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Upper Merion Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XIX

Commercial Districts

§ 165-105 Use regulations. [1]

In the Commercial Districts specified below, buildings may be erected, altered or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following purposes and no other; however a use not specifically listed that is shown to be similar to permitted use may be permitted as a special exception.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table CD.1, Use Regulations for Commercial Districts, is included as an attachment to this chapter.

§ 165-106 Dimensional requirements.

[Amended 3-31-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-845]
A. 
Table CD.2, Dimensional Requirements for Commercial Districts.
Neighbor- hood Commercial
Limited Commercial
General Commercial
Shopping Center
Dimensional Requirements
Yards
Front (from curb)
Minimum (feet)
151
151
151
Per approved plan
Maximum (feet)
252
252
25
Side (minimum) (feet)
10
10
15
Rear (minimum) (feet)
25
25
35
Building coverage % (maximum)
30%
35%
50%
Impervious coverage % (maximum)
75%
75%
80%
Green area % (minimum)
25%
25%
20%
Building height (maximum) (feet)
35
35
503
Residential buffer2 (feet)
15
15
35
NA
Residential density
NA
NA
15 DU/acre3
NOTES:
1
The front setback from the curb shall include a minimum four-foot-wide verge, six-foot-wide sidewalk and five-foot-wide planting area.
2
The maximum front setback may be increased to 35 feet for corner lots.
3
The utilization of sustainable building practices is encouraged in the General Commercial District. Utilization of sustainable building practices is optional, and will be used as incentives to allow for increased maximum building height and a reduction in minimum green area percentage, as outlined in Table GC.1 and in accordance with the following.
B. 
Table GC.1, Sustainable Building Incentives.
Maximum Allowed Without the Implementation of Sustainable Practices
Maximum Allowed With LEED Silver
Maximum Allowed With LEED Gold
Minimum green area (percentage of lot area)
20%
15%
15%
Maximum building height (feet) allowed by conditional use
50
65
80
Maximum Residential Density (DU/acre)
15
20
30
NOTES:
1.
It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to submit all necessary information to the Township to verify compliance with the most recent standards for either LEED Silver compliance or LEED Gold (as applicable) for the appropriate LEED development type. Compliance will be determined solely by the Township. The applicant shall not be required to obtain certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
2.
Failure to continue and maintain sustainable building incentives in perpetuity shall result in a zoning violation.

§ 165-107 General requirements.

A. 
All development in the commercial districts shall be served by public sewer and public water facilities.
B. 
Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with § 165-191 et seq.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Art. XXVIII, Off-Street Parking and Loading.
C. 
Signs shall meet the requirements of § 165-161 et seq.[2] Signage located on buildings shall be consistent in size, location and materials throughout a specific development.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Art. XXVII, Signs.
D. 
Landscaping and buffers shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of § 145-24.1 of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

§ 165-108 Requirements for pedestrianways.

A. 
Pedestrian/bicycle ways shall be located within the common use area and create a completely linked network of walkways connecting transit stops, commercial centers, institutional facilities and residential buildings, including common open space areas, and parking.
B. 
Along DeKalb Pike. A pedestrian/bicycle way shall begin at the curbline and consist of a verge measuring a minimum of four feet in width and a public, multipurpose path measuring a minimum unobstructed width of six feet, designed in such a manner to minimize damage or to avoid the removal of existing trees. These dimensions may be modified as approved by the Board of Supervisors, as recommended by the Township Engineer, to minimize damage or to preserve the existing mature trees in these areas or to accommodate existing conditions that conflict with these dimensions.
C. 
On all other streets. A pedestrianway shall begin at the curbline and consist of a verge strip measuring a minimum of three feet in width and a public walkway with a minimum unobstructed width of five feet.
D. 
Continuous internal pedestrian walkways, no less than five feet in width, shall provide a direct link from the public sidewalk or street right-of-way to the principal customer entrance of all principal retail establishments on the site. Walkways shall also connect focal points of pedestrian activity such as, but not limited to, transit stops, street crossings, and building and store entry points.
E. 
Unobstructed sidewalks, no less than five feet in width, shall be provided along the full length of the building along any facade featuring a customer entrance and along any facade abutting parking areas. Along facades with building entrances, the required five-foot-wide sidewalk area shall be set back from the facade by a three-foot area that either contains planting beds or additional sidewalk width.
F. 
All internal pedestrian walkways and crosswalks shall be distinguished from driving surfaces through the use of durable, low-maintenance surface materials such as pavers, bricks or scored concrete to enhance pedestrian safety and comfort.

§ 165-109 CG shared parking.

[Added 7-18-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-897]
An applicant may provide shared parking among two or more uses in the General Commercial Zoning District under the following conditions:
A. 
The applicant(s) shall submit a parking study using standards set forth by either the Institute of Traffic Engineers or the Urban Land Institute.
B. 
The parking study shall include the following:
(1) 
The required parking for the individual uses as set forth in the Upper Merion Code.
(2) 
The parking demand of the uses over the course of the day, including weekend and holidays.
(3) 
The proximity of the parking field to the entrances of the various uses.
(4) 
A circulation plan for the safe and efficient distribution of vehicles through the site, including delivery and special service vehicles.
(5) 
A pedestrian plan showing a safe network of pathways and crosswalks for visitors to the site.
(6) 
A determination of the minimum number of parking spaces that would be generally required for the safe and efficient operation of the facilities.
(7) 
The applicant(s) shall enter into a shared parking agreement containing the following:
(a) 
Documentary evidence to identify cross access and parking easements for the site.
(b) 
A safety and security plan to address provisions for maintenance, lighting, and snow removal of the shared parking lot(s).
(c) 
Provisions for the ongoing maintenance of the parking field and drive aisles.
(d) 
Provisions for monitoring and relief if not adequate: valet, parking lot attendants, review of leases, additional off-site parking, on-site expansion, parking deck.
(e) 
Provisions for a time frame for the property owner to comply.