Township of Newtown, PA Article VII R-1A Residence Districts

§ 172-31 Use regulations; lot and area requirements.

In R-1A Residence Districts, there are numerous regulations and definitions within this chapter that will apply, including but not limited to such things as corner lots, accessory buildings, swimming pools, fences and many others. The requirements of this chapter and all other rules and regulations incorporated herein apply to each of the zoning districts. Please review the definitions and Table of Contents[1] to investigate any other potential application of this chapter to your specific issue. In addition to these other requirements, the following regulations apply to this zoning district:

A. Permitted uses. A building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other:

(1) Any use permitted in R-1 Residence Districts.

(2) The provisions of § 172-29A(1), (2) and (3) also apply.

B. Frontage and area regulations.

[Amended 1-7-1991 by Ord. No. 1991-1]

(1) Lot area and frontage. A lot area of not less than 45,000 square feet shall be provided for every building hereafter erected or used, in whole or in part, as a dwelling. Such lot shall have a frontage of at least 150 feet. See also §§ 172-107, 172-110 and 172-112.

(2) Contiguous buildable lot area. The minimum contiguous lot area shall consist of not less than 22,500 square feet.

(3) Building area. The building area shall not exceed 15% of the lot area.

(4) Impervious surface shall not exceed 25% of lot area.

(5) Front yard. There shall be a front yard on each street on which a lot abuts which shall be not less than 75 feet in depth.

(6) Side yard. There shall be two side yards which shall be not less than 60 feet in aggregate width, and neither of which shall be less than 25 feet in width. See also §§ 172-107 and 172-109.

(7) Rear yard. There shall be a rear yard on each lot which shall not be less than 50 feet in depth.

(8) Driveways and/or parking spaces shall be no closer than five feet from any property line.

(9) Building height shall be no more than 45 feet, as measured in accordance with Article I, § 172-2, Definitions.

[Amended 5-24-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-03]

C. Regulations for nonresidential uses in residential districts.

[Added 9-11-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-4]

(1) General regulations.

(a) A fifty-foot special or primary buffer shall be installed between any proposed nonresidential use and a residential use or zoning district. The buffer shall conform to the requirements of § 104-14D of Chapter 104, Natural Features and Landscaping, of the Code of the Township of Newtown.

(b) The maximum impervious area permitted is 50% of the lot area, exclusive of the road rights-of-way.

(2) Parking lot paving setback.

(a) There shall be no parking or paving permitted in the required front yard except to provide an access drive to the site.

(b) There shall be no parking or paving permitted from the lot line to 1/2 the distance to the nearest building in the required side or rear yard.

[1] Editor's Note: See the scheme at the beginning of this chapter.

§ 172-32 Exceptions.

In R-1A Residence Districts, a building may be erected or altered on any lot held on November 5, 1961, in single and separate ownership which is not of the required minimum area or frontage or is of such unusual dimensions that the owner would have difficulty in providing the required open spaces specified in the R-1A Residence District and on lots heretofore subdivided by a plan approved under Chapter 148, Subdivision and Land Development.