Clairton City Zoning Code

The exterior of the building may include one wall sign or parallel sign identifying the name of the adult business or entertainment use, which shall not exceed 20 square feet in size.

Freestanding signs, banners, directional signs, illuminated signs, portable signs, roof signs, seasonal signs and billboards shall be prohibited on the property.

Window signs shall be limited to 25% of the total window area and shall not include any graphic or pictorial depiction of material related to specific sexual activities or anatomical areas.

Advertisements, displays or other promotional materials related to specific sexual activities or anatomical area shall not be shown or exhibited so as to be visible to the public from the exterior of the building.

All activities and operations take place indoors. No outdoor play areas, kennels, runs, etc., shall be permitted.

Minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet is required.

A minimum lot size of 100,000 square feet shall be required.

Shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any residential property line.

Shall not be located closer than 100 feet to any residential structure.

A minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet is required.

A minimum buffer yard shall be provided as specified in § 337-31, although the Zoning Hearing Board may require additional screening from adjacent residential properties.

Such premises may be open for business only on Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., local time.

All child day-care facilities shall comply with all current Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) regulations, including those standards governing adequate indoor space, accessible outdoor play space and any applicable state or local building and firesafety codes.

No portion of a child day-care facility shall be located within a three-hundred-foot distance from any potentially hazardous land use or activity which could pose a threat to the safety and welfare of the children, staff and other occupants at the facility. Hazardous land uses or activities include, but shall not be limited to, gasoline service stations, heavy industrial operations, storage of flammable or high-pressure underground pipelines, truck or rail loading yards, etc.

The outdoor play space shall be completely enclosed by a safe and adequate fence or wall a minimum of four feet in height, unless a greater height is required by the governing body. Any outdoor play area potentially susceptible to encountering vehicles leaving the roadway, travel lanes, or accessways shall be protected by a barrier capable of preventing the vehicle from entering the play area. No portion of the outside play areas shall be less than 25 feet from a neighboring property line without the owner's written consent. Outdoor play shall be limited to the hours between dawn and dusk, prevailing local time.

Any addition or improvement to an existing residential structure or property for purposes of child day care shall preserve its residential character.

For properties utilizing an on-lot sewage disposal system, the applicant shall demonstrate that the system is properly sized to accommodate sewage flows from the registered or licensed capacity of the child day-care facility.

All activities shall be conducted in an occupied, detached single-family residence.

Activities shall be limited to functions normally associated with the part-time tending of children and shall not include overnight lodging.

Family day-care homes must hold an approved and currently valid certificate of registration from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW).

One on-site dropoff space for clients shall be provided. An existing driveway or common parking lot space may be used as the dropoff area if it can be demonstrated that there is sufficient space available in the driveway that is not otherwise occupied or committed to safely accommodate a parked vehicle. If a driveway is used for the dropoff area and the proposed use fronts an arterial or major collector street, an on-site turnaround area shall be provided so that vehicles can exit the site driving forward. In cases where the existing driveway cannot function as a dropoff area, an on-site dropoff space shall be provided. The dropoff area shall conform to the municipal dimensional standards for residential parking spaces.

All activities shall be conducted in an occupied, detached single-family residence.

Activities shall be limited to functions normally associated with the part-time tending of children and shall not include overnight lodging.

Group day-care homes must hold an approved and currently valid certificate of compliance from the DPW.

There shall be one additional on-site parking space provided for a nonresident employee above that required for the residential use. The parking space shall conform to the municipal dimensional standards for residential parking spaces.

An on-site dropoff area shall be provided with sufficient area to allow for the temporary parking of two vehicles. An existing driveway or common parking lot space may be used as the dropoff area if it can be demonstrated that there is sufficient space available in the driveway that is not otherwise occupied or committed to safely accommodate two parked vehicles. If a driveway is used for the dropoff area and the proposed use fronts an arterial or major collector street, an on-site turnaround area shall be provided so that vehicles can exit the site driving forward. In cases where the existing driveway cannot function as a dropoff area, two new on-site dropoff spaces shall be provided. The dropoff area shall conform to the municipal dimensional standards for residential parking spaces.

