidewalks and designated storage areas shall be provided with an all-season, well-maintained vegetative ground cover and shall be landscaped with trees and shrubs.

Parking lot planting strip.

Whenever a parking lot or parking deck including six or more parking spaces abuts a public street and a buffer yard is not required under § 445-74, along such lot line a planting strip with a minimum width of three feet shall be required.

Right-of-way. Such planting strip may extend into or be within the right-of-way of a public street if authorized, in writing, by the City Engineer, based upon whether sufficient width for pedestrians would be maintained (which may involve the use of tree grates) and obstructions with utilities would be avoided and if authorized by PennDOT, if a state street is involved.

Plants. Such planting strip shall include:

Grass or other attractive vegetative ground cover.

Shrubs intended to have a maximum height of three feet, which shall be designed to eventually form a continuous hedge if within the C-D or C-N District.

Deciduous shade trees with a minimum trunk width when planted of two inches measured one foot above the average surrounding ground level, with an average of one such tree for every 50 feet of length of parking area along such street.

Maintenance. Such planting strip shall be maintained by the abutting property owner, regardless of whether the plantings are located within the public right-of-way or not.

§ 445-76 Ultimate/future street right-of-way widths.

See Chapter 423, Subdivision and Land Development.

§ 445-77 Nonconformities.

The following provisions shall apply to nonconformities (see definitions in Article II).

Purposes. These provisions are intended to gradually encourage greater separation of less compatible uses. As nonconforming uses may desire to grow significantly in intensity, those uses are intended to be encouraged to relocate in areas that are more suitable. Generally, existing nonconformities are intended to be permitted to be continued and to be resold and modified within certain limits.

Registration and continuation of nonconformities.

Evidence of nonconformity; failure to register; statement.

[Amended 7-12-2007 by Ord. No. 12-2007]

It shall be the responsibility of a party asserting a nonconformity to provide evidence that the nonconformity was lawfully created and was and continues to be in compliance with all City laws, regulations and codes in effect at the time it was created and thereafter. With respect to nonconforming dwelling units, in addition to the above requirements, evidence must be provided to show the use is in compliance with the Rental Registration Ordinance (File of Council No. 88, 2001) or any successor ordinance and the dwelling units are in compliance with all building codes.[1]

Editor’s Note: See Ch. 373, Rental Property, Art. I, Registration of Residential Rental Property.

Failure to properly register the property in accordance with the said Rental Registration Ordinance or any successor ordinance, the failure to maintain said registration, or the failure to maintain the premises in compliance with all building codes shall be considered both an intent to abandon the nonconforming use and an actual abandonment of such nonconforming use and shall make any subsequent nonconforming use illegal.

A property owner may request a written statement of nonconformity from the Zoning Officer after providing sufficient evidence as stated above. The Zoning Officer may, but is not required to, prepare a partial or complete list of existing nonconformities.

A lawful nonconforming use, structure or lot as defined by this chapter may be continued and may be sold and continued by new owners. Any expansion of, construction upon or change in use of a nonconformity shall only occur in conformance with this section.

Expansion of, construction upon or change in use of nonconformities.

Nonconforming structure.

The Zoning Officer shall permit a nonconforming structure to be reconstructed or expanded provided:

That such action will not increase the severity or amount of the nonconformity (such as the area of the building extending into the required setback) or create any new nonconformity;

That any expanded area will comply with the applicable setbacks in that district and other requirements of this chapter; and

That if the structure uses an on-lot septic system, the City sewage enforcement officer determines that such system is adequate for the proposed use.

In the case of a nonconforming structure which is used by a nonconforming use, any expansion shall also meet the requirements of this section regarding nonconforming uses.

If a residential building has a lawfully nonconforming side or rear building setback, additions may occur to increase the height above such setback or to extend other portions of the building up to such nonconforming setback line, provided that the structure is not extended beyond the existing setback line and provided that no additional nonconformity is created and if all other requirements of this chapter are met.

