A. 
Purpose and goals.
(1) 
The Lower Merion Township Zoning Code is Chapter 155 in the Code of the Township of Lower Merion. The purpose of the Zoning Code is to promote the public health, safety, convenience, comfort, amenities, prosperity, and general welfare of the Township, and to provide a wholesome, serviceable, and attractive community, including without limitation protection of the environment; conservation of land, energy and natural resources; improved mobility; more efficient use of public funds; greater health benefits of a pedestrian environment; preservation of historic and cultural resources; provision of recreational and open spaces; and improvement of the built environment and human habitat by furthering the goals of the January 2016 Comprehensive Plan for the Preservation, Infill and Redevelopment of Lower Merion Township.
(2) 
The Zoning Code integrates the Township's general goals to retain its character and beauty, and preserve the unique beauty of its natural and built environment, while allowing the continuing evolution of its institutions, and commercial centers and corridors. Intended to advance the interests of both conservation and development, the Code responds to the existing conditions of the Township, including its regional context, natural features, historical development, infrastructure and buildings, and supports the Vision, Guiding Principles and Community Development Objectives in the January 2016 Comprehensive Plan for the Preservation, Infill and Redevelopment of Lower Merion Township, summarized as follows:
(a) 
Preserve and enhance the Township's unique character and high quality of life for all residents.
(b) 
Guide future land development to ensure compatibility in mass, scale, intensity and use, with appropriate transitions between different uses.
(c) 
Provide high quality and accessible community facilities and public space for civic purposes.
(d) 
Maintain vitality and diversity of institutions, recognizing their value as community resources and balancing their needs with those of surrounding neighborhoods.
(e) 
Continue to provide a safe, convenient and efficient multimodal transportation system.
(f) 
Achieve a sound economic base that preserves property values, and a high standard of municipal services and infrastructure maintenance, without undue tax burden.
(g) 
Enhance commercial activities in core areas to increase employment and serve resident needs.
(h) 
Preserve natural, cultural and historical resources.
(i) 
Preserve and enhance environmental areas.
(j) 
Maintain a diverse population with equal opportunity for quality housing.
(k) 
Promote public participation in civic engagement.
(l) 
Strengthen regional services and conservation.
B. 
Applicability and interpretation.
(1) 
The provisions of this chapter apply to all property, structures and uses located with the Township, unless noted otherwise in this section. No property, building, structure or part thereof shall be developed except in conformance with the district in which it is located and with all applicable regulations included in this chapter.
(2) 
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the health, safety, and general welfare of the Township.
C. 
Chapter organization.
(1) 
The Zoning Code is organized in a series of articles that are interrelated and apply to different aspects of development. Each article contains text, tables and figures, all three of which comprise the regulatory provisions of the Zoning Code. The figures are intended to be illustrative of the manner in which the provisions of the text and the tables are to be applied. Where there is a conflict between the figures and the text or the tables, the regulations set forth in the text and tables shall prevail. Where there is a conflict between the tables and the text, the text shall prevail.
(2) 
The articles are organized as follows:
(a) 
Article I, Introduction, provides information on the framework of the Code including its purpose, intent and goals, as well as applicability, district descriptions and relation to the Zoning Map.
(b) 
Article II, Definitions, defines key terms in the Code.
(c) 
Article III, General to Districts, contains the information that applies across zoning districts, such as terminology, lot occupation, frontage types, building height, and architecture controls, which have been aggregated here to reduce repetition in subsequent articles.
(d) 
Article IV, District Specific Standards, contains the information specific to each zoning district including lots and building placement and building configuration.
(e) 
Article V, Uses, establishes uses allowed in each zoning district and additional use provisions for conditional uses, special exceptions, and regulated uses.
(f) 
Article VI, Special Districts, includes special districts that are geographically defined and mapped. Each district has regulations specific to its area that have been established through public planning processes. These include: Bryn Mawr Village (BMV 1,2,3,4), Medical Center (MC), Bryn Mawr Medical District (BMMD 1,2,3), Rock Hill Road District (RHR), City Avenue District (CAD) which includes: Regional Center Area (CAD-RCA), Bala Cynwyd Retail District (CAD-BCR), and Bala Village (CAD-BV).
(g) 
Article VII, Conservation and Preservation Overlays, includes additional regulations within overlay districts that apply across the Township including: Historic Resource Overlay District, Open Space Preservation Overlay District, Floodplain Overlay District, Steep Slopes Overlay District and Wooded Lot Overlay District.
(h) 
Article VIII, Parking Standards, includes the standards and the distribution of parking quantity in relation to zoning district uses, and access and loading regulations.
