Swatara Township Lebanon County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 9
R-2 - MEDIUM-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS
§ 27-901 Intent.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.01]
The regulations of the R-2 Residential District are designed to promote the development of a variety of medium-density housing types in areas where necessary municipal services, commercial facilities and other community amenities are available.
§ 27-902 Permitted, Special Exception and Conditional Uses.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.02; as amended by Ord. 44, 6/11/1998; by Ord. 2001-49, 8/9/2001; and by Ord. 2006-73, 4/13/2006]
1.
Permitted Uses.
A.
Single-family detached and semidetached dwellings, provided that single-family semidetached dwellings are served by public water and sewer.
B.
Two-family detached and semidetached dwellings, provided that they are served by public water and sewer.
C.
Townhouses, provided that the following requirements are met.
(1)
Minimum lot area of 3,500 square feet per dwelling unit.
(2)
Maximum development density shall not exceed eight dwelling units per gross acre.
(3)
Minimum lot width of 24 feet.
(4)
A minimum front and rear yard of 25 feet each, as measured from the street or property line, shall be provided for each townhouse unit. No front yard shall exceed impervious coverage of 60%. Sidewalk or pedestrian accessways are excluded from imperious coverage for purposes of this section.
(5)
Side yard minimums of 15 feet shall be provided from the unattached sides of buildings; however, a minimum side yard of 25 feet shall be provided from any paved parking areas. A minimum distance of 30 feet shall also separate each group of townhouses.
(6)
No group of townhouses shall consist of more than six attached units, with no more than three continuous dwellings with the same front setback, each variation of the setback being at least five feet. Developers are encouraged to use variety in design and construction to enhance appearance.
(7)
Detached accessory buildings.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-5, 4/8/2021]
(a)
One detached accessory building or structure shall be permitted for storage only on individual lots, provided that the size of the building or structure does not exceed 100 square feet and the height does exceed 14 feet, and the exterior of the building or structure is constructed of the same materials as the principal structure, and provided all other requirements of this chapter are met.
(b)
Garages are permitted but must be attached to the principal structure on an individual lot and must meet all other applicable requirements of this chapter.
(9)
The site shall be served by public water and sewer facilities, with design for individual unit service where lots are to be sold.
(10)
Off-street parking, as required by Part 16 of this chapter shall be located within 150 feet of the dwelling unit to be served. Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of three parking spaces.
(11)
Townhouse development requires the submission of a subdivision plan and compliance with the Swatara Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
[Amended by Ord. 2015-05, 8/13/2015]
(12)
Fences within any land development proposing any townhouse shall meet the following requirements:
(a)
The developer of any land development proposing any townhouse project shall be required to specify the design, material, construction and installation and maintenance responsibilities of fencing to be installed in the project, if any.
(b)
All fencing within any townhouse project shall be of the same design, materials and construction. The fence design, material, construction and installation and maintenance responsibilities shall be specified upon the plan to be recorded and as a restriction on the deed for each townhouse lot within the project.
(c)
No fence shall be installed between the front building line and the right-of-way of the adjoining street. For through (reverse-frontage) lots, no fence shall be installed within five feet of the right-of-way of the reverse-frontage street.
(d)
No fence within a side yard between townhouses shall exceed a height of six feet, and no fence within the rear yard shall exceed a height of six feet.
[Amended by Ord. 2015-05, 8/13/2015]
(13)
No private, noncommercial swimming pools with a water depth of 24 inches or more are permitted.
D.
Garden apartments, provided that the following conditions are met:
(1)
Maximum development density shall not exceed 12 dwelling units per gross acre.
(2)
A minimum site size of 24,000 square feet shall be provided for garden apartment development.
(3)
Garden apartment buildings shall contain at least four but not more than 16 dwelling units in a single structure.
(4)
A minimum setback of 30 feet shall be provided from any street right-of-way, driveway, or paved parking area. Additionally, the building setback line shall be a minimum distance of 30 feet from any front, side or rear property line. No front yard shall exceed impervious coverage of 60%. Sidewalk or pedestrian accessways are excluded from imperious coverage for purposes of this section.
(5)
A minimum isolation distance of 50 feet shall be provided between garden apartment buildings.
(6)
The site shall be served by public water and public sewer facilities.
(7)
If provided, balconies shall not extend more than eight feet from the face of any principal building and the minimum floor area of any balcony shall be 72 square feet.
