Lower Gwynedd Township
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1291

MT Mass Transit Overlay District

§ 1291.01 Application of chapter.

In a MT Mass Transit District, the following regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply. No regulations set forth in this chapter shall, or shall be deemed to, supersede or otherwise impair the application of any federal or commonwealth statute, rule, regulation or other applicable law to which the operator of a mass transit system shall be subject nor shall they be applied retroactively to existing conditions as of the date of adoption of this chapter. The linear lands or continuous narrow strips of land on which the transporting occurs also referred to as the "railroad right-of-way" are exempt from these regulations.

§ 1291.02 Permitted uses.

In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District, a building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes:

Transporting multiple members of the general public over predetermined routes as part of the mass transportation activities of a public transportation authority.

Support services to the transportation function including parking lots, signs, platforms, storage, ticket offices or facilities, stations, traffic control devices and the like.

When authorized as a conditional use pursuant to Section 1298.07, existing mass transit facilities or buildings hereafter constructed within the MT Mass Transit Overlay District may be repurposed for uses not related to the mass transit operation, provided the proposed use is permitted in the underlying zoning district and parking facilities required pursuant to Chapter 1294 are provided.

General and professional offices.

Mixed use - residential and offices.

Restaurant or cafe, excluding drive through.

§ 1291.03 Lot area.

Minimum Lot Area. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District a lot area of not less than 15,000 square feet shall be provided.

§ 1291.04 Yards.

Buildings and structures shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of 30 feet, provided that for purposes of this section: i) all platforms at which passengers may assemble while waiting to embark upon a mass transit vehicle; and ii) all enclosures or equipment necessary for the operation of a mass transit system shall not be considered buildings or structures, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this chapter or this Zoning Ordinance.

Parking spaces shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of five feet.

All equipment enclosures shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of five feet.

§ 1291.05 Lot coverage.

Building Coverage. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District the total building coverage shall not exceed 30% based upon the area of the occupied parcel, exclusive of any linear lands (continuous narrow strips of land on which the transporting occurs).

Impervious Coverage. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District the total impervious coverage shall not exceed 85%, exclusive of any linear lands.

§ 1291.06 Building height.

The maximum height for any building erected or enlarged in the MT Mass Transit Overlay District shall not exceed 34 feet.

§ 1291.07 Special requirements.

Regulatory, information and identification signs related to the mass transit operation shall be permitted by right.

Landscaping. Landscape buffering shall be provided between parking lots at mass transit regional rail stations or other permitted overlay uses and immediately adjacent properties used for single-family residential purposes so as to provide a suitable and effective barrier to separate such parking lots from immediately adjacent properties used for single-family residential purposes. Fencing (other than chain-link fencing) may be used in conjunction with landscaping to provide such a barrier. Solid barrier fencing may be used in lieu of landscaping.

Utilities. All new structures erected after the enactment of this chapter in the MT Mass Transit Overlay District shall be served by public sewer and public water, if the applicable code or ordinance otherwise requires that such structures be served by public sewer and public water and all new utilities shall be underground; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require that any structures, wires, guy wires, cables, catenary poles, or similar equipment associated with transportation functions be located underground.

Site Lighting. Exterior lighting fixtures shall be placed not higher than 20 feet above grade. Unless otherwise permitted by the Board of Supervisors, lighting shall be controlled by automatic switching devices to allow for dimming not earlier than one hour following departure of the last mass transit vehicle on a given day, and not later than one hour before the scheduled arrival of the first mass transit vehicle on a given day. Occupancy sensors to control lighting levels are permitted and allowed without the above-stated restriction on hours. Lighting shall be appropriately shielded and shall not create a nuisance or intrusion to the privacy of adjacent property owners or the public. Illumination shall be shielded so that the source of light shall not be visible from any point off the premises on which the sign, building or structure is located.

Lower Gwynedd Township
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1291

MT Mass Transit Overlay District

§ 1291.01 Application of chapter.

