The purpose of this article is to identify certain regulations
and standards which are generally either common to all zoning districts
or applicable to more than one district.
All new construction on lots where there is currently no sidewalk shall install a sidewalk and curb with handicapped-curb-cut ramps at the crosswalks. (Also see Chapter
500, Article
I, Curbs and Sidewalks, of the Code Upper Chichester Township.)
No principal building or part thereof shall be erected within,
or shall project into, any required yard in any district, except for
unenclosed porches, decks, one-story bay windows, eaves, chimneys,
balconies, fire escapes, buttresses, cornices, or steps; and none
of these, except decks or similar projections, shall encroach more
than three feet into the required yard. However, unenclosed decks/porches
may extend only into required front/rear yards as noted below:
A. Extension of unenclosed decks into required rear yards:
|
District
|
Rear Yard
(feet)
|
---|
|
R-1
|
10
|
|
R-2
|
7
|
|
R-3
|
5
|
|
Townhouse
|
10
|
Unless specifically stated otherwise for a particular zoning
district, all refuse shall be placed in closed, rigid, verminproof
containers. In the case of townhouses, multifamily dwellings and nonresidential
buildings, all refuse receptacles shall be effectively screened from
the view of residents and from public streets and sidewalks by means
of a fence. All such refuse receptacles shall be placed on the property
responsible for such refuse.
In the case of multifamily dwellings and nonresidential buildings,
lighting facilities shall be provided and arranged in a manner that
will protect the street and neighboring properties from excessive
glare and hazardous interference of any kind. Lighting facilities
shall be provided for the safety and convenience of the residents
of multifamily dwellings or patrons of nonresidential buildings. All
driveways and parking areas must be properly lighted to assure safe
driving conditions at night and security for residents and patrons.
The maximum height of light poles shall be 25 feet in the I Industrial
District and 20 feet in all other districts.
In the event that multifamily dwellings are converted or developed
as condominiums, such condominiums shall be owned and operated in
accordance with the Pennsylvania Unit Property Act of 1963, as amended.
No lot or premises in any part of the Township shall be used
to keep or raise chickens, ducks, pigeons or other fowl, or any rabbits,
hares, guinea pigs, white mice, hamsters or any other small animals
with the exception of specimens kept as household pets, provided the
keeping of same shall not cause a nuisance. No lot or premises in
any part of the Township shall be used to keep or raise any horses,
cows, sheep or any other farm animals or wild animals or reptiles,
whether domesticated or not. In connection with both the small and
large animals mentioned above, the owner may continue to keep or raise
such animals if this activity was in progress before the adoption
of this chapter, provided that such activity does not cause a nuisance.
Standards for structures for sale of agricultural products:
A. No roadside stand used for the sale of agricultural products shall
remain on the property during seasons when such products are not sold.
B. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of Article
XVIII.
C. The building for the sale of agricultural products shall be located
not less than 35 feet from the right-of-way line.
D. All sales shall be of products grown on the property.
The following provisions shall regulate satellite antennas.
In this section, the words "antenna" or "antennas" refer to satellite
antennas.
A. Satellite antennas shall be permitted as accessory uses subject to this section and §
600-159. However, where such antennas are proposed for nonresidential uses in residential districts, they shall be permitted only by special exception.
B. Ground-based antennas shall not exceed a diameter of two feet to
three feet.
C. The height of ground-based antennas shall not exceed 15 feet, as required for accessory structures in §
600-159.
D. All wiring for ground-based antennas shall be underground.
E. Residential, roof-mounted antennas shall not exceed four feet in
diameter.
F. Where possible, roof-mounted antennas shall be placed on the portion
of the roof sloping away from the front of the lot.
G. Applications for roof-mounted antennas shall be submitted to the
Township Zoning Officer and shall be accompanied by a specific mounting
and stress analysis report prepared by a professional engineer.
H. Satellite antennas should be of a color that blends with the surrounding
landscape. They should have an open mesh rather than a solid surface
to reduce visual blockage.
I. A planted visual screen or other effective visual barrier shall be
planted or erected and maintained in order to reduce visibility of
a ground-based antenna from a public street.
J. In residential districts not more than one antenna shall be permitted
on a lot with its use limited to that lot.
K. Every antenna must be adequately grounded for protection against
a direct strike of lightning.
L. A permit must be obtained from the Township Building Inspector prior
to the installation of a satellite antenna.
M. The installation of a satellite antenna must comply with all applicable
local, state and federal regulations.