(8)
If patios are provided at ground level, they shall be designed for visual privacy and shall be a minimum of 150 square feet.
(10)
Off-street parking, as required by Part 16 of this chapter, shall be located within 150 feet of the dwelling unit to be served. Furthermore, parking facilities and driveways shall be located no less then 25 feet from any street right-of-way and 10 feet from all other property lines. Each dwelling unit shall have a minimum of three parking spaces.
(11)
Garden apartment development requires the submission of a subdivision plan and compliance with the Swatara Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
[Amended by Ord. 2015-05, 8/13/2015]
E.
Churches and similar places of worship and parish houses.
F.
Public parks and public playgrounds.
G.
Municipal buildings and community facilities such as police and fire protection facilities, museums, libraries, etc., provided that they do not contain restaurants, cafes, membership clubs or other places offering food, beverages, dancing or entertainment.
H.
Publicly owned nursery, kindergarten, elementary, middle and high schools.
J.
Family day-care homes, as regulated in § 27-1423, Subsection 2D, of this chapter.
[Amended by Ord. 2017-07, 9/14/2017]
2.
Special Exception Uses. Upon approval by the Zoning Hearing Board, the following special exception uses are permitted, provided that the use complies with the conditions listed herein and the applicable requirements specified in Part 22 of this chapter:
3.
Conditional Uses. Upon approval by the Board of Supervisors, the following conditional uses are permitted, provided that the use complies with the conditions listed herein. Additionally, the applicable requirements of § 27-1104 of this chapter shall also apply:
[Amended by Ord. 2017-07, 9/14/2017]
A.
Group home dwellings, subject to the conditions listed in § 27-1423, Subsection 2E, of this chapter.
B.
Bed-and-breakfast, subject to the conditions set forth in § 27-1423, Subsection 2B, of this chapter.
C.
Short-term rentals, subject to the criteria set forth in § 27-602, Subsection 1P.
[Added by Ord. No. 2021-5, 4/8/2021]
D.
Accessory keeping of animals, provided the following conditions are met:
[Added by Ord. No. 2022-9, 7/14/2022]
(1)
General Conditions:
(a)
Two rabbits and/or two guinea pigs are permitted at any property.
(b)
The animals shall belong to and be the responsibility of the property owner and shall not be leased, rented or owned by another party.
(c)
The maintenance related to the animals and the enclosures shall be the responsibility of the property owner.
(d)
Animals shall have a potable water source provided to them at all times.
(e)
Animals shall be secure at all times within their designated shelter or fenced-in area. Animals which cannot be kept securely within their enclosure will be deemed a nuisance and therefore no longer eligible to be classified as an accessory animal and will not be permitted.
(f)
Owners shall adhere to all state and federal requirements pertaining to the keeping of animals, including but not limited to care of the animal, keeping them in good condition and health, erosion and sedimentation control, registrations, and manure management regulations.
(2)
Class 1 animals, including guinea pigs, quail and rabbits:
(a)
Shall be maintained in a hutch unless under the control of the owner or his/her designee.
(b)
Shall be housed either inside a residence or in a fully enclosed small outdoor animal hutch.
(c)
Any small outdoor animal hutch shall be constructed to include a roof, four sides and flooring, be on lots of a minimum of one acre, and no less than 15 feet to any property line.
(d)
Outdoor manure storage facilities are prohibited for any Class 1 animals.
(e)
The number of permitted Class 1 animals shall will be the lesser of either the number of animals to be determined by the hutch manufacturer or 20 animals per lot in a calendar year.
(3)
Class 2 animals, including birds of prey, chickens (excluding roosters) and pheasants:
(a)
Shall be maintained in a hutch unless under the control of the owner or his/her designee.
(b)
Shall be housed in an outdoor enclosed hutch.
(c)
Any small outdoor animal hutch shall be constructed to include a roof, four sides and a minimum of 50% flooring, be on lots of a minimum of three acres, and no less than 15 feet to any property line.
(d)
Outdoor manure storage facilities are prohibited for any lot less than five acres.
(e)
The number of permitted Class 2 animals is no more than 12 animals per lot in a calendar year.
(4)
Class 3 animals, including alpacas, cows, donkeys, goats, horses, pigs, sheep, beef animals and turkeys:
(a)
Shall require pasturing at least part of the year or an animal adapted to outside living but solely contained in a species-appropriate enclosure consisting of fencing on all sides and access to shelter.
