Darby City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
I Institutional District
§ 153-61 District purposes.
The purposes of this district are to provide for and regulate a variety of institutional/medical uses and to preserve and protect the many existing institutional uses located in this district. Large institutions occupy large parcels of land in the Borough and represent a significant portion of the remaining open space. Appropriate control of these properties, the activities conducted thereon and possible changes in their future use is essential to preserve the open space and character of the development in this district. These regulations are intended to promote the effective operation of major institutions in a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship with the surrounding community.
§ 153-62 Uses permitted by right.
Land, buildings or premises shall be used by right for only one or more of the following uses:
A.
Government building or use.
B.
Civic use such as a community center, public library, senior citizens center or similar use.
C.
Hospital, medical or dental clinic or center and related offices.
D.
Nursing home.
E.
Assisted-living facility for the elderly.
F.
Public or private school, college or other academic educational institution, except business or trade school, dance studio or similar establishment for commercial instruction, subject to the provisions of § 153-132.
J.
Cemetery.
K.
Public park or recreational use.
L.
Municipally owned public surface parking lot.
§ 153-63 Uses permitted by special exception.
§ 153-64 Accessory uses.
A.
Playfield, open space and recreational facility in conjunction with a permitted use.
B.
Parking garage or area.
C.
Living accommodation for watchman, caretaker or staff of a permitted institution whose duties require them to sleep or reside on the premises.
D.
Offices of staff doctors or similar professionals associated with a permitted use.
E.
Restaurant or cafeteria for use of employees, students or visitors of a permitted use.
F.
Storage building, enclosure or area associated with a permitted main use.
K.
Any accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to a permitted main use and not detrimental to the surrounding community.
§ 153-65 Area and bulk regulations.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, the following shall be minimum requirements:
§ 153-66 Development requirements.
A.
Development may be on individual lots or by addition of new buildings on a lot or parcel with one or more existing buildings.
B.
More than one building is permitted on a single lot, provided that the setback and spacing requirements in § 153-65 are met.
D.
Where new buildings are constructed on the same lot or parcel as existing institutional buildings, consideration shall be given to connecting the interior driveways of such new buildings with the driveways serving existing buildings in order to limit the number of access points on Lansdowne Avenue.
§ 153-67 Future use of institutional land.
A.
Institutional land and the uses for which it provides have a special impact on the community. This is particularly true in a community such as Darby, where institutional properties are the largest tracts of land and represent a significant portion of the open space remaining in the Borough. Accordingly, the Borough has a special interest in the future of such properties in the event of abandonment or change in existing use.
B.
It is the intent of this section to ensure a reasonable choice of appropriate use in the event of the sale, abandonment, nonuse or change of use of institutionally zoned land. In such event, on its own motion or upon petition for rezoning, the Planning Commission shall consider whether the land is suitable for continued institutional use or whether it should be rezoned for other use and shall make appropriate recommendations to Borough Council.