IN institutional districts are designed to provide for the special needs of larger, regionally-oriented institutional uses. IN districts are intended to:

(1)

Preserve the open character of large areas now used for or well suited to institutional and quasi-public uses; and

(2)

Encourage a harmonious pattern of institutional development which can mutually benefit the surrounding community and the institutions themselves.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. VII(700), 6-3-96)

A building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied in an IN district for any of the following purposes and no other:

(1)

Educational or academic institution: A public, private or parochial college or university, secondary or elementary school, day nursery school or kindergarten, or other educational or academic institution, but not including business or trade schools, dance studios, or substantially similar uses, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(1);

(2)

Religious institution: A convent, monastery, church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or similar religious institution, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(2);

(3)

Outdoor recreational institution: A park, indigent wildlife sanctuary, public or private country club, golf course, outdoor nonprofit sports facilities, or other similar uses, but not including the use of rural animals or the hunting of animals, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(3);

(4)

Privately-operated community institution: A library, museum, art gallery, child care center, institution or home for children, the aged, the indigent or the handicapped, or other similar uses subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(4);

(5)

Memorial cemetery: A private or parochial cemetery for human burial, including an accessory park, sanctuary, mausoleum, or columbarium, but not including crematorium facilities, and subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(5);

(6)

Public-service corporation facility or use: A telephonic or radiophonic central office, switching, relay or other similar station, electric substation, gas regulating station, fresh water reservoir, local public utility line, passenger shelter or railroad station, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(6);

(7)

Municipal use as follows: Township administrative and operations buildings, educational or academic institutions, recreational institutions, community institutions, memorial cemeteries, public service corporation facility or any similar use owned or operated by the Township;

(8)

The following uses when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception:

a.

A hospital (general, medical or surgical), sanitorium, medical or health center, convalescent home, nursing home, or other similar use, operated by private and parochial interests, and subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(4);

b.

Memorial cemetery for human burial only and including crematorium facilities, and subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(5)a.;

c.

Memorial cemetery for the burial of household pets, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(6);

d.

A heliport or helistop, as defined in subsection 232-6(a);

e.

Radio or television towers and facilities when operated only by a Township or governmental agency or governmental public-utility corporation, provided such use is determined by the Bensalem Township Council to be a public necessity, and subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(7).

(9)

The following accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any of the foregoing permitted uses:

a.

A playfield or recreational facility in conjunction with a permitted primary use;

b.

A dormitory, subject to the special requirements of subsection 232-358(b)(8);

c.

Living accommodations for watchmen, caretakers or the staff or employees of a permitted institution, subject to all applicable Township building requirements.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. VII(701), 6-3-96; Ord. No. 2021-04, § 19, 8-23-21)

Where a building or structure is erected or used, and a lot used or occupied in an IN district, the following area regulations shall apply, subject to the special requirements of section 232-358:

(1)

Lot area and width.

a.

A net lot area of no less than four acres and minimum lot width of no less than 300 feet shall be provided.

b.

For a religious institution, a net lot area of no less than two acres and a minimum lot width of no less than 150 feet shall be provided.

(2)

Maximum building area and impervious cover. No more than 30 percent of the net lot area may be occupied by buildings. The maximum impervious surface coverage on a lot, which shall include the building coverage, shall not exceed 40 percent of the net lot area.

(3)

Yards.

a.

Front yard. One front yard shall be provided, no less than 80 feet in depth. For a religious institution with a net lot area of greater that two acres but less than four acres, one front yard shall be provided, no less than 75 feet in depth.

b.

Side yard. Two side yards shall be provided, each of which shall be no less than 75 feet in width. For a religious institution with a net lot area of greater that two acres but less than four acres, two side yards shall be provided, each of which shall be no less than 40 feet in width.

c.

Rear yard. One rear yard shall be provided, no less than 100 feet in depth.

(4)

Maximum building height. No building or structure shall exceed 50 feet in height. For a religious institution with a net lot area of greater that two acres but less than four acres, no building or structure shall exceed 40 feet in height.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. VII(702), 6-3-96; Ord. No. 2021-04, §§ 20—22, 8-23-21)

(a)

The following special regulations shall apply to all IN lots, subject to the requirements of subsection (b):

(1)

The tract of land on which each permitted use is conducted shall be owned and operated in its entirety as a single or common management and maintenance unit, with common open space, parking, utility, maintenance and service facilities and services.

(2)

The land surrounding any permitted use shall be fully landscaped, except for paved areas such as walkways, play areas, and necessary parking or service areas. The area of a lot unpaved and devoted to landscaping shall be no less than 20 percent of the net lot area, which shall include the landscaping requirement as specified in subsection 201-87(c) of the Bensalem Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

(3)

Handicapped regulations.

a.