(b)
Shall be provided access to species-appropriate shelter on the property. The shelter shall be at least 100 feet from any property line or road right-of-way.
(c)
The pasture areas shall be maintained to provide no less than three inches of vegetative growth in 80% of the pasture at any given time during the year. Steps must be taken to minimize the erosion of the pasture ground which would cause dust and runoff.
(d)
Outdoor manure storage facilities shall be maintained at least 200 feet from any residential property line.
(e)
Shall be permitted in Low-Density Residential Districts on lots at least 10 acres in size.
(f)
The number of Class 3 animals are limited to no more than two animals per acre of pasture ground, not to exceed 1,000 pounds of animals per acre.
§ 27-903 Lot and Yard Requirements.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.03; as amended by Ord. 2006-73, 4/13/2006]
1.
A lot area, lot width, lot coverage, yard depths and building height satisfying the requirements of the following table, unless otherwise specified heretofore in § 27-902, shall be provided for every dwelling unit and/or principal nonresidential building or use hereafter erected, altered or established in this district.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2022-9, 7/14/2022]
Lot and Yard Requirements in the R-2 Medium-Density Residential District | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lot Requirements | Yard Requirements | |||||||
Use | Minimum Lot Area | Minimum Lot Width | Maximum Coverage Percent-age | Front | One Side | Total Sides | Rear | |
Nonresidential building | 3 acres | 250 feet | 30% | 100 feet | 20 feet | 40 feet | 75 feet | |
Single-family detached | ||||||||
No public utilities | 1 1/2 acres | 150 feet | 25% | 40 feet | 15 feet | 30 feet | 30 feet | |
Public sewer/on-lot water | 21,780 feet | 110 feet | 30% | 30 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 30 feet | |
Public water/on-lot sewer | 1 1/2 acres | 150 feet | 25% | 40 feet | 15 feet | 30 feet | 30 feet | |
Public sewer and water | ||||||||
Single-family detached | 10,000 feet | 75 feet | 30% | 30 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 25 feet | |
Single-family semidetached | 7,260 feet | 65 feet | 40% | 30 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 25 feet | |
Two-family detached | 5,445 feet | 50 feet | 40% | 30 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet | |
Two-family semidetached | 5,445 feet | 50 feet | 40% | 30 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet | |
2.
No building shall exceed 2 1/2 stories or 35 feet in height, unless authorized by a special exception.
§ 27-904 Supplemental Townhouse and Garden Apartment Standards.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.04]
1.
The following design criteria shall apply as additional requirements for townhouse and garden apartment development:
A.
The developer should vary architectural treatments within apartment projects, individual apartments, and between dwelling units in a townhouse development. Variations may include those of exterior elevation, building setbacks, provisions of balconies, architectural details, pitch of roof, exterior materials, or use of color.
B.
Variety and flexibility in design layout and arrangement of buildings, parking areas, services, recreation areas, common open space, and plantings that fully consider the particular physical characteristics of site and natural amenities is highly desired.
C.
Screen plantings shall be provided where multiple dwelling unit land developments abut any nonresidential use or where such developments abut any single-family residential or other zoning district. Screen plantings shall be designed, located, and maintained in accordance with the requirements of Part 15 of this chapter.
D.
All utility lines within a townhouse or garden apartment development shall be placed underground.
E.
All open space, green areas, patios, courts and buffer yards shall be landscaped and maintained to insure the safety, privacy and comfort of townhouse and garden apartment residents.
F.
Exterior storage areas for trash and rubbish shall be well screened on three sides and contained in covered, verminproof containers.
G.
A ten-foot-wide easement is required to provide access to the rear of every townhouse unit.
[Added by Ord. 2015-05, 8/13/2015]
§ 27-905 Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.05]
In addition to the requirements listed in this Part, the off-street parking regulations of Part 16 shall apply where applicable to the uses permitted in this district.
§ 27-906 Signs and Advertising Structures.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.06]
Signs shall be permitted in accordance with Part 17 of this chapter.
§ 27-907 Supplementary District Regulations.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.07]
The supplementary district regulations in Part 14 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.
§ 27-908 Environmental Improvements and Energy Conservation Requirements.
[Ord. 21A, 9/2/1982, § 9.08]
The environmental and energy requirements in Part 15 shall apply, where applicable, as additional requirements for this district.