[Amended 12-15-2010 by Ord. No. 1801[1]]
The following is an expansion of the purpose in § 405-102 of this chapter. It is the intent of this article to provide well-designed residential land uses and uses accessory to the same in conformance with the goals and objectives of the Borough of Lansdale Comprehensive Plan in addition to the following:
A.
Maintain and enhance the residential environment of neighborhoods,
promoting uniformity of sizes and densities.
B.
Require new development in existing neighborhoods to be compatible
with nearby (block-level) residential development.
C.
Retain neighborhood character by promoting flexible dimensional standards.
D.
Continue to promote a variety of housing types in congruence with
existing conditions.
A building may be erected, altered or used and a lot or premises
may be used for the following uses and no other.
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Residential uses
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Single-family detached dwelling
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Permitted
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Single-family semidetached dwelling
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Permitted
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Home occupations (according to § 405-1908)
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Permitted
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No-impact home-based business (according to § 405-1910)
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Permitted
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Group homes (according to § 405-1909)
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Permitted
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Traditional neighborhood development
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Conditional
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Family day-care home (in accordance with Article XXIX)
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Conditional
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Recreation uses
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Public playgrounds or parks
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Special exception
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Institutional uses
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Municipal uses
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Special exception
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Schools
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Special exception
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Churches
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Special exception
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Miscellaneous uses
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Forestry
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Permitted
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The following dimensional standards apply to uses by special exception, in addition to the special exception standards of § 405-2205.
A.
Minimum lot area: 60,000 square feet.
B.
Minimum lot width: 200 feet.
C.
Minimum front yard: 25 feet, with a maximum of 50 feet.
D.
Minimum side yard: not less than 20 feet each, with an aggregate
width of not less than 50 feet.
E.
Maximum building coverage: 40%.
F.
Maximum impervious coverage: 75%.
G.
Maximum building height: 35 feet or three stories.
A.
Where more than two permitted residential structures are present
on a block the following standards shall apply. The Borough of Lansdale
Residential Design Review Manual, copies of which are available from
the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Lansdale, contains
median lot size and setback data for all residential neighborhoods
and uses.
(1)
Lot area: The minimum lot area for each dwelling unit shall
be the median of all lots of permitted residential uses on the block
of the subject property.
(2)
Lot width: The minimum lot width for each dwelling unit shall
be the median of all lots of permitted residential uses on the block
of the subject property.
(3)
Front yard: The minimum front yard shall be the median of all
lots of residential use on the block of the subject property. In no
case may the front yard be greater than 10 feet of the median. At
least 75% of the front facade, at ground level, must be located within
the front yard setback area.
(4)
Side yard: The minimum side yard for single-family detached
homes shall be eight feet. Single-family semidetached dwellings shall
have one side yard for each dwelling unit, that is, for each half
of the twin, the side yard shall be eight feet; provided, however,
that in the event that either unit is ever extended upon the lot to
the rear of the dwelling unit a four-foot setback from the common
property line between the units shall be provided.
(5)
Rear yard: The minimum rear yard shall be 20 feet.
(6)
Building coverage shall not exceed 30% of the lot area.
(7)
Impervious coverage shall not exceed 45% of the lot area.
(8)
Building height shall not exceed 35 feet or three stories.
B.
Where two or less permitted residential structures are present on
a block, or blocks are not present, the following options and criteria
shall apply.
(1)
Permitted use: standard option.
(a)
Lot area: The minimum lot area shall be 9,000 square feet per
dwelling unit.
(b)
Lot width: The minimum lot width shall be 60 feet.
(c)
Front yard: The minimum front yard shall be 24 feet; the maximum
shall be 30 feet.
(d)
Side yard: The minimum side yard for single-family detached
homes shall be eight feet. Single-family semidetached dwellings shall
have one side yard for each dwelling unit, that is, for each half
of the twin the side yard shall be eight feet; provided, however,
that in the event that either unit is ever extended upon the lot to
the rear of the dwelling unit a four-foot setback from the common
property line between the units shall be provided.
(e)
Rear yard: The minimum rear yard shall be 20 feet.
(f)
Building coverage shall not exceed 30% of the lot area.
