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Cheltenham Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE IX

M1 Multifamily Residential Districts

§ 295-900 Legislative intent.

A. 
In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent found in Article I of this chapter and the statement of community development objectives found in Article I, the intent of this article, among others, is as follows:
(1) 
Promote the maintenance, stability, and continued viability of the Township's residential neighborhoods.
(2) 
Ensure new residential infill development and redevelopment is in character with existing neighborhoods.
(3) 
Accommodate a variety of housing types.

§ 295-901 Permitted uses.

[Amended 7-16-2025 by Ord. No. 2492-25]
A building may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other, subject to the guidelines herein:
A. 
Use D-3: Community Center.
B. 
Use F-5: Outdoor Recreation.
C. 
Use F-7: Public Grounds.
D. 
Use G-1: Multifamily Building/Unit.
E. 
Use G-2: Multifamily Building Campus.
F. 
The following accessory uses are permitted, provided the accessory uses (in total) are equal to 20% or less of the gross building area:
(1) 
Use B-9: Convenience Store.
(2) 
Use B-10: Dry Cleaning (Dropoff only).
(3) 
Use B-20: Personal Care Business.
(4) 
Use B-21: Professional Service Business.
(5) 
Use B-25: Restaurant or Cafe.
(6) 
Use B-27: Retail Shop.
(7) 
Use E-3: Medical Office.
(8) 
Use E-5: Professional Services.
G. 
These other following accessory uses on the same lot which are subordinate and customarily incidental to any of the above permitted uses and as provided for in Article IV herein:
(1) 
Use A-1: Residential Accessory Structure.
(2) 
Use A-3: Recreational Vehicles.
(3) 
Use A-5: Antenna Systems.
(4) 
Use A-6: Fences and Walls.
(5) 
Use A-9: Swimming Pool.
(6) 
Use A-10: Tennis/Sport Courts.
(7) 
Use A-13: No-Impact Home-Based Business.
(8) 
Use A-18: Accessory Roof-Mounted Solar System.
H. 
Uses permitted by special exception:
(1) 
Use A-19: Accessory Ground-Mounted Solar System.

§ 295-902 Dimensional standards.

A. 
The following dimensional requirements shall apply:
Dimensional Requirements
Minimum lot area
The larger of 1 acre or 2,500 square feet per dwelling unit of any size
Minimum lot width
200 feet
Setbacks
Minimum setbacks required for principal structures. See Article XXVI, General Regulations, for allowed projections into setbacks
Front
100 feet
Sides
50 feet
Rear
50 feet
Maximum building coverage
25%
Maximum impervious coverage
55%
Maximum building height
The lesser of 4 stories or 55 feet
Minimum parking setback
50 feet from front property line
20 feet from rear and side property lines
50 feet from adjacent single-family residential zoning districts

§ 295-903 Additional regulations for multifamily dwellings.

A. 
Exterior lighting. All exterior lighting shall be designed to prevent glare onto adjacent properties. Pedestrian pathways need to be clearly marked and well lit. Lighting shall be sufficient for security and identification without allowing light to trespass onto adjacent sites. The height of fixtures shall be a maximum of 20 feet for parking lots and 14 feet for pedestrian walkways.
B. 
Refuse and recycling areas. The storage of refuse and recyclable materials shall be provided inside the building(s) or within an outdoor area enclosed by either walls or opaque fencing. Any refuse or recycling area outside of the building shall be designed to be architecturally compatible with the building(s), shall not be located in the front of the building, and be entirely screened by a fence or enclosure which is at least six feet high.
C. 
Screening:
(1) 
All wall-mounted mechanical, electrical, communication, and service equipment, including satellite dishes and vent pipes, shall be screened from public view by parapets, walls, fences, landscaping, or other approved means.
(2) 
All rooftop mechanical equipment and other appurtenances shall be concealed by or integrated within the roof form or screened from view at ground level of nearby streets. The following, when above the roofline, requires screening: stairwells, elevator shafts, air-conditioning units, large vents, heat pumps and mechanical equipment.
(3) 
Service and loading areas shall be visually screened from street and pedestrian ways. For new construction, service and loading areas shall be behind the building. Loading docks shall be to the side and rear of the building.
D. 
Natural features. Environmental amenities, including creeks, streams, other drainage courses, and mature trees, shall be preserved by being incorporated into the site plan design.
E. 
Building length.
(1) 
The maximum building length shall be 160 feet.
F. 
Building design standards. Multifamily buildings shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
Building orientation and entrances:
(a) 
The front facade of buildings shall be oriented towards the street, with an everyday public entrance in this front facade.
(b) 
When buildings are located on corners, the entrance shall be located on the corner with an appropriate building articulation, such as a chamfered corner, turret, canopy, or other similar building feature.
(c) 
All primary building entrances shall be accentuated. Entrances permitted include: recessed, protruding, canopy, portico, or overhang.
(d) 
Buildings shall generally employ building types that are compatible to the historic architecture of the area in their massing and external treatment.
G. 
Open space requirement.
(1) 
Developments of two buildings or more shall provide open space of at least 30% of the gross tract area.
(2) 
Open space may consist of a park, active recreation facilities, passive open space, and other similar types of open space.
(3) 
No portion of any building lot or road right-of-way area shall be used for meeting the minimum required amount of total open space.
(4) 
No more than 10% of the allotted open space shall contain stormwater management facilities.
H. 
Common recreation areas.
(1) 
A clubhouse, swimming pool, or tennis, volleyball, or basketball courts shall be oriented internally or along major roadways, and away from residential development on neighboring properties.
(2) 
Such facilities shall be visible from and have substantial access to a street.
(3) 
Such facilities which are only available to residents of the subject multifamily development shall not qualify as meeting the open space requirement of § 295-903G above.