Lancaster Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Local Commercial District LC Regulations
§ 280-701 Intended purpose.
The intended purpose of this zoning district is to provide basic convenience, commercial goods and services to local residents. Uses have been limited to those that residents are likely to need on a daily or regular basis. Overall, retail size has been restricted to prevent the establishment of intensive commercial uses that exceed the local orientation of this zoning district. This zoning district has been sized to permit a grouping of several businesses; lot areas may vary depending upon the use of public utilities. This zoning district has been located amid the various residential concentrations to facilitate convenient access to these services without creating additional congestion to and from larger commercial centers. Strict design standards have been imposed to keep uses in this zoning district compatible with nearby homes and neighborhoods.
§ 280-702 Permitted uses.
B.
Bank and other financial institution.
F.
Dwelling unit when in combination with a commercial use in the principal building.
G.
Forestry.
H.
Funeral home.
I.
Medical office.
K.
Office.
L.
Place of assembly for worship/education, provided the gross floor area is less than or equal to 40,000 square feet.
N.
Radio/television broadcasting studio/station.
O.
Restaurant, excluding drive-through facility.
P.
Retail sales/service, provided the total net retail floor area is less than or equal to 20,000 square feet.
P1.
Short-term rental units single room rentals of existing bedrooms.
[Added 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02]
Q.
Veterinarian's office, provided no outdoor keeping of animals is permitted.
§ 280-703 Special exception uses.
C.
Communications tower for radio/television signal reception and transmission in conjunction with a broadcasting station or studio, subject to § 280-1604 of this chapter.
E.
Hospital, retirement home, nursing home, personal care home, or similar facility, subject to § 280-1515 of this chapter.
I.
Place of assembly for worship/education, provided the gross floor area is greater than 40,000 square feet, subject to § 280-1525 of this chapter.
J.
Retail sales/service, provided the total net retail floor area is greater than 20,000 square feet, subject to § 280-1531 of this chapter.
K1.
Short-term rentals of up to eight new or existing bedrooms.
[Added 11-14-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02]
M.
University, college, and other adult education institution, subject to § 280-1525 of this chapter.
N.
Warehousing, distribution, and wholesaling.
[Added 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-03]
§ 280-704 Lot, yard, and height regulations of principal uses/structures.
A.
Minimum requirements for all existing permitted residential uses shall comply with the Residential District R-2 requirements.
B.
Unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, the lot requirements in Table 7-1 shall apply:
Table 7-1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum Lot Width: | |||||
Local Commercial District (LC) | Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | At Street Right-of-Way Line (feet) | At Building Setback Line (feet) | Minimum Lot Depth (feet) | Maximum Lot Coverage (impervious surfaces) |
All uses (unless otherwise specified), no public water and no public sewer; or public water only | 43,560 | 65 | 100 | 150 | 35% |
All uses (unless otherwise specified), public sewer and no public water | 32,000 | 65 | 100 | 150 | 50% |
All uses (unless otherwise specified), public sewer and public water | 6,000 | 40 | 60 | 100 | 70% |
C.
Minimum yard requirements.
(1)
Unless specified elsewhere in this chapter, the yard requirements in Table 7-2 shall apply:
Table 7-2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum Front Yard | ||||||
Local Commercial District (LC) | Principal Arterial Road (feet) | Minor Arterial Road (feet) | Collector Road (feet) | Local Road (feet) | Minimum Side Yard (feet) | Minimum Rear Yard (feet) |
All uses (unless otherwise specified) | 50 | 40 | 30 | 25 | 6 feet (see exceptions in § 280-704C(3) of this chapter) | 30 |
(2)
A building may be permitted closer to the street than required above when there is an adjacent existing principal building on the same side of the street which is closer to the street than the minimum front yard requirement and is within 100 feet of the building to be erected. If the building to be erected is within 100 feet of only one such existing adjacent principal building, the minimum front yard shall not be less than the average of the setback of the existing principal building and the minimum front yard requirement; provided, however, that this formula shall not require the placing of a building more than 10 feet back from the front building line of the existing adjacent principal buildings. If the building to be erected is between two such existing principal buildings within 100 feet of the building to be erected, the minimum front yard shall not be less than the average setback of the two adjacent existing principal buildings.
(3)
The minimum side yard shall be six feet, except where adjoining a residential zoning district, in which case the side yard shall be as required for "all other (nonresidential) uses" as required in the adjoining residential zoning district.
D.
Maximum building height: 40 feet.
§ 280-705 Lot, yard and height regulations of accessory uses/structures.
A.
Minimum front yard. With the exception of patios and decks, accessory structures shall not be permitted in the front yard, except for double-frontage lots, where accessory structures shall comply with the front yard requirements for principal structures. Patios and decks shall not encroach on the minimum front yard specified by § 280-704 of this chapter.
B.
Minimum setback from front yard. Accessory structures shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from all front yards.
C.
Minimum side yard: six feet.
D.
Minimum rear yard: 10 feet.
E.
Maximum height: 25 feet.
F.
Parking and loading regulations. Parking and loading shall be provided as specified in Article XIII of this chapter relating to parking and loading regulations. In addition, no loading facility shall be permitted on any side of a building facing adjoining lands within a residential zoning district nor any side of a building facing an abutting street.
G.
Sign regulations. Signs shall be permitted as specified in Article XII of this chapter relating to sign regulations.
H.
Driveway and access drive regulations. All driveways and access drives shall be in accordance with § 280-1606 of this chapter.
I.
Landscaping and screening regulations. Landscaping and screening shall be provided as specified in Article XIV of this chapter relating to landscaping and screening regulations.
J.
Nonresidential operations regulations. All nonresidential operations shall be in compliance with any Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or federal government regulations, as required by the most-recent regulations made available from these governmental bodies.
K.
Outdoor storage regulations. Within this zoning district, no outdoor storage or display of merchandise is permitted.
L.
Waste product regulations. Dumpsters and waste receptacles may be permitted within the side or rear yard, in accordance with § 280-1403C of this chapter. All dumpsters shall be set back a minimum of 50 feet from any adjoining property in a residential zoning district.
M.
Lighting regulations. Lighting shall be shielded as to not impact adjoining properties. Light emanating from any source on the property shall not be greater than two footcandles measured at a height of three feet at the lot line.