[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
The purpose of the Commercial District is to provide a place
where Township residents and others can purchase goods and services.
Development standards will be applied to ensure compatibility with
the adopted Southwest Lehigh Comprehensive Plan and the Hamilton Boulevard
Corridor Plan while preventing traffic congestion on major roads.
These standards shall be employed to encourage new smart growth development
in retail corridors with preference of redevelopment at existing sites.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
Uses permitted by right in this zoning district are listed as "Permitted
Use" in the C-Commercial District in Exhibit 1: Zoning Use Matrix[1] and conditioned on meeting the requirements of Part 24 and other applicable provisions of this chapter, provided the use type, dimensional, and all other requirements of this chapter are met.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said exhibit is included as an attachment to this chapter.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
The following conditional uses are those listed as "Conditional Use" in the Exhibit 1: Zoning Use Matrix may be permitted following review and recommendation by the Planning Commission and a hearing and approval by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with the procedures and criteria in Part 24, provided all provisions of this chapter are met.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
The following uses may be permitted when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the provisions of Part 24, provided all provisions of this chapter are met:
A.
Any use of the same general character as those uses permitted by
right or condition in this district. Evidence shall be submitted documenting
the degree to which the proposed use will emit smoke, dust odor or
other air pollutants, noise, vibration, light, electrical disturbances,
water pollutant, chemical pollutants, increased storm runoff, and
the additional traffic generated by the proposed facility. Such evidence
may include the proposed use of proven special structural or technological
innovations.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
Tent sales.
2.
Carnivals.
3.
Outside of the building storage, except as provided below in § 27-10A06.C.
4.
Trailer storage.
5.
Campground parking.
6.
Adult bookstore, adult movie/picture theater, or cabaret.
7.
Store or other retail establishment at which modeling of exotic or
adult/intimate-oriented clothing is exhibited by live male or female
models.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the
permitted uses are permitted by right. The term "accessory use" may
include the following uses which shall comply with all applicable
provisions stated for them:
A.
Accessory buildings such as garages and ancillary buildings related
to the proposed use and meeting the same yard requirements as the
principal buildings.
B.
Temporary structures or uses, per this chapter.
C.
Outdoor storage use areas for equipment, supplies and materials provided
that they are screened from view of adjacent properties and streets.
D.
Amateur radio antennas.
E.
Home occupations.
F.
Residential apartments above first floor commercial uses.
G.
Solar panels per § 27-1709.M.
H.
Outdoor dining for any restaurant or dining/food establishment.
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
The following dimensional requirements (minimums or maximums)
shall apply to the uses in the C Commercial Zoning District, subject
to further applicable provisions of this chapter. The most restrictive
dimensional requirements for each use shall apply.
|
Principal Use
|
Minimum Lot Area
(acres)
|
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
|
Maximum Lot Coverage
|
Maximum Building Coverage
|
Maximum Building and Structure Height Unless Otherwise Specified**
(feet)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hotel
|
2
|
250
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Places of worship
|
2
|
250
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Private commercial recreation such as driving range, pitch-and-putt
course, miniature golf courses, and the like
|
2
|
200
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Office
|
1
|
250
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Retail store
|
1
|
250
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Shopping center
|
5
|
400
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Theater/cinema
|
4
|
400
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
Mixed-use development
|
5
|
400
|
75%
|
50%
|
50
|
|
All other uses
|
1
|
100
|
70%
|
35%
|
50
|
|
NOTE:
| |
|
**
|
Excluding architectural features such as parapets, pitched roofs,
clock towers or steeples and utility features such as elevator shafts
and HVAC units not to exceed an additional 10 feet in height.
|
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
The following minimum dimensional requirements shall apply to all uses in the Commercial-C Zoning District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter. The most restrictive dimensional requirements for each use shall apply unless otherwise noted. All required minimum front, side, and rear yards are in addition to buffer screens, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in § 27-1803. Required buffer screens shall be maintained along all front, side, and rear yards, if required. All buffers shall be installed and maintained as set forth in § 27-1803 and in this section. For all residential dwellings and residential uses other than apartment dwellings, the S-Suburban dimensional requirements shall apply.
