The purpose and intent of this district is to provide reasonable standards for the harmonious development of office space for health and other professionals, business and related uses which are necessary to service Township residents, to provide standards which encourage the development of a character compatible with other adjacent uses and of a design to create minimum interference with public streets and to otherwise create conditions conducive to carrying out the broad purpose of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(900), 6-3-96)

A building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied in a BP district for any of the following purposes, provided that there is compliance with the requirements of the remaining sections of this article:

(1)

Professional services limited to offices of physicians (but not veterinarians), lawyers, clergymen, teachers, dentists, architects, engineers, insurance agents, opticians and professional consultants if such professional services do not involve the actual storage, exchange or delivery of merchandise on the premises, or the care or treatment of animals, or the practice of fortune telling, card-reading or similar occult services;

(2)

Business services limited to offices for licensed real estate brokers, stock and bond brokers and accountants;

(3)

Accessory uses customary and incidental to the foregoing professional office and business uses, including, but not limited to, health care facilities and child care facilities, provided that any such accessory uses shall conform to the area and special requirements of an R-33 district. Child care facilities that are exempt from the payment of Township Real Property Taxes and/or Township Business Privilege Taxes are not permitted as accessory uses;

(4)

Business, professional, trade and technical schools, excluding trade and technical schools that require the on-site use of hazardous, flammable or corrosive materials. Business, professional, trade and technical schools that are exempt from the payment of Township Real Property Taxes and/or Township Business Privilege Taxes are not permitted.

(5)

College and university to the extent as permitted in PCD District.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(901), 6-3-96; Ord. No. 2010-06, § I, 10-4-10; Ord. No. 2021-04, §§ 27, 28, 8-23-21)

The uses listed in section 232-434 shall be permitted in a BP district only if the following general regulations are satisfied:

(1)

Only one of the uses set forth in section 232-434 shall be permitted on each lot;

(2)

The use shall be conducted wholly indoors and within the principal building; and

(3)

There shall be no show windows nor display neon advertising inside any building visible from outside any building to attract customers or clients other than such signs as are permitted in article XIV of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(902), 6-3-96)

Where any building is erected or used in a BP district, the following area regulations shall apply:

(1)

Lot area and lot width. A lot area sufficient in size to assure adequate sewage and waste disposal, but in no case less than 12,000 square feet, with a minimum lot width of 80 feet frontage at the building setback line shall be provided. If however any portion of the lot abuts an R-1 or R-11 district, the minimum lot size shall be 20,000 square feet with a minimum lot width of 100 feet frontage measured at the building setback line.

(2)

Building area. Not more than 25 percent of the area of each lot may be occupied by buildings and the total impervious surface coverage shall not exceed 60 percent.

(3)

Yards. Front, side and rear yards shall be provided on each lot as defined in subsection 232-6(a), as follows:

a.

Front yard. One yard, not less than 25 feet in depth.

b.

Side yards. Two yards, not less than 30 feet in aggregate width, and neither being less than 12 feet, provided that in the case of the corner lot, the yard abutting any street shall not be less than 25 feet in width or depth.

c.

Rear yard. One yard, not less than 40 feet in depth.

d.

Distances from street. No building or part of a building shall be erected within 25 feet from the ultimate right-of-way of a public street, road or highway.

(4)

Height regulations. No building shall exceed 35 feet in height.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(903), 6-3-96)

Parking facilities in a BP district shall comply with article XIII, section 232-586.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(904), 6-3-96)

(a)

All parking area in a BP district shall be screened in accordance with article XIII, section 232-586:

(b)

Bufferyards shall be provided where a building is erected or used in a BP district in accordance with article XIII, subsection 232-592(7) of this Code.

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(905), 6-3-96)

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

(Ord. No. 96-05, Art. IX(906), 6-3-96)