Whitemarsh Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Residential Districts Generally
§ 116-34 Scope.
The following regulations shall govern the designated residential districts.
§ 116-35 Permitted uses in AAAA, AAA, AA, A and B Residential Districts.
[Amended 10-21-1982 by Ord. No. 442]
Permitted uses on each lot in AAAA, AAA, AA, A and B Residential Districts shall be as follows:
A.
One single-family detached dwelling.
B.
Agriculture or horticulture, except the commercial keeping or handling of farm stock or poultry and except commercial greenhouses or establishments for sale of farm or horticulture products.
C.
Any of the following purposes when authorized as a special exception:
(1)
Public utility facility, provided that the exterior architectural design shall be of a residential character in conformity with all the regulations of the district and shall at no time be used for the storage of equipment or vehicles or other commercial purposes.
(2)
Passenger station for public transportation.
D.
An accessory use on the same lot with and customarily incidental to any permitted use, including a home occupation.
§ 116-36 (Reserved) [1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 116-36, Permitted uses in C Residential District, was repealed 11-14-2024 by Ord. No. 1044.
§ 116-36.1 Group home as special exception use.
[Added 3-28-2013 by Ord. No. 925]
In all residential districts, with the exception of CCRC Continuing-Care Retirement Community District, and in the VC Village Commercial District, a group home may be authorized as a special exception subject to compliance with the following criteria:
A.
One parking space shall be provided for each staff member who will customarily be on premises at the same time as any other staff member or who will overlap shifts with another staff member.
B.
One parking space shall be provided for every five residents or fraction thereof; one such space shall be a handicapped (accessible) space, adequate in size for a van.
C.
Buffering of the side and rear of the property shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, § 105-52.
D.
The home will conform to the type and outward appearance of the residences in the area in which it is located. This requirement shall in no way restrict the installation of a ramp or other special features required to serve the residents.
E.
Any medical or counseling services provided shall be done for the residents of the group home only.
§ 116-37 Conditional use procedures. [1]
[Added 8-23-1990 by Ord. No. 604; amended 12-13-2007 by Ord. No. 845]
The procedure for the granting of conditional uses in any zoning district shall be as follows:
A.
The applicant shall file an application for a conditional use permit with the Board of Supervisors. The application shall contain the following material:
(1)
Appropriate design plans and/or specifications, in conformance with the requirements for a preliminary subdivision or land development plan.
(2)
Photographs depicting the site.
(3)
Appropriate engineering responses to any identified or suspected site development problem.
(4)
Other related information required to support the application.
B.
The Board of Supervisors shall conduct a public hearing pursuant to public notice.
C.
In considering any conditional use application, the Board of Supervisors may consult with the Township Planning Commission, the Montgomery County Planning Commission, the Township Engineer and other technical experts to determine the feasibility of such proposed use.
D.
Conditions of approval. In allowing a conditional use, where such use is permitted, the Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, as it may deem necessary, to implement the purposes of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,[2] as amended, and this chapter.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
F.
In any instance where the Board of Supervisors is required to consider a request for a conditional use in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, the Board shall:
(1)
Determine whether the conditional use is specifically authorized by a provision of this chapter.
(2)
Determine that the proposed use will be compatible with the character of the neighborhood and that the use of property adjacent to the area of the proposed use is adequately safeguarded, if necessary.
(3)
Determine that the proposed use or change will not have a harmful effect on local vehicular or pedestrian traffic due to any of the following:
(4)
Determine that the proposed use is consistent with the policies contained within the Whitemarsh Township Comprehensive Plan and the Whitemarsh Township Open Space Plan.
(5)
Determine that the surrounding neighborhood will not be subjected to objectionable noise, lighting, glare, heat, ventilation, smoke, fumes, vapors, dust, dirt, gases or radioactive or electrical disturbances by the proposed use or change.
(6)
Determine that the design of the proposed development minimizes adverse effects, including visual impacts, of the proposed use on adjacent properties.
(7)
Determine that the proposed use will comply with the regulations of the zoning districts in which it is located and this chapter generally, including but not limited to, all lot, yard and bulk regulations, parking and loading regulations, sign regulations, floodplain regulations and all other applicable ordinances.
(8)
Determine that the proposed use or change does not unduly burden sanitary sewers, school, police, fire, park, stormwater management or other public facilities or services, whether or not provided by the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 116-37, Variance of lot area requirement, was repealed 8-25-1983 by Ord. No. 477.
§ 116-38 (Reserved) [1]
[1]
Editor’s Note: Former § 116-38, Planned cluster developments, as amended, was repealed 4-6-2006 by Ord. No. 812.