Where permitted by the Schedule of Uses, two-family dwellings
shall comply with the requirements of this section and other applicable
standards in this chapter.
A. Common wall. In cases where a two-family dwelling is a duplex involving a common (i.e., party) wall and common property line, said wall shall be located on the common property line separating the adjoining lots. The area of each lot shall not be less than the 0.66 times the minimum lot size required for single-family dwellings in the Schedule of Development Standards in Article
IV of this chapter.
B. Over/under units. In cases where the two-family dwelling consists of two dwelling units constructed with one unit located on the second floor above a first floor dwelling unit, the lot size shall be 1.33 times the minimum required for single-family dwellings in the Schedule of Development Standards in Article
IV of this chapter. If such a two-family dwelling is proposed on two or more separate lots of record, said lots shall be combined into one lot prior to the issuance of a zoning permit.
Multifamily projects are permitted in certain districts in accord
with the Schedule of Uses in order to provide the opportunity for
the development of a variety of housing types in the Township.
A. Project design process and procedure.
(1) Subdivision and land development. Multifamily projects shall also be subject to Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development.
(2) Four-step design; density.
(a)
Four-step design. All multifamily projects shall be designed using the four-step process for conservation design development detailed in Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development.
(b)
Density. The number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined in accord with the adjusted tract area approach requirements for conservation design developments in §
400-25D and the density factor in the Multifamily Dwelling Standards Table.
(3) Site plan. A proposed site plan showing all necessary information
to include, at a minimum, location of all buildings and improvements,
including roads, parking areas, planting strips, signs, overall grading
plan with storm drainage facilities, water supply and distribution
systems, sewage treatment and collection systems and the specific
areas provided as open space pursuant to the requirements of this
chapter. Building layouts, floor plans and profiles shall also be
provided indicating building dimensions, numbers, and sizes of units,
common ownership or use areas, lighting and such other information
as shall be required to determine compliance with the design standards
contained herein and any other building standards which may be applicable
in the Township. Setbacks from property lines, improvements, and other
buildings shall also be specifically shown.
(4) Open space.
(a)
Minimum requirement. The development shall include as conservation open space at least 30% of the adjusted tract area plus all of the primary conservation areas in §
400-23B.
(b)
Standards. Open space areas shall meet the standards of §§
400-28 and
400-29 shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible in accord with a schedule or plan, and proposed agreement(s) either with the Township or a property owners' association, for the purpose of preserving the open space in accord with Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development.
B. Bulk and density standards; parcel configuration. The bulk and density
factors listed in the Multifamily Dwelling Standards Table shall apply
to multifamily dwellings and projects without the application of any
density bonuses. All land proposed for a particular multifamily dwelling
project shall be part of the same parcel and contiguous.
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Multifamily Dwelling Standards
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Project Standards
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Townhouses
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Garden Apartments
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Apartment Buildings
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Minimum size for project parcel (acres)
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3
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5
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5
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Density — number of dwelling units per acre of usable land area (see § 400-25D for adjusted tract area)
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6
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6
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6
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Maximum number of dwelling units per building
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6
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10
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10
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Maximum building height (feet)
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Same as the zoning district
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Maximum lot coverage (percent)
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Applicable to overall project site, not individual lots - see § 400-40A(4)(a)
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C. Design criteria. The following design criteria shall apply to multifamily
projects:
(1) Setbacks. No structure in a multifamily dwelling project shall be
constructed within 20 feet of the edge of the shoulder of any access
drive (without a designated right-of-way) to or through the development
or within 10 feet of any parking area. Setbacks of multifamily project
buildings from access roads through the project shall meet these minimums;
however, setbacks of adjacent buildings shall be varied so that adjacent
buildings have a setback variation of not less than five feet. A setback
of 50 feet for any structure shall be maintained from all existing
or proposed public or private road rights-of-way and the boundary
line of the entire project parcel.
(2) Road standards. Access roads through the development shall comply with the street requirements of Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development. Direct access of individual parking spaces to a road shall not be permitted, and any such access drive shall remain private.
(3) Building separation. All principal multifamily structures shall be
separated by a distance as may be required by any applicable building
code, but in no case less than 20 feet.
(4) Landscaped buffers. Buffers, not less than 20 feet in width, shall be provided in accord with Article
IX where multifamily structures adjoin existing one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings or any R-1 or R-2 District. In all cases, a landscaping plan shall be prepared and submitted by the developer for approval by the Township.
(5) Pedestrian access. Walkways of such design and construction as approved by the Township shall be provided from all buildings and/or units to their respective parking area and shall meet the requirements for sidewalks as set forth in Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development.
(6) Trash storage. Exterior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall
be screened from public view on three sides and shall be contained
in covered, verminproof containers. Interior storage areas for trash
shall at all times be kept in an orderly and sanitary fashion.
