Morrisville City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Dimensional Requirements
§ 465-18 District regulations.
[Amended 6-8-1993 by Ord. No. 864; 10-17-2005 by Ord. No. 947]
The regulations for each district pertaining to minimum site area, minimum lot area per dwelling unit, minimum lot width, minimum required yards, maximum residential density, maximum impervious surfaces, minimum open space and maximum height shall be specified in the Table of Dimensional Requirements[1] and Riverview Neighborhood District Table of Dimensional Requirements, subject to any further applicable provisions of Article IV.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Dimensional Requirements, Table 465-18, is included at the end of this chapter.
§ 465-19 Lot area or yards required.
The lot or yard areas required for any new building or use shall not include any part of a lot that is required by any other building or use to comply with the requirements of this chapter. No required yard area shall include any property for which ownership has been transferred subsequent to the effective date of this chapter, if such property was a part of the area required for compliance with the dimensional requirements applicable to the lot from which such transfer was made.
§ 465-20 Spacing of nonresidential buildings on same lot.
Where two or more principal buildings, for other than residential uses, are proposed to be built upon property held in one ownership, the front, side and rear yards are required only at lot lines abutting other property. The spacing between two or more nonresidential buildings on property held in one ownership shall be five feet of horizontal distance per story, but in no case shall the spacing be less than 20 feet horizontal distance. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prevent attached buildings on the same lot.
§ 465-21 Regulations for cellars and basements.
[Amended 7-8-1980 by Ord. No. 752-A; 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 943]
Cellar shall not be considered in determining the possible number of stories or square footage, nor shall it be considered habitable space unless it complies with the definition of "habitable basement." (Refer to § 465-6).
§ 465-22 Residential building on rear of a lot.
Where a permitted principal building, designed for occupancy by one or more families, is to be located on the same lot with and to the rear of another permitted principal building, each such building shall be independently provided with the required side and rear yards, and required lot area; and, the distance between such buildings shall not be less than twice the required rear yard depth. Proper access shall be provided to the rear building such as direct access to an alley or easement across other properties. Refer to § 465-18 for yard requirements in each district and see illustration below:
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F | = | Required front yard for district | |
R | = | Required rear yard for district | |
§ 465-23 Exceptions of minimum lot sizes and lot widths.
A.
The provisions of § 465-18 shall not prevent the construction of a single-family dwelling, provided the yard requirements are observed, on any lot which was lawful when created and which prior to the effective date of this chapter was in separate ownership duly recorded by plan or deed.
B.
This exception shall not apply to any two or more contiguous lots in a single ownership as of or subsequent to the effective date of this chapter in any case where a re-parceling or replating could create one or more lots which would conform to the above provisions.
§ 465-24 Projections into required front, side and rear yards.
A.
Ground story bay windows and porches (enclosed and unenclosed) not more than 2/3 the length of the front wall may project five feet into any front yard. Chimneys, flues, columns, sills, ornamental features, cornices and gutters may project not more than two feet over a required front yard.
B.
Bay windows, balconies, chimney flues and fire escapes may project into a required rear yard not more than four feet. Ground story bay windows, porches and attached garages not more than 1/3 of the length of the rear wall may project into any required rear yard by not more than four feet. In no case may any projection come within six feet of an accessory building.
C.
Bay windows, chimneys, flues, columns, sills, ornamental features, cornices and gutters may project not more than two feet over a required side yard. A garage or carport constructed as a structural part of a dwelling may extend into a required side yard for a distance not exceeding four feet provided it has no window openings at the side, does not exceed 14 feet in height, and does not extend nearer the side property line than five feet.
§ 465-25 Fences and terraces in front, side and rear yards.
[Amended 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 943]
A.
The provisions of this Article V, except § 465-28, shall not apply to fences or hedges less than three feet above the natural grade, nor to terraces, steps, uncovered porches or other similar features less than three feet above finished grade elevation. Section 465-25E and F and § 465-28 shall always apply.
B.
The use of barbed wire, electrified wire or razor wire as fencing material is prohibited on properties located in, immediately adjoining or adjacent to all residential zoning districts.
(1)
The use of electrified wire or barbed wire as a fencing material to confine domestic farm animals may only be used on properties in use as farm homestead, provided that the electrified fencing is visibly identified as electrified.
(2)
Barbed wire or razor wire may only be used to limit access to a commercial, industrial or institutional use of land, in an industrial or light industrial district, provided that the wire component of the fence is at least eight feet above ground level.
C.
Fencing shall be constructed so that all support framing shall be on the inside face of the fencing, and faced inward on the property so that the finished/right side of the fencing faces the adjacent property(ies).
D.
Side and rear yards.
(1)
Fencing in all residential districts in side and rear yards shall not exceed six feet in height and in residential front yards shall not exceed 48 inches in height. Fencing in all other districts shall not exceed eight feet in height.
(2)
Where there are no clearly visible property boundary markers, a survey verification of property lines shall be provided prior to installing fencing on side or rear yard property lines, except that repair or replacement of existing fencing may be installed without survey.
E.
All fencing located in the front yard shall be constructed of a uniform material. No chain-link fencing shall be permitted in front yards.
F.
Fencing shall not be placed closer than one foot from any sidewalk or street right-of-way line.