In a MT Mass Transit District, the following regulations set forth in this chapter shall apply. No regulations set forth in this chapter shall, or shall be deemed to, supersede or otherwise impair the application of any federal or commonwealth statute, rule, regulation or other applicable law to which the operator of a mass transit system shall be subject nor shall they be applied retroactively to existing conditions as of the date of adoption of this chapter. The linear lands or continuous narrow strips of land on which the transporting occurs also referred to as the "railroad right-of-way" are exempt from these regulations.

§ 1291.02 Permitted uses.

In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District, a building may be erected or used, and a lot may be used or occupied, for any of the following purposes:

Transporting multiple members of the general public over predetermined routes as part of the mass transportation activities of a public transportation authority.

Support services to the transportation function including parking lots, signs, platforms, storage, ticket offices or facilities, stations, traffic control devices and the like.

When authorized as a conditional use pursuant to Section 1298.07, existing mass transit facilities or buildings hereafter constructed within the MT Mass Transit Overlay District may be repurposed for uses not related to the mass transit operation, provided the proposed use is permitted in the underlying zoning district and parking facilities required pursuant to Chapter 1294 are provided.

General and professional offices.

Mixed use - residential and offices.

Restaurant or cafe, excluding drive through.

§ 1291.03 Lot area.

Minimum Lot Area. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District a lot area of not less than 15,000 square feet shall be provided.

§ 1291.04 Yards.

Buildings and structures shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of 30 feet, provided that for purposes of this section: i) all platforms at which passengers may assemble while waiting to embark upon a mass transit vehicle; and ii) all enclosures or equipment necessary for the operation of a mass transit system shall not be considered buildings or structures, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this chapter or this Zoning Ordinance.

Parking spaces shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of five feet.

All equipment enclosures shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of five feet.

§ 1291.05 Lot coverage.

Building Coverage. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District the total building coverage shall not exceed 30% based upon the area of the occupied parcel, exclusive of any linear lands (continuous narrow strips of land on which the transporting occurs).

Impervious Coverage. In a MT Mass Transit Overlay District the total impervious coverage shall not exceed 85%, exclusive of any linear lands.

§ 1291.06 Building height.

The maximum height for any building erected or enlarged in the MT Mass Transit Overlay District shall not exceed 34 feet.

§ 1291.07 Special requirements.

Regulatory, information and identification signs related to the mass transit operation shall be permitted by right.

Landscaping. Landscape buffering shall be provided between parking lots at mass transit regional rail stations or other permitted overlay uses and immediately adjacent properties used for single-family residential purposes so as to provide a suitable and effective barrier to separate such parking lots from immediately adjacent properties used for single-family residential purposes. Fencing (other than chain-link fencing) may be used in conjunction with landscaping to provide such a barrier. Solid barrier fencing may be used in lieu of landscaping.

Utilities. All new structures erected after the enactment of this chapter in the MT Mass Transit Overlay District shall be served by public sewer and public water, if the applicable code or ordinance otherwise requires that such structures be served by public sewer and public water and all new utilities shall be underground; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not require that any structures, wires, guy wires, cables, catenary poles, or similar equipment associated with transportation functions be located underground.

Site Lighting. Exterior lighting fixtures shall be placed not higher than 20 feet above grade. Unless otherwise permitted by the Board of Supervisors, lighting shall be controlled by automatic switching devices to allow for dimming not earlier than one hour following departure of the last mass transit vehicle on a given day, and not later than one hour before the scheduled arrival of the first mass transit vehicle on a given day. Occupancy sensors to control lighting levels are permitted and allowed without the above-stated restriction on hours. Lighting shall be appropriately shielded and shall not create a nuisance or intrusion to the privacy of adjacent property owners or the public. Illumination shall be shielded so that the source of light shall not be visible from any point off the premises on which the sign, building or structure is located.