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Susquehanna Township
City Zoning Code

PART 16

COL - COMMERCIAL OFFICE LIMITED DISTRICT

§ 27-1601 Intended Purpose.

The COL — Commercial Office Limited Districts are intended to recognize the existing range of uses which are located on the Front Street corridor south of the Rockville Bridge. The commercial uses serve the needs of the corridor traveler, tourists, and office users. These districts are expected to offer a limited range of shopping and service functions.

§ 27-1602 Permitted Uses.

Commercial Uses:
1.
Banks and financial institutions.
2.
Convenience stores, including fuel sales in accordance with § 27-2018.
3.
Food and beverage stores.
4.
Gasoline service stations in accordance with § 27-2020.
5.
Hotels and motels.
6.
Restaurants.
Office Uses:
7.
Administrative and support services.
8.
Finance and insurance offices.
9.
Home health care services.
10.
Information services and data processing.
11.
Offices of physicians, dentists, and other health practitioners.
12.
Professional, scientific, and technical services and offices.
13.
Real estate offices.
14.
Social assistance offices.
Public/Utility Uses:
15.
Electric transmission and distribution facilities, including substations and public utility uses and facilities and excluding material and truck storage in accordance with § 27-2038.
16.
(Reserved)[1]
17.
Public libraries and community activity buildings in accordance with § 27-2038.
18.
Public transit support activities.
19.
(Reserved)[2]
Institutional Uses:
20.
Day care centers in accordance with § 27-2033.
Recreation Uses:
21.
Public park, recreational areas, and greenways.
Accessory Uses:
22.
Customary accessory uses and buildings incidental to any permitted uses in accordance with Part 21, including:
A.
Parking lots and structures.
B.
Drive through facilities in accordance with § 27-2040.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection 16, Municipal, county, state, and federal buildings and facilities, was repealed by Ord. No. 22-05, 8/11/2022.
[2]
Editor’s Note: Former Subsection 19, Telecommunications structures, was repealed by Ord. 16-07, 8/11/2016.

§ 27-1603 Special Exception Uses.

The following uses shall be allowed subject to Part 27 herein. Accessory uses shall be allowed in accordance with § 27-1602, Subsection 22.
1. 
Marinas in accordance with § 27-2025.
2. 
Conversion of existing single-family detached dwelling to a permitted office use.
3. 
Wireless communications facilities, in accordance with § 27-2039.
[Added by Ord. 16-07, 8/11/2016]

§ 27-1604 Bulk and Area Regulations.

1. 
Lot area. The minimum lot area shall be determined based on the size of the building/buildings, yard and parking requirements.
2. 
Minimum setbacks. The following minimum standards shall apply:
A. 
Front yard: 35 feet.
B. 
Side yard: 10 feet each side of a principal building.
C. 
Rear yard: 15 feet.
3. 
Maximum building coverage: 45%.
4. 
Maximum impervious lot coverage: 70%.
5. 
Minimum vegetative cover: 30%.
6. 
Height regulations. Height of principal building shall not exceed 40 feet in accordance with § 27-2104.
7. 
Buffer yards for nonresidential structures: Buffer yards shall be required for nonresidential structure when abutting a residential use or district in accordance with § 27-2106, Subsection 5.

§ 27-1605 Landscaping Plan.

A landscaping plan for the entire tract shall be required. A landscape architect licensed by Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall be retained to complete such a plan to ensure the proper species, use and arrangement of plant materials. All areas of the development not covered by impervious surfaces shall be landscaped and maintained with suitable ground cover and plants. Existing vegetation is encouraged to be preserved for landscaping purposes.
A. 
Earthen berms may be incorporated into the landscaping plan along public street frontage and along property lines abutting existing dwellings. Earthen berms shall have a maximum height of five feet and a maximum slope of four feet horizontal to one-foot vertical.
B. 
Landscaped areas shall be continually maintained by the landowner. Care, grooming, and replacement of plants shall be included as part of the required maintenance. Failure to adequately maintain landscaped areas shall be subject to a citation issued by the Township.
C. 
Buffers and screens shall be in accordance with § 27-2106, Subsection 5, herein.

§ 27-1606 Off-Street Parking Requirements.

Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of Part 23 of this Chapter.
1. 
All parking lots shall be placed in the rear yard. Where possible, access to the parking lots shall be an alleyway or rear driveway.
2. 
The sharing of parking lots or use of public parking facilities should be considered an option for all uses in the area in accordance with § 27-2304.
3. 
Parking lot layout, landscaping, buffering, and screening shall prevent direct views of parked vehicles from streets and sidewalks, avoid spill-over light, glare, noise, or exhaust fumes onto adjacent properties, in particular residential properties, and provide the parking lots with a reasonable measure of shade, when trees reach maturity. Parking lots exposed to view shall be surrounded by a minimum five-foot high, year-round visually impervious screen, hedge, or wall. The height of any required screen, hedge, or wall shall decrease where driveways approach sidewalks or walkways and shall not interfere with clear sight triangle requirements.

§ 27-1607 Signs.

Signs shall be in accordance with Part 24 this Chapter.