(i) 
Article IX, Sign Standards, sets forth the regulations that apply to signs.
(j) 
Article X, Supplemental Use Regulations and Nonconformities, includes additional regulations that apply to certain uses as identified in Article V.
(k) 
Article XI, Process and Procedures, sets out processes for zoning administration and amendments.
D. 
Classes of districts.
[Amended 2-15-2023 by Ord. No. 4260]
(1) 
For the purposes of this chapter, the Township is hereby divided into 34 districts, designated as follows:
(a) 
Lower Density Residential Districts: LDR1, LDR2, LDR3 and LDR4.
(b) 
Medium Density Residential Districts: MDR1, MDR2 and MDR3.
(c) 
Village Center District: VC.
(d) 
Town Center Districts: TC1 and TC2.
(e) 
Neighborhood Center: NC.
(f) 
Institutional Districts: IN, IC1, IC2, IC3, IE1, IE2, IE3, IH1, IH2, and IH3.
(g) 
Light Industrial District: LI.
(h) 
Special districts:
[1] 
Medical Center District (MC).
[2] 
Bryn Mawr Medical District (BMMD): BMMD1, BMMD2, and BMMD3.
[3] 
Rock Hill Road District (RHR).
[4] 
Bryn Mawr Village District (BMV): BMV1, BMV2, BMV3, and BMV4.
[5] 
City Avenue District (CAD): RCA (Regional Center Area), BCR (Bala Cynwyd Retail District), and BV (Bala Village District).
(2) 
In addition, one or more of these districts may by subject to additional regulations of an overlay district. The overlay districts in the Township are designated as follows:
(a) 
Historic Resource Overlay District.
(b) 
Open Space Preservation Overlay District.
(c) 
Floodplain Overlay District.
(d) 
Steep Slopes Overlay District.
(e) 
Wooded Lot Overlay District.
E. 
Districts, described.
[Amended 2-15-2023 by Ord. No. 4260]
(1) 
Low density residential. LDR is a low-density and single-family residential district, intended to preserve the existing character of its open spaces and architecture. LDR includes the following districts:
(a) 
LDR1 Low Density Residential. LDR1 is a low-intensity district intended for detached single-family residential homes and the preservation of the existing estate character.
(b) 
LDR2 Low Density Residential. LDR2 is a low-intensity district intended for detached single-family residential homes and the preservation of the existing neighborhood character.
(c) 
LDR3 Low Density Residential. LDR3 is a low-intensity district intended for detached single-family residential homes and the preservation of the existing neighborhood character.
(d) 
LDR4 Low Density Residential. LDR4 is a low-intensity district intended for detached single-family residential homes and the preservation of the existing neighborhood character.
(2) 
Medium density residential. MDR is a walkable medium-density residential district containing a variety of housing types oriented around multimodal transit. MDR includes the following districts:
(a) 
MDR1 Medium Density Residential. MDR1 is a medium-intensity residential district including single-family residential homes (detached), twins, and duplexes.
(b) 
MDR2 Medium Density Residential. MDR2 is a medium-intensity residential district including single-family residential homes (detached), twins, duplexes, quads, row houses, and small multifamily buildings.
(c) 
MDR3 Medium Density Residential. MDR3 is a medium- to high-intensity residential district including single-family residential homes (detached), twins, duplexes, quads, row houses, small multifamily buildings, and large multifamily buildings.
(3) 
Village center. VC is a compact, mixed-use, low-intensity, walkable area that serves the immediate residential neighborhood. The zone is characterized by small-scale mixed-use buildings, local retail and services.
(4) 
Town center. TC is a medium-intensity, principally walkable area that serves the entire Township along corridors and main streets. The zone is characterized by low- to mid-rise, freestanding and attached commercial buildings, mixed-use buildings, multifamily, as well as grocery stores, retailers, service providers, and food service establishments. TC includes the following districts:
(a) 
TC1 Town Center. TC1 is a medium-intensity, walkable area that serves the entire Township along commercial corridors and between traditional and neighborhood main streets.
(b) 
TC2 Town Center. TC2 is a medium-intensity, walkable area located along commercial corridors that serves the entire Township and accommodates larger-scale commercial and multiple use shopping centers.
(5) 
Neighborhood Center. NC is a small commercial area that functions as neighborhood centers that serve the immediate residential neighborhood. The zone is characterized by small-scale commercial buildings, local retail and services.
(6) 
Light Industrial District. LI is a light industrial area located along the Schuylkill River that permits light industrial uses, commercial uses, and multifamily buildings. The intent of the LI District is to allow development which preserves and enhances sensitive natural features, historic industrial heritage, connection to the regional trail network and public transportation access.