On-site pedestrian paths and crosswalks shall adequately provide for handicapped persons and shall not exceed a slope of eight percent;

b.

All buildings used by patrons shall provide adequate main entrances, elevators or other means of access to floors above the first floor (where buildings exceed one story in height), and lavatory facilities for handicapped persons, to the extent such building is used by patrons;

c.

Parking spaces shall be provided meeting all requirements of section 232-586, off-street parking.

(4)

Screen planting and bufferyards.

a.

The planting and bufferyard requirements for this district are included in a general planting overlay found in this chapter at article XIII, section 232-592.

(5)

Any accessory building or structure which is industrial or nonresidential in appearance, such as a boiler room, maintenance shop, or storage building, shall be suitably screened or shall be located so as to be least observable from a public street or property line.

(6)

Children day activity regulations. Where a facility provides day activity to children, which shall be defined to include kindergarten, nursery or day school, or day care, the following shall be provided:

a.

Where more than ten children are to be provided day activity, the net lot area shall be no less than four acres, plus one acre for every ten children provided day activity, or an equal fraction thereof when necessary.

b.

No outside assembly or activity areas or building regularly occupied by children shall be located within 1,000 feet of an H-C1 or G-I district, nor within 175 feet of a public road [larger than an arterial street], or of a railroad or waterway.

(7)

Fire lanes. Fire lanes shall be provided and marked in accordance with the Bensalem Township Fire Prevention Ordinance No. 93-15.

(b)

The following special regulations shall apply to the following specific uses and shall supersede all other regulations where inconsistent, except that where complimentary uses as listed below are upon the same lot, the regulation imposing the greater restriction shall control:

(1)

Educational or academic institution.

a.

The minimum lot area shall be four acres plus one acre for each 100 pupils or students at capacity.

b.

No outside assembly or activity areas and no building regularly occupied by pupils or students shall be located within 1,000 feet of an H-C1 or G-I district, nor within 175 feet of a public road, railroad or waterway.

c.

Outside assembly or activity areas shall be screened in accordance with article XIII, section 232-592 and shall be located so as to minimize disturbance to neighboring lots.

(2)

Religious institution.

a.

Access to the lot shall be from a collector or arterial street, immediately adjacent to the lot.

b.

Any monastery, convent, or similar religious use shall comply with the sleeping requirements of a dormitory under subsection 232-358(b)(8) and shall be limited to one dwelling building.

(3)

Outdoor recreation institution.

a.

No outdoor active recreation area shall be located within 175 feet of any lot line.

b.

Outdoor recreation facilities and areas shall be located so as to least affect surrounding lots.

(4)

Community institution.

a.

Where a [nonprofit medical facility] use is permitted pursuant to a subsections 232-356(a)(4) and (a)(8)a. special exception, no more than 50 beds shall be permitted on a lot of not less than five acres, except that one additional bed may be added for each 2,500 square feet of a lot area in excess of five acres.

(5)

Memorial cemetery for human burial only.

a.

Where a crematorium is permitted as in subsection 232-356(a)(8)b., special exception, no such crematorium shall be permitted closer than 500 feet from a residential district.

b.

A net area of not less than five acres shall be provided.

c.

No cemetery plots shall be placed within the yards as defined in subsection 232-357(3).

d.

No burial plots, structures or parking areas shall be located within the 100 year floodplain;

e.

No outside storage shall be permitted.

f.

All structures open to the public shall be supplied with water and sewer service and all utilities shall be placed underground.

g.

Animal burials: The burial of an animal over human remains shall not be permitted.

(6)

Memorial cemetery for household pet burial. The regulations of subsection (5) relating to memorial cemeteries for human burial, shall be satisfied.

(7)

Public service corporation.

a.

No such use shall include offices open to the general public, storage of materials, rotating equipment, trucking or repair facilities, housing of work crews, a storage garage or any other structure involving major traffic movements.

b.

The portion of any use not located within a building (except for a tower or similar structure) shall be enclosed on all sides by a solid wall, fence, plant screening, or similar barrier, erected to a height suitable to shield the use from surrounding lots.

(8)

Dormitory.

a.

Dormitories shall comply with all applicable space, area and volume requirements as listed in last adopted BOCA Code.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. VII(703), 6-3-96)

Where a lot presently zoned for IN institutional uses falls into permanent nonuse, abandonment, or sale, the Bensalem Township Council shall ensure a reasonable choice of appropriate use and shall consider the suitability of such lot for continued IN institutional use or for other more appropriate uses, and where deemed appropriate, recommend that the zoning map be amended to accommodate such revisions.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. VII(704), 6-3-96)