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Borough of Bellefonte, PA
Centre County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (2) Index Notes (1)
The intent of the Suburban Residential District is to promote the following:
A. 
To provide for a variety of low-density residential development opportunities.
B. 
To provide flexibility in neighborhood design options.
C. 
To provide for density bonus incentives to encourage the maximization of efficient land use and to decrease development pressure on the outlying rural landscape.
D. 
To ensure a diversity of housing types, sizes, and costs.
E. 
To meet minimum standards of health and safety by protecting against hazards and nuisances.
The R-1 District lot development standards include two options (standard development and traditional neighborhood development). The standard development option provides low-density residential development opportunities reflective of the existing character of the Nittany Valley's municipalities. The traditional neighborhood development option provides additional opportunities to increase density while adding community amenities including limited neighborhood-scale commercial and recreational options. Finally, the traditional neighborhood development option allows the applicant to purchase development credits from an approved "sending area" and apply the density bonus.
Only uses listed below shall be permitted in the Suburban Residential District. All uses must conform to the lot, yard setback, and maximum height requirements stipulated herein, as well as other appropriate requirements of this chapter.
Standard Development Option – R-1 District
Lot Requirements
Yard Setback and Height Requirements
(feet)
Permitted Uses
Minimum Size
Minimum Width
(feet)
Maximum Impervious Coverage
Front Yard
Side Yard
Rear Yard
Maximum Height
Primary Uses
Single-family detached unit
12,000 square feet
75
40%
20 on local and collector streets; 50 on arterial streets
10
30
35
Duplex unit
7,500 square feet/unit
10; 0 at common wall
Churches
2 acres
50
75
35
Public and private schools
2 acres
Public park and recreation areas
No minimum
Accessory Uses
Home occupations: see Supplemental Regulations
See primary use above to which it is accessory
Bed-and-breakfast establishments: see Supplemental Regulations
Customary uses accessory to above
Essential services
A. 
A minimum of 50% of total developed residential units shall be single-family detached units.
Traditional Neighborhood Development – R-1 District
Lot Requirements
Yard Setback and Height Requirements
(feet)
Permitted Uses
Maximum Permitted Density
Minimum Width
(feet)
Maximum Impervious Coverage
Front Yard
Side Yard
Rear Yard
Maximum Height
Primary Uses
Single-family detached unit
10,000 square feet (7,500 feet with TDRs)
50
40%
20 on local and collector streets; 50 on arterial streets
10
30
35
Duplex
7,500 feet per unit
10; 0 at common wall
Townhouse
3,000 square feet per dwelling unit
150
Neighborhood commercial (excluding gasoline sales)
25,000 square feet
150
50%
50
50
75
35
Government offices
25,000 square feet
Churches
2 acres
Public and private schools
2 acres
Public park and recreation areas
No minimum
Accessory Uses
Home occupations: see Supplemental Regulations
See primary use above to which it is accessory
Bed-and-breakfast establishments: see Supplemental Regulations
Customary uses accessory to above
Essential services
A. 
Applicants shall be required to schedule a presubmission conference (see § 575-136, presubmission conference).[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
Maximum area devoted to single-family residential development shall not exceed 50%.
C. 
Minimum area devoted to neighborhood retail shall be 10%.
D. 
Minimum area devoted to open space shall be 10%.
E. 
Developments shall conform to the district regulations set forth above and shall also conform to the design and performance standards as follows:
(1) 
Master plan requirement. A traditional neighborhood development shall consist of an area to be master planned of not less than 50 acres and not more than 250 acres. A property may be considered contiguous even if it is separated by a public right-of-way.
(2) 
Land use types. A traditional neighborhood development shall be divided into at least three types of neighborhood areas, with each type of area having different land use and land development regulations. The following neighborhood areas are permitted in a TND:
(a) 
Open space area. A TND shall have some land dedicated to open space located in a location central to, or readily accessible by, the majority of the dwelling units in the proposed development. Open space areas may include woodlands, meadows or grassland, greenways or wildlife corridors, or agriculture. The open space area must include all lands defined as environmentally sensitive.
(b) 
Neighborhood center area. One neighborhood center area is required in a TND. The neighborhood center area shall serve as the focal point of the TND, containing retail, commercial, civic and public services to meet the daily needs of community residents. A neighborhood center is pedestrian-oriented, and it is designed to encourage pedestrian movement between a mixed residential area and a neighborhood center area. A square is required in a neighborhood center area. Retail and commercial uses should generally be located adjacent to a square. Neighborhood center area uses include retail shops, restaurants, offices, banks, hotels, post office, governmental offices, churches, community centers, and attached residential dwellings.
(c) 
Mixed residential area. At least one mixed residential area is required in a traditional neighborhood development containing a variety of residential land uses, including single-family houses, duplexes, townhouses, and multifamily residences. Residential-scale retail and commercial uses are permitted within a mixed residential area with strict architectural and land use controls. Retail and commercial uses in a mixed residential area are required to blend into the residential character of the neighborhood. A mixed residential area includes open spaces including small squares, pocket parks, community parks, and greenways. A mixed residential area promotes pedestrian activity through well-designed and varied streetscapes that also provide for the safe and efficient movement of vehicular traffic.
(d) 
Neighborhood edge area. A neighborhood edge area is permitted but not required and is the least dense portion of a traditional neighborhood development, with larger lots and greater setbacks than the rest of the neighborhood. Only single-family residential dwellings are permitted. A neighborhood edge area is appropriate along the perimeter of the neighborhood.
(3) 
Civic uses. Civic uses such as parkland and community centers are an important part of the social and physical fabric of a traditional neighborhood development (TND) district and will be required. The location and type of civic uses shall be spread throughout the TND and be generally oriented to both the residents of the neighborhood and the public as a whole.
(4) 
Pedestrian orientation. A TND is designed to be pedestrian-oriented and less dependent upon the automobile. As a result, sidewalks and interconnected parks and open space are essential to the TND and provide mobility throughout the community by means other than the automobile. In addition, the street network shall be designed to provide for multiple routes to a single location by both automotive and nonautomotive forms of transportation. Parking for the automobile shall be required but will be done in a manner that has minimal physical, aesthetic and environmental impacts.