The following procedure shall be utilized to determine areas eligible to qualify under this chapter.

   (a)   Areas subject to these restrictions are indicated in the chapter for the applicable zoning district. Those areas which have been approved according to the procedures in this chapter shall be mapped on a base map maintained by the Planning Commission and available to the Building Inspector. A legal description of the property shall be maintained in the records of the Planning Commission.

   (b)   Any single owner of twenty-five acres or more of land may submit an application to the Township Planning Commission to develop a Planned Development District. A filing fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) shall accompany the application. The application shall include:

      A legal description of the property to be included;

      A scaled map showing an overall development of the plan;

      A description of the means by which the open space restrictions may be applied;

      A statement describing the proposed development and stating the reasons for the approval of the application;

      A statement signed by the applicant stating that the applicant agrees to be bound by the actions of the Board of Commissioners of Lower Chichester Township.

   (c)   No procedure under this section shall affect the right of the owner of the land to develop such land under the regulations of the existing zoning district at any time.

   (d)   The Planning Commission shall have a period of thirty days to make written recommendations to the Commissioners of Lower Chichester Township. Recommendations on all applications shall be based on the conformance of the plan to the stated objectives and requirements of this chapter. Copies of such recommendations shall be mailed to all adjacent property owners, giving the date and time of the scheduled hearing by the Commissioners.

   (e)   The Commissioners of Lower Chichester Township shall, at a public hearing, consider the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve or reject the application. Notice of this action shall be provided to the applicant and any interested parties requesting such information within thirty days of a public hearing.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   The following restrictions shall apply to any area designated as a Planned Development District under the regulations of this chapter.

   (a)   It shall be the specific intent of this chapter, in addition to the general goals of this Zoning Code, to provide an alternative method of residential development suitable for a suburban community which will provide certain necessary community facilities. A variety of housing types are permitted. Land to be used for general community purposes according to an approved plan is required.

   (b)   A building may be erected, altered or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes and for no other:

      (1)   Dwellings of any type.

      (2)   Community facilities, including recreation facilities, churches, clubs and lodges.

      (3)   Accessory buildings and garages.

      (4)   Signs, when erected to conform to, and when maintained in accordance with,  Section 1286.02.

      (5)   Retail stores, offices, studio, personal service shops, bank and public parking lots, provided that no use occupies more than 10,000 square feet in building area.

   (c)   No use shall be constructed which is not shown on the plan approved by the Township Commissioners.

   (d)   The following minimum standards shall apply to every lot:

      (1)   No single-family dwelling shall be constructed on less than a 7,000 square foot lot.

      (2)   No semi-detached dwelling shall be constructed on a lot less than 9,000 square feet.

      (3)   No side yard shall be less than ten feet.

      (4)   No building setback shall be less than twenty-five feet.

      (5)   No lot coverage shall exceed fifty percent.

      (6)   No building height shall exceed thirty feet.

      (7)   No rear yard shall be less than twenty-five feet.

      (8)   No building lot shall have less than twenty-five percent open area.

   (e)   The prevailing density for the entire development shall be not less than 6,000 square feet per dwelling unit.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   Two off-street parking spaces shall be provided for each dwelling unit. All parking surfaces shall be paved with an all-weather surface. The minimum dimensions of an individual space shall be ten feet by twenty feet.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   Sufficient public open space shall be provided at a ratio of 150 square feet for each dwelling unit.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   When commercial uses are adjacent to residential uses, a landscape screen shall be provided between the two buildings. All areas which are indicated as active recreational uses shall be improved by a developer prior to the acceptance of the adjacent road by Lower Chichester Township. Street signs, lighting and other instruments shall be located along the street and shall be improved according to Township standards. The overall design of streets serving the development shall be designed in such a way as to avoid through traffic and to avoid a repetitious alignment of blocks. All open areas designated by the plan shall be suitably landscaped according to an overall plan.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   Any proposed open area shall be owned in one of the following ways, which shall be approved by the Township Board of Commissioners. The applicant shall submit a statement providing sufficient detail concerning the method of ownership, maintenance procedures and cost. No application shall be approved unless one of the following techniques is utilized:

   (a)   Ownership of the property would be given to the Township of Lower Chichester under a deed restricting the disposition of such property for any other purpose. The applicant shall furnish proof of the acceptance of any such offer, stating the date in terms of acceptance.

   (b)   Ownership of the property may be given to an incorporated non-profit corporation. At least one of the officers of the corporation shall be a resident of the development itself. The articles of incorporation shall provide for the collection of revenues from dues, usage, donations and/or membership charges. Deed restriction shall be recorded stating that the officers of the corporation and/or surrounding property owners shall be responsible for special assessments sufficient to maintain the facilities. The applicants shall furnish proof of the details required by this section, including the articles of incorporation of the non-profit corporation.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   When improvements to the site are required, the applicants shall provide an escrow account or bond in the amount of ten percent of the estimated cost of improvements or some other means determined by the Township Commissioners as suitable. The method of the escrow account or bond shall be subject to approval of the Commissioners and the Solicitor of Lower Chichester Township. No property interest shall be sold, leased or otherwise transferred until these requirements are met.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)

   The following standards shall be applied to any designated open space area:

   (a)   The area to be used for active recreation must be suitably drained with a slope of less than ten percent.

   (b)   Any woodland or natural site shall be not less than three acres in size if it is to remain unimproved.

   (c)   Any recreational facility shall be designed at the generally accepted size for such facility.

   (d)   No proposed use shall be located or conducted in a way which shall prove detrimental to the surrounding properties.

   (e)   Any use proposed shall have at least one principal entrance to a street.

(Ord. 404.  Passed 3-25-68.)