Day-care centers must hold an approved and currently valid certificate of compliance from the DPW.

Day-care centers shall not be conducted on residential premises. A day-care center, if sited on the premises of an operating community service facility or religious institution, shall be considered accessory to the principal use of the property concerned.

Activities shall be limited to functions normally associated with part-time tending of children and shall not include overnight or drop-in care.

A minimum of one on-site parking space shall be provided for each 300 square feet of floor area dedicated to child care.

A minimum of one safe dropoff space shall be provided for each 20 children that the facility is licensed to accommodate.

Whenever possible, the dropoff area shall be located immediately adjacent to the facility. The dropoff area should be designed in such a way that pedestrians do not cross vehicular traffic lanes in any parking area or driveway. The dropoff area may be designed either as a part of the on-site parking area or the required dropoff spaces may be designed as a part of driveway providing direct access to the day-care facility. When the dropoff area is incorporated into the on-site parking area, the parking spaces nearest to the facility shall be designated as dropoff spaces. When the dropoff area is incorporated into a driveway, the dropoff spaces shall be located within a vehicle turnout area 12 feet in width exclusive of the driveway through traffic lane(s).

A buffer yard, as defined in Article IV, General Regulations, of this chapter, shall be required when adjacent to residential uses.

All pedestrian pathways shall be adequately lit for safety and security if utilized during nondaylight hours. Specific areas for lighting are entranceways, pedestrian access to the outdoor play areas, sidewalks used in nondaylight hours, dropoff areas, merchandise delivery areas, and all parking lots.

When located in a multiuse building complex, day-care center entrances/exits shall provide direct access to the child-care center so that walking through other significant portions of the building is avoided.

The proposed antennas and related equipment would exceed the structural capacity of the existing structure and reinforcement cannot be accomplished at a reasonable cost.

The proposed antenna and related equipment would cause radio frequency interference with other existing equipment for that existing structure and the interference cannot be prevented at a reasonable cost.

Such existing structures do not have adequate location, space, access or height to accommodate the proposed equipment or to allow it to perform its intended function.

Addition of the proposed antennas and related equipment would result in electromagnetic radiation from such structure exceeding applicable standard established by the Federal Communications Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.

A commercially reasonable agreement could not be reached with the owners of such structures.

Improved access drive from the public street to the communications tower and communications equipment building a minimum of 15 feet in width.

Improved parking spaces for two vehicles.

The foundation and base of any communications tower shall be landscaped as to screen the foundation, base and communications equipment building from adjoining properties on all sides. Landscape screening shall be predominantly evergreen plant material, and of a type and size appropriate to the site conditions as determined by the City Council. All other unpaved portions of the lot or lease area shall be seeded to establish an appropriate lawn cover, which shall be perpetually mowed and maintained in accordance with applicable property maintenance requirements of the City of Clairton.

A security fence at least eight feet in height shall be erected around the site to limit accessibility by the general public.

All guy-wire anchors associated with guyed communications towers shall be clearly marked so as to be visible at all times and shall be located within a fenced enclosure.

The location of all structures.

A traffic plan delineating all points of ingress and egress, parking locations by individual spaces, on-site traffic circulation plans, vehicle stacking areas and pickup locations.

Landscaping, buffer and screening.

Drive-through aisles shall be separated from landscaping areas by a six-inch high, poured-in-place, concrete curb or other suitable protective device meeting City approval.

All service areas, restrooms, and ground-mounted mechanical equipment shall be screened from public view.

Landscaping shall screen drive-through aisles or stacking lanes from the public right-of-way and shall be used to minimize the visual impacts of reader-board signs and directional signs.

Changes the external residential character or appearance of the dwelling structure.

Is visible from surrounding properties or the adjacent street.

Generates more than four vehicle trips per hour during operating business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Creates hazards to persons or property.

