Lower Macungie Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 10A
C - COMMERCIAL DISTRICT
§ 27-10A01 Purpose.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025][1]]
The purpose of the Commercial District is to provide a place where Township residents and others can purchase goods and services. Development standards will be applied to ensure compatibility with the adopted Southwest Lehigh Comprehensive Plan and the Hamilton Boulevard Corridor Plan while preventing traffic congestion on major roads. These standards shall be employed to encourage new smart growth development in retail corridors with preference of redevelopment at existing sites.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Part 10, C - Commericial District, adopted 8-1-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-10.
§ 27-10A02 Uses Permitted by Right.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
Uses permitted by right in this zoning district are available in Exhibit 1, Zoning Use Matrix,[1] and conditioned on meeting the requirements of Part 24 and other applicable provisions of this chapter, provided the use type, dimensional, and all other requirements of this chapter are met.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said exhibit is included as an attachment to this chapter.
§ 27-10A03 Uses Permitted by Condition.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
The following conditional uses available in Exhibit 1, Zoning Use Matrix, may be permitted following review and recommendation by the Planning Commission and a hearing and approval by the Board of Commissioners in accordance with the procedures and criteria in Part 24, provided all provisions of this chapter are met.
§ 27-10A04 Uses Permitted by Special Exception.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
1.
The following uses may be permitted when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the provisions of Part 24, provided all provisions of this chapter are met:
A.
Any use of the same general character as those uses permitted by right or condition in this district. Evidence shall be submitted documenting the degree to which the proposed use will emit smoke, dust odor or other air pollutants, noise, vibration, light, electrical disturbances, water pollutant, chemical pollutants, increased storm runoff, and the additional traffic generated by the proposed facility. Such evidence may include the proposed use of proven special structural or technological innovations.
§ 27-10A05 Uses Specifically Excluded in Commercial Zone.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
1.
Tent sales.
2.
Carnivals.
3.
Outside of the building storage, except as provided below in § 27-10A06.1C.
4.
Trailer storage.
5.
Campground parking.
6.
Adult book store, adult movie/picture theater, or cabaret.
7.
Store or other retail establishment at which modeling of exotic or adult/intimate-oriented clothing is exhibited by live male or female models.
§ 27-10A06 Accessory Uses.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
1.
Accessory uses on the same lot and customarily incidental to the permitted uses are permitted by right. The term "accessory use" may include the following uses which shall comply with all applicable provisions stated for them:
A.
Accessory buildings such as garages and ancillary buildings related to the proposed use and meeting the same yard requirements as the principal buildings.
B.
Temporary structures or uses, per this chapter.
C.
Outdoor storage use areas for equipment, supplies and materials provided that they are screened from view of adjacent properties and streets.
D.
Amateur radio antennas.
E.
Home occupations.
F.
Residential apartments above first floor commercial uses.
G.
Solar panels per § 27-1709.1M.
H.
Outdoor dining for any restaurant or dining/food establishment.
§ 27-10A07 Lot Area, Width, Building Coverage, Height Regulations.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
The following dimensional requirements (minimums or maximums) shall apply to the uses in the C Commercial Zoning District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter. The most restrictive dimensional requirements for each use shall apply.
Principal Use | Minimum Lot Area (acres) | Minimum Lot Width (feet) | Maximum Lot Coverage | Maximum Building Coverage | Maximum Building and Structure Height Unless Otherwise Specified** (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hotel | 2 | 250 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Places of worship | 2 | 250 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Private commercial recreation such as driving range, pitch-and-putt course, miniature golf courses, and the like | 2 | 200 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Office or clinic | 1 | 250 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Retail store | 1 | 250 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Shopping center | 5 | 400 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Theater/Cinema | 4 | 400 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
Mixed use development | 2 | 400 | 75% | 50% | 50 |
All other uses | 1 | 100 | 70% | 35% | 50 |
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
** | Excluding architectural features such as parapets, pitched roofs, clock towers or steeples and utility features such as elevator shafts and HVAC units not to exceed an additional 10 feet in height. Rooftop utility features shall be completely shielded and screened from street level view using architectural grade features. |
§ 27-10A08 Minimum Yard Requirements.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
The following minimum dimensional requirements shall apply to all uses in the C-Commercial Zoning District, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter. The most restrictive dimensional requirements for each use shall apply unless otherwise noted. All required minimum front, side, and rear yards are in addition to buffer screens, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in § 27-1803. Required buffer screens shall be maintained along all front, side, and rear yards, if required. All buffers shall be installed and maintained as set forth in § 27-1803 and in this section. For all residential dwellings and residential uses other than apartment dwellings, the S-Suburban dimensional requirements shall apply.
