The purpose of this district is to provide sufficient opportunity
in village centers for commercial and service establishments compatible
with a village setting; to prevent intrusive or incompatible influences
such as noise and glare and the hazards of fire; to provide provisions
for off-street parking spaces, safe circulation of pedestrian and
motor traffic; to strengthen the economic base of the Township; and
to protect the character of the Village Commercial, including the
Fairville Village National Historic District, and adjacent districts,
all in concert with the Pennsbury Township Comprehensive Plan of 2006,
as amended.
A building may be erected or used, and a lot or premises may
be used, for only one of the following principal uses and no other:
A. Uses by right.
(1)
Single-family detached dwelling under conventional development.
(3)
Retail stores, art, craft, and antique shops with a floor area
of 1,500 square feet or less for any one store.
(4)
Barbershop, hairdresser and other such personal service shops
with a floor area of 1,500 square feet or less for any one store.
(5)
Museum, library or other educational or cultural use of a similar
nature.
(6)
Municipal use or community center, including park and related
accessory uses.
(7)
Cottage and craftsman industries such as tinsmith, cabinetmaker,
potter and similar trades or crafts with a floor area of 2,000 square
feet or less for any one industry.
(8)
Forestry/timber harvesting in conformance with Article
XV.
B. Uses by special exception, when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the standards of Article
XXIV of this chapter:
C. Uses by conditional use, when authorized as a conditional use by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the conditions of Article
XXIII of this chapter:
(1)
Two-family dwelling per the terms of this district, provided
it is served by public or community sewage and water systems.
(2)
Retail store with a floor area greater than 1,500 square feet
up to a maximum of 2,000 square feet for any one store or a group
of two or more retail stores on the same lot of no more than 2,000
square feet floor area combined.
(3)
Child/adult day-care center in conformance with §
162-2012.
(4)
A mix of commercial and residential uses of exceptional merit
if it furthers the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and subject to
specific actions by the applicant as prescribed by the Board. The
Board of Supervisors may authorize a waiver or modification to the
requirements contained in this chapter. The decision of the Board
of Supervisors is final.
D. Accessory uses. In addition to one principal use, accessory uses listed below shall be permitted by right unless otherwise indicated as a special exception or conditional use in this chapter and shall be in conformance with §
162-2002 unless otherwise noted:
(2)
Minor home occupations in conformance with the applicable standards of §
162-2024.
(3)
Major home occupations by special exception in conformance with the criteria of Article
XXIV and in conformance with the applicable standards of §
162-2024.
New development proposed within the VC District, including the
Fairville Village National Historic District, as well as the rehabilitation,
alteration, or modification of existing structures or uses, shall
comply with the following design standards. New development proposed
within the VC District shall be designed to complement the following
standard:
A. New development proposed within the VC District shall be designed
to complement the historic character of the village in regard to building
placement, style, bulk, construction materials, and site design. A
formal architectural plan shall be submitted to the Township and subject
to its approval.
B. The use of a traditional grid street pattern or one that is similar
in nature to the existing village development pattern is the preferred
design of new roads in the VC District. The use of curvilinear streets
and culs-de-sac is strongly discouraged. Access shall be via an arterial
road only.
C. A pedestrian orientation shall be maintained in the village and sidewalks
or walking paths provided. Seating areas and benches are encouraged.
D. Parking.
(1)
Off-street parking for nonresidential uses shall be located
to the side or rear of buildings.
(2)
Garages and off-street parking for residential uses shall be
located to the rear of the main dwelling with access taken from a
private driveway or alley. Where site constraints prohibit parking
to the rear of the main dwelling, front-facing garages shall be set
back a minimum of eight feet from the front facade of the dwelling
unit. If the front facade is not uniform, the eight-foot setback shall
be measured from the point of the facade nearest the street.
(3)
Other parking regulations in Article
XIX shall be applicable to uses in this district.
E. The removal of mature trees and site vegetation shall be minimized in conformance with Article
XV. A tree plan shall be submitted as part of an overall landscape plan, subject to Township approval.
F. Every effort should be made to locate new structures with regard
for site features, the traditional development patterns of the Village
Commercial District, and in such a manner as to minimize changes to
the existing contours and original topography of the site.
G. Outdoor storage of materials, equipment or similar items shall be permitted only in the rear yard and must be adequately screened when adjacent to residential uses or districts in conformance with §
162-1909.
H. Outdoor display of merchandise for sale shall be permitted in conformance with §
162-1909.
