It is hereby declared as a matter of public
policy that the preservation and protection of buildings, structures,
and sites of historic, architectural, cultural, archeological, educational,
and aesthetic merit are public necessities and are in the interest
of the health, prosperity and welfare of the people of Horsham Township.
It is therefore the intent of this article to provide a comprehensive
framework for the preservation of historic sites, objects, buildings,
structures and districts within the Township, in order to promote
the following public purposes:
A. To promote the general welfare by facilitating protection
of the historical integrity of the historic resources of Horsham Township.
B. To establish a clear process by which proposed land
use changes affecting historic resources can be reviewed.
C. To discourage the unnecessary demolition of historic
resources.
D. To provide incentives for the continued use of historic
resources and to facilitate their appropriate reuse.
E. To encourage the conservation of historic settings
and landscapes.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
CLASS I HISTORIC RESOURCE
Any structure listed as a historic resource in the Horsham Township Open Space Plan dated 1995, together with any structure added to the Class I list by amendment in accordance with the procedure set forth in §
230-200D of this article.
CLASS II HISTORIC RESOURCE
Any property not designated as a Class I historic resource,
but which meets one or more of the following categories of criteria:
A.
All sites designated by the Secretary of the
Interior as national historic landmarks;
B.
All buildings, sites, structures, and objects
listed individually in the National Register of Historic Places;
C.
All buildings and structures classified as "certified
historic structures" by the Secretary of the Interior;
D.
All buildings, sites, structures, and objects
documented as "contributing resources" in a National Register Historic
District;
E.
Any resources, which have received a determination
of eligibility (DOE) by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
(PHMC);
F.
All historic resources identified by the Horsham
Township Council as Class II historic resources using the criteria
established by the Department of the Interior for inclusion on the
National Register of Historic Places, as may be amended from time
to time. Horsham Township Council shall, by resolution, establish
a list of the Class II historic resources. Said resolution shall be
available for inspection at the Township offices. The current criteria
for inclusion on the National Register is set forth in Exhibit A.
CLASS III HISTORIC RESOURCE
All historic resources designated by the Township as Class II historic resources, of which the owners have elected to not retain the Class II designation in accordance with §
230-200D of this chapter. Class III Historic Resources shall not be afforded any of the rights and privileges available to Class I and Class II historic resources under the Historic Resource Overlay District as set forth in this chapter.
CULTURAL STUDIO
A facility used for providing to the public instruction in
the performing arts, limited to dance, music, and theater, and the
fine arts, including drawing, painting, photography and sculpture.
DEMOLITION or DEMOLISH
In the context of §
230-202, the razing or destruction, whether entirely or in significant part, of the exterior of a building, structure, or site. Demolition includes the removal of a building or structure from its site or the removal, stripping, concealing or destruction of the facade or any significant exterior architectural features, which are integral to the historic character of the resource, for whatever purpose, including new construction or reconstruction.
HISTORIC RESOURCE
Any building, site, structure, object, or other resource,
which has been designated a Class I, Class II or Class III historic
resource.
HISTORIC RESOURCE IMPACT STUDY
A study of the potential impacts of proposed land development and/or land disturbance on nearby historic resources, including study of potential means to mitigate negative impacts, required to be submitted to the Township in certain land development scenarios, in accordance with §
230-203 of this article.
HISTORIC RESOURCE INVENTORY
The Horsham Township historic resource inventory may include
a list and corresponding map indicating the locations of all historic
resources, including both principal and contributing resources, to
which the provisions of this chapter apply. Except where removed from
the inventory by action of the Historic Advisory Commission pursuant
to this article, the historic resource inventory shall include all
resources identified as Class I, Class II or Class III historic resources.
HISTORIC STRUCTURE
Any structure that is designated a Class I, Class II, or
Class III historic resource.
In furtherance of the purposes set forth in
Section I of this article, a separate zoning district is hereby created
to overlay all other zoning districts in the Township, to be known
as the "Historic Resource Overlay District."