Creates interference or a nuisance.

Involves the outside storage or display of materials or products.

Utilizes more than the following maximum area space limits in the conduct of the home occupation:

100 feet from the existing right-of-way of public streets and from all exterior lot lines of the property,

150 feet from a nonresidential principal building, unless released by the owner thereof,

300 feet from the lot line of a dwelling,

Be placed on a permanent foundation, on a minimum foundation wall consisting of eight-inch concrete masonry unit construction, with anchor bolts spaced six feet on center to preclude movement of the unit under adverse wind loads. Alternate methods of anchorage may be accepted, as approved by the Code Enforcement Officer. Trailer hitch and wheel assemblies must be removed.

Have a permanent utility hookup with all utilities.

Have a minimum of 1,200 square feet of living space.

Be approved by the Pennsylvania Manufactured Home Association.

Be located on a minimum lot of 7,200 square feet.

Be provided with two off-street parking spaces to the rear of the mobile home on the lot.

The use or structure for which accessory parking is to be provided shall be nonconforming.

The nonconforming use or structure for which the accessory parking is to be provided must be located on the same lot as the nonconforming use or structure, except that such accessory parking use may also be provided on any lot which is separated solely from the lot of the nonconforming use or structure by a public right-of-way, and which lot is, in part, directly across from, and not diagonally or in any other direction from, the nonconforming use or structure. If the subject lot is located in any other position except directly across the public right-of-way from the nonconforming use or structure, such lot would not qualify for accessory parking hereunder.

Such accessory parking shall comply with the provisions of Article VII. If a conflict arises between the provisions of Article VII and this section, the provisions of this section shall prevail.

Such accessory parking may only occupy what would otherwise be the buildable area of the lot, and such accessory parking must comply with all required yard areas or setback requirements of this chapter. Additionally, such accessory parking shall be limited to a lot size no greater than 7,200 square feet.

Said accessory parking shall be properly enclosed within an ornamental fence or wall or compact evergreen hedge, having a height of not less than four feet and not more than 4 1/2 feet. Such fence, wall or hedge shall be maintained in good condition.

Reasonable efforts shall be made to protect neighborhood amenities and secure compatibility of use with adjacent residential uses, in such matters as access and traffic movement, treatment of landscaping, planting and regulations of outdoor lights and signs.

The accessory parking area may not be used or open to the general public at hours other than the ordinary business hours of the nonconforming use or structure; must be solely restricted to the precise business of the nonconforming use or structure; and with the further restriction that accessory parking, in any event, may not be used except during the hours of 8:00 a.m. through 10:00 p.m. daily.

No structure shall be permitted on the same lot as the accessory parking, except for the ornamental fence, wall or evergreen hedge requirements specified hereunder.

Primary or secondary school.

Day-care center.

Gymnasium/recreational facility.

Kitchen.

Parsonage, parish house or rectory.

Other uses that are customarily accessory to religious uses and places of worship.

Accessory uses shall meet area and bulk requirements of the zoning district in which they are located.

Accessory uses shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from a residential use or district.

Outdoor play spaces shall be completely enclosed by a safe and adequate fence or wall a minimum of four feet in height, unless a greater height is required by the governing body. Any outdoor play area potentially susceptible to encountering vehicles leaving the roadway, travel lanes, or access ways shall be protected by a barrier capable of preventing the vehicle from entering the play area. Outdoor play shall be limited to the hours between dawn and dusk, prevailing local time.

Off-street parking facilities shall be in accordance with Article VII.

A minimum lot size of five acres is required.

The volume of sound from music and public address systems shall be so controlled as to prevent objectionable noise off the premises.

No drive-through facilities shall be permitted.

Off-street parking shall be screened from view of adjacent residential properties.

The lot shall have frontage on an arterial or collector street.

Blank walls shall not be permitted along any exterior wall facing a street, parking area, or walking area. Walls or portions of walls where windows have not been provided shall have architectural treatments that are similar to the front facade, including materials, colors, and details.

