[Added 1-26-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-800[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. VI, R-1A Residential Districts, Art. VII, R-1 Residential Districts, Art. VIII, R-2A Residential Districts, added 5-27-1957 by Ord. No. 45, and Art. IX, R-2 Residential Districts, all as amended.
The following regulations shall apply to the single-family residential districts (R-1A, R-1, R-2, R-2A).
[Amended 7-15-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-878]
A building may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes and no other:
Table of Permitted Uses
LEGEND:
P = Permitted use
N = Use not permitted
C = Use permitted as a conditional use by the Board of Supervisors
S = Use permitted as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board
Use
R-1A
R-1
R-2
R-2A
Residential
Single-family detached dwelling
P
P
P
P
Flag lot in accordance with § 165-219.6
C
C
N
N
Bed-and-breakfast facility in accordance with § 165-219.8
P
P
N
N
Institutional
Child day-care home
S
S
S
S
Child day-care center
S
S
S
S
Group home (6 residents maximum)
P
P
P
P
Group home (6 + residents)
S
S
S
S
Adult day-care facility
S
S
S
S
Places of worship
S
S
S
S
Cemeteries
S
S
S
S
Community Services
Educational facilities limited to primary and secondary schools
S
S
S
S
Governmental administrative building
P
P
P
P
Community center
N
N
S
S
Libraries
S
S
S
S
Recreation
Public parks and playgrounds
P
P
P
P
Private parks and playgrounds
C
C
C
C
Transportation, Communication and Utilities
Bus stops
P
P
P
P
Wireless communication towers
S
S
S
S
Radio and television transmitting stations and towers used by federally licensed amateur operators ancillary to their private residences
C
C
C
C
Utility use related to and necessary for services within the township
S
S
S
S
No-impact home-based business in accordance with § 165-219.2
P
P
P
P
Other
Accessory use
P
P
P
P
Cluster development
C
C
C
C
Lots, buildings and structures may be created and/or constructed in the single-family districts in accordance with the following dimensional criteria:
A. 
Dimensional regulations for all single-family detached dwellings and permitted uses not specifically listed in Subsection B below.
District
R-1A
R-1
R-2
R-2A
(w/o sanitary)
R-2A
(w/ sanitary)
Minimum lot area
1 acre
20,000 square feet
10,000 square feet
15,000 square feet
12,500 square feet
Minimum lot width (At building line)
175 feet
100 feet
70 feet
85 feet
80 feet
Yards
Front
50 feet
40 feet
30 feet
35 feet
35 feet
Side (minimum)
20 feet
15 feet
10 feet
12 feet
12 feet
Side (aggregate)
50 feet
40 feet
25 feet
30 feet
30 feet
Side (abutting a street)
50 feet
40 feet
30 feet
35 feet
35 feet
Side (accessory use)1
10 feet
10 feet
4 feet
7 feet
7 feet
Rear
40 feet
40 feet
30 feet
35 feet
35 feet
Rear (accessory use)
10 feet
10 feet
10 feet
10 feet
10 feet
Building height (maximum)
Dwelling
35 feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories
35 feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories
35 feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories
35 feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories
35 feet, not exceeding 2 1/2 stories
Accessory building(s)
14 feet, not exceeding one story
14 feet, not exceeding one story
14 feet, not exceeding one story
14 feet, not exceeding one story
14 feet, not exceeding one story
Non-dwelling building or structure
35 feet2
35 feet2
35 feet2
35 feet2
35 feet2
Building coverage (maximum)
15%
20%
30%
25%
25%
Impervious coverage (maximum)
30%
25%
40%
30%
30%
NOTES:
1Accessory use must be located within the rear quarter of the lot.
2For any non-dwelling building or structure the height may be increased to a maximum of 65 feet, provided that for every foot of height in excess of 35 feet, there shall be added to each yard requirement one corresponding foot of width or depth.
B. 
Dimensional requirements. In the R-1A, R-1, R-2 and R-2A Districts, the following uses shall be subject to dimensional criteria in Subsection A (above), except as specifically listed below:
Minimum Lot Area
(acres)
Yards
(Front, Side and Rear)
(feet)
Parking Setback From Property Line
(feet)
Places of worship
4.0
100
50
Educational facilities
10.0
100
100
Off-street parking must be in accordance with the provisions of Article XXVIII.
In order to permit a more varied, efficient and economical development pattern in a specific location, to preserve stream valleys and other natural features and to provide for a better and more attractive arrangement of homes and open space than is possible under the usual district zoning requirements as applied to an individual lot, the dimensional requirements may be modified, when approved by the Township, in accordance with the provisions of this section:
A. 
Modification of building lots. A subdivision plan may be modified with respect to the requirements of § 165-23A upon the following conditions:
(1) 
The plan shall not involve a tract of land less than five acres in size.
(2) 
The Board of Supervisors of Upper Merion Township shall determine that the plan clearly conforms to the intent, standards and requirements of this section, is in the general public interest and is required because of topographical difficulties existing on the premises.
(3) 
The area of the individual lots may be reduced by not more than 25% of the lot area requirements, provided that the average of the area of the individual lots for the entire tract shall not be less than the minimum required by this district.
(4) 
The yard, lot width and other requirements of the district relating to an individual lot may be modified, provided that in no case shall a building be located less than 30 feet from a street right-of-way line nor less than 20 feet from another property line.
B. 
The design and layout of buildings on the tract shall take account of the physical characteristics of the particular site and shall, to the maximum extent consistent with reasonable and sound development practices, permit the preservation of natural features which the Planning Commission and the Supervisors deem worthy of protection.
C. 
In any case where a plan for development is approved in accordance with the requirements of this section, the application shall be filed by the owner or owners of the entire tract, and it shall be agreed that the tract shall be developed within a reasonable time under single direction in the manner approved.
D. 
No lot of such size as to be capable of further subdivision under the district regulations shall be included in determining the average lot area unless the possibility of such further subdivision is eliminated either by a deed restriction or by agreement in form acceptable to the Township Solicitor and duly recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds.
E. 
In the case of areas set aside to be reserved for open space purposes to comply with the average lot area requirements for the tract:
(1) 
The areas designated shall be those which will serve to preserve woodlands, stream valleys, unusual topography or other natural features of the tract or which are appropriate for park, recreation or some other open space purpose.
(2) 
Such areas shall be consistent with the land use plan for the Township and shall contain no structure other than a structure related to outdoor recreational use.
(3) 
Areas for common open space use may be reserved for private use or they may be dedicated to the Township. Areas which are subsequently to be dedicated to the Township shall be acceptable to the Township in shape and location, and satisfactory written agreements or other arrangements acceptable to the Township shall be made for the perpetual preservation and maintenance of all common areas to be set aside and reserved for private use.
F. 
Prior to the approval by the Board of Supervisors of any subdivision plan requiring the modification of building lots, the Board shall first hold a public hearing thereon, giving notice thereof by publishing the same in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days prior to the date fixed for the hearing.