A. Applicability. The provisions of the Historic Resource
Overlay District shall apply to all properties containing Class I
and Class II historic resources as identified on the Horsham Township
Historic Resource Inventory. The properties identified on the Historic
Resource Inventory shall constitute an overlay to the Township Zoning
Map. Nothing in this article shall prevent the modification, alteration
or improvement of property in the Historic Resource Overlay District,
in a manner consistent with the codes and ordinances applicable on
a Township-wide basis.
B. Permitted uses.
(1) Each property in the Historic Resource Overlay District
shall be limited to one principal use. The following uses and no other
shall be permitted by right as principal uses for Class I and Class
II historic resources in the Historic Resource Overlay District:
(a)
Any use permitted in the underlying zoning district
in which the property is located.
(2) Where approved by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception in accordance with Article
XXXVI of this chapter, the following use opportunities may be permitted on properties containing Class I or Class II historic resource(s):
(a)
All uses opportunities provided under this section
shall be subject to the following regulations unless stricter standards
are set forth in the description of the use:
[1]
Except for the density bonus development set forth in Subsection
B(2)(d)[5] below, a use not otherwise permitted in the underlying zoning district shall be contained within structures designated as Class I or Class II historic resources.
[2]
If a property no longer contains a Class I or
Class II resource, any relief granted under this article shall be
terminated and the use of the property shall be limited to those uses
permitted in the underlying zoning district.
[3]
The hours of operation of all business uses
except the bed-and-breakfast use shall be limited to the hours of
7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
[4]
The area of the historic resource devoted to
a use not permitted in the underlying zoning district shall be limited
to not more than 4,500 square feet.
[5]
No historic resource shall be expanded more
than 25% of gross floor area.
[6]
All lighting must be provided with residential
cutoff shields and freestanding fixtures to have a maximum height
of 12 feet. Illumination shall be limited to 1/2 footcandle at ground
elevation at the property line.
[7]
There shall be no parking within the required
front yard area, within 10 feet of a side lot line, or within 25 feet
of a rear lot line.
[8]
There shall be no outside storage of materials,
equipment, supplies, commercial trucks or trailers.
[9]
Where the underlying zoning district is a residential
district, each property shall be limited to one sign, with a maximum
size of six square feet. The sign shall not include changeable copy.
The sign shall be illuminated by an external source only, and the
illumination shall be extinguished not later than 9:00 p.m.
[10] Uses on properties on streets
designated as "local" or "collector" shall be limited to 20 vehicle
trips per day. There shall be a sight triangle at the intersection
of the driveway and the street which, in the opinion of the Township
Engineer, is sufficient to provide safe entrance onto the street.
(b)
Uses permitted as principal uses by special
exception for Class I and Class II historic resources are set forth
as follows:
[1]
Business, administrative or professional office, studio or library; subject to compliance with the parking requirement set forth in Article
V of this chapter. Uses not otherwise permitted in the underlying zoning district shall be contained within an area not exceeding to 4,500 square feet, with a maximum of six employees, 10 additional vehicular total trips per hour, and a maximum of 50 additional vehicular trips per day.
[2]
Cultural studio, subject to the condition that if access is provided from a Township road, the use shall be limited to one class at a time with no more than 10 students and two instructors, and further subject to compliance with the parking requirement set forth in Article
V of this chapter.
[3]
Artist studio, crafts workshop or cottage industry employing not more than three persons. Such use(s) may include model making, rug weaving, lapidary work, furniture making and similar crafts, subject to compliance with the parking requirement set forth in Article
V of this chapter.
[4]
Day-care facility, subject to the parking requirements of Article
V of this chapter as well as §
230-22M and all provisions of the code otherwise then in use.
[5]
Food preparation or catering facility not involving food consumption, employing not more than three persons on the premises and limited to no more than 800 square feet, and subject to compliance with the parking requirements set forth in Article
V of this chapter.
(c)
Each historic structure in the Historic Resource
Overlay District shall be permitted to have no more than one accessory
use. Uses permitted as accessory uses by special exception for Class
I and Class II historic resources are set forth as follows:
[1]
Personal service shop, including barber, beauty
salon, tailor, dressmaking, or similar shop, but not including dry
cleaning, or Laundromat, with a limit of one employee per 500 square
feet of gross habitable floor area devoted to the service shop use.