§ 465-26 Front yard adjustments for principal buildings.
When there are existing principal buildings on each side within 100 feet of a lot on which a proposed building is to be erected, the average of the existing front yard depths of the nearest buildings shall be the minimum required front yard depth of the lot on which the proposed building is to be erected. In no case shall the minimum required front yard be less than 15 feet. This provision shall not apply to corner lots, where no reduction is permitted. See also § 465-32.
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Sketch: Refer to § 465-26. |
§ 465-27 Accessory buildings.
[Added 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 943]
The area of an accessory building cannot exceed 50% of the primary building coverage area. The height of an accessory building cannot exceed 20 feet as measured from the average ground elevation around the structure to its highest point.
§ 465-28 Traffic visibility across corners (clear sight triangle).
A.
On any corner lot, no wall, fence, or other structure shall be erected or altered, or no hedge, tree, shrub, or other growth shall be maintained which may cause danger to traffic on a public street by obscuring the view. Visual obstructions shall be limited to a height of not more than two feet above street level within the triangular area bounded by the street lines and a straight line drawn between points on each such right-of-way line 25 feet from the intersection of said street right-of-way line.
B.
Where a private accessway intersects a public street, visual obstructions shall be limited to a height of not more than two feet above street level within the triangular area bounded by the street right-of-way line, the edge of the private accessway, and a straight line drawn between points on both the street right-of-way line and the edge of the accessway within a distance of 16 feet from the intersection of said line.
§ 465-29 Yard requirements for accessory buildings.
[Amended 10-18-2004 by Ord. No. 943]
A.
No accessory building shall be permitted in front yards. Completely detached accessory buildings may occupy a required side or rear yard, but shall be located no closer than six feet from any side or rear property line. Except that garden sheds of maximum height 10 feet, maximum width 12 feet and maximum length of 10 feet, which structure can be moved, may be located no closer than three feet from any side or rear property line.
B.
Accessory buildings shall be located no closer than six feet from the principal building. This provision shall not prevent the erection of a detached joint garage on adjoining lots with a common wall.
§ 465-30 Side yard reductions.
A.
In the R-1 District, for each foot a lot (existing at the effective date of this chapter) is less than 70 feet wide, the total width of the two side yards may be reduced by six inches to a total width for the two yards of not less than 16 feet, provided the width of the narrower of the two yards shall not be less than eight feet.
B.
In the case of single-family and two-family dwellings in all other districts, for each foot a lot (existing at the effective date of this chapter) is less than 50 feet wide, the total width of the two side yards may be reduced by six inches to a total width for the two yards of not less than 12 feet, provided the width of the narrower of the two yards shall not be less than six feet.
§ 465-31 Alternative rear yard requirements for single-family detached dwellings.
A.
The minimum rear yard requirements, specified in § 465-18 and the Table of Dimensional Requirements,[1] may be reduced to no less than the minimum aggregate side yard if the area of the rear yard is greater than the rear yard area that would be provided on a standard lot in the District; e.g. 2,450 square feet of rear yard area in the R-1 District and 1,750 square feet of rear yard in the other zoning districts.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Table of Dimensional Requirements, Table 465-18, is included at the end of this chapter.
B.
The rear yard area shall be measured by extending the rear wall lines of the principal building out to intersect the side property lines. Building offsets less than 10 feet in width shall not be used to establish the rear wall line, the side property line(s) and the rear property line(s) shall be considered the rear yard area. See sketch.
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§ 465-32 Front and side yards of corner lots.
On a corner lot or other lot having a frontage on more than one street, the yard(s) facing each street shall equal the required front yards for lots facing that street.
§ 465-33 Building height regulations.
Maximum height regulations shall not apply to church spires, chimneys or other structures built above the roof and not devoted to human occupancy.
§ 465-34 Establishment of future right-of-way widths.
A.
Minimum future right-of-way widths are hereby established for all public streets within the Borough of Morrisville in accordance with § 390-23, Street standards, of Chapter 390, Subdivision and Land Development, and the attached Highway Classification Map.[1] The depth of front yards required under § 465-18 shall be measured from the future right-of-way line.
[1]
Editor's Note: The Highway Classification Map is on file in the Borough offices.
B.
Except where otherwise indicated, 1/2 the future right-ow-way shall be measured from the center line of the existing street. The specific classification of each road is shown on the attached Highway Classification Map, which is hereby incorporated and made a part of this chapter.
§ 465-35 Special regulations for I-2 Industrial/Technology Districts.
[Added 11-20-2006 by Ord. No. 954]
A.
No building shall have a parking area with a capacity in excess of 100 vehicles. Equalization of parking spaces between structures is highly recommended. These requirements are intended to supersede and replace all parking restrictions and regulations contained in § 465-36 for each individual use otherwise permitted in the I-2 District.
B.
Pedestrian walkways shall be provided and clearly marked and connected to all transit stops, sidewalks, trails and other facilities in the district.
C.
The usable space of any building shall not exceed 60,000 square feet.
§ 465-36 Front and side yards of corner lots.
On a corner lot or other lot having frontage on more than one street, the yard(s) facing each street shall equal the required front yards for lots facing that street.
§ 465-37 Building height regulations.
Maximum height regulations shall not apply to church spires, chimneys, or other structures built above the roof and not devoted to human occupancy.