I. Mechanical systems, trash receptacles, and dumpsters shall be located in rear or side yards and shall be screened from view in conformance with §
162-1908.
J. For additional standards applicable to permitted uses in this district,
refer to:
(1)
Article
XV, Natural Resources Protection, including the Groundwater Protection Overlay.
(2)
Article
XVI, Flood Hazard Overlay District.
(3)
Article
XIX, General Regulations, including lighting, screening and buffering, access, and parking.
(4)
Article
XX, Supplemental Uses.
(6)
Article
XXII, Nonconforming Uses, Buildings and Structures, Lots, and Signs.
(7)
Article
XVII, Historic Resources Overlay District.
K. Uses by conditional use when authorized as a conditional use by the Board of Supervisors, subject to the conditions of Article
XXIII of this chapter.
(1)
Two-family dwelling per the terms of this district, provided
it is served by public or community sewage and water systems.
(2)
Retail store with a floor area greater than 1,500 square feet
up to a maximum of 2,000 square feet for any one store or a group
of two or more retail stores on the same lot of no more than 2,000
square feet floor area combined.
(3)
Child/adult day-care center in conformance with §
162-2012.
(4)
Eating or drinking establishment without drive-through service in conformance with §
162-2018.
(5)
A mix of commercial and residential uses of exceptional merit
if it furthers the goals of the Comprehensive Plan and subject to
specific actions by the applicant as prescribed by the Board. The
Board of Supervisors may authorize a waiver or modification to the
requirements contained in this chapter. The decision of the Board
of Supervisors is final.
L. Accessory uses. In addition to one principal use, accessory uses listed below shall be permitted by right unless otherwise indicated as a special exception or conditional use in this chapter and shall be in conformance with §
162-2002 unless otherwise noted:
(2)
Minor home occupations in conformance with the applicable standards of §
162-2024.
(3)
Major home occupations by special exception in conformance with the criteria of Article
XXIV and in conformance with the applicable standards of §
162-2024.
(4)
Commercial and institutional accessory uses.
(5)
Outdoor cafe by conditional use in conformance with §
162-2018, as an accessory use to an eating or drinking establishment only.
New development proposed within the VC District, as well as
the rehabilitation, alteration, or modification of existing structures
or uses, shall comply with the following design standards:
A. New development proposed within the VC District shall be designed
to complement the historic character of the village in regard to building
placement, style, bulk, construction materials, and site design. A
formal architectural plan shall be submitted to the Township and subject
to its approval.
B. The use of a traditional grid street pattern or one that is similar
in nature to the existing village development pattern is the preferred
design of new roads in the VC District. The use of curvilinear streets
and culs-de-sac is strongly discouraged. Access shall be via an arterial
road only.
C. A pedestrian orientation shall be maintained in the village and sidewalks
or walking paths provided.
D. Parking.
(1)
Off-street parking for nonresidential uses shall be located
to the side or rear of buildings.
(2)
Garages and off-street parking for residential uses shall be
located to the rear of the main dwelling with access taken from a
private driveway or alley. Where site constraints prohibit parking
to the rear of the main dwelling, front-facing garages shall be set
back a minimum of eight feet from the front facade of the dwelling
unit. If the front facade is not uniform, the eight-foot setback shall
be measured from the point of the facade nearest the street.
(3)
Other parking regulations in Article
XIX shall be applicable to uses in this district.
E. The removal of mature trees and site vegetation shall be minimized in conformance with Article
XV. A tree plan shall be submitted as part of an overall landscape plan, subject to Township approval.
F. Every effort should be made to locate new structures with regard
for site features, the traditional development patterns of the Village
Commercial District, and in such a manner as to minimize changes to
the existing contours and original topography of the site.
G. Outdoor storage of materials, equipment or similar items shall be permitted only in the rear yard and must be adequately screened when adjacent to residential uses or districts in conformance with §
162-1909.
H. Outdoor display of merchandise for sale shall be permitted in conformance with §
162-1909.
I. Mechanical systems, trash receptacles, and dumpsters shall be located in rear or side yards and shall be screened from view in conformance with §
162-1908.
J. For additional standards applicable to permitted uses in this district,
refer to:
(1)
Article
XV, Natural Resources Protection, including the Groundwater Protection Overlay.
(2)
Article
XVI, Flood Hazard Overlay District.
(3)
Article
XIX, General Regulations, including lighting, screening and buffering, access, and parking.
(4)
Article
XX, Supplemental Uses.