(7) 
Institutional districts are intended for institutions and large natural and open space preserves. There are four categories that correspond to the variety of activities and range of impacts that might be expected of each.
(a) 
Institutional Nature Preserve (IN). IN is intended to collectively define sites and buildings for types of uses, including but not limited to cemeteries, environmental and open space preserves, golf clubs, and institutional residential.
(b) 
Institutional Civic (IC). IC is intended to collectively define communally beneficial land uses, such as organizations dedicated to the arts and culture, active recreation, social and religious use, senior housing, wellness and recreation.
(c) 
Institutional Education (IE). IE is intended to collectively define sites or buildings operated for the provision of full-time or part-time educational services for students of all ages.
(d) 
Institutional Housing (IH). IH is intended to collectively define sites or buildings operated for the provision of housing and health and long-term care for the elderly and people with disabilities.
(8) 
Special districts are intended to accommodate development with unique requirements related to specific uses or goals of those districts that have been deemed in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare of the Township's residents. Special districts include:
(a) 
Medical Center District (MC). MC is a limited service area around the existing regional hospital, dedicated to primary health services and the supporting uses associated with it.
(b) 
Bryn Mawr Medical District (BMMD). BMMD is a limited area around the Bryn Mawr hospital, dedicated to primary health services and the supporting uses associated with it. A limited range of residential buildings and commercial uses is permitted.
(c) 
Rock Hill Road District (RHR). RHR is a limited area designated to encourage medium-intensity, mixed-use development that can act as an economically dynamic, attractive gateway to Lower Merion Township.
(d) 
Bryn Mawr Village District (BMV). BMV is a limited area intended to provide pedestrian-oriented, low to medium mixed-use development in an established commercial area.
(e) 
City Avenue District (CAD). CAD is a limited area intended to provide pedestrian-oriented, medium to high mixed-use development along City Avenue and Bala Avenue functionally integrated with multimodal transportation.
F. 
Zoning Maps.
(1) 
The boundaries of districts shall be shown upon the maps attached to and made a part of this chapter, which shall be designated "Zoning Maps." The maps and all the notations, references and other data shown thereon are incorporated by reference in this chapter and shall be as much a part of this chapter as if all were fully described herein.
(2) 
The current Zoning Maps are available by:
(a) 
Visiting the Township's website [www.lowermerion.org];
(b) 
Visiting the Building and Planning Department or the Township Secretary at the Township Administration Building, 75 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore; and
(c) 
Visiting any of the Lower Merion Library branches.
G. 
District boundaries.
(1) 
The boundaries between districts are, unless otherwise indicated, either the property line, center lines of streets or railroad rights-of-way or such lines extended or lines parallel thereto. Where figures are shown on the Zoning Maps between a street and a district boundary line, they indicate that the district boundary line runs parallel to the street line at a distance therefrom equivalent to the number of feet so indicated.
(2) 
Where boundaries occur within a parcel of land comprising more than one lot, the lots shall be developed separately according to the assigned district.
H. 
Conflicts.
(1) 
It is not intended by this chapter to interfere with or abrogate or annul any building code in effect or any rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued thereunder, or the rules and regulations of the Board of Health of the Township of Lower Merion, or any rules, regulations or permits previously adopted or issued thereunder and not in conflict with any of the provisions of this chapter, provided that where this chapter imposes a greater regulation upon the use of buildings or premises or upon the height of a building or requires larger open spaces than are imposed or required by such code, rules, regulations or permits, the provisions of this chapter shall control.
(2) 
In the event conflicts arise between a definition in this chapter and definitions in existing local or county codes, the definitions in this chapter shall prevail.
I. 
Exemptions.
(1) 
Whenever federal- or state-owned property is included in one or more zoning districts, it shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter only insofar as permitted by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) 
The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to land and buildings or portions thereof owned by Lower Merion Township and used for its governmental purposes.
(3) 
Public utility corporations. This chapter shall not apply to any existing or proposed building or extensions used or to be used by public utility corporations if, upon petition of the corporation, the Public Utility Commission shall, after a public hearing, decide that the present or proposed situation of the building in question is reasonably necessary for the convenience or welfare of the public.
J. 
Liability. Neither the approval of any proposed subdivision by any officer, employee or agency of the Township of Lower Merion, nor the grant of any subdivision approval by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Merion, shall constitute a representation, guaranty or warranty of any kind by the Township of Lower Merion or by any of its officers, employees, agencies or members of its agencies of the safety or practicality of the proposed subdivision and use, and such approval or grant of approval shall create no liability on the part of the Township of Lower Merion or its officers, employees, agencies or members of its agencies.