Collegeville City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIV
R-4 High Density and Multifamily Residential District
§ 680-99 Declaration of legislative intent.
In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent and the statement of community development objectives contained in Article I, the specific intent of this district is to:
A.
Encourage an appropriate mix of dwelling types and densities in Collegeville Borough.
B.
Promote a variety of income levels, age groups, and housing opportunities within the Borough.
C.
Establish standards of performance and promote the desirable benefits which garden apartments may have upon the community.
§ 680-100 Permitted uses.
[Amended 3-7-2007 by Ord. No. 526]
A building may be erected, altered, or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other:
§ 680-101 Single-family detached dwelling developments.
All single-family detached dwellings shall comply with the following requirements:
A.
Minimum lot area: 8,000 square feet.
B.
Minimum lot width at building line: 60 feet.
C.
Minimum building coverage: 35%.
D.
Maximum impervious surface coverage: 45%.
E.
Yards. Front, side, and rear yards shall be provided on each lot as follows:
(1)
Front yard. One yard not less than 30 feet in depth, measured from the ultimate right-of-way to the building line.
(2)
Side yard. For every dwelling, two yards not less than 20 feet in aggregate width and neither less than eight feet; except that in the case of a corner lot, the yard abutting a street shall be equal to the minimum required front yard.
(3)
Rear yard. One yard not less than 25 feet in depth.
§ 680-102 Garden apartment developments.
All garden apartments shall comply with the following requirements:
A.
Dimensional regulations.
(1)
Maximum density: eight units per acre.
(2)
Minimum tract size: each multifamily development shall have a minimum gross area of 10 acres.
(3)
Minimum setback from any property line: 50 feet.
(4)
Minimum distance between any two principal buildings: 50 feet.
(5)
Maximum building coverage: 30% of lot area.
(6)
Maximum impervious surface coverage: 50% of lot area.
(7)
Zoning district boundary setback. A minimum setback of 75 feet is required between any principal multifamily building in this district and any Borough boundary or boundary of a residential zoning district. This setback may be part of a required yard area, and shall include landscaping and/or berming. The adequacy of this buffer shall be decided by Borough Council based upon the recommendations of the Borough Planning Commission or other Borough agencies chosen by Council.
(8)
Maximum height: 35 feet for a principal building, 15 feet for any accessory buildings.
(9)
Parking area setback. A minimum thirty-foot setback shall be required between any parking area of six or more spaces and any side or rear lot line or tract boundary. This parking area setback may be part of a zoning district boundary. If the parking area is shared by two or more lots, the setback shall not be required from the common lot line(s).
(10)
Maximum building length: 200 feet.
B.
Additional regulations.
(1)
Parking shall not interfere with driveways, accessways, sidewalks, or pedestrian walkways.
(2)
The use of natural building materials, such as brick, stone, stucco, or wood is strongly encouraged.
(3)
All refuse facilities shall be screened from the view of all public streets and neighboring properties.
(4)
Any outdoor lighting proposed for common areas or parking lots shall not throw glare onto adjacent properties or cause a traffic hazard.
(5)
All access drives or roads shall be set back 20 feet from any property line.
(6)
All developments shall be served by public sewer and water systems.
C.
Open space regulations. A minimum of 20% of the site area of the multifamily development shall be permanent open space. No more than 1/3 of the open space may be part of the required tract boundary setback. The permanent open space shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
Ownership. The open space shall be conveyed in accordance with one or more of the following methods, as approved by the Borough Council:
(a)
Dedication in fee simple to Collegeville Borough.
(b)
Conveyance of title (including beneficial ownership) to an association, condominium, conservancy, corporation, funded community trust, individual, or other legal entity for maintenance purposes.
(c)
Fee simple ownership with conveyance of restrictive covenants, conservation easements, or other suitable legal device to Collegeville Borough, an association, condominium, conservancy, corporation, funded community trust, individual, or other legal entity for maintenance purposes. The terms of such instrument of conveyance shall include provisions to the Borough for guaranteeing the continued use of such land for open space and recreation.
(2)
Design. The open space shall not include stormwater basins, shall have adequate pedestrian and vehicular access, and shall be designed in one or more of the following ways, as approved by the Borough Council:
(a)
Buffer area, to buffer the impact of new development from existing, adjacent development.
(b)
Preservation of natural features, such as woodlands, stream valleys, wetlands, or steep slopes.
(c)
Central green or parkway, which shall be located in a central position in the neighborhood, surrounded by streets and/or building lots on at least three sides, and designed and landscaped as a space for common neighborhood use.
(d)
Recreation area provided to meet the anticipated needs of the residents of the development. Recreation areas should be of a size, shape, and relief that is conducive to active and passive recreation.