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Franklin Township City Zoning Code

PART 8

V VILLAGE DISTRICT

§ 27-801 Purpose.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 800; as amended by Ord. 2001-08, 12/27/2001, § 1; and by Ord. 2003-08, 10/9/2003]
1. 
Kemblesville and Chesterville are communities within Franklin Township that have maintained certain attributes characteristic of a traditional village including a compact and pedestrian-scale development pattern, smaller front yards and lot sizes, a mix of uses, and vegetation native to the area. The purpose of the Village District is to take steps which ensure that this environment is sustained in accordance with the 1991 Comprehensive Plan, the 1991 Avon Grove Regional Planning Commission's 1991 Future Land Use Plan, and §§ 604(1) and 605(2)(vi), Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. §§ 10604(1) and 10605(2)(vi). Specific efforts which are being made include the following:
A. 
Encouraging the compatibility of traditional and future development within the village by establishing use, height and area and bulk regulations as well as design standards which are consistent with existing conditions.
B. 
Providing opportunities for home occupations and limited commercial uses within a village while:
(1) 
Ensuring that the scale of the operations are appropriate with and complementary to the character of the village.
(2) 
Promoting the conservation of existing structures and architectural patterns which define the historic character of a village.
C. 
Recognizing the importance of the landscape in physically defining a village, reducing air pollution and providing shading and privacy to residents within close proximity.
D. 
Incorporating civic uses and buildings into the Village District to help identify a village community.

§ 27-802 Use Regulations.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 801; as amended by Ord. 2001-08, 12/27/2001, § 1; and by Ord. 2003-08, 10/9/2003]
1. 
Uses Permitted by Right.
A. 
Single-family detached dwelling.
B. 
Two-family detached dwelling.
C. 
Two-family attached dwelling.
D. 
Municipal, county, state and federal uses, excluding dumps, sanitary landfill and correctional or penal institutions.
E. 
Nonprofit recreational uses including public and private parks.
F. 
Agriculture.
[Added by Ord. 2016-04, 4/20/2016]
2. 
Permitted Accessory Uses.
A. 
Home occupations, subject to the provisions of § 27-1709. Home occupations are prohibited in structures containing multiple dwelling units, except that exempt home occupations per § 27-1709 are allowed in any dwelling unit.
B. 
Accessory residential uses and buildings.
C. 
One single-family dwelling unit in any single building housing a commercial use.
3. 
Conditional Uses.
A. 
Eating establishments with indoor seating for a maximum of 20 patrons and excluding drive-in-type facilities.
B. 
Specialty store.
C. 
Cottage industries including blacksmith, cabinet maker and potter so long as the use occupies no more than 1,000 square feet and has fewer than five employees.
D. 
Bakery, confectioner or custom shop for production of articles to be sold at retail on the premises.
E. 
Personal service shops such as barber shops and hairdressing.
F. 
Rooming house, subject to the provisions of § 27-1711.
G. 
Cultural, educational, or religious uses.
H. 
Business, professional and financial institutions.
I. 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection 3I, permitting residential conversion by conditional use, was repealed by Ord. No. 2019-01, 1/16/2019.
J. 
Multiple use on a single lot within a planned unified development.

§ 27-803 Height Regulations.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 802; as amended by Ord. 2001-08, 12/27/2001, § 1; and by Ord. 2003-08, 10/9/2003]
The maximum height of all buildings erected or enlarged shall be 35 feet, not to exceed three stories.

§ 27-804 Area and Bulk Regulations.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 803; as amended by Ord. 2001-08, 12/27/2001, § 1; by Ord. 2003-08, 10/9/2003; and Ord. 2011-04, 3/16/2011, § 2]
The following area and bulk regulations shall apply to all uses permitted within this district:
Provision
Individual Sewer
Community/Public Sewer
Minimum lot area
30,000 square feet
7,500 square feet
Maximum dwelling units/gross acre of site
1
3
Maximum lot coverage
15%
50%
Minimum lot width (feet):
Building line
60
60
Street line
30
30
Maximum building coverage
10%
30%
Minimum front yard setback (feet)
15
15
Minimum side yard setbacks (feet):
Individual
5
5
Aggregate
15
15
Minimum accessory structure setbacks (feet):
Front yard
Not permitted in front yard
Not permitted in front yard
Side yard
5
5
Rear yard
5
5
Minimum rear yard setback (principal structures) (feet)
20
20
Parking lot1 setbacks from all roads and adjoining property lines (feet)
30
30
NOTES:
1
Exclusive of parking associated with individual dwelling units.

§ 27-805 Design Standards.

[Ord. 95-07, 12/14/1995, § 804; as amended by Ord. 2001-08, 12/27/2001, § 1; by Ord. 2003-08, 10/9/2003; and by Ord. 2008-04, 11/19/2008, § 1]
1. 
The following design standards shall apply for all uses unless otherwise specified:
A. 
Refer to design standards established in Part 16.
B. 
Refer to design standards established in Part 20.
C. 
Walkways must be made of or imitate slate, brick or other precast material.
D. 
Lighting fixtures must conform to § 27-1607, Lighting Standards.
E. 
All wetlands must be preserved.
F. 
Any development over 15 acres shall use cluster or open space design. Refer to § 27-1611.
G. 
Parking lots must be landscaped in accordance with § 27-1610.
H. 
All AC, HVAC, exhaust pipes or stacks, satellite dishes and other telecommunication equipment shall be thoroughly screened from public right-of-way by using walls, fencing, roof elements, or landscaping.
I. 
Fire escapes shall not be permitted on the building's front facade.
J. 
Trees of Significant Size.
(1) 
No tree with a dbh in excess of six inches within the front yard or street right-of-way shall be intentionally damaged. The attachment of wire, rope, nails, advertising posters or other contrivances to such trees is prohibited.
(2) 
Unless authorized by the Zoning Officer, no person shall cut or remove trees with a dbh in excess of six inches within the front yard setback or street right-of-way unless one or more of the following conditions applies:
(a) 
The tree is infected with an epidemic insect or disease where the recommended control is not applicable and removal is the recommended practice to prevent transmission.
(b) 
The tree poses an extreme public nuisance because of its species, size or location or condition. The nuisance could be caused by fruit or seed drop, harboring of insects or excessive twig or limb breakage.
(c) 
The tree poses a severe safety hazard that cannot be corrected by pruning, transplanting or other treatments.
(3) 
Any tree within the front yard setback or the street right-of-ways which is removed shall be replaced in accordance with § 22-610 of Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4) 
All trees with a dbh in excess of six inches which are within the front yard setback or street right-of-way and within 20 feet of any excavation or construction of any building, structure, street work, or other proposed improvement shall be guarded with a good substantial fence, frame, or box not less than four feet high and installed beyond the tree's drip line. Installation should take place before any site disturbance occurs. All site disturbance, building material, dirt, or other debris shall be kept outside the barrier.
K. 
Commercial Use. In addition to other applicable requirements within this section, commercial use shall comply with the following design standards:
(1) 
One commercial use shall be permitted within a principal structure existing at the time of adoption of this chapter. Said use shall be wholly contained within the structure, including storage, and shall not exceed 2,000 square feet or floor area.
(2) 
Drive-through service facilities shall not be installed or used.
(3) 
Off-street parking shall be located to the other side or rear yard areas, or combined into a parking lot with adjacent lots on the same side of a street, unless approved by the Board of Supervisors. Said lots shall not exceed 20 spaces.
(4) 
The Board of Supervisors shall approve all exterior design and materials as a part of the final plan approval to insure that the buildings maintain the character like the Village of Kemblesville.