(7) Architectural renderings. Preliminary architectural renderings, models
or photos for multifamily dwelling projects shall be provided at the
time of submission of the conditional use application. The exterior
appearance of the building(s) shall be unified in type, design, and
exterior wall treatment, and so constructed and maintained in order
to retain the residential character of the neighborhood. Fire escapes,
when required, shall be in the rear of the building and shall not
be located on any wall facing a street unless any building, fire or
other code so requires.
(8) Townhouses: facade changes. A minimum of two changes in the front
wall plane with a minimum offset of four feet shall be provided for
every attached grouping of townhouses in one building. This can be
met by varying setbacks among different dwellings or varying setbacks
along the front of a dwelling, or dwellings set back farther than
attached private garages.
D. Nonresidential use. Nonresidential uses and home occupations which
employ other than unit residents shall not be permitted in a multifamily
dwelling. Such ancillary facilities as laundry areas, service buildings,
recreational facilities and the like for the use of the residents
of the project shall be permitted.
E. Conversions of existing structures. Conversions of any existing structures to multifamily dwelling use, regardless of whether such conversions involve structural alteration, shall be subject to the provisions of this section. (See also §
400-41.)
F. Common property ownership and maintenance. In cases where the ownership of common property is involved, evidence of arrangements for the continuous ownership and maintenance of same shall be provided by the developer for approval by the Township in accord with Chapter
355, Subdivision and Land Development. The developer shall also submit evidence of compliance with the Pennsylvania Condominium Law or an attorney's opinion that said Law does not apply
to the subject project.
G. Water supply and sewage disposal. All multifamily dwelling projects
shall be served by an off-site water supply and an off-site sewage
disposal system.
H. Lighting. Lighting shall be provided sufficient in number and intensity
to provide for the safe movement of vehicles and pedestrians. Lighting
shall not reflect toward public streets or cause any annoyance to
surrounding properties.
Any conversion of any building to a residential use or the conversion
of any dwelling to accommodate additional dwelling units shall comply
with the standards in this section and the other requirements applicable
to the dwelling type to which conversion is proposed. The conversion
of any building into a dwelling or the conversion of any dwelling
so as to accommodate an increased number of dwelling units, or families,
shall be permitted only within a district in which a new building
for similar occupancy would be permitted under this chapter, and only
when the resulting occupancy will comply with the requirements governing
new construction in such district with respect to dwelling unit, living
space, lot coverage, dimensions of setbacks and other open spaces,
off-street parking, and other applicable standards.
Group homes shall be permitted in any lawful single-family dwelling
unit in accord with the Schedule of Uses, this section and other applicable
standards of this chapter.
A. Supervision. There shall be adequate supervision as needed by an
adequate number of person(s) trained in the field for which the group
home is intended.
B. Certification. The use shall be licensed or certified under an applicable
state, county or federal program for group housing, if applicable.
A copy of any such license or certification shall be filed with the
Township, and shall be required to be shown to the Zoning Officer
in the future upon request. The group home shall notify the Township
within 14 days if there is a change in the type of clients, the sponsoring
agency, the maximum number of residents or if an applicable certification/license
expires, is suspended or is withdrawn.
C. Parking. Off-street parking areas of more than five spaces shall be buffered from adjacent existing single-family dwellings by a planting screen meeting the requirements of Article
IX.
D. Appearance. If the group home is within a residential district, the
building shall be maintained and/or constructed to ensure that it
is closely similar in appearance, condition and character to the other
residential structures in the area. No exterior signs shall identify
the type of use.
E. Bulk and density. The construction of new group homes shall comply
with the minimum lot size and other bulk and density requirements
applicable to single-family residential dwellings.
F. Number of residents. Not more than eight persons shall reside in
a group home, including the maximum number of employees/supervisors
and/or care providers routinely in the group home at any point in
time.
Any new dwelling unit hereafter established or utilized shall
meet the minimum floor area for habitable rooms required by the Uniform
Construction Code.
It is the intent of this section to provide for the placement
of mobile homes on individual building sites not located in a mobile
home park.
A. Bulk requirements. Mobile homes not located in a mobile home park
shall comply with lot areas, setback, height, and other requirements
established by this chapter applicable to single-family dwelling.
B. Size. The minimum habitable floor area of a mobile home shall be
720 square feet with a minimum width of 14 feet.
C. Foundation. Mobile homes not located in a mobile home park shall
be placed upon and be permanently attached to a complete, permanent,
frost-free foundation meeting the requirements of the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code.
D. Use restriction. The applicant shall document that the placement
of the mobile home is not prohibited by any deed covenant or restriction.
E. Temporary storage. A mobile home may be temporarily stored on a single-family
residential lot in addition to other structures provided the wheels
are not removed, no utilities are connected, and the storage does
not exceed 30 days. Principal structure setbacks shall be maintained
for the mobile home.
F. Change permit. The demolition, removal or replacement of a mobile
home shall require a permit from the Township Tax Collector and notification
of the Township Zoning Officer.