If a nonresidential building has a lawfully nonconforming side or rear building setback, additions may occur to increase the height above such setback or to extend other portions of the building up to such nonconforming setback line, provided that the structure is not extended beyond the existing setback line and provided that no additional nonconformity is created and if all other requirements of this chapter are met. However, such additions shall not be permitted if the nonresidential building abuts an existing primarily residential use.

Nonconforming lot.

New permitted structures for a single permitted by right principal use and its customary accessory uses may be constructed, reconstructed or expanded on a nonconforming lot of record as a permitted by right use if all of the following requirements are met:

The lot area is at least 40% of the minimum lot area.

The lot width is at least 40% of the minimum lot width.

The lot is a lot of record that lawfully existed prior to the adoption of this chapter or an applicable subsequent amendment.

[4]

Minimum setbacks and other requirements of this chapter are complied with for any new construction or expanded area.

[5]

If a new principal building will be served by an on-lot septic system, the lot shall comply with all state septic regulations and shall provide an approved alternative drainfield location.

[6]

For a dwelling on a nonconforming lot, the front door shall face a public street, and the dwelling shall have a side facing onto a public street that has an appearance typical of a front of a dwelling.

Setbacks. The Zoning Hearing Board may grant a special exception to reduce the required setbacks for construction on a nonconforming lot if the Board determines that such reduction would result in a building that would be more compatible with neighboring residences than would be built if the setback requirement was not reduced.

Integration. Contiguous nonconforming lots under common ownership shall be integrated to form lots that would be conforming or less nonconforming.

If a proposed development on a nonconforming lot does not meet the requirements of the above § 445-77C(2)(a) and (b), then development of the lot shall not occur unless a variance is granted by the Zoning Hearing Board. In addition to the standards stated for a variance in the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the Zoning Hearing Board shall also review whether any alternative permitted uses could reasonably be made of the property that would less significantly adverse impacts upon the established character of an existing residential neighborhood than the proposed use.

Expansion of a nonconforming nonresidential use. A nonconforming use or a building used by a nonconforming use shall not be expanded, except in accordance with the following provisions:

An expansion of more than 5% in total building floor area shall require special exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board under § 445-19.

Such reconstruction or expansion shall be only upon the same lot that the nonconforming use was located upon at the time the use became nonconforming.

The total building floor area used by a nonconforming use or the total land area used by a nonconforming use, whichever is more restrictive, shall not be increased by greater than 25% beyond each such measurement that existed in such use at the time such use became nonconforming. These maximum increases shall be measured in aggregate over the entire life of the nonconformity.

Any expansion of a nonconforming use shall meet the required setbacks and other requirements of this chapter, unless the Zoning Hearing Board grants a variance.

(e)

The Zoning Hearing Board may require a nonconforming use that is expanding to provide a buffer yard with a planting screen meeting the requirements of § 445-74 and/or an attractive solid wood fence of six feet minimum height.

Expansion of a nonconforming residential use. An existing nonconforming residential use may be expanded in floor area as a permitted by right use, provided that:

The number of dwelling units or boardinghouse units or other types of living units is not increased;

The expansion meets all applicable setbacks;

No new types of nonconformities are created; and

A nonconformity is not made more severe (including the building area within the required setback area).

Damaged or destroyed nonconformities.

Except as provided for in Subsection D(4) below, a nonconforming structure that has been destroyed or damaged equal up to a maximum of 75% of its appraised fair market value by fire, windstorm, lightning or a similar cause deemed not to be the fault of the owner may be rebuilt in a nonconforming fashion only if:

The application for a building permit is submitted within 12 months after the date of damage or destruction;

Work begins in earnest within six months afterwards;

A new nonconformity shall not be created or increased by a reconstruction; and

The applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that the damage or destruction was not greater than 75% of the appraised fair market value.

