[1]
Editor’s Note: The title of Part 10 was amended pursuant
to Ord. 975, 6/16/2016.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.1; as amended by Ord.
975, 6/16/2016]
The General Commercial District seeks to accommodate the needs
for distribution of goods and services to the consumer in a retail
and/or professional office setting in accordance with the Regional
Strategic Plan. This district generally coincides with public utility
service areas and is within the Designated Growth Area. The district
seeks to properly manage business development to provide for efficient
and safe transportation and compatibility with neighboring uses. The
uses provided in this district are meant to serve local residents
as well as those motorists passing through the area.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.2; as amended by Ord.
882, 2/15/2007; and by Ord. 946, 3/21/2013]
1.
Dwelling units when accessory and incidental to a permitted nonresidential
use.
2.
Financial institutions; business and professional offices.
3.
Eating establishments.
4.
Any retail business whose principal activity is the sale of merchandise
in an enclosed building.
5.
Funeral homes.
6.
Retail sales in which both a workshop and repair shop and retail
showroom are required.
7.
Motels, hotels, and bed-and-breakfast establishments.
8.
Studios or galleries for the display and/or instruction of dance,
art, music or similar cultural pursuits.
9.
Movie theaters and performing arts theaters.
10.
Indoor recreational facilities, excluding video arcades.
11.
Bakery, candy, pastry, confectionery or ice cream retail sales, with
minor related processing permitted.
12.
Bus passenger stations.
13.
Automobile service stations.
14.
Automobile garages for the storage and repair of motor vehicles,
but not automobile body shops.
15.
Vehicular sales establishments.
16.
Car washes.
17.
Florists, greenhouses, roadside produce markets, or nurseries, provided
that all incidental equipment and supplies, including fertilizers
and empty cans, are kept within a building.
18.
Fitness centers.
19.
Medical centers, dental offices or chiropractic clinics.
20.
Municipal buildings and facilities.
21.
Public utility and communication uses where operation requirements
necessitate locating within the district.
22.
Laundromats.
23.
Retail pet shops.
24.
Outdoor eating activity as an accessory use to a permitted principal
use.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.3; as amended by Ord.
882, 2/15/2007; and by Ord. 946, 3/21/2013]
The following special exceptions may be permitted by the Zoning
Hearing Board, following review and comment by the Planning Commission,
pursuant to standards and criteria as set forth in the supplemental
regulations, Part 13, and the special exception regulations, Part
14:
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.4; as amended by Ord.
856, 3/17/2005, § 2; and by Ord. 882, 2/15/2007]
The following conditional use may be permitted by Borough Council,
following review and comment by the Planning Commission, pursuant
to standards and criteria as set forth in the supplemental regulations,
Part 13, and the conditional use regulations, Part 15:
A.
Shopping centers.
B.
Clubs, lodges and fraternal organizations.
C.
Permitted uses that involve construction or the modification of structures,
buildings, and/or uses that result in structures, buildings, or uses
in excess of 10,000 square feet (gross floor area or gross square
footage). Conditional use review is pursuant to the standards and
criteria set forth in § 1516.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.5]
An accessory structure or use on the same lot which is customarily
incidental to a permitted principal use is permitted. Each accessory
use shall comply with the provisions contained in this Part and the
supplemental regulations.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.7]
The above specified uses shall be permitted only under the following
conditions.
A.
Such stores, shops and businesses shall be conducted within an enclosed
building, except as otherwise permitted in accordance with the supplemental
regulations.
B.
Such uses, operations or products are not obnoxious or offensive
by reason of the emission of gas, odor, dust, smoke, noise, vibration,
refuse matter or other causes in accordance with the supplemental
regulations.
C.
There shall be no manufacturing, compounding, processing or treatment
of products other than that which is clearly incidental and essential
to the retail store, and when all such products are sold on the premises.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.7]
Outside storage and display when accessory to a permitted use
shall be allowed provided that the following provisions are met:
A.
Outside storage or display shall not occupy any part of a street
(or alley) right-of-way and no other area intended or designed for
vehicular or pedestrian use, required parking areas or required front
yard.
B.
Outside storage or display area shall occupy an area of less than
1/2 of the existing building coverage. In no case shall more than
25% of the lot area be used for outside storage or display.
C.
Outside storage areas shall be shielded from view from all public
streets in an appropriate manner.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.8]
The height of a building shall not exceed 35 feet.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.9]
Lot area, lot width and impervious coverage requirements of
not less that the following dimensions shall be provided for each
structure or use hereafter erected, established or altered for any
use permitted within this district:
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.10]
The following setback regulations apply to all uses permitted
within this district unless otherwise specified herein:
A.
Front yard: 30 feet.
B.
Side yards: 10 feet. No side yard shall be required where structures
abut one another, provided that a written agreement is entered into
by such property owners and submitted to the Zoning Officer. However,
in no case shall common party walls be permitted between properties
of separate ownership.
C.
Rear yard: 25 feet.
D.
Buffer yards/screen plantings shall be provided in accordance with
the supplemental regulations.
[Ord. 766, 5/16/1996, § 10.11]
Off-street parking/access and loading/unloading shall be provided
in accordance with Part 16.
