Districts
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Neighborhood Conservation
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NR
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Neighborhood Residential District
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TN
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Traditional Neighborhood District
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NB
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Neighborhood Business District
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Downtown
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CBD
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Central Business District
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BAM
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Baltimore Avenue Mixed Use District
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General Business
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GB
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General Business District
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Special Overlay
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TOD
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Transit Oriented Development Overlay District
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Conservation Overlays
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FP
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Floodplain Overlay District
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SS
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Steep Slopes Overlay District
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Neighborhood Conservation District Summary Chart
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This chart is designed for quick reference only. Specific requirements are stated in §§ 330-15B, Development standards, and 330-15C, Design guidelines.
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Development Standard
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Existing Buildings
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New Buildings
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Demolition
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Applicant must demonstrate there is no viable alternative.
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Design review required for new buildings replacing demolished
structures.
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Building placement
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Should have the same average setbacks as existing buildings
on the same block within a radius of 250 feet.
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Building size and width
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Should be the same average size as existing buildings on the
same block within a radius of 250 feet, or appear to be from the street.
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Building height
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Should be the average height of existing buildings on the same
block within 250 feet.
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Proportion of building walls to openings
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Window and door openings visible from the street in existing
historic buildings should not be enlarged or reduced.
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The proportion of walls to openings on walls visible from the
street should be from 2:1 to 1:1.
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Accessory buildings
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Garages should be the same general size, height, and placement
as existing garages and similar accessory buildings on the same block
within 250-foot radius. Storage sheds shall be no larger than 100
square feet.
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Fences and walls
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Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
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Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
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Front fences: 3 feet
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Front fences: 3 feet
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Side fences facing street: 4 feet
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Side fences facing street: 4 feet
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Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Parking lots
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Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings. Access should be from alley
or side street whenever possible.
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Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings. Access should be from alley
or side street whenever possible.
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Design Guideline
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Existing Buildings
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New Buildings
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---|---|---|---|
Style of architecture
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Retain architectural styles whenever possible.
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Shall be compatible with the architectural style of existing
historic structures.
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Base, body, cap
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Should have base, body, and cap similar to adjoining or adjacent
buildings.
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Building form
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Buildings should match the majority of existing buildings on
the same block as either vertical or horizontal form.
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Texture and pattern of exterior materials
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New materials, such as siding, should appear similar to original
materials. No vinyl siding over brick or stone walls.
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Exterior building materials should be compatible with the materials
used in nearby historic structures.
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Additions
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Additions should be at the rear, in very few cases the side,
but not the front. Additions should be similar in form, scale and
materials to existing building.
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Porches
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Front porches and side porches facing a street should not be
enclosed. If closure is absolutely necessary, the original elements,
including proportion of walls to openings, must be retained.
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Porches needed on new buildings if adjacent buildings on the
block have porches facing the street. The new porches should be similar
in form, scale, and materials to existing porches.
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How to Measure Distances
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Distances can either be measured in the field or by using maps
available at Lansdowne Borough Hall.
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Examples:
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•Setback from curbline: A property owner wishes
to subdivide the open lot at the intersection of McKinley and Wycombe
Avenues, shown below, and construct a new building. Using the 1909
Mueller map, we see there are 16 buildings facing the street on the
block. At least 30% of the buildings are placed 20 feet back from
the curb, so the new building may be placed 20 feet back from the
curb. Alternately, we can add the setbacks of all 16 buildings and
divide by 16 to get an average setback of 25 feet from the curb, which
may be adjusted by as much as 30%, for a possible setback of 17.5
feet to 32.5 feet from the curb.
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•Setback from other buildings: Measuring the
total distance between the 16 buildings on the block and dividing
by 16, we reach an average distance of 11.6 feet. This can be adjusted
by as much as 30%, so a new building may be placed, as a minimum distance,
8 feet from neighboring buildings.
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•Setback from rear lot line: Measuring the
total distance of the existing 16 buildings from their rear lot line
and dividing by 16, we reach an average distance of 65 feet. This
figure may be adjusted by 50%, so a new building may be placed, as
a minimum distance, 33 feet from the rear lot line.
