Trafford City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Supplementary Regulations
§ 202-16 Effect of regulations.
The provisions of this chapter shall be subject to such exceptions, additions or modifications as herein provided by the following supplementary regulations.
§ 202-17 Essential services.
Essential services, as defined in this chapter, shall be permitted in all districts, subject to restrictions approved by the Planning Commission with respect to use, design, yard area, setback and height.
§ 202-18 Dwellings on substandard lots.
A single-family or multifamily dwelling may be constructed on any lot of official record at the time of enactment of this chapter, in the proper district, the owner of which does not own any adjoining property, provided that, in the opinion of the Zoning Hearing Board, proposed yard spaces satisfy, as closely as possible, the yards and building setbacks in the remainder of the block.
§ 202-19 Residency in house trailers prohibited.
No licensed or unlicensed house trailer and no unlicensed vehicle of any type may be used for living quarters in any district. The removal of wheels and the provisions of foundations to or utilities which supply such trailer or vehicle does not constitute a permanent structure and permit occupancy under any provision of this chapter. No exceptions or variances shall be made except by amendment of this chapter.
§ 202-20 Use as dump, rendering plant or for refuse storage restricted.
No lot or premises shall be used as a garbage or storage dump or a dead animal rendering plant. No manure, rubbish or miscellaneous refuse may be stored in the open area within any district where the same may, be construed as a menace to public health or safety. No exceptions shall be made except by amendment of this chapter.
§ 202-21 Visibility at intersections.
No fence, wall, hedge, screen, sign or other, structure or planting shall be higher than 31/2 feet in any district within the triangle area (sight triangle) formed by the intersection of the center line of each street; the line measured along each center line will be 80 feet on major streets and 80 feet on the minor streets. When a major and a minor street intersect, each shall retain their respective footage requirements along the center line to form the sight triangle. Trees may be planted in this triangle area, provided that the lowest foliage is eight feet or higher from the ground.
§ 202-22 Swimming pools.
[Amended 10-20-1998 by Ord. No. 667]
The construction, location and maintenance of swimming pools, private or public, shall be in conformance with Chapter 77, Building Construction.
§ 202-23 Fences and walls.
§ 202-24 Prefabricated metal storage sheds.
A.
A prefabricated metal storage shed may be installed and constructed on the rear part of a lot or parcel of land, not contrary to existing regulations as to location, as to lot lines, rear and side yards and other restrictions and regulations as heretofore set forth in this chapter, other than the fact that said shed need not now, under this section be attached to a dwelling house erected thereon.
B.
Before said storage shed is installed and constructed, a permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Trafford, and the cost of said permit shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Borough Council.
[Amended 10-20-1998 by Ord. No. 667]
C.
Further restrictions are as follows:
(1)
Said shed shall be a distance of not less than two feet from either side lot line and shall be constructed or installed behind the rear building line on said lot.
(2)
If said shed is attached to the building, it shall be considered as a part of the building and assessed as such.
(3)
Only one such shed shall be permitted for each home.
(4)
The shed shall not exceed 12 feet by 12 feet in size and shall not exceed eight feet in height.
(5)
Said shed shall be used for the storage of inorganic material only and cannot be used for storage of any kind of grain, food or as habitat for any fowl, animal or human or for storage of garbage or refuse of any kind.
(6)
No electric service or wiring shall be attached to said shed.
(7)
Said shed must be kept orderly and clean, both inside and outside.
D.
If at any time the above conditions, either in installation, construction or use, are not met and complied with, the Borough of Trafford shall have the authority to dismantle and tear down said shed, and the costs of the same shall be assessed to the owner of said property and may be liened against said real estate.
§ 202-25 Provisions, applicable in the R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District.
The following regulations shall apply in the R-3 Multiple-Family Residential District:
A.
Height. The maximum height of structures in this district shall be 30 feet.
B.
Area. Each lot in this district shall comply with the following minimum requirements, unless otherwise provided:
(1)
Front yard depths for straight units, shall be 30 feet, and for offset units, not less than 25 feet.
