Horsham Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XLII
R-8 Residential District
§ 230-288 Intent.
It is the general intent of the R-8 Residential District to implement the goals and recommendations of the Final Preferred Land Use plan, adopted by the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority on March 21, 2012. Further, it is the specific intent of the R-8 Residential District to:
A.
Promote moderate to high density transitional housing units adjacent to the BPD-2 and Town Center districts;
B.
Integrate a walkable residential community with the adjacent small-scale commercial uses and non-residential districts;
C.
Create a residential community with a high level of architectural detail that creates a "Town Center" style community; and
D.
Provide housing in close proximity to community amenities, transit facilities, open spaces, recreational areas, shops, eateries, professional offices, etc.
§ 230-289 Use regulations.
Within the R-8 District, a building or group of buildings may be erected, altered, or used, and a lot may be used or occupied for one of the following principal uses:
A.
Single-family attached dwelling (carriage houses, row houses, and/or townhouses).
B.
Base Revitalization Transitional Community ("BRTC").
C.
Municipal park or recreation area owned and operated by a governmental or quasi-governmental agency.
D.
Private or public open space used for recreation and/or conservation purposes.
E.
Municipal building, including facilities for fire, ambulatory, or other emergency services.
F.
Public utilities, with the exception of solar, wind, or any other alternative energy as a public utility.
G.
Accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to the above permitted principal uses.
§ 230-290 Dimensional standards.
A.
For single-family attached dwelling developments, the following dimensional standards shall apply:
(1)
For all single-family attached dwelling developments, any and all land outside of the footprint of each dwelling unit shall be owned and maintained by a homeowners association.
(2)
Minimum gross tract area: 10 acres.
(3)
Maximum density: 4.5 dwelling units per acre.
(4)
Maximum site impervious coverage: 50% of the total site area.
(5)
Maximum dwelling footprint: 1,200 square feet
(6)
Minimum dwelling unit width: 20 feet, Maximum dwelling width for interior units: 24 feet, Maximum dwelling width for end units: 30 feet.
(7)
There shall be no more than five single-family dwelling units attached within a single building. There must be a minimum setback of 15 feet between each building side to side.
(8)
There shall be a minimum setback of 50 feet from the rear of any building to the side of any building.
(9)
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
(10)
Minimum required open space: 30% of the site area shall be dedicated to open space for passive or active recreation, or a combination of both, which may include conservation land, pedestrian trails, playgrounds, sports fields, or picnic areas, to be approved by Township Council during land development. No more than 50% of the required open space area shall be utilized for stormwater management infrastructure. Right-of-ways are not to be included as part of the minimum required open space. All open space and/or recreational facilities shall be owned, operated, and maintained by a homeowners association.
(11)
A minimum of 100 square feet of impervious coverage must be reserved for each unit to install a rear patio. Decks shall also be permitted, provided that no deck or patio projects shall extend further than 15 feet from the most rear point of the dwelling unit.
(12)
Any dwelling units proposed adjacent to any rights-of-way, as shown on the Horsham Township Official Map, must have the front of the building facing the right-of-way, however, vehicular access to the front of the dwelling unit is not permitted.
(13)
Each dwelling unit may be permitted a maximum of a one-car attached garage. The garage may only be included in the required parking calculations if the developer voluntarily deed restricts (to the satisfaction of the Township Solicitor) the garage from ever being finished or used for additional living space.
(14)
Detached accessory buildings are prohibited for individual dwelling units. However, community amenity buildings for recreational uses such as fitness centers, game rooms, lounges, clubhouses, etc., may be permitted when approved by Township Council during the land development process.
B.
The Base Revitalization Transitional Community use ("BRTC") shall comply with the regulations as set forth in § 230-64.2.
C.
All other permitted uses shall comply with the following dimensional requirements:
(1)
Minimum lot area: three acres.
(2)
Minimum lot width: A lot width of not less than 200 ft. shall be provided at the building line. The minimum lot width at the ultimate right-of-way shall be in accordance with the provisions relating to minimum lot frontage in Article IV.
(4)
Maximum building height: 35 feet.
(5)
Maximum lot coverage: 40%.
(6)
Building coverage: 35%.
(7)
Flag lots as defined by this chapter are prohibited for all uses in the R-8 district.