The purposes of this article are to:
A. Ensure that the provisions of the Shaler Township Zoning Chapter
which are concerned with the uniform treatment of dwelling type, bulk,
density and open space within each zoning district shall not be applied
to the improvement of land by other than lot-by-lot development in
a manner which would distort the objectives of this chapter.
B. Encourage innovations in residential development and renewal so that
the growing demand for housing may be met by greater variety in type,
design and layout of dwellings and by the conservation and more efficient
use of open space ancillary to said dwellings.
C. Provide greater opportunities for better housing and recreation for
all who are or will be residents of the Township.
D. Encourage a more efficient use of land and public services and to
reflect changes in the technology of land development so that the
economies so secured may enure to the benefit of those who need homes.
E. Encourage more flexible land development which will respect and conserve
natural resources, such as streams, lakes, floodplains, groundwater,
wooded areas, steeply sloped areas and areas of unusual beauty or
importance to the natural ecosystem.
F. Encourage innovations in residential developments that are designed
to minimize energy consumption and maximize recycling of materials
in their layout, transportation, climate control, energy sources and
solid and liquid waste treatment systems.
G. In aid of these purposes, provide a procedure which can relate the
type, design and layout of residential development to the particular
site and the particular demand for housing existing at the time of
development in a manner consistent with the preservation of the property
values within existing residential areas and to assure that the increased
flexibility of regulations over land development established hereby
is carried out pursuant to sound, expeditious and fair administrative
standards and procedures.
No application for tentative approval of a planned residential
development shall be considered or approved unless the following conditions
are met:
A. The tract proposed for a planned residential development consists
of a contiguous area of at least five acres.
B. The development will be served by all utilities, including sanitary
sewers, storm sewers, waterlines, gas, electricity and stormwater
management, which shall be in place and capable of functioning prior
to the construction of any principal buildings within the planned
residential development or any stage thereof.
C. The proposed development is found to be generally consistent with
the Comprehensive Plan for Shaler Township.
D. The planned residential development shall be permitted as a conditional
use in all zoning districts of the Township meeting the requirements
of this article.
E. The tract of land to be developed shall be in one ownership or, if
in multiple ownership, shall be developed according to a single plan
with common authority and responsibility.
A planned residential development may include the following
uses:
A. Residential uses, including detached, semidetached, attached (e.g.,
townhouse, multifamily) or multistoried (e.g., garden apartment, apartment)
structures or any combination thereof.
B. Commercial and institutional uses, to the extent that they are designed
and intended primarily to serve the residents of the planned residential
development.
C. Recreational uses deemed appropriate by the Board of Commissioners
for incorporation into the design of the development.
D. No-impact home-based businesses as an accessory use, subject to the
use restrictions and requirements of an R-1 Limited One-Family District.