In addition to the goals listed in the preamble and the community
development objectives, the districts established in these regulations
are intended to achieve the following:
A. To provide sufficient space, appropriately located for residential
development to meet the housing needs of the present and expected
future population of the Borough within the range of house types and
densities anticipated.
B. To assure light, air and privacy, as far as possible, by controlling
the spacing and height of buildings and other structures.
C. To protect residential areas against hazards of fire, offensive noise,
vibration, smoke, odors, glare or other objectionable influences.
D. To prevent congestion, as far as possible, by regulating the density
of population and the bulk of buildings, and by providing for sufficient
off-street parking.
E. To protect residential neighborhoods, as much as possible, from heavy
and through traffic.
F. To make possible provisions of those public and private educational,
recreational, health and similar facilities, serving the needs of
nearby residents, which perform most effectively in a residential
environment and do not create objectionable influences.
G. To promote the most desirable use of land and direction of building
development in accord with a well-considered plan, to promote stable
residential development, to protect the character of any district
and its peculiar suitability for particular uses to conserve the value
of land and buildings, and to protect Borough tax revenues.
[Added 2-28-1995 by Ord. No. 456]
A. Specific intent. In addition to the general goals listed in the preamble,
it is the purpose of this district to establish reasonable standards
applicable to the existing mix of residential uses within the TCR
District. Furthermore, it is the intent of this section to:
(1) Apply the TCR District to those portions of Littlestown's historic
core area which do not have direct access to King Street and Queen
Street.
(2) Encourage the formation and continuance of quiet, compatible, and
uncongested neighborhoods where a variety of residential dwelling
types intermingle harmoniously.
(3) Discourage the encroachment of commercial establishments or other
uses which may adversely affect the residential character of the TCR
District.
(4) Provide for uses that will create transitional areas between areas
of the Borough which have developed as contemporary residential neighborhoods
and the more intensely developed mixed-use areas of Littlestown's
historic core.
(5) Protect the essential architectural and historic elements of Littlestown's
older residential neighborhoods by requiring "infill" development
or building additions or expansions to be consistent with the general
architectural styles, setbacks, height, bulk, and placement of structures
located on adjoining properties and within the blockface in which
the "infill" development or building addition or expansion is proposed.
(6) Recognize the predominant row house, twin, and single-family residential
dwelling unit patterns found in the TCR District and provide standards
to maintain those patterns.
(7) Provide for home occupations under appropriate circumstances.
B. Use regulations.
(1) Uses by right. In any TCR District, land, buildings, or premises
may be used by right for the following uses:
(a)
Single-family detached dwellings.
(b)
Single-family semidetached dwellings (twins).
(c)
Two-family dwellings (duplexes).
(d)
Single-family attached dwellings, including row houses and infill
townhouses.
(e)
No-impact home-based businesses, in accordance with §
500-19O.
[Added 1-28-2003 by Ord. No. 556]
(2) Accessory buildings and uses.
(a)
Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above
uses shall be permitted.
(3) Uses by conditional use. The following uses shall be permitted as
a conditional use when authorized by the Borough Council subject to
an advertised public hearing and review and comment by the Planning
Commission.
[Added 3-27-2018 by Ord.
No. 685]
(a)
Customary home occupations, subject to the requirements of §
500-19F of this chapter.
C. Supplementary regulations.
(1) The following criteria shall be applied to any use proposed on properties
within the TCR District which contain a structure(s) existing at the
time this section became effective.
(a)
If an existing structure is demolished, no conditional use will
be permitted in the replacement building.
(b)
The proposed use shall preserve the architectural character
of the front and side facades visible from public streets within the
TCR District. Any expansions or additions built from the rear or side
of the structure shall conform in scale and building material to the
existing building. Expansions or additions from the front of the structure
are not permitted.
(2) The following criteria shall be applied to any use proposed on properties
within the TCR District which do not have structure(s) existing on
the lot at the time this section became effective.
(a)
New buildings may be constructed on a vacant lot, provided that
the lot and building conform in all aspects to the requirements of
this zoning district.
(b)
Any new building shall be of such size, scale, general appearance,
and building material so as to conform to the general nature of surrounding
buildings and not detract from the intent of this section to preserve
the appearance of the historic neighborhoods of Littlestown. Applicants
shall provide a rendering, as part of any zoning application, showing
the front and side facades facing the street. The rendering shall
show all architectural elements and indicate the material to be used
in construction.
D. Area and bulk regulations. The following regulations shall be observed:
(1) The minimum lot size shall be 5,000 square feet for single-family
detached lots, 4,500 square feet per dwelling unit for single-family
semidetached and two-family family lots or units, and 4,000 square
feet per dwelling unit for single-family attached (townhouse) lots
or units.
[Amended 5-22-2007 by Ord. No. 610]
(2) The minimum lot width shall be 40 feet for single-family detached lots, 35 feet/dwelling unit for single-family semidetached and two-family lots or units, and 25 feet/dwelling unit plus sufficient lot width to meet the side yard requirements of Subsection
D(5) for single-family attached (townhouse) lots or units. Minimum lot width shall be measured at the minimum required front building setback line.
[Amended 5-22-2007 by Ord. No. 610]
(3) Maximum lot coverage and minimum green space shall be as follows:
[Amended 7-28-1998 by Ord. No. 497; 5-22-2007 by Ord. No.
610; 3-8-2022 by Ord. No. 704]
(a)
Single-family detached.
[1]
Lot coverage: 55% maximum. Increased from 40%.
[2]
Green space: 45% minimum.
(b)
Single-family semidetached and two-family dwellings.
[1]
Lot coverage: 60% maximum. Increased from 45%.
[2]
Green space: 40% minimum.
(c)
Single-family attached (townhouses).
[1]
Lot coverage: 50% maximum. Increased from 35%.
[2]
Green space: 50% minimum.
(4) Front yards shall meet the following standards:
(a)
The minimum front yard shall be 10 feet, measured from the street
right-of-way line, unless adjoining properties contain structures
with less front yard depth. In that event, the existing front yard
setback may conform to the existing front yard depth of the adjoining
properties.
(b)
The entire front yard shall be maintained as a landscaped area,
except for walkways connecting the entrances with the public sidewalk
and for one access driveway.
(c)
Existing trees in front yard areas shall not be cut down unless
they interfere with an existing or proposed driveway or become diseased.
(5) Side yards shall meet the following standards:
(a)
The minimum side yard shall be five feet, but the combined width
of both side yards shall be 12 feet. When the lot is located in an
area of the TCR District where existing structures on adjacent properties
have been constructed closer to the side property line than the required
five feet, minimum side yard requirements may be waived.
(6) Rear yards shall meet the following standards:
(a)
The minimum rear yard depth shall be 15 feet for primary structures
and five feet for accessory structures.
(7) The maximum height of any structure within the TCR shall not exceed
35 feet.
(8) The maximum width or primary frontage of any structure, excluding
single-family semidetached, row house, or townhouse structures, within
the TCR District shall not exceed 30 feet measured horizontally along
the front of the building. The maximum width or primary frontage of
single-family semidetached structures with in the TCR District shall
not exceed 25 feet per dwelling unit measured horizontally along the
front of the building. The maximum width or primary frontage of row
houses or townhouses within the TCR District shall not exceed 80 feet.
[Amended 5-22-2007 by Ord. No. 610]
(9) All lots shall front on a major, collector, or minor street as defined in Chapter
415, Subdivision and Land Development. In no case shall any lot be permitted to front solely upon a service street or alley as defined in Chapter
415, Subdivision and Land Development.
[Added 5-22-2007 by Ord. No. 610]