Township of Upper Chichester, PA Article VII APT Apartment District

§ 600-39 District purpose.

The purpose of this district is to provide for two-family and multifamily development at high and high-medium densities. In the case of apartment development, regulations are designed to require large site and moderate lot coverage development, to accommodate substantial population without placing an excessive burden on municipal services and to provide effective buffer and screening requirements to protect abutting single-family developments from multifamily developments at higher densities.

§ 600-40 Uses permitted by right.

A building or group of buildings may be erected, altered or used, and a lot or premises may be used by right for one or more of the following uses:

A. Garden apartment.

B. Two-family detached dwelling (detached-duplex).

C. Two-family semidetached dwelling (twin duplex).

§ 600-41 Conditional uses.

A. Townhouse, subject to § 600-35 and the applicable provisions of Article XXII.

§ 600-42 Accessory uses.

A. Parking, subject to Article XVIII.

B. Storage area, provided that all storage is in enclosed structure(s), separate from the primary structure.

C. Living accommodation for watchman or caretaker employed upon the premises, provided that any such accommodation shall be located within an apartment house.

D. Laundry, for exclusive use of residents on the site.

E. Swimming pool, subject to § 600-168.

F. Tennis court.

G. Rental management office, provided it serves only the development on the site.

H. Recreation building and open space or recreation area for the exclusive use of residents and their guests.

I. Refuse and recycling collection receptacles, provided they are screened from the adjoining property and public view by an opaque fence or planted visual screen.

J. Signs, subject to Article XIX.

K. No-impact home-based business, subject to § 600-178.

L. Any accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses and not detrimental to the neighborhood.

§ 600-43 Area and bulk regulations.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, the following shall be minimum requirements:

A. Dimensions for garden apartments.

(1) Tract size: two acres.

(2) Tract frontage: 150 feet.

(3) Gross density: 12 units per acre, maximum.

(4) Building coverage: 25% of total tract, maximum.

(5) Setbacks: 50 feet from property lines and main roads.

(6) Distance between buildings: 35 feet.

(7) Height: two stories, maximum, and 35 feet, maximum.

(8) Open space: 30% of tract.

B. Special regulations for garden apartments.

(1) Buffer areas.

(a) There shall be a ten-foot buffer area provided at the tract boundary. However, where the boundary abuts an R-1, R-2 or R-3 District or a single-family detached dwelling, the width of such buffer shall be increased to 20 feet. This buffer shall not include any impervious surfaces.

(b) There shall be a planted visual screen as defined in Article II within the required buffer area.

(2) Landscaping. Any part of the site proposed for apartment development which is not covered by buildings, parking or other paved areas shall be landscaped with trees, shrubs or ground cover, in accordance with a landscaping plan which shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the Township Engineer. Trees and/or shrubs shall be planted in high-visibility areas such as along the entrance drive and exterior road in front of the dwelling units and between parking areas.

(3) Private streets and driveways. Streets and driveways shall be in accordance with the latest adopted Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 505, Subdivision and Land Development.

(4) Lighting. All internal streets shall be properly lighted to assure safe driving conditions at night and security for the residents. Such lighting is to not create a nuisance for residents of adjacent properties.

C. Dimensions for two-family detached dwellings.

(1) Tract area: one acre.

(2) Lot area: 6,000 square feet, corner lots, and 5,000 square feet all other lots.

(3) Lot width: 50 feet at building line.

(4) Front yard: 25 feet.

(5) Side yards: 12 feet each.

(6) Rear yard: 25 feet.

(7) Height: two stories, maximum, and 35 feet, maximum.

D. Dimensions for two-family semidetached dwellings.

(1) Tract area: one acre.

(2) Lot area: 5,000 square feet, corner lots, and 4,000 square feet, all other lots.

(3) Lot width: 40 feet.

(4) Front yard: 30 feet.

(5) Side yard: one side yard, 12 feet.

(6) Rear yard: 25 feet.

(7) Height: two stories, maximum, and 35 feet, maximum.

§ 600-44 Homeowners' associations.

If a homeowners' association is required for any development located within the APT Apartment District, it shall adhere to the requirements of § 600-179.