|
Principal Use
|
Minimum Buffer**
(feet)
|
Minimum Front Yard*
(feet)
|
Minimum Side Yard
(feet)
|
Minimum Rear Yard
(feet)
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hotel
|
15
|
25
|
20
|
50
|
|
Places of worship
|
15
|
25
|
20
|
50
|
|
Life care center
|
25
|
25
|
20
|
50
|
|
Restaurant
|
15
|
20
|
20
|
50
|
|
Private commercial recreation, driving range, pitch-and-putt
course, miniature golf courses, and the like
|
15
|
25
|
20
|
30
|
|
Office or clinic
|
15
|
20
|
20
|
50
|
|
Retail store
|
15
|
20
|
30
|
50
|
|
Shopping center
|
25
|
25
|
40
|
50
|
|
Theater/cinema
|
25
|
25
|
40
|
50
|
|
Mixed-use development1
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
|
All other uses
|
15
|
25
|
25
|
25
|
|
(applicable to all, except as otherwise required by § 27-1803)
| ||||
|
NOTES:
| |
|
1
|
Buffers are not required between multifamily apartment dwellings
within a mixed-use development and nonresidential uses within a mixed-use
development where reciprocal cross easements have been established
which allow for common parking and internal vehicular and pedestrian
interconnections.
|
|
*
|
All buildings shall have the appearance of a traditional storefront,
office or business facing the public road. No mechanical equipment,
storage, trash, loading docks, garage bay doors, parking or drive-through
windows may be located within the front yard. See Lower Macungie Township
Design Guidelines.
|
 | |
|
**
|
Buffers are not required between abutting commercial or nonresidential
uses. Buffers shall be required anytime a commercial use abuts any
residential use, a school, a day-care center, a place of worship or
life care center.
|
[Ord. No. 2019-10, 8/1/2019]
1.
In addition to this section, all required buffer screens as set forth in § 27-1803 and the Lower Macungie Township Design Guidelines shall be included, as applicable, and be maintained along all side and rear yards unless specified differently in this section.
2.
A project design companion, including a coordinated set of drawings,
reference photographs and notes, shall be prepared for buildings,
landscaping, pedestrian circulation and public spaces within any proposal.
The project design companion shall be submitted with land development
plans, during the Conditional Use or Preliminary Plan Process, whichever
comes first. In the case where no procedures listed above occur, the
project design companion shall be submitted with any zoning permits
for review and approval. The document shall be reviewed, approved
and binding to all Township related permitting activity. The project
design companion shall include, but not be limited to:
A.
Architectural treatment including design, building materials and
facades.
B.
Signage.
C.
Landscaping standards for all plantings and parking area designs
and fences or walls.
D.
Streetscape enhancements including sidewalks, crosswalks, street
trees, buffer fencing per the Hamilton Boulevard Corridor Study and
Plan.
E.
All site lighting and fixtures.
F.
Public spaces including pedestrian amenities, pavilions, plazas and
gazebos, street and plaza furniture, water features, rain water harvesting
and other amenities.
3.
The following additional development criteria shall also apply to
mixed-use developments:
A.
Master Plan: A color coded Master Plan for the development shall
be submitted with land development plans that shows building massing,
identification of public spaces, street hierarchy and reserved or
constructed natural areas.
B.
The areas intended for residential and nonresidential/mixed-use development
areas shall be delineated on the Master Plan.
4.
Any new land development or subdivisions shall utilize architectural-grade
cladding and enhanced architectural features on all newly constructed
or renovated buildings.
5.
All roof-mounted or nonresidential HVAC systems or building machinery
shall be shielded from view utilizing appropriate screening as displayed
in the Lower Macungie Township Design Guidelines.
6.
All new land development or subdivisions shall include illuminated
monument entrance signs per this chapter and the Lower Macungie Township
Design Guidelines with associated seasonal landscaping beds and plantings.
7.
All new land development or subdivisions shall naturalize all aboveground
stormwater management features per this chapter and to the satisfaction
of the Township.
