West Conshohocken City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
IB Interchange Business District
§ 113-53 Legislative intent.
In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent contained in Article I, § 113-3, of this chapter and the statement of community development objectives contained in Article I, § 113-5, of this chapter, it is hereby declared to be the intent of the Interchange Business District to establish reasonable standards for the development of commercial establishments serving regional needs while recognizing that the topography and the essentially residential quality of the Borough of West Conshohocken preclude any uses requiring large amounts of land or uses of a more intensive scale. The regulations in this district are designed to fulfill the following specific objectives:
A.
Achieving the most productive use of the land by locating uses close to the interchange of the Schuylkill and the Mid-County Expressways that can benefit the community and the traveler most.
B.
Protecting the highway's traffic capacity by establishing adequate setbacks for structures in order to maintain adequate sight distances for vehicles, as well as keeping distractions to the motorist away from the highway's traffic lanes.
C.
Providing traveler services for motorists.
D.
Protecting the neighborhoods of West Conshohocken from unreasonable disturbance from noise, glare or excessive traffic.
E.
Allow high-density housing located in close proximity to a limited access highway so traffic generated from high-density housing would not have to traverse through local roads, but rather can obtain expeditious ingress and egress to their jobs and their destinations.
[Added 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04, approved 12-13-2011]
§ 113-54 Use regulations.
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.
Services to the traveling public:
(1)
Restaurants (including fast-food, but excluding drive-ins).
(2)
Motels or hotels.
(3)
Automobile service stations (excluding self-service stations).
B.
Commuter-oriented uses:
(1)
Commuter parking.
(2)
Bus terminals or taxi stands.
C.
The following uses, when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the provisions of Article XVII:
(1)
Banks.
(2)
Self-service automobile service stations.
D.
Accessory uses.
E.
Signs.
F.
Interchange housing. Interchange housing shall be permitted in this district when located within 500 feet of the entrance to the Schuylkill Expressway and shall comply with all requirements outlined in § 113-55K, as well as all other requirements of the zoning code. When the provisions of § 113-55K conflict with other provisions of the zoning code, the provisions of § 113-55K shall control.
[Added 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04, approved 12-13-2011]
§ 113-55 Development regulations.
A.
Area.
(1)
A lot area of not less than one acre shall be provided for all uses, except automobile service stations, permitted in the IB Interchange Business District.
(2)
A lot area of not less than 30,000 square feet shall be provided for an automobile service station permitted in the IB Interchange Business District.
B.
Width. A lot width of not less than 200 feet shall be provided for each lot in the IB Interchange Business District.
C.
Building coverage. Not more than 35% of the area of each lot may be occupied by buildings.
D.
Height. The maximum height of any building shall be 40 feet.
E.
Setbacks. The following setbacks shall apply for any structures in the IB Interchange Business District:
(1)
The setback, measured from the ultimate right-of-way line, shall be 50 feet.
(2)
The setback, measured from any other lot line, shall be 35 feet, except for those lot lines abutting a residential district.
(3)
When any lot abuts a residential district, the setback from that district line shall be 50 feet.
F.
Landscaping. Landscaping, including buffers, screens, parking lot landscaping, street trees and preservation of existing vegetation, shall be provided according to the requirements of Chapter 102, Subdivision and Land Development.
[Amended 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-436, approved 11-14-1995]
G.
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection G, Trash and refuse areas, was repealed 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-436, approved 11-14-1995. For current provisions, see Ch. 102, Subdivision and Land Development.
H.
Outside lighting. All outside lighting shall be shielded so that the source of light shall not be visible from any point off the lot on which the light is located. In no case shall lights be permitted to be directed or reflected toward any residential district.
I.
Parking. No parking area shall be located closer than 15 feet to an ultimate right-of-way line and at least 10 feet shall be maintained as a buffer area. All parking and loading areas required in the IB Interchange Business District shall be subject to Article XV, Off-Street Parking and Loading, of this chapter.
J.
Signs. Signs are permitted subject to the provisions of the West Conshohocken Sign Ordinance.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Article XXIII, Signs, of this chapter.
K.
Interchange housing. The following minimum requirements and maximum density shall apply to interchange housing:
[Added 12-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-04, approved 12-13-2011]
(1)
Minimum tract size. The minimum tract size shall be one developable acre excluding existing rights-of-way of all public roads.
(2)
Maximum density. The maximum permitted density shall be 18 dwelling units per developable acre.
(3)
Sewer and water facilities. The tract shall be served by public water facilities and public sewer facilities.
(4)
Utilities. All utility lines shall be placed underground.
(5)
Garage. Each unit shall contain a garage.
(6)
Parking regulations. Two off-street automobile parking spaces shall be required for each dwelling unit, excluding the garage. Parking shall not be stacked in such a manner that one car will need to be moved in order to allow the other car to move into the space.
(7)
Lighting. Lighting facilities shall be provided as needed and arranged in a manner which will protect the highway and neighboring properties from unreasonable direct glare or hazardous interference of any kind. Lighting facilities shall be required where deemed necessary for the safety and convenience of the residents of the development and shall be installed by the developer at its sole expense.
(8)
Building size. There shall be no more than five interchange housing units in a continuous attached row, and no more than two continuous units shall have a uniform setback from a right-of-way line or parking area.
(9)
Distance between buildings. In the case of two or more buildings, the horizontal distance between them shall not be less than 30 feet for interior buildings, excluding decks or patios.
(10)
Setbacks. There shall be a five-foot minimum perimeter setback for all buildings and a nine-foot minimum perimeter setback for all parking areas from the tract boundary line.
(11)
Lot width. There shall be a minimum lot width of 200 feet for a lot containing multifamily housing.
(12)
Housing width. Each unit shall have a minimum width of 22 feet.
(13)
Impervious coverage. The maximum impervious coverage for the tract shall be 75%.
(14)
Building coverage. No more than 45% of the tract may be occupied by buildings.
(15)
Height. The maximum height of any building shall be 35 feet.
(16)
Other requirements. All other requirements of the Zoning Ordinance that are not superseded by the specific requirements of this section must be satisfied.