(2)
For each one-family dwelling contained in a multiple-unit building, there shall be no side yard requirement, however, for a multiple unit building, there shall be a minimum space of 10 feet remaining on each side of multiple-unit building, which amounts to a minimum of 20 feet between said multiple-unit buildings. Each multiple-unit building shall be limited to a maximum of eight units.
(3)
The rear yard depth shall be a minimum of 40 feet, except that where R-3 abuts R-1, the rear yard depth shall be a minimum of 50 feet.
(4)
Each lot shall contain a minimum of 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit and shall fully meet the open space requirements as set forth herein.
C.
It is hereby provided that an R-3 District or area not have less than five acres of total area.
D.
Open space requirements.
(1)
All common open space resulting from the application of standards for density or intensity of land use shall be set aside for the use and benefit of the residents in such development.
(2)
There shall be provided open space which shall constitute not less than 20% of the total development.
(4)
Land development to be set aside for open space shall be tendered to the borough by dedication as a condition of approval of the planned residential development. To the extent that the borough does not accept all or part of said dedication, the open space shall be placed for ownership and maintenance in an organization established by the landowner/developer. Said organization shall not be dissolved nor shall it dispose of the common open space by sale or otherwise, except to an organization conceived and established to own and maintain the common open space, without first offering to dedicate the same to the public.
E.
Organizational ownership of open space. In the event that the organization established to own and maintain common open space, or any successor organization, shall, at any time after establishment of the Multiple-Family Residential District, fail to maintain the common open space in reasonable order and condition and in accordance with the development plan, the borough may serve written notice upon such organization or upon the residents of the Multiple-Family Residential District, setting forth the manner in which the organization has failed to maintain the common open space in reasonable condition, and said notice shall include a demand that such deficiencies of maintenance be corrected within 30 days thereof and shall state the date and place of a hearing thereon, which shall be held within 14 days of the notice. At such hearing, the municipality may modify the terms of the original notice as to the deficiencies and may give an extension of time within which they shall be corrected. If the deficiencies set forth in the original notice or in the modifications thereof shall not be corrected within said 30 days or any extension thereof, the municipality, in order to preserve the taxable values of the properties within the Multiple-Family Residential District and to prevent the common open space from becoming a public nuisance, may enter upon said common open space and maintain the same for a period of one year. Said maintenance by the municipality shall not constitute a taking of said common open space nor vest in the public any rights to use the same. Before the expiration of said year, the municipality shall, upon its initiative or upon the request of the organization theretofor responsible for the maintenance of the common open space, call a public hearing, upon notice to such organization or to the residents of the Multiple-Family Residential District, to be held by the governing body or any designated agency, at which hearing such organization or the residents of the Multiple-Family Residential District shall show cause why such maintenance by the municipality shall not, at the option of the municipality, continue for a succeeding year. If the governing body or its designated agency shall determine that such organization is not ready and able to maintain said common open space in a reasonable condition, the municipality may, in its discretion, continue to maintain said common open space during the next succeeding year and, subject to a similar hearing and determination, in each year thereafter. The decision of the governing body or its designated agency shall be subject to appeal in court in the same manner and within the same time limitation as is provided for zoning appeals by statute. The cost of such maintenance by the municipality shall be assessed by rate against the properties within the Multiple-Family Residential District that have a right of enjoyment of the common open space and shall become a lien on said properties. The municipality, at the time of entering upon said common open space for the purpose of maintenance, shall file a notice of lien in the office of the prothonotary of the county upon the properties affected by the lien within the Multiple-Family Residential District.
F.
Limits of improvement standards. The standards and requirements of the Subdivision Ordinance[2] and other ordinances, except as set forth herein to the contrary, relating to the location, width, course and surfacing of streets, walkways, curbs, gutters, streetlights, shade trees, water, sewage and drainage facilities, easements or rights-of-way for drainage and utilities, reservations of public grounds and other improvements shall apply to Multiple-Family Residential Districts. The standards and criteria by which the design, bulk and location of buildings and/or structures are determined, as set forth in this chapter, and other ordinances of the borough shall apply equally to Multiple-Family Residential Districts.
G.
All required front, side and rear yards shall be maintained as lawns and plantings, and no required yard shall be used for vehicle parking, except that automobiles may be parked on driveways or parking areas as provided on the site plan.