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North Newton Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE VII

VMU Village Mixed-Use Zoning District

§ 300-48 Purpose.

The purpose of this district is to preserve the character of existing villages and areas appropriate for mixed uses by allowing a mixture of residential and nonresidential uses in the style and densities of traditional villages. It is intended to provide a variety of housing opportunities along with a mix of retail and service facilities which primarily serve the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

§ 300-49 Permitted uses by right.

A. 
Single-family detached dwelling.
B. 
Single family semidetached dwelling.
C. 
Single-family attached dwelling.
D. 
Two-family detached dwelling.
E. 
Multifamily dwelling.
F. 
ECHO housing (see § 300-97).
G. 
Group home (see § 300-102).
H. 
Bed-and-breakfast inn (see § 300-88).
I. 
House of worship and related uses (see § 300-107).
J. 
Forestry (see § 300-98).
K. 
Schools (see § 300-127).
L. 
Cemetery (see § 300-90).
M. 
Natural areas, wildlife refuge, parks, greenways.
N. 
Solar energy system, accessory (see § 300-129).
O. 
Municipal uses including public recreational facilities and public utilities (see § 300-115).
P. 
Motel/hotel subject to the following condition and those listed in § 300-52:
(1) 
A landscape plan shall be required and shall comply with the landscaping standards in § 300-74. Existing vegetation is encouraged to be preserved.

§ 300-50 Accessory uses.

The following uses and buildings incidental to any permitted uses shall be permitted.
A. 
Uses and structures which are customarily associated with the permitted uses.
B. 
Home occupation (see § 300-106).
C. 
No-impact home-based business (see § 300-116).
D. 
Childcare, in home (see § 300-91).
E. 
Outdoor cafe (see § 300-117).

§ 300-51 Uses permitted by conditional use.

A. 
Uses which, in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors, are of the same general character as those listed as permitted uses and which will not be detrimental to the intended purposes of the district.
B. 
Vehicle and equipment repair garage (see §§ 300-52 and 300-132).
C. 
Retail business, business services, and personal services excluding drive-through businesses (see §§ 300-52 and 300-121).
D. 
Convenience store with or without fuel dispensing (see §§ 300-52 and 300-95).
E. 
Funeral home (see §§ 300-52 and 300-100).
F. 
Retirement facility (see § 300-123).
G. 
Commercial day-care facility (see §§ 300-52 and 300-92).
H. 
Professional offices (see § 300-52).
I. 
Financial institution with no drive-through facilities (see § 300-52).
J. 
Medical facilities (see § 300-52).
K. 
Commercial recreation or entertainment facilities (see §§ 300-52 and 300-93).
L. 
Conversion apartments (see § 300-96).

§ 300-52 Business requirements.

A. 
Businesses as specified in §§ 300-49 and 300-51 above shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
Each business shall not contain more than 3,500 square feet of gross floor area.
(2) 
A lot containing a group of stores designed to function as a unit shall not exceed five acres in gross area.
(3) 
Such businesses shall be of such a size and scope of activity that they do not constitute an unreasonable commercialization of the district which would adversely affect nearby residential uses.

§ 300-53 Area and design requirements.

A. 
No public/community sewer and water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:
Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use
Minimum Lot Area*
(square feet)
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage
Front
(feet)
Side
(feet)
Rear
(feet)
Maximum Building Height**
(feet)
Single-family detached dwelling
40,000
150
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
20 each
20
35
Single-family semidetached
30,000 per unit
75 per unit
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
20
20
35
Two-family detached
30,000 per unit
150
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
25 each
25
35
Single-family attached
Not permitted without public/community sewer and water
Multifamily
Not permitted without public/community sewer and water
Other permitted use
40,000
150
40%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
30
40
35
Accessory use or structure
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not permitted in required front yard
5
5
20
NOTES:
*
All uses relying upon on-lot sewers must comply with § 300-54.
**
Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.
B. 
Public/community sewer or water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:
Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use
Minimum Lot Area*
(square feet)
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage
Front
(feet)
Side
(feet)
Rear
(feet)
Maximum Building Height**
(feet)
Single-family detached dwelling
30,000
100
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10 feet
20 each
20
35
Single-family semidetached
20,000 per unit
50 per unit
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10 feet
20
20
35
Two-family detached
20,000 per unit
100
35%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10 feet
25 each
25
35
Single-family attached
Not permitted without public/community sewer and water
Multifamily
Not permitted without public/community sewer and water
Other permitted use
30,000
100
40%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10 feet
25
40
35
Accessory use or structure
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not permitted in required front yard
5
5
20
NOTES:
*
All uses relying upon on-lot sewers must comply with § 300-54.
**
Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.
C. 
Public/community sewer and water. Any lot, tract or parcel used for the following purposes shall comply with the following:
Minimum Yard Setbacks
Use
Minimum Lot Area
(square feet)
Minimum Lot Width
(feet)
Maximum Impervious Lot Coverage
Front
(feet)
Side
(feet)
Rear
(feet)
Maximum Building Height*
(feet)
Single-family detached dwelling
5,000
50
50%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
10 each
20
35
Single-family semidetached
40,000 per unit
40 per unit
50%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
10
20
35
Two-family detached
4,000 per unit
50
50%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
10 each
20
35
Single-family attached
2,500 per unit, provided no more than 5 dwelling units per acre
20 per dwelling unit
60%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
10 feet end unit
20
35
Multifamily
2,000 per unit provided no more than 5 units per acre
60
60%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
15 each
25
35
Other permitted use
5,000
30
60%
Match prevailing setback but no less than 10
15 each
25
35
Accessory use or structure
N/A
N/A
N/A
Not permitted in required front yard
5
5
20
NOTES:
*
Maximum height limitation does not include chimneys, spires, steeples, unoccupied towers, tanks, silos related to farm operations, antenna or other similar projections.

§ 300-54 Zoning requirements for use of on-lot sewerage disposal systems.

A. 
Regardless of any lot area requirements listed in this chapter, the minimum required lot size may be increased to ensure an acceptable level of nitrate-nitrogen in the adjoining groundwater. Such determinations will be made by the PADEP and/or the Sewage Enforcement Officer.
B. 
Every use relying upon on-lot sewage disposal systems shall be required to properly maintain and repair such systems.

§ 300-55 Buffer and screening requirements.

All nonresidential uses and multifamily uses shall comply with § 300-71 of this chapter.

§ 300-56 Off-street parking.

Off-street parking shall be provided as required by § 300-81 of this chapter.

§ 300-57 Signs.

The placement, type, and size of all signs erected in the VMU Zoning District shall be regulated by the provisions of § 300-82 of this chapter.

§ 300-58 Landscaping.

All commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily uses shall comply with § 300-74 of this chapter.