All activities and uses shall be in accordance with the currently
adopted Stormwater Management Design Ordinance.
Activities and conditions related to fire protection shall be in accordance with Chapter
7 of the Upper Chichester Township Code of Ordinances and
the most recent adopted version of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code (UCC) and the National Fire Prevention Code.
An environmental impact statement (EIS) shall be submitted as part of an application for a PRD (§
600-100S) or for a use permitted by special exception or conditional use in the Industrial District. The contents of an EIS shall pertain to the particular site under study and shall:
A. Provide an inventory of the existing environmental conditions at
the site and the surrounding areas, which includes air and water quality,
water supply, hydrology, geology, soil, topography, vegetation, wildlife,
aquatic organisms, pollution sources, ecology, demography, land uses,
aesthetics, history and archaeology;
B. Provide a description of the proposed development;
C. Provide a list of all licenses, permits and approvals required by
law from other agencies;
D. Provide an assessment of the probable impact of the proposed development
upon all the inventory items;
E. Provide a list of all the adverse environmental impacts which cannot
be avoided;
F. Describe the steps proposed by the developer to minimize the adverse
impacts during and after construction;
G. Describe what alternatives exist to the proposed developments;
H. Provide a municipal fiscal impact analysis if required; and
I. Such other information necessary to evaluate the impact of the development
upon the environment.
Flag lots are permitted, provided the minimum width of the narrow
strip of land which provides access to the street is not less than
25 feet. The access strip shall be in addition to the minimum lot
area requirements and deeded to the lot.
Gasoline service stations shall be permitted by right in the
I Industrial District and by conditional use in the C-2 District and
shall comply with the following regulations.
A. A set of plans, specifications and plot plans shall be submitted
to the Board of Commissioners showing all structures, pumps, storage
tanks, parking areas and driveways for ingress and egress.
B. All pumps shall be located outside of buildings, on private property
and in no case within 20 feet of any street right-of-way line, subject
to such conditions and safeguards as the Township Commissioners may
impose (for the C-2 District) with respect to, among other matters,
the location and adequacy of entrances and exits.
C. All automobile parts, dismantled vehicles and similar articles shall
be stored within a building; all fuel, oil or other similar substances
shall be stored at least 35 feet from any street right-of-way and
10 feet from any lot line; and all volatile fuel containers in excess
of 100 gallons shall be located underground.
D. In no event shall a permit be granted for such a use located within
500 feet of a school, hospital, infirmary, church, museum, club or
place of public assembly having the capacity of over 100 persons;
a gasoline service station shall not be deemed nonconforming through
the subsequent erection of the above uses.
No-impact home-based businesses shall be permitted as an accessory
use in all residential districts subject to the following requirements:
A. The business activity shall be compatible with the residential use
of the property.
B. The business shall employ no employees other than family members
residing in the dwelling.
C. There shall be no display or sale of retail goods and no stockpiling
of inventory.
D. The business may not use any process or equipment that creates noise,
vibration, glare, fumes, odors, or electrical or electronic interference
with radio or television reception.
E. The business may not discharge any solid waste or sewage discharge
that is not normally associated with residential use.
F. The business may not occupy more than 25% of the gross floor area
of the dwelling.
G. There shall be no outside appearance of a business within the residence.
H. There shall be no off-street parking for the occupation, in addition
to that required for the residential use.
If a homeowners' association is formed within a residential
district, it shall be governed according to the following regulations:
A. The landowner or developer shall provide the Township with the legal
framework for the association indicating its bylaws and methods for
maintaining open space which shall be acceptable to the Township Solicitor.
B. The association is to be organized by the landowner or developer
and operating before the sale of any lots within the development.
C. Membership in the association is mandatory for all purchasers of
dwelling units therein and their successors.
D. The members of the association shall share equitably the costs of
maintaining the open spaces. If a member fails to pay his pro rata
share, then a lien against an individual property may be made in accordance
with the provisions for same in the bylaws of the organization.
E. The association shall be responsible for maintenance of insurance
and taxes on open space.
F. The association shall have or hire adequate staff to administer common
facilities and maintain the open space to the satisfaction of the
Township Commissioners.
G. The association shall have the authority and ability to promptly
correct hazardous conditions in the open space.
H. The association shall provide annual updates to the Township Commissioners
on changes in the composition or membership of its Board and changes
to any of its maintenance agreements, contracts or ability to maintain
said development, it grounds and any open space.