Lower Providence Township Montgomery County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
R-1 Residential District
§ 143-31 Declaration of legislative intent; applicability.
[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 556]
A.
Legislative intent:
(1)
To recognize and to preserve existing agricultural lands, prime agricultural soils, and existing open space.
(2)
To protect environmentally sensitive area such as steep slopes, floodplains, wetlands, streams and densely wooded areas.
(3)
To steer additional residential growth away from the R-1 District to areas closer to community facilities and services.
(4)
To recognize areas that would be difficult and expensive to extend sewer and water lines to because of pumping station costs and that limited water and sewer capacity is unlikely to be available in the foreseeable future.
(5)
To avoid nuisance complaints against farmers from new residents by not encouraging dense residential growth near active large farms or livestock operations.
(6)
To promote preserved farmland or open space within the Township.
B.
In an R-1 Residential District, the following regulations shall apply.
§ 143-32 Use regulations.
[Amended 6-20-2002 by Ord. No. 469; 9-19-2002 by Ord. No. 472; 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 556; 4-7-2011 by Ord. No. 600; 10-20-2011 by Ord. No. 602; 1-16-2020 by Ord. No. 662]
A building or group of buildings may be erected or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any one of the following uses and no other:
A.
Uses permitted by right:
(1)
Single-family detached dwelling.
(2)
Agriculture.
(3)
Telephone utility hub station.
(4)
Golf course and golf clubhouse, excluding a separate driving range and miniature golf course.
(5)
Municipal use, governmental offices, emergency services station, and community center for senior citizens.
(6)
Parkland.
(7)
Elementary schools subject to the following additional requirements:
(a)
The proposed use shall be served by public water and sewer facilities.
(b)
No outdoor play areas shall be located closer than 75 feet to any property or street line, and outdoor play areas shall be fenced and sufficiently screened to protect the neighborhood from excessive noise and other disturbances. Outdoor play areas include playgrounds and ball fields for group activity.
(8)
Residential accessory uses, buildings, and structures. The following residential accessory uses, buildings, and structures are allowed by right on a lot with a residential or agricultural principal use in accordance with the applicable requirements of this chapter:
(a)
Accessory buildings/structure, residential.
(b)
Backup generator.
(c)
Bus shelter.
(d)
Carport.
(e)
Garage, household. No more than one detached household garage is allowed upon a lot.
(f)
Garage/yard sales.
(g)
Home occupation.
(h)
In-law suite.
(i)
Keeping of pets.
(j)
Sale of agricultural products.
(k)
Shed, household storage. One household storage shed shall be permitted with a five-foot setback from the rear and/or side yard property lines, provided said shed or said structure shall not exceed 12 feet in height, as measured from the lowest point in the grade at the entrance to the structure to the highest peak of the roof ridge.
(l)
Short-term rental.
(m)
Solar system.
(n)
Swimming pool, household.
(o)
Temporary use or structure.
(9)
Nonresidential accessory uses, buildings, and structures. The following nonresidential accessory uses, buildings, and structures are allowed by right on a lot with a nonresidential principal use in accordance with the applicable requirements of this chapter:
B.
Uses permitted as a special exception when approved by the Zoning Hearing Board:
C.
Uses permitted as a conditional use when approved by the Board of Supervisors:
(2)
A single Phase 2 outdoor wood-fired boiler, provided the standards for conditional uses and Phase 2 outdoor wood-fired boilers set forth elsewhere in this chapter are met.
(3)
Concessions, subject to the following additional requirements:
(a)
Concessions shall be buffered from residential districts or uses and shall not use amplified sound.
(b)
Concessions shall be located at least 500 feet from any residential property line.
(c)
Concessions shall be located to prevent, or at a minimum, minimize, the vehicular traffic created by them from going through residential neighborhoods to reduce traffic hazards in these neighborhoods.
(4)
All educational institutions, other than elementary schools, along with dormitories, cafeterias, and other accessory uses customarily incidental to an educational institution; all subject to the following additional requirements:
(a)
The proposed use shall be served by public water and sewer facilities.
(b)
The proposed use shall have direct access to a feeder or higher classification street according to the adopted ultimate right-of-way map.
(c)
The proposed site shall not be subject to any hazard or nuisance such as toxic matter, flooding, excessive noise or odor, as determined by the Board of Supervisors.
(d)
The proposed site shall not require extensive cut or fill on the building site.
(e)
No outdoor play areas shall be located closer than 75 feet to any property or street line, and outdoor play areas shall be fenced and sufficiently screened to protect the neighborhood from excessive noise and other disturbances. Outdoor play areas include playgrounds and ball fields for group activity.
§ 143-33 Area, setback, bulk, and height requirements.
[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 556; 1-16-2020 by Ord. No. 662; 1-16-2020 by Ord. No. 662]
A.
Dimensional and area requirements for individual lots shall be as follows.
Agricultural Uses | Residential Uses* | Institutional, Recreational, Municipal, and Utility Uses | All Golf Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Minimum lot area | 5 acres | 65,000 square feet | 2 acres | 130 acres** |
Minimum lot width | 250 feet | 195 feet | 200 feet | 250 feet |
Minimum front yard | 75 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 100 feet |
Minimum side yard | 50 feet | 50 feet | 50 feet | 100 feet |
Minimum rear yard | 75 feet | 60 feet | 60 feet | 100 feet |
Maximum building coverage (percent of lot area) | 20% | 15% | 30% | 5% |
Maximum impervious surface coverage (percent of lot area) | 30% | 35% | 40% | 15% |
* | Does not apply to OSR developments. |
** | The minimum lot size for a nine-hole course or a chip and put course is 70 acres. |
B.
Building height. All buildings shall not exceed a maximum height of 35 feet, except as otherwise provided herein.
§ 143-34 Design and development standards and requirements.
Site development within an R-1 District shall be in conformance with an overall plan for locating buildings and structures, providing for safe and efficient circulation of vehicles and pedestrians, preservation and extension of the natural amenities of the site and providing for the continued maintenance of the land and improvements thereon. Design and the operation and maintenance of the site and improvements shall meet at least the minimum standards and requirements set of in § 143-28H and I of this chapter.