Kittanning City Zoning Code
ARTICLE IV
Supplementary Lot, Height and Yard Regulations
§ 550-25 Zone lot regulations.
A.
Existing zone lots of record.
(1)
Any lot, the existence and ownership of which can be established as of the effective date of this chapter, shall be termed an "existing zone lot of record."
(2)
In any R District, a dwelling may be erected on a nonconforming zone lot of record at the effective date of this chapter, irrespective of its area or width, the owner of which does not own any adjoining property which would create a conforming lot if all or part of said property were combined with subject zone lot; provided, however, that no lot or lots in single ownership shall hereafter be reduced so as to create one or more nonconforming lots, and, provided further, that on any nonconforming lot no side yard shall be less than four feet nor shall any side yard adjoining a side street be less than 10 feet; provided further that the rear yard of any such lot shall in no case be less than 10 feet, and the front yard shall be as required in § 550-27B and C hereof.
B.
Lot frontage. The minimum lot frontage of any lot shall be measured along the minimum building setback line as required for the district where located. No lot in any district, except the P-1, B-1, B-2, B-3, and M-1 Districts, shall be less than 30% of the depth of said lot at the front lot line; provided, however, that no lot need exceed 100 feet nor shall any lot be less than 30 feet along the front lot line.
C.
Corner lots. At all street intersections, no obstructions to vision (other than an existing building, post, column or tree) exceeding 30 inches in height above the established grade of the street at the property line shall be erected or maintained on any lot within the triangle formed by the street lot lines of such lot and a line drawn between points along such street lot lines 30 feet distant from their points of intersection.
D.
Through lots. Where a single lot under individual ownership extends from a street to an alley, the widest right-of-way shall be deemed the street upon which the property fronts, and no principal structures and no dwelling shall be erected on the rear of such a lot.
E.
Required area or space cannot be reduced. The area or dimension of any zone lot, yard, parking area or other space shall not be reduced to less than the minimum required by this chapter; and, if already less than the minimum required by this chapter, said area or dimension may be continued and shall not be further reduced.
§ 550-26 Height regulations.
A.
General application. No building or structure shall have a greater number of stories than are permitted in Article III hereof, provided further that the aggregate height of such buildings or structures shall not exceed the number of feet permitted in Article III, except as provided in § 550-26B, below.
B.
Permitted exceptions. Height limitations stipulated elsewhere in this chapter shall not apply to open amusement areas, church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes, monuments, water towers, chimneys, smokestacks, flagpoles, radio and television towers, masts and aerials; or to parapet walls extending not more than four feet above the limiting height of the building.
§ 550-27 Yard regulations.
A.
Side yards.
(1)
Side yard width may be varied. Where the side wall of a building is not parallel with the side lot line or is broken or irregular, the side yard may be varied. In such cases, the average width of the side yard shall not be less than the otherwise-required minimum width; provided, however, that such side yard shall not be narrower at any point than 1/2 the otherwise-required minimum width.
(2)
Side yard of corner lot. The side street setback line of any corner lot as it existed at the time of adoption of this chapter or any corner lot shown on any subdivision plat which received final approval prior to the adoption of this chapter shall not be less than 1/2 of the depth of the minimum front yard required on any adjoining lot fronting on a side street. Any corner lot delineated by subdivision after the adoption of this chapter shall provide a side street setback line which shall not be less than the minimum front yard required on any adjoining lot fronting on a side street.
B.
Front yard exception. When, except in District B-2 and B-3, an unimproved lot is situated between two improved lots, each having a principal building within 25 feet of any side lot line of such unimproved lot, the front yard may be reduced to the greatest depth of the front yard of the two adjoining improved lots, but shall not be less than 15 feet; provided, however, that where any lot shall front on a right-of-way which is proposed, on the Official Map of the Borough, to be widened, the front yard of such lot shall be as required by Article III hereof, and shall be measured from such proposed future right-of-way.
C.
Front yard of corner lot. The front yard of any corner lot shall be established on the wider of the two streets abutting said lot, except, where the building line for front yards has been established by existing structures, then the front yard shall be observed on that street.
D.
Projections into required yards. Certain architectural features may project into required yards as follows:
(1)
Cornices, canopies, eaves or other architectural features may project into side yards a distance not exceeding two inches per one foot of side yard width but may not exceed a total of three feet.
(2)
Fire escapes may project into side yards and rear yards a distance not exceeding four feet six inches.
(3)
Bay windows, balconies, fireplaces, uncovered stairways and necessary landings, and chimneys may project a distance not exceeding four feet, provided that such features do not occupy, in the aggregate, more than 1/3 of the length of the building wall on which they are located.
(4)
Patios and open porches may be located in side and rear yards, provided that they are not closer than three feet to any adjacent property line. If located closer than eight feet, they shall be screened in accordance with the provisions of § 550-31B hereof. In case of a corner lot, no patios or porches shall extend into the side yard adjoining such side street.
E.
Additional yards required where B and M uses abut R Districts. All uses first permitted in B-1 or less restrictive districts, which abut at the lot line or on the same street an R District, shall provide yards, where they abut, in accordance with the yard requirements for such R Districts which they abut or the yard requirements of their zone district, whichever is greater.
§ 550-28 Maximum coverage.
Land coverage by principal and accessory buildings or structures on each zone lot shall not be greater than is permitted in Article III hereof.
§ 550-29 Number of buildings restricted.
There shall be not more than one principal dwelling structure nor more than two accessory structures, including a private garage, on each residential zone lot.
§ 550-30 Accessory structures.
A.
Maximum permitted height: 1 1/2 stories or 15 feet.
B.
Minimum yard regulations.
(1)
Unattached accessory structures in R Districts. Accessory structures, which are not attached to a principal structure, may be erected within one of the side yards or within the rear yard in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)
Front yard: 50 feet.
(b)
Side yard (interior lot): three feet.
(c)
Side yard (corner lot): same as for principal structure.
(d)
Rear yard: three feet; if fronting on an alley: 10 feet.
(e)
Not closer to a principal structure than 10 feet.
(2)
Attached accessory structures in R Districts. When an accessory structure is attached to the principal building, it shall comply in all respects with the requirements of this chapter applicable to the principal building.
(3)
Nondwelling accessory structures in other districts. Nondwelling accessory structures shall comply with front and side yard requirements for the principal structure to which they are accessory and shall be not closer to any rear property line than 10 feet.
§ 550-31 General landscaping regulations.
A.
Enclosed uses. Any enclosed use as may be required by this chapter to be landscaped in accordance with this subsection shall provide a solid fence, six feet high, or a visual screen consisting of evergreen, or evergreen-type hedges or shrubs spaced at intervals of not more than six feet, located and maintained in good condition within 15 feet of the property line adjoining or abutting an R District.
B.
Unenclosed uses. Any use which is not conducted within a completely enclosed building, except for nurseries, and the display for sale purposes of new or used cars, trucks, or trailers, in operative condition, shall be entirely enclosed by a fence maintained in good condition or evergreen-type hedges or shrubs spaced at intervals of not more than six feet.
§ 550-32 Miscellaneous building regulations.
A.
Unenclosed M-1 uses. All M-1 uses which are not conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building shall be not less than 100 feet from any R District.
B.
Uses to be enclosed. All B and M uses shall be conducted wholly within a completely enclosed building except for off-street parking and loading facilities, new and used car lots, service stations, terminals, storage yards, nurseries, and similar uses.