The Borough of Bath is hereby divided into the following districts:
A.
Residential class districts:
R-1 Low-Density Residential Zone
|
R-2 Medium-Density Residential Zone
|
R-3 High-Density Residential Zone
|
B.
Commercial class districts:
[Amended 8-2-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-709]
C-N Commercial Neighborhood
|
C-H1 Commercial Highway, with Residential Uses
|
C-H2 Commercial Highway, with Limited Residential Use
|
C.
Manufacturing class districts:
[Amended 8-6-2007 by Ord.
No. 599; 5-13-2015 by Ord. No. 653]
M-C Manufacturing Commercial Zone
|
M-C2 Light Manufacturing Commercial Zone
|
The intended uses of the various zoning districts are described
as follows and shall be relied upon for interpretation and administration
of this chapter:
A.
The Residential class districts are intended to provide sufficient
area in appropriate locations for residential uses and development
to meet the housing needs of the Borough with due allowance for providing
a choice of sites and types of housing without sacrificing desirable
established residential patterns. No-impact home-based businesses,
as defined in the MPC and subject to the requirements of the MPC,[1] are permitted by right in any residential district, notwithstanding
any inconsistent provision of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
B.
The Commercial class districts are intended to provide sufficient
area in appropriate locations for various forms and types of business
uses and development; to satisfy the needs of modern business development
by providing off-street parking, loading and unloading areas, safe
and efficient means of vehicle ingress and egress, and continuity
and homogeneity of business development; to encourage the development
of attractive, functional and economic forms of commercial buildings
under proper standards; to encourage the enhancement and beautification
of commercial areas; and to minimize any negative effects of commercial
areas on adjoining residential areas. Recognizing the mixed-use character
of the Borough of Bath, it is intended that residential uses be permitted
in commercial class districts in accordance with standards of specified
residential districts.
C.
The Manufacturing class districts are intended to provide suitable
space for industrial and commercial types of business and development
not ordinarily found nor desirable in commercial or neighborhood districts,
to satisfy the needs for this type of development by providing for
off-street parking and loading and unloading areas in the course of
the development of attractive functional and economic forms of commercial
and offices as well as industrial development; and to minimize any
negative effects of industrial commercial areas on the adjoining residential
areas. Recognizing the opportunity for adaptive reuse of existing
manufacturing buildings and for reuse of vacant industrial lands for
other purposes, it is the intent of this chapter that the Manufacturing-Commercial
Zone permit such adaptive reuse of industrial buildings as housing,
neighborhood commercial and offices where existing buildings are appropriate
for these uses and, on sites of a minimum size of five acres, planned
unit development. In the event that there is an existing single-family
detached or semidetached dwelling in a Manufacturing class district,
the expansion of said building for the establishment of accessory
uses for said dwellings may be permitted, provided the proposal is
in compliance with the Residential class district it abuts, or if
not abutting a Residential class district, the minimum standards of
an R-3 Residential District are followed.
The Borough of Bath has enacted, adopted, and mapped the following
overlay districts:
A.
Preservation district: Preservation Zone.
B.
Floodplain district: Floodplain Zone.
C.
Historic district: Historic District of the Borough of Bath.
D.
Parking overlay district. The defined boundaries of the Parking Overlay
District shall be as follows:
[Added 3-4-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-628]
(1)
All of Chestnut Street on both sides between Northampton Street
on the north and Main Street on the south.
(2)
All of the south side of Main Street between Race Street on
the west and Rohr Street on the east.
(3)
All of the north side of East Main Street from James Street
on the west to Washington Street on the east.
(4)
All of the north side of West Main Street from and including
111 West Main Street on the east to the bridge over the Monocacy Creek
on the west.
(5)
All of the north side of Northampton Street from 103 East Northampton
Street on the east to the bridge over the Monocacy Creek on the west.
(6)
On the south side of Northampton Street, 102 East Northampton
Street only.
(7)
All of the west side of Walnut Street from 124 South Walnut
Street on the south to 102 West Northampton Street on the north.
E.
All of the four overlay districts shall be shown on a map of the
Borough to follow the Zoning Map as an appendix to this chapter.[1]
[Added 3-4-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-628]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Overlap Map is included as an attachment to this chapter.
A.
The Preservation Zone is designed to conserve the natural quality
of land at, adjacent to, or near streams, ponds, lakes, watercourses
or similar geologic features, including those geologic features that
contain water only during times of extreme flooding; to protect the
habitats of wildlife in areas which there is or has been little human
intrusion; to protect areas that environmentally are fragile because
of soil structure, slope or type of vegetation or wildlife habitation;
to prevent the blockage of stream valleys; to minimize erosion or
creation of soil; to prevent the diversion of natural watercourses;
to minimize the loss of ground cover and other forms of vegetation;
to protect places having unique natural, architectural or historic
interest or value; to protect public buildings and public grounds;
and to regulate uses in and around floodplain areas, so as to minimize
flood-related damage.
B.
The Floodplain Zone is intended to prevent the loss of property and
life; the construction of health and safety hazards; the disruption
of commerce and governmental services; the extraordinary and unnecessary
expenditure of public funds for flood protection and relief; and the
impairment of the tax base by regulating uses, activities and development
which, acting alone or in combination with other existing or future
uses, activities and development, will cause increases in flood heights,
velocities and frequencies; restricting or prohibiting certain uses,
activities and development from locating within areas subject to flooding;
requiring all those uses, activities and developments that do occur
in flood-prone areas to be protected and/or floodproofed against flooding
and flood damage; and protecting individuals from buying lands and
structures which are unsuited for intended purposes because of flood
hazards.
C.
The purpose and intent of the Historic District is to protect, enhance,
perpetuate and preserve the Historic District for the educational,
cultural, economic and general welfare of the public through preservation,
protection and regulation of buildings, structures, and areas of historic
interest or importance within the Borough; to safeguard the heritage
of the Borough by preserving and regulating historic districts which
reflect elements of its cultural; social, economic, political, and
architectural history; to preserve and enhance the environmental quality
of neighborhoods, to strengthen the Borough's economic base by the
stimulation of the tourist industry; to establish and improve property
values; to foster economic development; to foster civic pride in the
beauty and accomplishments of the Borough's past; and to preserve
and protect the cultural, historical and architectural assets of the
Borough for which the Borough has determined to be of local, state
or national historical and/or architectural significance.
D.
The purpose of the Parking Overlay District is to relax off-street
parking requirements in the primary historic business portion of the
Borough to encourage the growth and development of business activity
therein.
[Added 3-4-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-628]