The R1 - One-Family Residence District is composed
of certain quiet, low-density residential areas of the city, plus
certain open areas where similar residential development appears likely
to occur. The regulations for this district are designed to stabilize
and protect the essential characteristics of the district, to promote
and encourage a suitable environment for family life and to prohibit
all activities of a commercial nature except home offices of doctors
or ministers and certain home occupations controlled by specific limitations
governing the size and extent of such nonresidential activities. To
these ends, development is limited to a relatively low concentration,
and permitted uses are limited basically to single-family dwellings,
providing homes for the residents, plus certain additional uses such
as schools, parks, churches and certain public facilities which serve
the residents of the district.
In this district, the land and structures may
be used, and structures may be erected, altered, enlarged and maintained,
for the following uses only:
A. Residential uses.
[Amended 11-14-2005 by Ord. No. 1913]
(2) Student homes.
(a)
No more than one building on a lot may be used
as a student home.
(b)
All existing and new student homes must be registered
annually with Planning and Development. Issuance of registration for
student homes shall not exceed one year and shall be based on the
period of August 1 to July 31. All student home registrations shall
expire on July 31. Student homes must pass a code compliance inspection
by the Code Enforcement Department prior to being initially registered
and occupied, and then every two years thereafter.
[Amended 7-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1971; 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057; 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 2113]
(c)
No student home shall be closer than 500 feet
to another student home. The distance requirement is measured from
the closest property corner of a registered student home to the closest
property corner of a potential student home utilizing air measurements
(GIS) equal to or more than 500 feet. Student homes located in the
Downtown District, as shown on the City of Greensburg Downtown District
Map (Attachment 3 of this chapter), are exempt from the five-hundred-foot distance requirement.
[Amended 7-7-2008 by Ord. No. 1971]
(d)
Parking requirements: see §
265-65, Number of off-street parking spaces required.)
B. Farming, general gardening and growing of trees and
nursery stock, not including roadside displays or commercial signs.
C. Playground or park (nonprofit) or publicly owned recreation
area.
E. Conditional uses, as prescribed in Article
XVIII, including:
(1) Educational, philanthropic or religious institution or unit group building thereof (see §
265-122A).
(2) Government use or structure or unit group building thereof (see §
265-122C).
(4) Public utility corporation buildings, structures, facilities and installations (see §
265-122E).
(5) Bed-and-breakfast facility (see §
265-122H).
[Added 10-12-1987 by Ord. No. 1348]
F. Special exceptions. Special exceptions permitted by the Board, as prescribed in Article
XIX, including:
(1) Change of a nonconforming use within a nonconforming structure to a conforming use or to another nonconforming use that is determined by the Board to be no more detrimental to the neighborhood (see §
265-129).
(2) Community garage or community parking area (see §
265-129).
(3) One-family dwelling without the required parking space (see §
265-129).
(4) One-family dwelling on a lot not complying with the area regulations, when an existing building has been damaged or destroyed by an act of God (see §
265-129).
(5) Outdoor air-conditioning condensing unit in a required yard (see §
265-129).
(6) Temporary structure or use in connection with an authorized use (see §
265-129).
G. Accessory uses and structures. Accessory uses and
structures customarily incident to any of the main uses permitted,
not involving retail sales or advertising of sales on the premises,
and including:
(1) Farm building, such as barn, greenhouse, shed, silo
and the like, in connection with farming or general gardening.
(2) Greenhouse, accessory to a dwelling and used exclusively
by the occupant of the premises to cultivate plants as an avocation.
(3) Home occupations, as regulated by §
265-15.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646]
(5) Minor garage, used exclusively for the parking of
noncommercial automobiles or for the temporary keeping of small pleasure
boats, with trailer mounts therefor, other wheeled vehicles designed
to be drawn by passenger automobiles, normal household paraphernalia
and the like.
(6) Minor parking area, used exclusively for the parking
of noncommercial automobiles.
(7) Recreation facilities, such as swimming pools, tennis
courts, etc., operated for the exclusive use of occupants of the same
lot and their personal guests.
(8) Screening wall or fence, as regulated under §
265-48H.
(9) Signs, as prescribed in Article
XVII.
The maximum heights of structures in this district shall be as specified in Article
XI.
Each lot in this district shall comply with the area requirements as specified in Article
XII.
[Added 12-9-1991 by Ord. No. 1500; amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057; 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 2113]
A. Purpose and intent. Home occupations are permitted in any dwelling
unit subject to the limitations established herein. It is the intent
of this section to ensure the compatibility of home occupations with
other permitted uses, to preserve the character of residential neighborhoods
and to prevent excessive noise, traffic, nuisance, safety hazards
and other potential adverse impacts of commercial uses conducted in
residential areas.
