A.
Purposes. The purpose of the Downtown Overlay District is to:
(1)
Encourage traditional mixed-use downtown development and redevelopment to occur within the Downtown Overlay District that is consistent with historic development pattern of the Borough and provides a scale and mix of uses appropriate for the walkable center of the Borough of West Reading;
(2)
Promote the expansion of the tax base, especially commercial development, to strengthen the economic base of the Borough and its Downtown Overlay District;
(3)
Encourage mixed-use real estate development that results in active sidewalks and civic spaces and economically sustainable development;
(4)
Promote well-integrated residential, commercial, office and civic development in close proximity to the primary retail district that have a downtown scale development pattern;
(5)
Support new development that includes diverse pedestrian-compatible, higher density designs and expands economic development opportunities and minimizes distances between destinations by requiring sidewalks and pedestrian-oriented access;
(6)
Provide incentives for the creation of mixed uses in keeping with the character, scale and architecture of the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods to promote compatibility of uses and stimulate pedestrian activity;
(7)
Promote the livability and identity of the district and neighborhoods by providing for dwellings, shops and workplaces in close proximity to each other;
(8)
Enhance the visual character and physical comfort of the district by minimizing pedestrian and vehicular conflicts and encouraging the renovation and erection of buildings and storefronts that provide direct connections to the street and sidewalk;
(9)
Promote the creation of commercial frontages with storefronts and active ground floor uses facing primary streets while discouraging views of garages, blank walls, and parking from the street;
(10)
Promote the creation of residential frontages with semi-private places such as porches and stoops facing primary streets while discouraging views of garages, blank walls, and parking from the street;
(11)
Discourage the dependence on automobile use, thereby reducing traffic congestion and promoting alternative modes of transportation;
(12)
Encourage the development of shared parking and attractive, convenient off-street parking facilities to reduce on-street congestion and facilitate vehicular and pedestrian circulation;
(13)
Provide for efficient pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular circulation, with an emphasis on avoiding automobile-centric sprawling commercial development; and
(14)
Encourage multi-modal transportation improvements that will make it easier to travel with different modes of transportation within the Borough and region, including via walking, bicycle, car, bus, and other forms of public transportation.
B.
Location and applicability. As prescribed in Attachment 1: Zoning Map, the Downtown Overlay District shall be designated as a mandatory Overlay District that applies to all properties located within the following underlying zoning districts: Central Business District (C), Gateway District (G), General Business District (GB), Residential/Professional District (RP), and Light Industrial District (LI). All standards and provisions of Article XVIII Downtown Overlay District shall apply to sites located within the Downtown Overlay District.
C.
Overlay District. The Downtown Overlay District shall not be an independent zoning district, but shall be a set of special zoning regulations to be applied over and above the zoning regulations otherwise controlling upon a tract of land, as enabled by and described in Section 605 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] The district upon which the overlay district is superimposed is referred to herein as the "underlying district."
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10605.




























































































