Lower Saucon Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIVA
Light Manufacturing District LM
[Amended 3-22-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-01]
§ 180-83.1 Purpose.
The Light Manufacturing Districts are located 1) along Applebutter Road and abutting an industrial zoning district in the City of Bethlehem and a Light Industrial Zoning District in the Township and 2) along Easton Road and abutting an industrial zoning district in the City of Bethlehem. Rural residential and agricultural uses were established in this area early in the Township's history. Public water and public sewer are or may be available. State road access is available to these areas. Proximity to 1) an existing solid waste landfill to the east and industrial development south of Applebutter Road and 2) industrial development north of Easton Road has put pressure on these areas to become nonresidential in character.
§ 180-83.2 Permitted uses.
A.
All of the following uses require site plan approval in accordance with § 180-102:
(1)
Commercial uses:
(a)
Car wash; public water and sewer required (see § 180-126).
(b)
Repair shop, motor vehicle (see § 180-104).
(c)
Outdoor advertising signs (see Article XVIA).
(d)
Nursery or commercial greenhouse (see § 180-103.2).
(e)
Gas station (see § 180-104).
(f)
Bank or financial office with or without drive-in (see § 180-126).
(g)
Gas station/grocery (see § 180-104).
(h)
Wholesale, warehousing or mini storage facilities (see § 180-109).
(i)
Recreational vehicle and travel trailer storage (see § 180-133).
(j)
Offices, business or research:
[1]
Business office.
[2]
Research office.
[3]
Planned office and laboratory park (see § 180-106).
(k)
Laundromat; public water and sewer required.
(l)
Craft shop or similar uses by artisans, provided noise levels do not exceed ordinance limits.
(m)
Beverage distributor.
(n)
Studio for art, dance, music or photography, provided noise levels do not exceed ordinance limits.
(o)
Restaurant uses:
[1]
Tavern; public water and sewer required.
[2]
Sit-down; public water and sewer required.
[3]
Fast-food with or without drive-in facilities; public water and sewer required (see § 180-126).
(p)
Retail uses:
[1]
Store; convenience shopping center (see § 180-120).
[2]
Vehicle and boat sales.
[3]
Truck and equipment sales.
[4]
Lawn, gardening and farm equipment supplies sales.
[5]
Building supply sales, hardware.
(2)
Industrial uses:
(a)
Research/laboratory (see § 180-109).
(b)
Storage yards and buildings (see § 180-109).
(c)
Public service.
(d)
Government facility, other.
(e)
Fire and emergency station.
(f)
Light manufacturing (with no outside storage or outside production) of finished or semifinished products from processed materials, such as apparel, furniture, paper products, shoes, metal fabrication, electric appliances and electrical and/or electronic equipment (see § 180-109). Light manufacturing (with no outside storage or outside production) involving processing, cleaning, assembling, packaging, conversion, production, repair, manufacturing, distribution or testing of materials, goods and/or products (see § 180-109). These uses shall include, but shall not be limited to the following:
[1]
Finished or semifinished products from processed materials such as metal fabrication, electrical appliances, electrical and/or electronic equipment, computers, products which incorporate computers, chips and similar items, durable medical equipment, medical devices, and other medical related products.
[2]
Testing and repair of manufactured products.
[3]
Manufacturing of products requiring light metal processing, including finishing, grinding, polishing, heat treating and stamping.
[4]
Packaging and bottling operations with no retail activity on the lot.
[5]
Manufacturing and assembly of products from previously prepared materials, such as plastic, leather, glass or textiles.
[6]
Manufacturing of jewelry, precision instruments, optical goods and similar products.
[7]
Manufacturing and assembly of small electrical and electronic appliances supplies and equipment.
(g)
Printing; publishing (see § 180-109).
(h)
Communication/media production (see § 180-109).
(i)
Vertical/indoor farming (see § 180-109).
(3)
Recreational uses:
(a)
Commercial (outdoor) (see § 180-112).
(b)
Commercial (indoor); public water and sewer required (see § 180-112).
(c)
Theater (indoor) (see § 180-112).
(d)
Club, lodge or social building, private (see § 180-111).
(e)
Community recreational facilities (see § 180-125).
(4)
Service uses:
(a)
Public utility facility (see § 180-123).
(b)
Bus or taxi terminal.
