In expansion of the statement of community development objectives contained in §
182-2 of this chapter, it is hereby declared to be the intent of this article with respect to VP Village Preservation Districts to encourage the preservation of the existing character and residential life-styles of the Mont Clare portions of Upper Providence Township which exhibit a mixture of single-family detached and two-family dwellings on smaller lot sizes than those found throughout the Township. Furthermore, it is the intent of this district to guide the future development or redevelopment of these neighborhoods in the Township by providing strict control of conversions to multiple-family dwellings, home occupations and the introduction of incompatible uses or activities within the designated Village Preservation Districts in order to preserve and enhance their present character and, thus, avoid rapid deterioration or transition to the detriment of the local residents and the general welfare of Upper Providence Township.
In a VP District, a building may be erected,
altered or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following
uses and no other:
A. Single-family detached dwellings.
B. Two-family dwellings (twins and duplexes).
C. The following uses when authorized as a special exception:
(1) Home occupations, except that a clinic, barbershop,
beauty parlor, tearoom, tourist home, animal hospital or any similar
use shall not be deemed to be a home occupation and that no goods
shall be publicly displayed on the premises.
(2) Conversions of residential structures. The conversion
of a single-family dwelling or other building into a dwelling for
two or more families, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Each dwelling unit shall not have less than
600 square feet of floor area, plus an additional 100 square feet
of floor area for each additional bedroom in excess of one.
(b)
The lot area per family may not be reduced to
an amount less than 33% of that required by this article.
(c)
No more than three families shall be permitted
to occupy such buildings.
(d)
The off-street parking requirements of this
chapter shall be met.
(e)
The conversion shall be authorized only for
a large dwelling with relatively little economic usefulness as a conforming
use.
(f)
The Zoning Hearing Board may prescribe such
further conditions and restrictions as they may consider appropriate
to preserve the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
D. Accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily
incidental to any permitted use.
E. As a special exception only, communications antennas, in accordance with the provisions of §
182-21.1, mounted on an existing public utility transmission tower, existing building or other existing structure, and communications equipment buildings only upon a showing, in addition to any other that may be required under this chapter that denial of such a special exception would have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless service. Communications towers are not permitted.
[Added 6-1-1998 by Ord. No. 372]
F. No-impact home based businesses in accordance with the standards set forth in §
182-21.3 herein.
[Added 3-15-2004 by Ord. No. 436]
G. Home occupations, provided that all of the requirements of §
182-21.4 herein shall be met.
[Added 3-15-2004 by Ord. No. 436]
The following regulations shall apply in the
VP District:
A. Area, width, yard and coverage regulations. The following
area, width, coverage and yard regulations shall apply in the VP District:
[Amended 12-16-1991 by Ord. No. 307]
|
Dwelling Type
|
---|
Development Requirements
|
Single-Family Detached Dwelling
|
Two-Family Dwellings Twin
|
Duplex
|
---|
Minimum lot area (square feet)1
|
6,000
|
3,000
|
3,000
|
Minimum lot width (feet)2
|
40
|
20
|
40
|
Minimum front yard (feet)3
|
20
|
20
|
20
|
Minimum side yard (feet)4
|
15
|
8 (1 side only)
|
15
|
Minimum rear yard (feet)5
|
40
|
40
|
40
|
Maximum building coverage (percentage)6
|
30
|
40
|
30
|
NOTES:
|
---|
1Per dwelling unit.
|
2Per dwelling unit
measured along the building line.
|
3Measured from the
ultimate right-of-way line.
|
4Measured from the
property line, except that the distance from a street line shall be
at least 10 feet.
|
5Except that an accessory
use may be erected within the rear yard not closer than 10 feet to
the rear property line.
|
6Calculated as a
percentage of lot area.
|
B. Sewer and water facilities. Each lot shall be served
by public sewer and centralized water facilities deemed acceptable
by the Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation of the Township Engineer.
C. Height. No building hereafter erected in the VP District shall exceed a height of 35 feet. Buildings considered accessory structures shall not exceed a height of 15 feet unless the requirements of §
182-16 of this chapter are met.
[Amended 3-15-2021 by Ord. No. 588; 8-15-2022 by Ord. No. 595]
D. Parking and signs. All parking spaces and all signs erected in the VP District shall be in accordance with the requirements of Articles
XIX and
XXII of this chapter.
[Amended 8-1-2011 by Ord. No. 517]