Springfield Township Montgomery County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIIIA
Multifamily Apartment District
§ 114-8A0 Legislative intent.
The purpose of establishing a Multifamily Apartment District shall be to encourage the logical and timely development of land in accordance with the objectives, policies and proposals of the Comprehensive Plan; to permit it a variety of housing which conforms to the intent of the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance; to assure the suitable design of multifamily apartments in order to protect the surrounding environment of adjacent and nearby neighborhoods; and to ensure that the proposed development will constitute a residential environment of sustained desirability and stability and not produce a volume of traffic in excess of the capacity for which access streets are designed.
§ 114-8A1 General regulations.
The Board of Township Commissioners may authorize as an amendment to the Zoning Map the designation of an area, or areas, as a Multifamily Apartment District, subject to the regulations of this and any pertinent Article. Multifamily Apartment Districts shall be substantially in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan; shall be limited to tracts abutting at least one major thoroughfare with minimum fifty-foot rights-of-way and with access to major through streets, railroads or other mass transportation; and shall be designated and later approved only after full consideration of the features of surrounding areas, including but not limited to residences, schools, parks and the reservation of open space, local and regional business areas and shopping centers; densities proposed for surrounding areas; and such other features as shall contribute to the harmonious development of the area with due regard to the character of the neighborhood and its peculiar suitability for this type of use.
§ 114-8A2 Permitted uses.
In a Multifamily Apartment District, a building may be erected or used, and the lot may be used or occupied, for the following purposes and no other, provided that the requirements of the following sections are met:
A.
The principal use shall be that of a residential building or group of residential buildings for multifamily dwellings which constitute a single operating unit and which are designed as a single architectural project.
B.
Accessory uses shall be limited to satisfying principally the needs of the occupants only and shall not exceed 5% of the total floor area of the building or buildings, excluding basements and garages, and shall be limited to the following:
[Amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 771]
(2)
Except for separate means of ingress and egress designated for service entrances, there shall be no entrance to any such shop or office except from inside the building, and there shall be no sign, display of merchandise or other manifestation of commercial or professional use visible from any street or property line.
(3)
Basement floors may be used for the following purposes and no other: parking, storage of occupants' personal effects, occupants' personal laundry facilities, plant facilities and other incidental service or recreational facilities as shall be approved by the Board of Commissioners.
§ 114-8A3 Development requirements.
A.
Site requirements.
(1)
Lot area. No residential building or group of residential buildings shall be constructed on a lot less than 10 acres in size. No lot on which a residential building or group of residential buildings is to be constructed shall contain a use which would be nonconforming.
(2)
Building area. Not more than 20% of the lot area shall be occupied by a building or buildings and parking areas and aisles. Buildings and decks providing undercover parking shall be considered as buildings for the purpose of this Subsection A(2).
(3)
Setback from streets and property lines.
[Amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 771]
(a)
All buildings and recreation facilities shall be set back at least 40 feet from the right-of-way line of each public dedicated street on which the Multifamily Apartment District abuts, and at least 15 feet from each property line. Buildings in excess of three stories shall be set back an additional 10 feet from the aforesaid distances for each additional one story in height.
(b)
Parking areas shall be set back no less than 25 feet from any property line or dedicated public street right-of-way line, whichever creates the greater setback. Parking areas shall also be set back an additional 10 feet from property lines or the street right-of-way for each additional story in excess of three stories. Basements or other building stories devoted to underground parking shall not count as stories in calculating setback distances.
(4)
Distance between buildings. The horizontal distance between the closest elements of any two buildings shall be not less than 25 feet from buildings of three stories or less and for buildings of more than three stories shall be not less than 60% of the height of the taller buildings. For the purpose of the Multifamily Apartment District, buildings linked by underground garages, covered walkway connectors or other similar connections shall be considered separate buildings and must meet the distance separation requirements of this section.
[Amended 17-12-1989 by Ord. No. 771]
(5)
Dwelling units per acre. There shall be no more than 12 dwelling units per gross acre.
(6)
Height regulations. Buildings in the Multifamily Apartment District may not be more than 10 stories or 100 feet in height, excluding the pitch of the roof and excluding basements and other stories devoted to undercover parking.
[Amended 7-12-1989 by Ord. No. 771]
B.
Traveling lane and pedestrian lane requirements.
[Amended 4-8-1981 by Ord. No. 702]
(1)
Off-street delivery and collection facilities for use of the occupants of the residential building or buildings and their visitors shall be provided.
(2)
Provision shall be made for safe and efficient ingress and egress to and from public streets and highways serving the residential district without undue congestion or interference with normal traffic flow.
(3)
All roof, delivery and collection areas and traveling lanes shall be provided with drainage facilities to collect, transport and deliver, via underground conduits, storm- or surface waters to the nearest storm sewers or streams as approved by the Township Engineer and all governmental agencies having jurisdiction.
(a)
Service. Areas for the loading and unloading of delivery trucks and other vehicles and for the servicing of refuse collection, fuel and other service shall be provided in such a manner that they may be used without blockage or interference with the use of accessways, automobile parking facilities or pedestrianways. Such service areas shall be screened, either by landscaping and/or walls, from view of all adjacent properties and rights-of-way.
(b)
Paving. All areas provided for use by vehicles and all pedestrian walks shall be designed in accordance with the Code of Springfield Township.
C.
Signs and exterior illumination.
(1)
No more than one sign may be used to identify each principal building, and such sign shall conform to one of the following categories:
(a)
Unlighted, affixed to the building and not exceeding 20 square feet.
(b)
Lighted, affixed to the building and not exceeding 12 square feet.
(c)
Unlighted, separate from the building, not exceeding 15 square feet and not within 30 feet of any dedicated right-of-way line of any street.
(d)
Lighted, separate from the building, not exceeding 10 square feet and not within 30 feet of any dedicated right-of-way line of any street.
(3)
General illumination shall be provided for the safety and convenience of the occupants and their visitors, but all outside lighting shall be arranged, designed and shielded or directed so as to protect neighboring properties and streets from glare which might constitute a nuisance or hazard.
D.
Landscaping.
(1)
Multifamily Apartment Districts shall be developed with street and property boundary buffers and parking area landscaping in accordance with § 95-11I of Chapter 95, Subdivision of Land. Existing landscape material may be used to meet these requirements.
[Amended 7-8-1992 by Ord. No. 786[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection D(2), which required complete landscape plans for Multifamily Apartment Districts.
F.
Performance bond. The developer shall assure the provision of required site improvements by means of a proper completion guaranty in the form of a bond or the deposit of funds and securities in escrow to cover the cost of such improvements. The work shall be performed in accordance with all requirements and the approved plan.