Exciting enhancements are coming soon to eCode360! Learn more 🡪
Borough of Downingtown, PA
Chester County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (1) Index Notes (1)
[Added 1-20-1999 by Ord. No. 99-1]
The intent of the R/C Infill Development District is to provide for the redevelopment of large parcels or combination of parcels which have once been developed as one use but which use is no longer viable. It is also the intent of this district to strengthen the residential viability of Downingtown Borough by encouraging primarily residential uses with a strong component of retail and service uses.
A. 
Uses by right. In the R/C Infill Development District, land, buildings and premises may be used by right for any one or combination of the following uses:
(1) 
Single-family detached dwellings.
(2) 
Two-family or twin dwellings.
(3) 
Townhouse dwellings.
(4) 
Any use permitted in § 287-37A(1) through (8) (C-1 General Commercial District), provided that the total acreage on which such uses are located does not exceed more than 20% of the total acreage of the contiguous R/C Infill Development District area on the date such district was established. The use will be located on the western borders of the zoning district only.
B. 
Accessory uses. Only the following accessory uses shall be permitted:
(1) 
Uses customarily accessory and incidental to uses in residential areas on lots used for residential purposes.
(2) 
Uses customarily accessory and incidental to uses in retail and services uses on lots used for such uses, such as but not limited to off-street parking, outside cafe eating areas and any use of the same general character.
A. 
Minimum district area: 15 acres.
B. 
Minimum open space: 50% of gross tract area.
C. 
Maximum district impervious coverage: 50% of gross tract area.
D. 
Maximum density: eight dwelling units per acre of the gross tract area.
E. 
Single-family detached dwellings:
(1) 
Minimum lot area: 5,000 square feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 50 feet.
(3) 
Minimum front yard: eight feet.
(4) 
Minimum side yard: 10 feet.
(5) 
Minimum rear yard: 25 feet.
(6) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
F. 
Two-family or twin dwellings:
(1) 
Minimum lot area: 4,000 square feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 40 feet per twin dwelling unit or 70 feet per duplex structure.
(3) 
Minimum front yard: eight feet.
(4) 
Minimum side yard: 10 feet.
(5) 
Minimum rear yard: 25 feet.
(6) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
G. 
Townhouse dwellings:
(1) 
Minimum lot area or lot area equivalent: 1,900 square feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 20 feet.
(3) 
Minimum front yard: eight feet.
(4) 
Minimum distance between residential buildings: 20 feet.
(5) 
Minimum rear yard: 20 feet.
(6) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
H. 
Nonresidential uses:
(1) 
Minimum lot size: 2,500 square feet.
(2) 
Minimum lot width: 20 feet.
(3) 
Minimum side yard (end units only): 20 feet.
(4) 
Minimum rear yard: 20 feet.
(5) 
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
A. 
The following design standards of this chapter shall, as applicable, govern all uses within the R/C Infill Development District:
(1) 
Signs: as required by Article XIX (see Commercial 1).
(2) 
Off-street parking and loading: as required by Article XVIII.
(3) 
Access and traffic control: as required by § 287-80.
(4) 
Screening and buffering: as required by § 287-78.
(5) 
Storage: as required by § 287-79.
(6) 
Interior circulation: as required by § 287-81.
(7) 
Lighting: as required by § 287-82.
(a) 
A lighting plan shall be required showing location and types, sizes of fixtures, angle of illumination and lighting intensity. It is the intent of this district that streetlighting fixtures will be designed to establish an old town character, and such fixtures shall be acceptable to Borough Council upon the recommendation of the Planning Commission.
(8) 
Rear yard projections: Patios and decks may encroach into a rear yard but shall not extend closer than 10 feet from the rear lot line, to a maximum depth of 12 feet.
(9) 
Fences: Fences on individual lots shall be prohibited except privacy fences separating a residential use from a nonresidential use, provided that such fence does not exceed six feet in height. Chain link fences shall be prohibited.
(10) 
Sheds: Detached storage sheds shall be prohibited. Exterior attached storage sheds shall be permitted, provided that such is attached to and architecturally integrated into the building.
B. 
Townhouse dwellings shall comply, in addition, with the standards in § 287-29B(1), (3) and (5)(a).
A. 
In order to demonstrate compliance with the terms of this article, any applicant proposing an authorized commercial use, as described in § 287-69.7A(4) of this chapter (regarding uses by right), within the Infill Development District shall submit a plan and text to the Borough Zoning Officer describing specifically how each standard in § 287-69.9A(1) and (2) shall be addressed.
B. 
Where the proposed use constitutes a subdivision or land development, as defined by the Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,[1] the plan submission requirements of that ordinance shall supersede the provisions of this section.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Chapter 256, Subdivision of Land.