(c)
Parking facility (see § 180-98).
(d)
Funeral home.
(e)
Office, medical and professional.
(f)
Barber, beauty shop and other similar personal services; public water and sewer required.
(g)
Nursery school or day care (see § 180-127).
(h)
Martial arts school.
(i)
Nursing home or extended-care facility.
(5)
Lodging:
(a)
Hotel and motel; public water and sewer required (see § 180-110).
(b)
Bed-and-breakfast home (see § 180-110).
(6)
Cultural uses:
(a)
Library (see § 180-125).
(b)
Community center (see § 180-125).
(c)
Cultural facility (see § 180-125).
(7)
Public service uses:
(a)
Fire and emergency station (see § 180-125).
(b)
Government facility, Township (see § 180-125).
(c)
Government facility, other (see § 180-125).
(d)
Hospital and extended-care facility; public water and sewer required (see § 180-121).
(8)
Residential uses:
(a)
Rooming house (see § 180-117).
(b)
Conversion (see § 180-115).
B.
The following uses do not require site plan approval unless required by an overlay zone.
(1)
Service uses:
(a)
Non-tower commercial communication facilities (see § 180-127.1).
(2)
Forestry (see § 180-127.2).
(3)
General agriculture, except animal husbandry and greenhouses.
§ 180-83.2.1 Conditional uses.
[Amended 5-20-2026 by Ord. No. 2026-02]
The following uses and their accessory uses may be permitted when authorized as a conditional use by the Township Council, subject to the provisions of this chapter:
A.
Tower-based commercial communication facilities (see § 180-127.1).
B.
Motor vehicle repair shop; site plan required (see § 180-104).
C.
Outdoor advertising signs (see Article XVIA).
D.
Data centers and data center accessory uses (see § 180-127.4).
§ 180-83.3 Special exception uses.
The following uses and their accessory uses may be permitted when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the provisions of this chapter. All the following uses require site plan approval in accordance with § 180-102:
A.
Commercial uses:
(1)
Salvage yard (see § 180-105).
(2)
Railroad and motor freight transportation and warehousing (see § 180-109).
B.
Industrial uses:
(1)
Mineral extraction (see § 180-109).
C.
Retail uses:
(1)
Adult-oriented establishment (see § 180-124).
D.
Agricultural uses:
(1)
Intensive agricultural uses (see § 180-103.2).
§ 180-83.4 Accessory uses.
A.
Accessory uses are permitted by right and/or by special exception for those uses that are accessory to a special exception use. The following accessory uses are permitted in this district, subject to all yard regulations and the applicable provisions of other zoning regulations:
(1)
Satellite dishes (see § 180-129).
(2)
Fences and walls (see § 180-97).
(3)
Parking spaces (see § 180-98).
(4)
Signs (see Article XVIA).
(5)
Solar energy collection equipment (see § 180-129).
(6)
Temporary stands or offices (see § 180-132).
(7)
Windmills and other power-generating equipment (see § 180-129).
(8)
Noncommercial pools and tennis courts (see §§ 180-130 and 180-135).
(9)
Residential accessory buildings (see § 180-131).
B.
Special exception accessory uses. These uses are special exception uses even if accessory to a permitted use. The following special exception accessory uses may be permitted in this district, subject to all applicable provisions of this chapter and other zoning regulations:
(1)
Underground storage tanks (see § 180-96).
§ 180-83.5 Lot requirements.
The following dimensional requirements apply to each lot in the LM District by right and by special exception, subject to applicable provisions of this chapter. More than one principal use is permitted on a lot in this district.
A.
Area: minimum 40,000 square feet.
B.
Width: minimum 100 feet.
C.
Impervious surface coverage: maximum 75%.
D.
Building coverage: maximum 60%.
E.
Height: maximum 50 feet (maximum of three floors).
§ 180-83.6 Yard requirements.
A.
The following yard requirements apply to each principal use permitted in this district by right and by special exception, subject to further applicable provisions of this chapter:
(1)
Front yard: minimum 25 feet.
(2)
Side yard: minimum 15 feet.
(3)
Rear yard: minimum 25 feet.
B.
Exception. Special side or rear yards shall be required abutting any residentially zoned land. These yards shall be a minimum of 75 feet. This yard shall contain a planting screen, as specified in § 180-97A and B.
