Upper Providence Township Montgomery County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
VP Village Preservation District
§ 300-235 Legislative intent.
In expansion of the statement of community development objectives contained in § 300-2 of this chapter, it is hereby declared to be the intent of this article with respect to VP Village Preservation Districts to encourage the preservation of the existing character and residential life-styles of the Mont Clare portions of Upper Providence Township which exhibit a mixture of single-family detached and two-family dwellings on smaller lot sizes than those found throughout the Township. Furthermore, it is the intent of this district to guide the future development or redevelopment of these neighborhoods in the Township by providing strict control of conversions to multiple-family dwellings, home occupations and the introduction of incompatible uses or activities within the designated Village Preservation Districts in order to preserve and enhance their present character and, thus, avoid rapid deterioration or transition to the detriment of the local residents and the general welfare of Upper Providence Township.
§ 300-236 Permitted uses.
In a VP District, a building may be erected, altered or used and a lot may be used or occupied for any of the following uses and no other:
A.
Single-family detached dwellings.
B.
Two-family dwellings (twins and duplexes).
C.
The following uses when authorized as a special exception:
(1)
Home occupations, except that a clinic, barbershop, beauty parlor, tearoom, tourist home, animal hospital or any similar use shall not be deemed to be a home occupation and that no goods shall be publicly displayed on the premises.
(2)
Conversions of residential structures. The conversion of a single-family dwelling or other building into a dwelling for two or more families, subject to the following requirements:
(a)
Each dwelling unit shall not have less than 600 square feet of floor area, plus an additional 100 square feet of floor area for each additional bedroom in excess of one.
(b)
The lot area per family may not be reduced to an amount less than 33% of that required by this article.
(c)
No more than three families shall be permitted to occupy such buildings.
(d)
The off-street parking requirements of this chapter shall be met.
(e)
The conversion shall be authorized only for a large dwelling with relatively little economic usefulness as a conforming use.
(f)
The Zoning Hearing Board may prescribe such further conditions and restrictions as they may consider appropriate to preserve the character of the surrounding neighborhood.
D.
Accessory uses on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any permitted use.
E.
As a special exception only, communications antennas, in accordance with the provisions of § 300-25, mounted on an existing public utility transmission tower, existing building or other existing structure, and communications equipment buildings only upon a showing, in addition to any other that may be required under this chapter that denial of such a special exception would have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless service. Communications towers are not permitted.
[Added 6-1-1998 by Ord. No. 372]
§ 300-237 Development regulations.
The following regulations shall apply in the VP District:
A.
Area, width, yard and coverage regulations. The following area, width, coverage and yard regulations shall apply in the VP District:
[Amended 12-16-1991 by Ord. No. 307]
Dwelling Type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Development Requirements | Single-Family Detached Dwelling | Two-Family Dwellings Twin | Duplex |
Minimum lot area (square feet)1 | 6,000 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
Minimum lot width (feet)2 | 40 | 20 | 40 |
Minimum front yard (feet)3 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Minimum side yard (feet)4 | 15 | 8 (1 side only) | 15 |
Minimum rear yard (feet)5 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
Maximum building coverage (percentage)6 | 30 | 40 | 30 |
NOTES: |
|---|
1Per dwelling unit. |
2Per dwelling unit measured along the building line. |
3Measured from the ultimate right-of-way line. |
4Measured from the property line, except that the distance from a street line shall be at least 10 feet. |
5Except that an accessory use may be erected within the rear yard not closer than 10 feet to the rear property line. |
6Calculated as a percentage of lot area. |
B.
Sewer and water facilities. Each lot shall be served by public sewer and centralized water facilities deemed acceptable by the Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation of the Township Engineer.