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West Goshen Township
City Zoning Code

ARTICLE V

R-4 Residential District

§ 84-15 Use regulations.

A building may be erected, altered or used and a lot or premises may be used for any of the following purposes and for no other:
A. 
Single-family detached dwelling.
B. 
Agriculture. (See § 84-50.)
C. 
Forestry, subject to the standards in § 84-57.8.
[Added 5-9-2001 by Ord. No. 6-2001[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsections C and D as Subsections D and E, respectively.
D. 
Any of the following accessory uses shall be permitted:
(1) 
Customary residential accessory uses.
(2) 
Swimming pool, provided that it is located in the rear yard or side yard of the dwelling to which it is accessory and is a minimum of 10 feet from any lot line. On a lot which fronts on two or more streets and on corner lots, a swimming pool may be erected within the building envelope to the rear of the dwelling. A swimming pool shall be enclosed by a minimum four-foot-high continuous barrier.
[Amended 4-15-2009 by Ord. No. 3-2009]
(3) 
Home occupation, no-impact home-based business and home-related business in a single-family detached dwelling.
[Amended 2-12-2003 by Ord. No. 3-2003; 6-12-2013 by Ord. No. 03-2013]
(4) 
Family day-care homes.
[Added 4-18-1989 by Ord. No. 3-1989]
(5) 
A noncommercial athletic court, such as, but not limited to, a tennis court, paddle tennis court or basketball court, shall be permitted as an accessory use to a single-family dwelling on a lot containing a minimum of one acre, provided that the following conditions are met:
[Added 8-10-2005 by Ord. No. 7-2005]
(a) 
The court is not located in the front or side yard;
(b) 
The court is set back at least 50 feet from any side or rear property line;
(c) 
There shall be no lighting facilities installed to illuminate the court; and
(d) 
Any side of the court which is visible from a public street or adjacent residential lot shall be screened with a completely planted visual barrier consisting of evergreen plantings having a minimum height of six feet (after planting) and placed no more than 10 feet apart on center. A stockade fence having a minimum height of six feet constructed without gaps or breaks may be substituted for the evergreen screen.
(6) 
In-law suites in accordance with the regulations in § 84-57.25.
[Added 12-14-2016 by Ord. No. 5-2016]
E. 
The following uses shall be permitted as a special exception when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board subject to Article XVII of this chapter. The area and bulk regulations for apartments, § 84-16B of this article, shall apply to apartment use in the R-4 Residential District. The area and bulk regulations for other uses permitted by special exception, § 84-16C of this article, shall apply to all other uses permitted by special exception in the R-4 Residential District. The design standards for uses permitted by special exception, § 84-17B of this article, shall apply to all uses permitted by special exception in the R-4 Residential District.
(1) 
Multifamily dwellings.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(2) 
Religious or philanthropic uses, excluding correctional or penal institution.
[Amended 9-25-2002 by Ord. No. 11-2002]
(3) 
(Reserved).[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection D(3), Golf course and golf house, was repealed 1-23-1993 by Ord. No. 1-1993.
(4) 
(Reserved)[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection E(4), Public utility facility, was repealed 9-2-2014 by Ord. No. 3-2014 and 10-8-2014 by Ord. No. 4-2014.
(5) 
Noncommercial recreational use, such as nonprofit swimming pools, provided that the principal activity shall not be one which is customarily carried on as a business and provided that all services shall be for members and their guests.
(6) 
Semidetached dwellings.
[Added 4-10-1978 by Ord. No. 3-1978; amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(7) 
[4]Student homes.
[Added 6-12-2013 by Ord. No. 02-2013]
[4]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection D(7), Patio homes, added 4-10-1978 by Ord. No. 3-1978, was repealed 12-4-1979 by Ord. No. 8-1979.
F. 
The following uses shall be permitted as a conditional use when authorized by the Board of Supervisors. In allowing a conditional use, the Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this Zoning Chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the purposes of the MPC and this Zoning Chapter.
[Added 9-25-2002 by Ord. No. 11-2002]
(1) 
The educational uses specified in § 84-57.10 of this chapter, subject to the regulations specified in § 84-57.10 of this chapter.

§ 84-16 Area and bulk regulations.