Upper-story windows of front facades shall not be boarded or covered and shall comprise a minimum of 35% window area in the facade above the ground floor and a maximum of 75%.

Building types shall be compatible to the historic architecture of the area in their massing and external treatment.

Retail stores over 7,000 square feet shall be developed in accordance with the following requirements:

Only merchandise intended for immediate sale shall be displayed on the sidewalk in front of any store. At least eight feet of sidewalk shall remain unobstructed for pedestrian use between the merchandise or display and the curb.

Any other area of a shopping center property proposed for storage or display purposes shall be subject to site plan approval by the City Planning Commission. All such areas shall be enclosed in a suitable fence or plant screen, located adjacent to the main building in such a manner as to prevent a view of the stored items from any adjacent property at ground level, and placed in such a manner as to control pedestrian and vehicular movement in the area.

Adequate provisions shall be made for safe and efficient pedestrian and vehicular traffic circulation within the boundaries of the shopping center. Such provisions shall include raised curbs or medial walkways which shall prohibit vehicles from straying from their designated circulation routes. Also, these walkways shall be suitably planted to help reinforce the proper routing of traffic and add to the overall appearance of the shopping center.

All access roads, parking area, service and other areas for vehicular use shall be paved with bituminous, concrete material or other hard surface material meeting specifications acceptable to the City Engineer.

The proposed development shall be served by public sewer and water facilities.

If the development of the shopping center is to be carried out in progressive stages, each stage shall be so planned that the foregoing requirements and the intent of this chapter shall be fully complied with at the completion of any stage. The initial stage of development shall comprise a minimum total ground floor area of 7,500 square feet, or a minimum of six permitted main uses.

The solar energy collection system owner is required to notify the City immediately upon cessation or abandonment of the operation.

Discontinuation/abandonment is presumed when a solar system has been disconnected from the net metering grid for a period of six continuous months or has not produced electricity for a period of six months. The burden of proof in the presumption of discontinuation/abandonment shall be upon the City of Clairton.

The solar energy collection systems and all related equipment must be removed within 12 months of the date of discontinuation or abandonment or upon the determination of the useful life of the solar system.

For ground-mounted and building-mounted systems, removal includes removal of all structural and electrical parts of the ground- or building-mounted system and any associated facilities or equipment and removal of all net metering equipment.

If the owner fails to remove or repair the vacated, abandoned or decommissioned solar energy collection systems within the twelve-month period outlined above, the City reserves the right to enter the property, remove the system and charge the landowner and/or facility owner and operator for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, or pursue other legal action to have the system removed at the owner's expense.

Any unpaid costs resulting from the City's removal of a vacated, abandoned or decommissioned solar system shall constitute a lien upon the property against which the costs were charged. Each such lien may be continued, recorded and released in the manner provided by the general statutes for continuing, recording and releasing property tax liens.

At the time of issuance of the permit for the construction of the solar energy collection systems, the owner shall provide financial security in form and amount acceptable to the City to secure the expense of dismantling and removing said structures.

All loading and unloading of putrescent solid waste shall only occur within an enclosed building, and over an impervious surface drain to a holding tank that is then adequately treated; and

All solid waste processing and storage shall occur within enclosed buildings or enclosed containers.

Proof of adequate supervision by people qualified by training and experience in the field for which the facility is intended shall be provided.

The facility must comply with all applicable fire, housing, building, property maintenance, and health codes, and all regulations pertaining to transient occupancy with respect to emergency lighting, smoke detectors, exit lights, and other safety devices.

Any food preparation, service, or distribution shall be licensed by the City and inspected by the Bureau of Health.

All services provided on site shall be contained within the structure and operated by a nonprofit, charitable, or for-profit organization.

The applicant for these facilities shall submit with its application a plan outlining in detail the management of the facility. This shall include information on personnel, supervision, hours of operation, services provided, rules and regulations, and any other information pertinent to the operation of the facility.