[2]
Repair services, including small appliances,
small business machines, watches, household furnishings, shoes, bicycles
and locks, but shall not include automobile, truck, motorcycle or
lawnmower repair, with a limit of one employee per 500 square feet
of gross habitable floor area devoted to the repair service use.
(d)
Uses permitted as principal uses by special
exception for Class I historic resources only are set forth as follows:
[1]
Conversion apartments through conversion of
any residential structure designated as a Class I historic resource
into one or more dwelling units, subject to the following specific
requirements:
[a] Except where otherwise provided
in the applicable zoning district, where multiple dwellings result
from the conversion of a structure designated as a Class I historic
resource, no individual dwelling unit shall contain less than 800
square feet of habitable floor area and the number of such dwelling
units shall not exceed the number that can be accommodated within
the building utilizing this minimum floor area requirement. No structural
addition to the historic resource shall increase the number of dwelling
units that can be achieved by application of this formula.
[b] Each individual dwelling unit created
through the residential conversion of an historic resource shall contain
its own bathroom and kitchen.
[c] Any exterior renovations shall
comply with the recommendations of the Historical Advisory Commission
and shall not adversely affect the historic nature of the resource.
[d] The use shall comply with the parking requirements of §
230-32 of this chapter.
[2]
Eating place for the sale and consumption of
food and beverages, subject to the following conditions:
[a] The design of the eating place
shall be consistent with the historic nature of the building.
[b] There shall be no drive-in, drive
through, or take-out service.
[c] Parking shall be in accordance
with the requirements of § 230-32C(9) of this chapter.
[d] Any exterior renovations shall
comply with the recommendations of the Historical Advisory Commission
and shall not adversely affect the historic nature of the resource.
[3]
School; religious, sectarian, and nonsectarian
denominational private or public school which is not conducted as
private gainful business and subject to the following regulations:
[a] The design of the school shall
be consistent with the historic nature of the building.
[b] Parking shall be in accordance
with the requirements of § 230-32C(35) of this chapter.
[c] Any exterior renovations shall
comply with the recommendations of the Historical Advisory Commission
and shall not adversely affect the historic nature of the resource.
[4]
Bed-and-breakfast. A residential building containing
five or fewer guest rooms, converted or designed for the temporary
lodging of transient guests, and subject to the following conditions:
[a] The design of the bed-and-breakfast
shall be consistent with the historic nature of the building.
[b] Any exterior renovations shall
comply with the recommendations of the Historical Advisory Commission
and shall not adversely affect the historic nature of the resource.
[c] There shall be no separate kitchen
or cooking facilities in any guest room.
[d] The maximum uninterrupted length
of stay at a bed-and-breakfast shall be seven days within a three-month
period.
[e] One off-street parking space shall
be provided for each guest room, plus one space for each employee
and two spaces for the owners of the property. The off-street parking
spaces shall be located either to the rear of the main dwelling or
screened from the roadway.
[f] There shall be no use of show windows
or display or advertising visible outside the premises to attract
guests or otherwise, other than a single sign which may not exceed
six square feet.
[g] At least one full bathroom shall
be provided for the first guest room, plus one bathroom for each two
additional guest rooms. The living quarters for the owner residents
shall have their own separate and additional bathroom facilities.
[h] No more than two adults and two
children may occupy one guest room.
[i] The utilization of any amenities
provided by the bed-and-breakfast inn, such as a swimming pool or
tennis courts, shall be restricted in use to the owners and the guests
of the bed-and-breakfast inn.
[j] The bed-and-breakfast inn use may
not be established until there is compliance with all Township codes
and ordinances, rules and regulations. The bed-and-breakfast inn shall
be periodically inspected by the Fire Marshal for compliance with
all Township safety standards. All Department of Labor and Industry
requirements must be satisfied, and proof thereof shall be required
for the bed-and-breakfast-inn permit.