The following area and bulk regulations shall apply:
A. 
Single-family detached dwelling.
(1) 
Lot size with both on-site sewer and water services: 30,000 square feet minimum.
(2) 
Lot size with either public sewer or public water service only: 22,000 square feet minimum.
(3) 
Lot size with both public sewer and public water services: 18,000 square feet minimum.
(4) 
Lot width at building line: 100 feet minimum.
(5) 
Lot width at street right-of-way line: 50 feet minimum.
(6) 
Lot coverage: 25% maximum.
(7) 
Green area: 20% minimum.
(8) 
Building setback line: 40 feet minimum.
(9) 
Side yards: 10 feet minimum for each with 25 feet total for both yards.
(10) 
Rear yard: 30 feet minimum.
(11) 
Maximum building height: three stories, not to exceed 30 feet.
B. 
Apartments.
(1) 
Lot size: one acre minimum.
(2) 
Lot width at building line: 200 feet minimum.
(3) 
Lot width at street right-of-way line: 50 feet minimum.
(4) 
Lot coverage: 25% maximum for principal buildings; 35% total maximum, including all accessory buildings and tenant garages.
(5) 
Green area: 20% minimum.
(6) 
Building setback line: 50 feet minimum.
(7) 
Side yards: 50 feet minimum for each.
(8) 
Rear yards: 50 feet minimum.
(9) 
Maximum building height: three stories, not to exceed 30 feet.
(10) 
Minimum distance between building faces: 75 feet.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(11) 
Length of building: not to exceed 175 feet in any direction.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(12) 
Dwelling unit density.
[Amended 6-13-1973 by Ord. No. 3-1973]
(a) 
One acre to less than three acres: six dwelling units per acre.
(b) 
Three acres to less than 10 acres: eight dwelling units per acre.
(c) 
Ten acres or more: 10 dwelling units per acre.
(13) 
Public water service and public sewer service shall be required.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection B(14), requiring fire hydrants for apartment construction, which immediately followed this subsection.
C. 
Multifamily dwellings (excluding apartments) and semidetached dwellings.
[Added 4-10-1978 by Ord. No. 3-78; amended 12-4-1979 by Ord. No. 8-79; 5-12-1980 by Ord. No. 4-80; 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(1) 
Minimum development tract area: three acres.
(2) 
Maximum number of dwelling units per acre: six averaged over the development tract.
(3) 
Minimum building setback from the street right-of-way: 50 feet.
(4) 
Maximum height: three stories, not exceeding 30 feet.
(5) 
Minimum side yard for end unit or corner lot: 50 feet.
(6) 
Minimum distance between buildings: 75 feet.
(7) 
Minimum distance from building to any property line of the development tract: 50 feet.
(8) 
Minimum green area: 45%.
(9) 
Maximum lot coverage: 35%.
(10) 
Maximum paved area: 20%.
(11) 
The length of any building and other structure not to exceed 175 feet in any single direction.
(12) 
Public water service and public sewer service required.
(13) 
Minimum off-street parking: 2.5 spaces per dwelling unit.
D. 
Other uses permitted by special exception.
(1) 
Green area: 20% minimum.
(2) 
Lot size: one acre minium.
(3) 
Lot width at building line: 200 feet minimum.
(4) 
Lot width at street right-of-way line: 50 feet minimum.
(5) 
Lot coverage: 25% maximum.
(6) 
Building setback line: 50 feet minimum.
(7) 
Side yards: 50 feet minimum for each.
(8) 
Rear yards: 50 feet minimum.
(9) 
Maximum building height: three stories, not to exceed 40 feet.
(10) 
Public water and public sewer facilities required.

§ 84-17 Design standards.

The following design standards shall apply:
A. 
Single-family detached dwellings.
(1) 
Parking: as required by § 84-55J of this chapter.
(2) 
Uses permitted by special exception.
(a) 
Screening: as required by § 84-55A of this chapter, or as directed by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(b) 
Storage: as required by § 84-55B of this chapter.
(c) 
Landscaping: as required by § 84-55C of this chapter.
(d) 
Parking for nonresidential uses as required by § 84-55I of this chapter; parking for residential uses as required by § 84-55E and I(3) of this chapter.
[Amended 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(e) 
Access and traffic control: as required by § 84-55D of this chapter.
[Added 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
B. 
The following additional regulations shall apply to multifamily dwellings:
[Added 10-25-1994 by Ord. No. 3-1994]
(1) 
Variations in buildings and other structural locations shall be provided to create architectural interest and to preserve critical environmental areas and amenities. Variations shall include but not necessarily be limited to width of individual dwelling units, a variation of exterior facade materials and rooflines. Setbacks shall vary from one or a pair of dwelling units so that each is offset from the next by a minimum of two feet. The rooflines of buildings shall be designed so that roof elevations vary by no less than 13 inches in height every two attached dwelling units. The front wall of each pair of dwelling units shall be designed to provide a minimum two-foot offset from each pair of adjacent dwelling unit front walls on either side. A garage attached to and made an integral part of the dwelling unit shall not be considered in the design of the minimum two-foot offset. In granting a special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board may modify the requirements of this subsection if it finds that an alternate proposal for building variation proposed by the applicant provides for at least equal or superior design variation criteria which is consistent with the requirements of this subsection.
(2) 
Every building and other structure (except for streets and utilities within the street right-of-way) shall be sited to promote pedestrian and visual access to the required minimum green area and the open space mandated by Chapter 72, Subdivision of Land.
(3) 
All utilities shall be designed, placed and installed underground.