A nonconforming structure that has been destroyed or damaged equal by more than 75% of its appraised fair market value by any cause shall not be rebuilt in a nonconforming fashion, except as provided in Subsection D(5) below.

Rebuilding of a damaged or destroyed nonconformity shall not begin until plans for rebuilding have been presented and approved by the Zoning Officer. Any change of one nonconforming use to another nonconforming use shall comply with the provisions of this section.

Nonconforming use of open land. All nonconforming off-premises signs, junkyards, outside storage areas and similar nonconforming uses of open land, when damaged to an extent of 50% or more of replacement cost, shall not be continued, repaired or reconstructed. The burden of proof concerning the extent of the damage shall be upon the applicant.

Dwellings. A destroyed or damaged nonconforming building including only one or two dwelling units may be reconstructed regardless of the percentage destruction, provided that:

No new nonconformity is created or increased by the reconstruction; and

That work begins in earnest within 18 months of the date of damage or destruction unless the Zoning Hearing Board grants a time extension for good cause.

Fair market value. An applicant shall have the burden of proof to prove the percent of the fair market value that was damaged or destroyed. Such proof shall involve an appraisal by a licensed real estate broker with substantial real estate appraisal experience. "Fair market value" shall generally be defined as the price a property would bring under normal conditions on the open market, before and after the damage. Such value shall assume that the owner is under no compulsion to sell within a shorter than average time period and that the property would remain on the market for an average length of time for such properties.

Abandonment of a nonconformity.

Discontinuance of nonconformity; rental residential properties.

[Amended 7-12-2007 by Ord. No. 92-2007]

If a nonconforming use of a building or land is discontinued for a period of six months or more or is discontinued for a period of 12 or more months in any two-year period, the use is considered abandoned, except:

As provided for in the Damaged or destroyed nonconformities section (§ 445-77D); or

If a nonconforming off-premises junkyard, outside storage area or similar nonconforming use of open land is discontinued for 30 days or more, the nonconforming use shall not be continued, repaired or reconstructed.

Regarding residential properties, failure to properly register the property in accordance with the Rental Registration Ordinance (File of Council No. 88, 2001, as amended) or any successor ordinance,[2] maintain said registration and maintain the premises in conformance with City building codes shall be considered intent to abandon the nonconforming use.

Editor’s Note: See Ch. 373, Rental Property, Art. I. Registration of Residential Rental Property.

The applicant shall be responsible to provide evidence that the nonconformity was not abandoned.

Any future use of such building or land shall be in full conformity with the provisions of this chapter.

[Amended 7-12-2007 by Ord. No. 92-2007]

Floodplain. See the flood-prone area regulations in § 445-51.

Changes from one nonconforming use to another.

Once changed to a conforming use, a structure or land or portion thereof shall not revert to a nonconforming use.

A nonconforming use may be changed to a different type of nonconforming use only if permitted as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board. The Board shall determine whether the applicant has provided sufficient proof to show that the proposed new use will be equally or less objectionable in external effects compared to the preexisting nonconforming use. The Board should review the following types of effects:

Traffic generation (especially truck traffic).

Noise, dust, fumes, gases, odor, glare, vibration, fire and explosive hazards.

Amount and character of outdoor storage.

Hours of operation if the use would be close to dwellings.

(e)

Compatibility with the character of the surrounding area.

(f)

Potential of the expansion to alleviate existing congestion and parking shortages by improved site design, addition of parking and improved loading areas.

Approval of the Zoning Hearing Board shall not be required for a change from one nonconforming retail sales use to another nonconforming retail sales use or from one personal service use to another personal service use, provided that:

The hours of operation are not increased between 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.;

The new use is not a sexually oriented business (see definition in Article II);

The new use meets any applicable conditions placed by the Board on the prior use; and

The total floor area of the use is not increased by more than 5%.

District changes. Any uses, structures or lots that become nonconforming because of a zoning district change shall be regulated under this section on nonconformities.