(g)
Impervious coverage shall not exceed 45% of the lot area.
(h)
Building height shall not exceed 35 feet or three stories.
(2)
Conditional use: traditional neighborhood development option.
(a)
Tract area: The minimum tract area shall be 15 acres.
(b)
Open space: Fifteen percent of the tract area shall be reserved as open space and designed according to the standards of § 405-404C(1).
(c)
Lot area: The minimum lot area shall be 6,000 square feet.
(d)
Lot width: The minimum lot width shall be 50 feet.
(e)
Front yard: The minimum front yard shall be 15 feet; the maximum
shall be 25 feet.
(f)
Side yard: The minimum side yard for single-family detached
homes shall be eight feet. Single-family semidetached dwellings shall
have one side yard for each dwelling unit, that is, for each half
of the twin the side yard shall be eight feet; provided, however,
that in the event that either unit is ever extended upon the lot to
the rear of the dwelling unit, a four-foot setback from the common
property line between the units shall be provided.
(g)
Rear yard: The minimum rear yard shall be 20 feet.
(h)
Building coverage shall not exceed 45% of the lot area.
(i)
Impervious coverage shall not exceed 55% of the lot area.
(j)
Building height shall not exceed 35 feet or three stories.
C.
Design standards for traditional neighborhood option.
(1)
Open space. Open spaces shall be located at or near the center
of the development, surrounded by homes that face the open space,
be accessible via streets, and designed for public use, such as a
village green or park. Stormwater management facilities, such as detention
basins, rain gardens, and vegetated swales, may be located in open
spaces, provided that no more than 20% of the total area of open space
is dedicated to these uses.
(2)
Orientation of homes. Homes that abut a street that is adjacent
to open space shall face the open space. Homes shall also face existing
streets to help integrate the new development.
(3)
Streets. Streets shall be laid out in a rectilinear or grid
pattern of interconnecting streets and blocks that provide multiple
routes from origins to destinations with sidewalks on both sides of
the street and connecting to existing off-tract streets.
(4)
Alleys and garages. Homes shall be designed with alleys and
rear-facing garages. Alleys shall be at least 11 feet and no more
than 15 feet wide. Homes shall take vehicle access from alleys and
rear-facing garages, or in the case of homes bordered by two alleys,
the option for access via the side yard shall be permitted.
(5)
Porches. Homes shall include front porches spanning at least
50% of the front facade of the building and at least eight feet deep.
(6)
Architectural standards for front facade. The following materials
shall be used to clad the entire front facade: brick, brick veneer,
stone, cultured stone, clapboard or board and batten (wood or fibered
cement), or shingles (wood or fibered cement). The following materials
are not permitted to be used to clad the front facade: vinyl siding,
stucco, aluminum siding, metal or concrete.
(7)
Front yards. Homes shall contain at least one of the following
features:
(a)
A front yard raised above sidewalk grade by at least two feet.
(b)
A front yard enclosed by a continuous hedge of low-growing shrubs
and perennials between two and three feet in height located at the
edge of the sidewalk.
(c)
The first-floor level of the house, including the front porch,
is raised at least two feet above ground level at the front facade
of the building.
(8)
Building height shall not exceed 35 feet or three stories.
Where new homes or major renovations are proposed on a block
with existing homes the following standards shall apply.
A.
Applicability. The following activities shall conform to the standards of Article XXXVII (Traditional Residential Infill Development Standards) within the district:
(1)
All new construction, whether on a vacant lot or the result
of demolition of an existing building.
(2)
Additions to an existing residential dwelling visible on the
front facade of the building, such as a second-story addition.
(3)
Major renovations to the front facade of buildings, which may
include but are not limited to a change in exterior surface materials,
new porches, enclosing porches, changes in the ratio of openings to
wall, rooflines, etc.
B.
Exceptions. Design standards for infill development shall not be
enforced for the repainting, repair, restoration or reconstruction
of existing features where such work maintains the outer dimensions
and surface relationships of the existing structure. Changes in paint
color are exempt from review. Design review is also not required for
the replacement of doors, windows or other transparent surfaces, provided
that they are replaced with similar-looking materials that do not
substantially alter the front facade of the building.
