Ross Township City Zoning Code
PART 3
GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 27-301 Conformance and Permits.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 300]
After the effective date of this chapter, except for existing legal nonconforming uses or structures, no structure or building shall be erected, reconstructed, structurally altered, enlarged or moved, and no structure, building or land shall be used, occupied or designed to be used unless in conformity with the regulations specified herein for the zoning district in which it is located and with all other applicable provisions of this chapter, and then only after applying for and securing all permits, licenses and approvals required by all laws, ordinances, resolutions, regulations and codes.
§ 27-302 Height, Occupancy, Lot and Yard Restrictions.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 301]
No building, structure or use shall hereafter be erected or altered to exceed the height, to accommodate or house a greater number of families or persons, to occupy a greater percentage of lot area, or to have a narrower or smaller yard than is herein specified for the zoning district in which the building, structure or use is dedicated.
§ 27-303 Yards.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 302]
No part of a yard or other open space about any building, structure or use required for the purpose of complying with the provisions of this chapter shall be included as a part of a yard or open space similarly required for another building except when specifically authorized.
§ 27-304 Public Utility Lines.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 303]
Public utility lines for the transportation, distribution and control of water, gas, electricity, oil, steam, telegraph, telephone and other PUC authorized communication systems and their supporting members other than buildings, shall not be required to be located in specific zoning districts.
§ 27-305 Uses Must Be on a Zoning Lot.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 304]
Except as otherwise provided herein, after the effective date of this chapter, all uses of property must be on a zoning lot, which zoning lot shall not be occupied by more than one main building, structure or use, unless specifically authorized by the terms of this chapter.
§ 27-306 Access Between Zoning Districts.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 305]
Vehicular access to nonresidential areas shall not be permitted through residential areas, and must occur from either arterial or collector roadways in areas zoned for nonresidential use.
§ 27-307 Height Exceptions.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 306]
The height limitations of this chapter shall not apply to the following structures: church spires, belfries, chimneys, domes, wireless communications towers and antennas, elevator bulkheads and other mechanical equipment which is part of the principal structure, conveyors, windmills, flagpoles, silos, standpipes, elevated water tanks, derricks, public utility structures and other structures not intended for human habitation which do not exceed the height limitations of the zoning district by more than 20 feet.
§ 27-308 Measuring Procedure.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 307; as added by Ord. 2149, 4/11/2005, § 1]
All inter-lot measurements shall be by straight line from the nearest point of the two lot boundary lines subject to the measurement.
§ 27-309 Regulations for the Utilization of Portable Storage Units and Dumpsters.
[Ord. 2035, 12/9/2002, § 308; as added by Ord. 2180, 2/27/2006, § 1; as amended by Ord. No. 2516, 4/15/2024]
1.
Portable storage unit is hereby defined as a container that is not affixed to the land and that is designed for temporary short-term storage.
2.
Dumpster is a container that is not affixed to the land and is designed for temporary short-term refuse disposable.
3.
Both portable storage units and dumpsters are within the definition of "structure" which is hereby defined as any assembled, erected or constructed object having a stationary location on or in land in or water, whether or not affixed to the land including, but not limited to, gazebos, storage sheds, storage containers, portable storage units, free standing posts, communications equipment buildings, communications towers, pillars, dumpsters and similar objects.
4.
The following regulations shall be applicable to portable storage units for on-site storage and/or dumpsters:
A.
There shall be no more than one portable storage or dumpster per lot.
B.
A portable storage unit or dumpster shall be no larger than eight feet wide, 16 feet long and eight feet high.
C.
No portable storage unit or dumpster shall remain in a residential zoning district in excessive of 14 consecutive days and portable storage units shall not be placed on a lot in a residential zoning district in excessive of 30 days in any calendar year. The portable storage unit shall be removed from the lot by the expiration date on the permit.
D.
No portable storage unit or dumpster shall remain on a lot in a nonresidential zoning district in excess of 30 consecutive days, and portable storage units or dumpsters shall not be placed on a lot in a nonresidential zoning district in excess of 45 days in any one calendar year.
E.
A portable storage unit and/or a dumpster shall be permitted during construction, re-construction, alteration or renovation of the principal building and for an additional period of three days before and after such activity, provided a building permit has been issued by Ross Township. The portable unit and/or dumpster shall be removed from the lot before the Township Zoning Officer issues an occupancy permit, or if the construction activity ceases for a period of more than seven consecutive days.
F.
A portable storage unit or dumpster may be located on a lot during an emergency situation as declared by the appropriate federal, state, county or Ross Township agency pursuant to a temporary permit issued by the Ross Township Zoning Officer. The portable storage unit or dumpster shall be removed from the lot within seven days after the end of the emergency declaration.
G.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or permit the placement of, a portage storage unit or dumpster on property which he or she owns, rents, occupies or controls without first having obtained a permit therefore from the Ross Township Zoning Officer.
H.
Application for a permit shall be made to the Ross Township Zoning Officer on a form provided by Ross Township. The Zoning Officer shall determine the most appropriate location for the portable storage unit or dumpster to be placed on the lot. A permit fee in an amount to be established from time to time by resolution of the Ross Township Board of Commissioners shall accompany the application. The issuance of a permit shall allow the applicant to place the portable storage unit or dumpster on the subject lot in the location specified in the permit in conformance with the requirements of this chapter. The permit shall be posted in plain view on the subject lot.
5.
Trash Container and Dumpster Enclosures.
A.
All multi-residential, commercial, and industrial sites must provide an area for the exterior storage of trash containers and dumpsters.
B.
All exterior trash containers or dumpsters must be in a screened enclosure per the following:
(1)
Be located in the rear or side yards no closer than 10 feet from side and rear yard property lines within commercial and industrial districts and no closer than 50 feet if abutting a residential zoning district.
(2)
Enclosures must be located and oriented to provide easy and safe access for collection vehicles.
(3)
Enclosures must screen the containers on all four sides to the full height of the container.
(4)
Gates must secure the enclosure with a self-latching gate to secure them in the open and closed position.
(5)
The color and style of the enclosure and screening should be similar to the main structure.