Division of lots with existing buildings. Notwithstanding limitations imposed by other provisions of this chapter, a lot which had one or more principal commercial or industrial buildings existing prior to the adoption of this chapter may be divided after receiving special exception approval into more than one nonconforming lot, provided that such division is for purposes of conveyance into separate ownership and provided that the following conditions are met:

Each lot shall have a guaranteed permanent method of vehicle access onto a public street, through a permanent legal access easement or other method approved by the Zoning Hearing Board.

Each lot shall be served by both public water and public sewage service.

The boundaries of all lots shall be designed in such a manner to maximize lot area, lot width, lot depth and yard areas and to result in a functional configuration that minimizes nonconformities.

The applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that each lot will include adequate off-street parking areas and loading areas or a permanent legally binding method to ensure joint use of such facilities.

See Planning Commission review provisions in Article I for a special exception.

The applicant shall prove that there will be an adequate mechanism for joint ownership and/or maintenance of any shared facilities or features.

Approval granted prior to passage of chapter. A proposed structure or use that is granted a zoning permit, building permit or subdivision or land development approval prior to the adoption of this chapter shall be deemed a legal nonconforming use, provided that:

The construction of the structure or use was actually started prior to the adoption of this chapter;

The ground story framework, including the second tier of beams, is completed within six months of adoption of this chapter; and

The entire structure or use is completed or installed and ready for operation or occupancy within one year of the adoption of this chapter.

§ 445-78 Temporary structure or use.

Construction vehicle parking and temporary offices. See essential services, a permitted by right accessory use, in § 445-46.

Tents. The following are permitted by right accessory uses: tents erected for a use during a maximum of five days in any calendar year for routine and customary accessory noncommercial uses (such as weddings in a rear yard) and for a routine and customary accessory use to an existing commercial use.

Temporary uses by special exception. For temporary structures or uses that are not specifically permitted by right by this chapter, and other than customary accessory uses and other than those uses that were lawfully occurring on a periodic basis prior to the adoption of this chapter, a temporary permit may be issued by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception for structures or uses that would not otherwise be permitted, subject to the following additional provisions:

Duration. The Zoning Hearing Board shall establish a limit on the duration of the use. In the case of a special event, except under special circumstances, this should be a maximum of seven days in any sixty-day period. The Zoning Hearing Board may grant a single approval once for numerous occurrences of an event.

Statement from owner. The applicant shall present a statement from the owner of record of the land accepting responsibility to ensure that the use or structure is removed once the permit expires.

Removal. Such structure or use shall be removed completely upon expiration of the permit without cost to the City. If the structure or use is not removed in a timely fashion after proper notification, the City may remove the use or structure at the cost of the person who owns the land upon which the structure or use is located.

Conditions. The temporary use or structure shall be compatible with adjacent uses and clearly be of a temporary nature.

Fee. Either the Zoning Hearing Board or the City Council may waive and/or return the required application fee if the applicant is an Internal Revenue Service recognized and well-established nonprofit organization, and the applicant clearly shows that the proposed use is temporary and will be used to clearly primarily serve a charitable or public service purpose.

Nonprofit. Only a well-established and Internal Revenue Service recognized nonprofit organization proposing a temporary use to clearly primarily serve a charitable or public service purpose shall be eligible to receive approval for a temporary commercial use in a district where that use is not permitted.

Special events. For a special event that will attract significant numbers of the public, the Zoning Hearing Board may deny the use if it determines that the following will not be generally appropriate: sanitary and water service, traffic control, off-street parking and protection of the public health and safety.

§ 445-79 Motor vehicle access.

The following regulations apply to access from a lot to a public street:

Each lot with less than 250 feet of frontage on an arterial street shall have not more than one access point involving left-hand turns onto each such street, and no lot with 250 feet or more feet of total frontage on an arterial street shall have more than two access points involving left-hand turns onto any such arterial street.

This provision shall not apply to the following: construction of new streets onto an existing arterial street or access points that are clearly limited to use by only emergency vehicles.