B. Permitted home occupations. The following uses may be permitted home
occupation uses, subject to the requirements of this section:
(1) No-impact home based business, as defined in Section 107 of the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code.
(4) Home-care service (baby-sitting).
(5) Dressmaker, seamstress and tailor.
(6) Direct sale product distribution.
(7) Computer programming, data processing, typing and word processing
service.
(8) Home crafts, such as model-making, rug-weaving, lapidary work and
ceramics, for sale off-site.
(9) Jewelry-making and jeweler.
(10)
Housecleaning service, laundry and ironing service.
(12)
Office of a minister, rabbi, priest or other similar person
associated with a religious organization.
(13)
Office of a salesman, sales representative or manufacturer's
representative, provided that no retail or wholesale transactions
are made in person on the premises.
(14)
Office or professional in fields such as, but not limited to,
architecture, drafting and graphics, interior design, engineering,
financial planning and other consulting service.
(15)
Telephone answering services and solicitation work.
(18)
Barbershop and beauty shop.
(19)
Similar use which does not involve retail or wholesale sales
transactions in person on the premises or employment of persons other
than members of the family occupying the dwelling.
C. Prohibited home occupations. The following shall be prohibited home
occupations, to the extent that they do not qualify as a "no-impact
home-based business," pursuant to the Pennsylvania Municipalities
Planning Code:
(1) Automotive repair or paint shop.
(2) Dance studio, exercise studio or similar use.
(3) Day-care center serving more than three children.
(4) Funeral chapel or funeral home.
(5) Gift shop, any retail/wholesale.
(6) Limousine, hearse, ambulance or taxi service.
(9) Medical or dental laboratory.
(10)
Outdoor repair or service.
(11)
Rental of any equipment or other items.
(15)
Wrecking and/or towing service.
D. Use limitations. In addition to the regulations applicable in the
zoning district in which located, all home occupations shall be subject
to the following limitations and requirements:
(1) Location. A home occupation shall be conducted entirely within a
dwelling which is the bona fide residence of the principal practitioner
or in any building accessory thereto which is normally associated
with a residential use; provided, however, that no home occupation
requiring water and/or sewer facilities shall be conducted within
an accessory structure other than a permitted accessory dwelling.
(2) Merchandise sales and storage. No storage or display of goods shall
be visible from outside the structure. In addition, no direct sales
of products off display shelves or racks is permitted, but orders
made by telephone or at a sales party may be filled on the premises.
(3) Exterior alterations. No alterations to the exterior appearance of
the principal residential building or any accessory structure or premises
shall be made which changes the residential character of the property.
(4) Heavy equipment and toxic materials use or storage. No use or storage
of heavy vehicles or heavy equipment shall be permitted. Furthermore,
no toxic, explosive, flammable, combustible, corrosive, radioactive
or other dangerous or hazardous materials shall be used or stored
on the site.
(5) Limitation of floor area. No home occupation shall be permitted which
comprises more than 25% of the gross floor area of the residence,
nor more than 400 square feet of a permitted accessory structure.
(6) Employees. No persons other than members of the family occupying
such dwelling shall be employed on the premises in connection with
the home occupation.
(7) Level of activity. The use of the dwelling unit for a home occupation
shall be clearly incidental and subordinate to its use for residential
purposes by its occupants and shall, under no circumstances, change
the residential character thereof. The Planning Director may add,
as a condition of the permit, limitations on the number of business-related
visitors per day and/or the frequency of product or material deliveries.
(8) Traffic; parking. No traffic shall be generated by such home occupation
in greater volumes than would normally be expected in a residential
neighborhood. Any need for parking generated by the home occupation
is required to be on-site and shall be done in a manner which protects
the residential character of the area and the visual appearance of
the residence.
(9) Equipment; processes. No equipment or process shall be used in such
home occupation with creates noise, vibration, glare, fumes odors
or electrical interference detectable to the normal senses off the
premises. In the case of electrical interference, no equipment or
process shall be used which creates visual or audible interference
in any radio or television receivers off the premises.
(10)
Signs. No signs accessory to such home occupation shall be displayed
except as otherwise permitted or authorized by city regulations.
(11)
Licenses, permits. A home occupation shall comply with all applicable
City laws and regulations, including the need to obtain applicable
business licenses and permits. In addition, home occupations shall
comply with all applicable county, state or federal regulations governing
the activity.