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Borough of Downingtown, PA
Chester County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (1) Index Notes (1)
The R-2 Single-Family Detached Residential District primarily includes areas of relatively recent development of single-family detached dwellings in moderate to low density. It is the character of these neighborhoods that the R-2 District is intended to reflect and enhance. Nonresidential uses are limited to institutional uses compatible with the character of the residential neighborhoods, along with home occupations under explicit standards.
A. 
Uses by right. In the R-2 District, land, buildings or premises may be used by right for any one of the following principal purposes and no other, subject to Article IV and Article XIA:
[Amended 12-1-1999 by Ord. No. 99-14]
(1) 
Single-family detached dwelling.
B. 
Accessory uses. Only the following accessory uses shall be permitted:
(1) 
Uses customarily accessory and incidental to residential uses.
(2) 
Home occupations, in accordance with the terms of § 287-92B.
(3) 
Swimming pool, in-ground or aboveground, when located at least 10 feet from any side or rear lot line, principal structure or garage and in full compliance with all other applicable Borough ordinances.
C. 
Uses by special exception. The following uses shall be permitted only upon the grant of a special exception from the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the terms of this article and § 287-145, and subject to Article IV and Article XIA:
[Amended 12-1-1999 by Ord. No. 99-14]
(1) 
Religious use.
(2) 
Educational use.
(3) 
Library.
(4) 
Institution.
D. 
Conditional uses. The following uses shall be permitted only upon the grant of conditional use approval from the Borough Council, subject to the terms of this article and § 287-137, and subject to Article IV and Article XIA:
[Amended 12-1-1999 by Ord. No. 99-14]
(1) 
Home occupations, in accordance with the uses listed in § 287-92B and the standards in § 287-92E.
(2) 
Bed-and-breakfast facility, in accordance with the standards of § 287-101 of this chapter.
[Added 4-3-1991 by Ord. No. 91-8]
(3) 
Restaurant, in accordance with the standards of § 287-101.1 of this chapter.
[Added 4-3-1991 by Ord. No. 91-8]
(4) 
Offices for professional, general or governmental use, in accordance with the standards of § 287-101.2 of this chapter.
[Added 4-3-1991 by Ord. No. 91-8]
[Amended 12-1-1999 by Ord. No. 99-14]
The following regulations shall apply to uses in the R-2 District subject to Article XIA:
A. 
Minimum lot size: 12,000 square feet.
B. 
Minimum lot width: 80 feet at the building setback line. (For interior lots, see definition of "lot, interior" in Article II of this chapter.)
C. 
Maximum building coverage: 20%.
D. 
Maximum other impervious surface coverage: 15%.
E. 
Minimum front yard: 35 feet.
F. 
Minimum side yards:
(1) 
Single-family dwellings: 25 feet aggregate, with neither less than 10 feet.
(2) 
Corner lot (new construction): The single side yard shall be a minimum of 15 feet. (See definition of "lot, corner" in Article II of this chapter.)
(3) 
Uses by special exception: 40 feet aggregate, with neither less than 15 feet.
G. 
Minimum rear yard: 35 feet.
H. 
Maximum building height: 35 feet; for special exception uses, an increase of two feet or any fraction thereof may be permitted for each additional one foot of side yard provided, up to a maximum height of 50 feet.
I. 
Accessory building setbacks: three feet from any side or rear lot line, but no closer than five feet to any alley or street at the side or rear of the property.
The following design standards of this chapter shall, as applicable, govern all uses within the R-2 District:
A. 
Signs: as required by Article XIX.
B. 
Parking and loading: as required by Article XVIII.
C. 
Access and traffic control: as required by § 287-80.
D. 
Landscaping and site design: as required by § 287-77.
E. 
Screening and buffering: as required by § 287-78.
F. 
Storage: as required by § 287-79.
G. 
Interior circulation: as required by § 287-81.
H. 
Lighting: as required by § 287-82.
I. 
Central Business Revitalization Overlay District design standards: as required by Article XIA.
[Added 12-1-1999 by Ord. No. 99-14]