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This building has a wall-to-opening ratio of approximately
5 to 1 and is not compatible with Lansdowne's traditional buildings.
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Location
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Maximum Height
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Material
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Front yard
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3 feet
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• Brick
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Side yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
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4 feet
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• Ornamental iron
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• Ornamental aluminum or steel designed to look like
iron
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Rear yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
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• Stone
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• Wood in the form of a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like wood in the form of
a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like iron
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Interior side yard or rear yard
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6 feet
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• Any common fence material
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Tennis or similar athletic court
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12 feet
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Downtown District Summary Chart
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Development Standard
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Existing Buildings
|
New Buildings
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---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demolition
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Applicant must demonstrate there is no viable alternative.
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Design review required for new buildings replacing demolished
structures.
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Building placement
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Buildings should be sited up to the sidewalk, not set back from
the property line.
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Building size and width
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New construction should be consistent with the pattern of small-scale
storefronts. Where new construction has a large street frontage, facades
should be articulated to reflect the character of multiple storefronts.
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Building height
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2-story minimum along Baltimore and Lansdowne Avenues. Within
15% of average height of buildings within 250-foot radius.
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Proportion of building walls to openings
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Window and door openings visible from the street in existing
historic buildings should not be enlarged or reduced.
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Facades should include windows and doors that provide a minimum
40% transparency.
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Accessory buildings
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Garages should be the same general size, height, and placement
as existing garages and similar accessory buildings on the same block
within 250-foot radius. Storage sheds shall be no larger than 100
square feet.
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Fences and walls
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Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
|
Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
| |||
Front fences: 3 feet
Side fences facing street: 4 feet
Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Front fences: 3 feet
Side fences facing street: 4 feet
Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Parking lots
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Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings. Access should be from alley
or side street whenever possible.
|
Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings. Access should be from alley
or side street whenever possible.
|
Design Guideline
|
Existing Buildings
|
New Buildings
| |
---|---|---|---|
Architectural styles
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Retain original architectural elements and styles whenever possible.
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Shall be compatible with the architectural style of existing
historic structures.
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Base, body, cap
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Should have base, body, and cap similar to adjoining buildings.
The scale, rhythm, cornice height and fenestration of new construction
should be consistent with surrounding buildings.
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Texture and pattern of exterior materials
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New materials, such as siding, should appear similar to original
materials. No vinyl siding over brick or stone walls.
|
Exterior building materials should be compatible with the materials
used in nearby historic structures.
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Additions
|
Additions should be at the rear, in very few cases the side,
but not the front. Additions should be similar in form, scale and
materials to existing building.
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How to Measure Distances
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Distances can either be measured in the field or by using maps
available at Lansdowne Borough Hall.
| ||
Examples:
| ||
• Setback from other buildings: Measuring
the total distance between the 16 buildings on the block and dividing
by 16, we reach an average distance of 11.6 feet. This can be adjusted
by as much as 30%, so a new building may be placed, as a minimum distance,
8 feet from neighboring buildings.
| ||
• Setback from rear lot line: Measuring
the total distance of the existing 16 buildings from their rear lot
line and dividing by 16, we reach an average distance of 65 feet.
This figure may be adjusted by 50%, so a new building may be placed,
as a minimum distance, 33 feet from the rear lot line.
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Location
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Maximum Height
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Material
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---|---|---|---|---|
Front yard
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3 feet
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• Brick
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Side yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
Rear yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
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4 feet
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• Ornamental iron
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• Ornamental aluminum or steel designed to look like
iron
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• Stone
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• Wood in the form of a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like wood in the form of
a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like iron
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Interior side yard or rear yard
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6 feet
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• Any common fence material
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Tennis or similar athletic court
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12 feet
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General Business District Summary Chart
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This chart is designed for quick reference only. Specific requirements are stated in Subsection B (Design Guidelines).
|
Design Guideline
|
Existing Buildings
|
New Buildings
| |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Demolition
|
Applicant must demonstrate there is no viable alternative.
|
Design review required for new buildings replacing demolished
structures.
| |||
Architectural styles
New buildings
Additions
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When renovating, modify building when possible to reflect architectural
style of adjoining historic neighborhoods.
