Montgomery City Zoning Code
§ 16-5.18
Appearance of Buildings.
[Ord. #88-584, S IV X; Ord. #97-903, S 7]
a.
Within any residential district throughout Montgomery Township, no building shall be constructed or altered in any manner which is inharmonious with the prevailing residential character of the zoning district and any adjacent and nearby residential development.
b.
Regarding residential subdivisions of single-family detached dwelling units, the Township Committee finds that substantial similarity in the exterior design and appearance of dwelling units erected in the same residential neighborhood is undesirable and tends to impair the value of both improved and unimproved real property in such residential neighborhoods, thereby depriving the Township of tax revenues by destroying a proper balance between the taxable value of the real property and the cost of providing municipal services to the properties. Therefore, in order to promote the general welfare of Montgomery Township and its individual residential neighborhoods, the following standards for the appearance of single-family detached dwelling units shall apply to any residential subdivision consisting of two or more residential lots:
1.
No construction permit shall be issued for a dwelling unit if it is substantially similar in exterior design and appearance with another dwelling unit situated on a lot on the same or opposite sides of the street, unless the two lots are separated by the following distances, as applicable:
2.
Houses within the applicable specified distance from each other shall be considered substantially similar in exterior design and appearance if they have any one of the following architectural characteristics:
(a)
The same basic dimensions and floor plans are used without substantial differentiation to the exterior elevations;
(b)
The height and design of the roofs are without substantial change in elevation and appearance; and
(c)
The size and type of windows and doors in the front elevation are without substantial differentiation.
3.
Utilizing the above architectural characteristics, there shall be not less than two separate basic home designs in every housing development consisting of eight or less houses; not less than three basic designs in every housing development consisting of from nine to 15 houses; not less than five basic house designs in every housing development consisting of from 16 to 50 houses; not less than six basic house designs in every housing development consisting of from 51 to 77 houses; and not less than eight basic house designs in every housing development consisting of 78 or more houses.
4.
To insure conformity with these requirements, no construction permit shall be issued for more than one single-family dwelling unit in any residential development until the developer has provided the Community Development Director with a copy of the approved subdivision plat, as on file with the Construction Official, clearly indicating the type and model of each house for which a construction permit has been or is being issued.
5.
The provisions, requirements and standards heretofore set forth shall not be considered met where there is an attempt to make minor changes or deviations from building plans and/or location surveys, which changes indicate an obvious attempt to circumvent the purposes of these requirements.