Hatboro City Zoning Code
PART 10
O OFFICE DISTRICT
§ 27-1001 Declaration of Legislative Intent.
[Ord. 761, 8/26/1985, § 1000; as amended by Ord. 1005, 5/23/2011]
In expansion of the goals and objectives stated in the "Declaration of Legislative Intent" found in § 27-103 of this chapter and the "Community Development Objectives" found in § 27-105 of this chapter, it is hereby declared to be the intent of this Part with respect to O Office District to establish reasonable standards of performance and promote the desirable benefits which well located general and professional office uses will have throughout the Borough of Hatboro. Furthermore, it is the intent of this Part to provide to transitional use districts in those areas of the Borough which are changing from R-1 and R-2 Residential Districts to a mixed, commercial and multi-family residential character.
§ 27-1002 Use Regulations.
[Ord. 761, 8/26/1985, § 1001; as amended by Ord. 798, 6/27/1988; by Ord. 859, 9/30/1991; and by Ord. 971, 12/18/2006, § 2]
1.
The following uses shall be permitted in the O Office District and no other:
A.
Office Buildings: Professional, executive, administrative, and governmental; such uses shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1)
Insurance, real estate, and other similar business and professional offices.
(2)
Dental and medical clinics.
(3)
Funeral home.
(4)
Office buildings, provided no merchandising is carried on therein with the general public.
B.
The following uses shall be permitted by special exception:
(1)
Private, vocational, business, and professional schools except those of an industrial character.
(2)
Any use of the same general character as any of the above permitted uses when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board; provided, that such use shall be permitted subject to such reasonable restrictions as the Zoning Hearing Board may determine; and, further provided, that no use shall be permitted which is either noxious or hazardous.
(3)
Child day care center.
C.
Accessory uses as authorized by the general regulations of this chapter, except that no on-ground or in-ground private swimming pools are permitted as an accessory structure to any of the permitted uses in this zoning district.
D.
The following uses shall be permitted when authorized by Council as a conditional use:
(1)
Active Adult Community. Active adult community see § 27-202 for definition. See § 27-1801 for active adult community development standards.
(2)
Limited Nonresidential Use Within Active Adult Community. Limited nonresidential use may be included as an accessory use within an active adult community only, not to exceed 5% of the total proposed interior building area, in order to allow for professional office, retail sales, and retail service uses. All nonresidential uses must be limited to the ground level. Each individual nonresidential use shall be limited to be no less in size than 1,000 and no greater in size than 3,000 square feet. No fabrication, manufacturing, or processing shall be allowed on site. These nonresidential uses shall enhance the life style of active adult residents within the complex. All proposed such uses and future changes in any of the original uses must be reviewed by Council to assure compliance with this section. It is the specific intent of this subsection to permit Borough Council the discretion, based on substantial supporting evidence and proof, that there will be no detriment to the public interest. The intent is also to limit the "trips" from the complex during peak traffic times without detracting from the "Town Center." All nonresidential uses must satisfy the parking mandates as delineated in § 27-2001 of this chapter.
§ 27-1003 Area, Width, and Yard Regulations.
[Ord. 761, 8/26/1985, § 1002; as amended by Ord. 798, 6/27/1988; and by Ord. 971, 12/18/2006, § 3]
1.
The following area, width and yard regulations shall apply in the O Office District:
A.
Lot Area. A lot area of not less than 7,000 square feet shall be provided for every use or group of uses permitted in the O Office District.
B.
Width. A lot width of not less than 70 feet measured at the building line.
C.
Building Coverage. Total building coverage of not more than 30% of the total lot area. Coverage includes accessory use buildings.
D.
Front Yard. A front yard of not less than 35 feet measured from the right-of-way line to the building foundation wall nearest to the right-of-way line. A front yard shall be a yard that extends from a right-of-way line to the nearest wall of the principal building.
E.
Rear Yard. A rear yard of not less than 25 feet measured from the building foundation wall at the nearest point to the rear property line. A rear yard is that yard directly opposite the front yard.
F.
Side Yards. No building or structure shall be erected nearer than a minimum of 20 feet, but no less than the buffer requirements of the abutting yard along the same property line, to any side property line measured from the nearest foundation wall to the property line, except as provided in Subsection 1G herein.
G.
Accessory Use Building Restrictions. Accessory buildings and structures may be erected at least 10 feet to the rear of the building line, and no less than 10 feet from the rear property line. Accessory buildings and structures may be erected no less than eight feet from any side property line. No accessory building may be erected nearer than eight feet from any other existing building on the same or adjoining lot. Provision must be made for the disposal of roof water onto the same lot or directly to the nearest storm sewer.
§ 27-1004 Height Regulations.
[Ord. 761, 8/26/1985, § 1003; as amended by Ord. 1039, 10/10/2016]
1.
The maximum height of a building or structure erected or enlarged in the O Office District shall be:
A.
For any permitted uses in §§ 27-1002, Subsection 1A and B, herein: 35 feet, except as permitted in § 27-413 of this chapter.
B.
For any building or structure accessory to any permitted use: 15 feet.
§ 27-1005 Development Regulations.
[Ord. 761, 8/26/1985, § 1004; as amended by Ord. 798, 6/27/1988]
1.
The following additional development regulations shall apply in the O Office District:
A.
Building Floor Area. No building may be erected, altered, or used for any of the uses permitted in § 27-1002 herein that has a usable floor area of less than 1,500 square feet, on the first floor level. The first floor level shall be at, or within five feet of the mean level of the lot upon which the building is situated. Offices may be located on floor levels below grade, provided that at least one wall of the office is located above grade or is exposed to an open light well or sunken court yard.
B.
Off-Street Parking. Parking shall be required on the same lot as the principal building. All parking areas shall have direct access to a public street or highway, and be separated from the public street or highway by a raised curb, planting strip, wall, or other suitable barrier against unchanneled vehicular entrance or exit. Location of entrance and exit accessways must meet current PennDOT requirements and meet the approval of the Borough Engineer. Parking space requirements are set forth in § 27-2003, Subsection 1B(6), of this chapter.
C.
Access to Public Streets or Highways. Each separate use, group of uses, or buildings, constructed as part of an integrated plan, shall have not more than two accessways to any one public street or highway, and where practicable, access to parking areas shall be provided by a common service driveway or a minor public or private street, in order to avoid direct access on a major public street or highway.
D.
Buffer Area. Any office development shall have a permanent landscaped planting area of at least 15 feet in depth designed for screening from view any residential, commercial, or industrial uses which adjoin the office development.