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Architectural style should be compatible with adjoining historic
neighborhoods.
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Placement
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Buildings should face a principal street.
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Proportion of building walls to openings
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Window and door openings visible from the street in existing
historic buildings should not be enlarged or reduced.
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The proportion of walls to openings on walls visible from the
street should be from 2:1 to 1:1.
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Texture and pattern of exterior materials
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When renovating, modify building when possible to reflect the
texture and pattern of construction materials in adjoining historic
neighborhoods.
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Construction materials should reflect the texture and pattern
of construction materials in adjoining historic neighborhoods.
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Fences and walls
|
Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
|
Restrictions on materials for front and side fences facing a
street.
Height:
| |||
Front fences: 3 feet
Side fences facing street: 4 feet
Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Front fences: 3 feet
Side fences facing street: 4 feet
Interior side and rear fences: 6 feet
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Restrictions on materials for front and side fences.
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Restrictions on materials for front and side fences.
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Parking lots
|
Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings.
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Should be located to the rear of buildings whenever possible.
If not possible, to the side of buildings.
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Lot size, building placement, building size, and height
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See Subsection D, Area and bulk regulations.
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See Subsection D, Area and bulk regulations.
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Location
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Maximum Height
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Material
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---|---|---|---|---|
Front yard
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3 feet
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• Brick
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Side yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
Rear yard adjacent to a street (not including alleys)
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4 feet
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• Ornamental iron
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• Ornamental aluminum or steel designed to look like
iron
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• Stone
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• Wood in the form of a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like wood in the form of
a picket fence
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• Vinyl designed to look like iron
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Front or side yard of a building that abuts sidewalk
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6 feet
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• Brick
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• Ornamental iron
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• Ornamental aluminum or steel designed to look like
iron
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• Stone
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• Wood
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• Vinyl designed to look like wood or iron
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• Stucco over concrete block, capped with brick or
stone
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Interior side yard
Rear yard
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6 feet
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• Any common fence material
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Table 1: Streetscape and Green Area Categories
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---|---|---|---|---|
Building Additions and Alterations
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Two-story New Developments of 2,500-4,999 Gross Square
Feet In Size
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Two-story New Developments of 5,000-9,999 Gross Square
Feet In Size
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New Developments of 10,000 Gross Square Feet and Over
In Size and/or New Buildings Greater Than Two Stories
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4 points from Category A (no more than 3 of one item)
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4 points from Category A (no more than 3 of one item)
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5 points from Category A, 4 points from Category B
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7 points from Category A, 5 points from Category B, and 6 points
from Category C
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Table 2: Streetscape and Green Area Items
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Category
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Item
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Points
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A
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Hanging basket (minimum size 12 inches in diameter)
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1
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A
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Decorative banners/flags
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1
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A
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Window box (as wide as window sill and a minimum size 6 inches
wide by 6 inches deep)
|
2
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A
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Additional planting area including shrubs, trees, ground covers,
or flowers
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2
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A
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Street planter (minimum size 24 inches in diameter)
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2
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B
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Decorative building lighting
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1
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B
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Bench (at least 5 feet in length)
|
2
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B
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Trash receptacle
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2
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B
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Raised planting bed
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2
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B
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Public art/mural
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2
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B
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Trellis, arbor or pergola (planted with vines or shrubs)
|
2
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B
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Awning for window or door
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2
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B
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Kiosk
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3
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C
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Decorative paving
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3
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C
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Balconies
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3
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C
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Streetlighting
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3
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C
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Planting in curb extension (planted bulb outs/large planters)
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3
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C
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Urban garden [see requirements in Subsection E(3)]
|
3
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C
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Roof garden
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3
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C
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Bus shelter
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3
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C
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Clock tower
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3
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C
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Decorative architectural treatments
|
4
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C
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Plaza, square, or courtyard [see requirements in Subsection E(4)]
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6
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C
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Facade restoration
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6
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C
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Other amenity approved by Borough Council
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3-6
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