Principal Use | Minimum Buffer** (feet) | Minimum Front Yard* (feet) | Minimum Side Yard (feet) | Minimum Rear Yard (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hotel | 15 | 25 | 20 | 50 |
Places of worship | 15 | 25 | 20 | 50 |
Nursing home/life care center | 25 | 25 | 20 | 50 |
Restaurant | 15 | 20 | 20 | 50 |
Private commercial recreation, driving range, pitch-and-putt course, miniature golf courses, and the like | 15 | 25 | 20 | 30 |
Office or clinic | 15 | 20 | 20 | 50 |
Retail store | 15 | 20 | 30 | 50 |
Shopping center | 25 | 25 | 40 | 50 |
Theater/cinema | 25 | 25 | 40 | 50 |
Mixed use development1 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
All other uses | 15 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
(applicable to all, except as otherwise required by § 27-1803) | ||||
NOTES: | |
|---|---|
1 | Buffers are not required between multi-family apartment dwellings within a mixed-use development and nonresidential uses within a mixed-use development where reciprocal cross easements have been established which allow for common parking and internal vehicular and pedestrian interconnections. |
* | All buildings shall employ the use of a functional main entrance with traditional storefront facing the public road. No mechanical equipment, storage, trash, loading docks, garage bay doors, or drive-through windows may be located within the front yard. All building designs shall be complaint with the Lower Macungie Township Design Guidelines such as the example below. |
Example:  | |
** | Buffers are not required between abutting commercial or nonresidential uses. Buffers shall be required anytime a commercial use abuts any residential use, a school, a daycare center, a place of worship or nursing home/life care center. |
§ 27-10A09 Special Regulations for All Uses in General Commercial District.
[Ord. No. 2025-04, 11/20/2025]
1.
In addition to this section, all required buffer screens as set forth in § 27-1803 and the Lower Macungie Township Design Guidelines shall be included, as applicable, and be maintained along all side and rear yards unless specified differently in this section.
2.
A Project Design Companion, including a coordinated set of drawings, reference photographs and notes, shall be prepared for buildings, landscaping, pedestrian circulation and public spaces within any proposal. The Project Design Companion shall be submitted with land development plans, during the conditional use or preliminary plan process, whichever comes first. In the case where no procedures listed above occur, the Project Design Companion shall be submitted with any zoning permits for review and approval. The document shall be reviewed, approved and binding to all Township related permitting activity. The Project Design Companion shall include, but not be limited to:
A.
Architectural treatment including design, building materials and facades.
B.
Signage.
C.
Landscaping standards for all plantings and parking area designs and fences or walls.
D.
Streetscape enhancements including sidewalks, crosswalks, street trees, buffer fencing and street walls per the Hamilton Boulevard Corridor Study and Plan.
E.
All site lighting and fixtures.
F.
Public spaces including pedestrian amenities, pavilions, plazas and gazebos, street and plaza furniture, water features, rain water harvesting and other amenities.
3.
The following additional development criteria shall also apply to mixed use developments:
A.
Master Plan. A color coded Master Plan for the development shall be submitted with land development plans that shows building massing, identification of public spaces, street hierarchy and reserved or constructed natural areas.
B.
The areas intended for residential and nonresidential/mixed use development areas shall be delineated on the Master Plan.
C.
The Master Plan shall show that a minimum of 30% of all site area is commercial/non-residential in nature and comply with all other provisions of § 27-2412 of this chapter.
4.
Any new land development or subdivisions shall utilize architectural grade cladding and enhanced architectural features on all newly constructed or renovated buildings.
5.
All roof-mounted or non-residential HVAC systems or building machinery shall be shielded from view utilizing appropriate screening as displayed in the Lower Macungic Township Design Guidelines.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Said Design Guidelines are included as an attachment to this chapter.
6.
All new land development or subdivisions shall include illuminated monument entrance signs per this chapter and the Lower Macungie Township Design Guidelines with associated seasonal landscaping beds and plantings.
7.
All new land development or subdivisions shall naturalize all stormwater management features per this chapter and to the satisfaction of the Township.