[i] Sewage disposal methods shall conform
to the requirements, rules and regulations of the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection, the Montgomery County Department of Health
and the Horsham Township Sewage Facilities Plan.
[k] If the bed-and-breakfast is not
served by public water and sewer, the owner shall furnish a valid
Montgomery County Department of Health permit. The total number of
bedrooms (resident and guest) in the bed-and-breakfast inn shall not
exceed the number of bedrooms which the on-lot sewage system is designed
to accommodate. If the proposed bed-and-breakfast use is to be served
by a public sewage disposal system, the applicant shall submit documentation
from the servicing authority that the proposed use will be served.
[5]
Single-family detached dwelling development
with density bonus. If the owner preserves the resource, the property
on which a Class I or Class II historic resource is located shall
be eligible for a 20% density bonus provided the following conditions
are met:
[a] The resource shall be restored
in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines of the Township
Council after review and comment by the Historic Advisory Commission.
[b] The single-family detached dwelling development shall achieve the density bonus by a reduction of the minimum lot area requirements for all lots in the development to a size which will allow 20% more units than permitted by right in the underlying zoning district. For the purposes of this section only, the number of units allowed as a result of applying the density bonus may be determined by "rounding up" any designation of 0.5 or greater. In order to allow a house size commensurate with the surrounding district, required yard areas may also be reduced by 20%, provided that side or rear yards along the perimeter of the development shall not be reduced. Except for the reduction of yard areas as provided above, the development shall comply with all dimensional requirements of the underlying zoning district, all parking, environmental and performance standards set forth in Article
V of this chapter, and all stormwater management regulations set forth or referenced in Chapter
198, Subdivision and Land Development.
[c] The property which benefits from
the density bonus shall be limited to that property on which the historic
resource was located at the time of the adoption of this amendment
to this chapter. For purposes of calculating the density bonus, no
additional property may be combined with the original property. If
the property is subdivided subsequent to the adoption of this amendment,
only the tract on which the resource is located shall be eligible
for the density bonus.
C. Lot area, width, building coverage, height and yard requirements. Lot area, width, building coverage, height and yard requirements otherwise applicable in the underlying zoning district shall apply. In considering requests for variances from the lot area, lot width, and building coverage for plans affecting historic resources, the Zoning Hearing Board may determine that the relief necessary to preserve an historic resource constitutes a hardship under §
230-233C(1) of this chapter.
D. Specific requirements for special exception approval.
Where additional use opportunities for historic resources and/or modifications
to otherwise applicable area and bulk regulations are permitted by
special exception, the following requirements shall apply:
(1) All applicable standards and criteria set forth in §
230-235 of this chapter, and the Zoning Hearing Board procedure shall be as set forth in Article
XXXVI of this chapter.
(2) Upon receipt by the Township, the complete application
shall be forwarded to the Historical Advisory Commission and the Planning
Commission. Within 30 days of receipt of a complete application by
the Township, the Historical Advisory Commission and the Planning
Commission shall each, at a regular or at a special meeting, review
the application for special exception approval. The applicant will
be notified of such meetings at least 10 days prior to their scheduled
dates and shall have the opportunity to present his reasons for filing
the application.
(a)
In reviewing the application for special exception
approval, the Historical Commission shall consider the following:
[1]
In regard to proposed modification of area and
bulk regulations, the Historical Advisory Commission shall evaluate
whether the proposed modifications are necessary to preserve the affected
historic resource(s).
[2]
Where the application involves physical changes
to historic resource(s) and/or the surrounding landscape, the Historical
Advisory Commission shall review the proposed changes and make recommendations
as to their appropriateness.
(b)
The Planning Commission shall review the proposed
changes for their impact on the health, safety and welfare of the
Township including, but not necessarily limited to, traffic impacts,
water supply and sewerage.
(3) Recommendations, if any, of the Historical Advisory
Commission and Planning Commission shall be transmitted in the form
of written reports to the Zoning Hearing Board and shall include suggestions
for specific changes to proposed plans, if any.
(4) The granting of special exception approval shall be
deemed to be necessary to the preservation of the historic resource(s).
