Montgomery Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXVIII
RC Retail Center Regulations
§ 230-206 Purpose.
Retail centers shall provide harmonious groupings of buildings, landscaped areas, vehicular and pedestrian circulation and service and parking areas. They shall be planned as safe, efficient, convenient and unified development for retail uses permitted in § 230-199B, of the Zoning Ordinance.
§ 230-207 Dimensional standards.
Each retail center shall comply with the following dimensional standards:
A.
Building height: maximum 35 feet.
B.
Building setbacks:
Feature/Description | Minimum Building Setback (distance from feature) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Ultimate right-of-way of public roads: | |||
When the entire area between the road and building is landscaped (may contain a sidewalk) | 50 feet | ||
When parking or internal driveways are located between the road and building | 100 feet | ||
Residential zoning district boundaries and lot lines of residential parcels outside the Corridor Overlay District | 100 feet | ||
All other lot lines, right-of-way lines of utility corridors and boundaries of the preserved Route 202 expressway corridor and its interchange ramps | 50 feet, except that a maximum of 10% of the length of a building wall may be located a minimum of 25 feet from one of these boundaries for design flexibility | ||
Entrance driveways to the center (curb or pavement edge) | 50 feet | ||
Storefront driveways | 20 feet | ||
All other internal driveways | 10 feet | ||
Internal driveways at major building entrances where the building's roofline is extended as an overhang or porte-cochere | No setback required | ||
Parking | 10 feet | ||
Wetlands and 100-year floodplain | 30 feet | ||
Between individual buildings | Not less than the height of the taller building | ||
C.
Parking, driveway and service area setbacks:
Feature/Description | Minimum Building Setback (distance from feature) | |
|---|---|---|
From the boundary of the Route 202 Expressway bypass corridor | 10 feet | |
From the ultimate right-of-way of public streets, all other tract boundaries | 30 feet | |
From limits of wetlands and 100-year floodplain, except where a road, driveway, path or utility line is permitted to cross | 10 feet for any earth disturbance for grading or construction; a barricade shall be installed to prevent encroachment by construction equipment and materials |
D.
Building, impervious and landscaped coverage:
Description | Coverage | |
|---|---|---|
Impervious coverage | Maximum 75% of its parcel area | |
Total building coverage (all buildings) | Maximum 20% of its parcel area | |
Landscaping or other green area | Minimum 25% of its parcel area |
§ 230-208 Parking regulations.
A.
Total parking capacity in a retail center shall be a minimum of 4.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable area.
B.
All spaces proposed at a rate greater than 5.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable area shall be placed in reserve, in compliance with § 230-138.1B and C of the Zoning Ordinance. Spaces placed in reserve shall not be constructed until approved or requested by the Board of Supervisors.
C.
Retail center parking spaces shall be a minimum of nine feet by 20 feet.
D.
Shared parking may be permitted where the applicant provides convincing evidence, consistent with accepted industry standards.
§ 230-209 Central common area.
Each retail center shall provide a central common area to focus attention on major building entrances and provide an area suitable for shared use by tenants, customers and visitors for special events such as cultural performances, exhibitions, health fairs, sidewalk sales and use as a sitting area and meeting place. Central common areas shall comply with the following standards:
A.
It may be an atrium, courtyard or plaza located at the front of the principal building, visible from entrance driveways and the parking lot.
B.
It shall have walkways, seating and landscaping. Water features, play equipment, performance stage and table facilities are encouraged.
C.
As an alternative, the central common area may be located on a large parking lot island adjacent to the storefront driveway, subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.
D.
The total area shall be not less than 4% of the gross leasable area of the principal buildings they serve and may be divided into two separate locations when approved by the Board of Supervisors.
E.
A minimum of 30% of the central common area shall be ornamentally landscaped (may include water features). The landscaped area may be included in calculation of the minimum 25% landscaped area of the site by § 230-207D, herein.
F.
The minimum required space for a central common area shall not include paved areas used for parking, service or driveways, required storefront landscaping, softening and screen buffers, required parking lot planting and commercial recreation facilities operated as a principal use.
§ 230-210 Building bulk and construction.
Variations in building facades, canopies, height and roof lines shall be used, and contrasts in color, texture and materials are encouraged.
A.
Building facades that exceed 250 feet in length shall be varied by one or more of the following methods:
(1)
Wall offsets to a minimum depth of 10 feet at intervals of 100 feet or less.
(2)
Variation in the facade height of at least 10 feet in height at intervals of 100 feet or less.
(3)
Addition of major architectural features at intervals of 200 feet or less, including canopies, towers and three-dimensional ornamental structures.
B.
Building materials, including brick, stone, decorative block and wood, are encouraged.
C.
Side and rear building facades shall be constructed of materials that reflect the character, color scheme and architectural features of the building's front facades.
§ 230-211 Development regulations.
A.
Development separated by public roads or the expressway corridor shall be considered as separate retail centers, and each shall comply with the retail center regulations individually.
B.
Retail center development shall comply with the requirements of § 205-25, Design Standards for Shopping Centers, of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
C.
Within a retail center, land may be subdivided for sale or leasing purposes without regard to individual lotting standards, provided that the development of those lots complies in all respects with the retail center regulations and is an integral part of the center's plan. Access to individual lots so created shall be taken only from within the retail center.
E.
Mechanical and site utility equipment projecting from the tops of buildings shall be screened from public view to the extent reasonable and practicable.
F.
Land development plan submission and processing shall comply with the following requirements:
§ 230-212 Lighting.
Lighting shall be provided for the safety and convenience of customers, employees and visitors to the center, in compliance with the following:
A.
No lighting standard shall exceed 25 feet in height, and no lighting fixture shall be mounted on a building higher than 25 feet above the adjacent grade level.
B.
Illumination of all parking areas, around all buildings and along all pedestrian walkways, shall provide a minimum level of one-half-footcandle and an average of one footcandle and a maximum level of four footcandles. (One footcandle equals one lumen per square foot.)
C.
All outside lighting, including sign lighting, shall be arranged, designed and shielded or directed so as to protect the abutting streets and highways and adjoining property from the glare of lights. All light standards or fixtures shall be shielded to eliminate light glare beyond an angle of 35º from a vertical plane and be so shielded that the source of the light shall not be visible off of the premises.
D.
No flashing or intermittent or moving lights, including lights on signs, shall be permitted.
§ 230-213 Signs.
The sign regulations of § 230-127, Commercial and industrial district regulations, of the Township's Zoning Ordinance shall apply to retail centers, except that freestanding signs up to 23 feet in height and 150 square feet in area are permitted for retail centers under Overlay Option No. 2, and freestanding signs up to 23 feet in height and 250 square feet in area are permitted for retail centers under overlay Option No. 3.