Folcroft City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Procedures and Standards for Special Exceptions
§ 600-144 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to provide conditions and standards for uses permitted by special exception. In these cases, the Zoning Hearing Board may attach reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this article, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of this chapter and those of the MPC, as amended.
§ 600-145 General requirements.
In any instance where the Zoning Hearing Board is required to consider a request for a special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board shall consider the provisions of this article.
§ 600-146 Standards for review of special exceptions.
See § 600-181B.
§ 600-147 Requirements for review where dimensional standards are not provided.
In cases where this chapter does not provide specific dimensional standards for uses permitted by special exception, the following general dimensional standards will be applied by the Zoning Hearing Board:
A.
In residential districts, the area, bulk, and any other applicable requirements shall not be less than those for single-family dwellings in the district where the use is proposed.
B.
The Zoning Hearing Board may require additional, reasonable but more stringent standards than those required in Subsection A above, provided that the Board makes one or more of the following determinations:
C.
That the requirements of Subsection A above are clearly:
(1)
Insufficient to accommodate the proposed building, facility, or use, and that greater dimensional requirements would substantially alleviate that condition.
(2)
Insufficient to provide adequate area for parking and loading, as required by Article XIII, and that greater requirements would substantially alleviate that condition.
(3)
Insufficient to provide for lot areas and dimensions necessary to protect the adjacent area from the potential adverse impacts of the proposed use, such as noise, vibration, air pollution, and similar impacts, and that greater dimensional requirements would substantially alleviate that condition.
§ 600-148 Major home occupations.
A major home occupation shall be permitted as a special exception in the R-1 Residential District, subject to the following regulations:
A.
The occupation shall be conducted entirely within the dwelling and shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the dwelling.
B.
Only one occupation per dwelling shall be permitted.
C.
Not more than two persons other than a resident shall be engaged as an employee or volunteer.
D.
Not more than 25% of the gross floor area of the dwelling shall be used for the home occupation, except that up to 50% may be used in the case of doctors or dentists. Areas used for storage shall be included in this calculation.
E.
No external alterations inconsistent with the residential use shall be permitted.
F.
There shall be no display of materials or products visible from outside the dwelling.
G.
No noise, vibration, smoke, glare, or any other impact shall be noticeable at or beyond the property line.
H.
There shall be no outdoor storage of equipment, materials, or supplies.
J.
A home occupation shall in no case be operated before 8:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m.
K.
All home occupations shall be subject to periodic inspection by the BCO or ZO.
L.
A special exception shall not be granted when it appears to the Zoning Hearing Board that the proposed major home occupation will constitute a fire hazard to neighboring residences, will adversely affect neighboring property value, or will constitute a nuisance or otherwise be detrimental to the neighbors because of excessive traffic, noise, odor, or other negative circumstances.
§ 600-149 Apartments containing more than four units.
In the R-3 Apartment and GB General Business Districts, apartment buildings containing more than four units shall be permitted as a special exception. In the GB District, the apartment building shall not exceed 10 units. These apartment buildings shall be subject to the requirements below:
§ 600-150 Municipal facilities, heavy impact.
In the MC Municipal Center District, municipal facilities, heavy impact, including storage, repair, and parking of trucks, cars, and heavy equipment for municipal purposes, shall be permitted only as a special exception, subject to the following requirements:
B.
There shall be a planted visual screen, subject to § 600-114, along the side and rear lot lines wherever a boundary is formed with a residential district.
C.
Outdoor storage shall be allowed, provided that a planted visual screen, subject to § 600-114, is provided.
D.
All special exception fees for municipal facilities shall be waived.