(5) To the extent applicable, the Secretary of the Interior's
Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Structures and Preservation
Briefs 1-32 shall serve as guidelines for any plans involving the
rehabilitation, alteration, or enlargement of structures designated
as Class I, Class II, or historic resources. In approving a special
exception, the Zoning Hearing Board may set conditions requiring compliance
with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation,
as applicable.
(6) In granting special exception approval in accordance
with this section, the Zoning Hearing Board shall be satisfied that
adequate water supply and sewage disposal can be provided for all
permitted uses.
(7) Where plans involving historic resource(s) under this
section result in all or portions of any such resource(s) remaining
unoccupied, such unoccupied resources shall be tightly sealed and
barred off in a manner not jeopardizing historical integrity, and
the utilities turned off for safety, if applicable.
(8) In granting special exception approval in accordance
with this section, the Zoning Hearing Board may require as a condition
of approval the establishment of conservation or facade easement(s)
or other means to guarantee permanent protection of the historical
integrity of the subject resource(s).
(10)
Except where clearly detrimental to historical
integrity and where public health, safety, and welfare are otherwise
adequately provided for, all other applicable standards contained
in this ordinance shall be complied with, including but not limited
to requirements for buffering, lighting, storage, access and traffic
management, interior circulation, loading, parking, and signs.
(11)
The Zoning Hearing Board may deny the request
for use approval or for modification of area and bulk regulations
where, upon the review of the Historical Advisory Commission, it deems
the proposal to be unacceptably destructive to the integrity of the
historic resource and/or where the Zoning Hearing Board finds the
proposal to be inappropriate in the context of the immediate neighborhood.
Applicability of the demolition permit requirement
is as follows:
A. Demolition of Class I and Class II historic structures is subject to §
230-28 under Article
IV of this chapter.
B. Within five days of receipt by the Township, the complete
application for demolition of any Class I, Class II or Class III structure
shall be forwarded to the Historical Advisory Commission, for review
and comment. No demolition permit for a historic resource shall issue
for at least 60 days following receipt of the application.
Any person who violates the terms of this article shall be subject to the enforcement procedures, fines and penalties provided for in Article
XXXVII of this chapter. In addition:
A. In the event any person demolishes or threatens to demolish a Class I or Class II historic resource in violation of the provisions of this article or §
230-28, or violates any conditions or requirements specified in a special exception or permit issued under the terms of this article, the Township Council may institute any proceeding, at law or in equity, necessary to enforce the provisions of this article. Such proceeding may include, but is not limited to, an action to compel the reconstruction and/or restoration of the historic resource to its condition and appearance as existed immediately prior to the violation. Such restoration shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any penalty or remedy available under this article or any other applicable law.
B. In the event the Township Council authorizes the commencement of an action pursuant to Subsection
A of this section, the Building/Zoning Officer shall withhold issuing any building permit for the construction of any building or structure proposed to be located in any location on the site of the subdivision or land development on which the historical resource is located, which action would preclude reconstruction or restoration of the historic resource subject of a violation of this article, or any building or structure intended to replace such. historic resource, unless issued for the purpose of restoring the historic resource to its condition and appearance as existed immediately prior to the violation.
C. The Zoning Hearing Board may, as a condition of any
special exception granted hereunder, and the Township Council may,
as a condition of approval of any subdivision or land development
application involving any property which, at the date of enactment
of this ordinance, was occupied by an historic resource(s) that subsequently
was demolished or otherwise altered in violation of this article,
impose a condition requiring the satisfactory reconstruction or restoration
of any such historic resource(s).
D. The Township, through such person or agency charged
by the Township Council with enforcement of the provisions of this
article, shall monitor the progress and status of any change being
made to an historic resource subject to the provisions of this article,
and shall render such reports thereon to Council the and to the Historical
Advisory Commission as may be necessary to assure compliance with
the provisions of this article and/or any compliance with any conditions
which may have been attached to any building permit, demolition permit,
subdivision/land development approval, special exception or conditional
use approval.
E. In addition to the above remedies, the Council may
take other appropriate legal action, which may include equitable and
injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this article.