Catawissa Columbia County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Exceptions and Modifications
§ 345-28 Existing lots.
Where the owner of a lot, at the time of the adoption of this chapter, or his successors in title thereto, does not own sufficient contiguous land to enable him to conform to the required dimensions in this chapter, such lot may be used as a lot for any purposes permitted in the zone, provided that the minimum area requirements for such lot shall be 5,000 square feet of lot size and 50 feet of lot width; further provided that the minimum side yard area for any building shall be no less than five feet; and further provided that all other regulations prescribed for the zone by this chapter are complied with. Lots which are not of the required minimum area or width may be used for any purpose permitted in the zone in which they are located.
§ 345-29 Front yard requirements.
[Amended 7-12-1982 by Ord. No. 265]
A.
All yards facing on a public street shall be considered front yards and shall conform to the minimum front yard requirements for the zone in which located. Corner lots shall provide the minimum front yard requirements for the respective zone for both intersection streets.
B.
No front yards shall be used for open storage of boats, trucks, recreational vehicles, or any other equipment except for vehicular parking on driveways.
C.
Wherever there is a pronounced alignment of buildings and depth of front or rear yards on one side of a street within a given block, and said alignment existed at the time of enactment of this chapter, any new buildings erected on said side of such street within such block may conform in alignment with those on adjoining lots, notwithstanding the front or rear yard requirements set forth in Schedule II of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule II, Area and Bulk Requirements, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
D.
Projections into yards. Projections into required yards shall be permitted, provided that no such structures be located closer than three feet to any side or rear lot line, or 10 feet to any front line. Projections permitted are as follows: cornices, canopies, eaves, or other architectural features not required for structural support; also includes fire escapes, balconies, bay windows, and chimneys.
§ 345-30 Height limitation.
A.
The height limits of this chapter shall not apply to church spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, monuments, water towers, chimneys, ventilators; silos, and similar structures not intended for human occupancy. However, such features shall be erected only to such height as is necessary to accomplish the purpose they are to serve.
B.
Public and quasi-public buildings, and other similar permitted uses, shall increase the front, rear and side yards by one foot for each foot by which such building exceeds the height limit herein established for such zone in which it is located, and further provided that in no case shall any buildings have a height greater than 50 feet unless explicitly permitted by the schedule of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule II, Area and Bulk Requirements, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 345-31 Group developments.
A group project (housing, commercial, educational, medical, or religious) of two or more buildings to be constructed on a parcel of at least two acres which will not be subdivided into lots and streets may be constructed, provided that:
A.
Uses shall be limited to those permitted within the district in which it is located;
B.
Density and building coverage requirements of the district are met;
C.
There shall be a ten-foot area with evergreen planting to serve as a buffer strip where such group developments abut a residential district.
§ 345-32 Other provisions.
A.
Public street frontage. Every principal building shall be built upon a lot with frontage upon a public street improved to meet the Borough's requirements.
§ 345-33 Signs.
To provide minimum standards to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare, the following regulations shall apply to all permitted sign uses:
A.
No sign shall hereafter be erected, re-erected, constructed, altered, or maintained except as provided by this chapter.
B.
All nonconforming signs shall be eliminated within five years of the effective date of this chapter.
C.
Exemptions to this regulation shall apply only to a sign which advertises either the sale or rental of the premises upon which it is maintained.
D.
Painting, repainting, cleaning, or repair maintenance shall not be considered an erection or alteration, unless a structural change is made.
E.
No sign shall be erected or maintained so as to prevent free ingress or egress from any door, window or fire escape, nor attached to a standpipe or a fire escape.
F.
No sign shall be erected at the intersection of streets so as to obstruct free and clear vision. If located in direct line of vision, shall not have flashing or intermittent lighting.
§ 345-34 Off-street parking and loading.
A.
Off-street parking.
(1)
In all districts, at the time any building is erected, enlarged or increased in capacity, off-street parking spaces shall be provided as set forth in Schedule I.[1] Off-street parking and loading facilities may be provided jointly for separate uses if approved by the Zoning Hearing Board.
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule I, District Regulations, is included as an attachment to this chapter.
(2)
Size. Each off-street parking place shall have an area of not less than 200 square feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles, in usable shape and condition. Except in the case of residential dwellings, no parking area shall contain less than three spaces.
(3)
Access. There shall be adequate ingress and egress to all parking spaces. Where a dwelling lot does not abut on a public or private driveway or easement of access, there shall be provided an access drive not less than 12 feet in width. In all other cases, not less than 20 feet in width leading to the parking or loading spaces.
(4)
Tenants. In all instances where off-street parking is provided by the landlord, the tenants of the landlord must utilize the areas of off-street parking offered by said landlord before they are permitted to park in other areas of the Borough. Said enforcement shall be monitored by the Borough Code Enforcement and/or police officer, and each offense thereof shall be fined in the amount of $25.
[Added 9-12-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-02]