Wilkins Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE III
District Regulations
§ 450-8 Zoning districts.
[Amended 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917; 4-14-2008 by Ord. No. 986; 10-26-2009 by Ord. No. 1000; 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 1091]
The municipality is divided into the following districts as shown by the district boundaries on the Zoning Map:[1]
R-1 | Residential District |
R-2 | Residential District |
R-3 | Residential District |
R-4 | Residential District |
R-C-1 | Residential-Commercial District |
C | Commercial District |
M | Manufacturing District |
F-1 | Floodplain District |
LAR-TND | Larimer Avenue Traditional Neighborhood Development District |
GP-TOZ | Greensburg Pike Transitional Overlay Zone |
[1]
Editor's Note: The Zoning Map is on file in the office of the Township Manager.
§ 450-9 District boundaries.
District boundaries shown on the lines of roads, streams and transportation rights-of-way shall be deemed to follow the center lines. The vacation of roads shall not affect the location of such district boundaries. When the Zoning Officer cannot definitely determine the location of a district boundary by such center lines, by the scale of dimensions stated on the Zoning Map or by the fact that it clearly coincides with a property line, he/she shall refuse action, and the Zoning Hearing Board, upon appeal, shall interpret the location of the district boundary with reference to the scale of the Zoning Map and the purposes set forth in all relevant provisions of this chapter.
§ 450-10 Permitted uses.
[Amended 9-11-1978 by Ord. No. 638; 5-14-1979 by Ord. No. 644; 12-9-1985 by Ord. No. 738; 9-11-1989 by Ord. No. 787; 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917]
The permitted uses for each district are as follows. Uses not specifically listed shall not be permitted.
A.
R-1 Residential District. Permitted uses shall be as follows:
B.
R-2 Residential District. Permitted uses shall be as follows:
C.
D.
E.
C Commercial District. Permitted uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Banks.
(2)
Bowling alleys.
(3)
Funeral homes.
(4)
Hotels and motels.
(5)
Public buildings.
(6)
Offices.
(7)
Restaurants.
(8)
Service shops.
(9)
Theaters (indoor).
(10)
Enclosed stores for the sale of goods.
(11)
Gasoline stations. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patron can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(12)
Repair garages. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patron can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(13)
Auto sales and service. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patron can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(14)
Public garage. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patron can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(15)
Drive-in business. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patron can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(16)
Accessory uses. [Note: any use or structure involving, as a principal part of the conduct of the business, the use or servicing of motor vehicles such as an automobile or gasoline service station, automobile sales area, major garage or drive-in business (a business where a patrol can receive goods or services without entering the principal structure of the lot) shall be so located that no vehicular entrance or exit shall be closer than 250 feet to the line of any elementary or secondary or vocational school, playground, hospital, medical clinic, medical center, church, residential lot or the same use as the proposed use, whether or not said lot line is located on the same frontage as the proposed uses described elsewhere in this section.]
(17)
The storage of Class I flammable liquids and Class II combustible liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings, as more fully defined and governed by the Wilkins Township Code, Chapter 201, Fire Prevention, as amended by Ord. No. 1018 on September 12, 2011, and the 2009 International Fire Code.
[Added 1-9-2012 by Ord. No. 1023]
(18)
Forestry.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
F.
M Manufacturing District. Permitted uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Building equipment or materials yards.
(2)
Maintenance equipment of a public agency or utility.
(3)
Offices.
(4)
Research laboratories.
(5)
Warehousing.
(6)
Light manufacturing.
(7)
Accessory uses.
(8)
The storage of Class I flammable liquids and Class II combustible liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings, as more fully defined and governed by the Wilkins Township Code, Chapter 201, Fire Prevention, as amended by Ord. No. 1018 on September 12, 2011, and the 2009 International Fire Code.
[Added 1-9-2012 by Ord. No. 1023]
(9)
Forestry.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
H.
R-C-1 Residential-Commercial District. Permitted uses shall be as follows:
[Added 4-14-2008 by Ord. No. 986]
(1)
All those permitted uses as identified in the R-1 Residential District.
(2)
All those permitted uses as identified in the R-2 Residential District.
(3)
All those permitted uses as identified in the R-3 Residential District.
(4)
Business, medical/professional offices.
(5)
Specialty retail.
(6)
Forestry.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
§ 450-11 Conditional uses.
[Amended 9-11-1978 by Ord. No. 638; 12-9-1985 by Ord. No. 738; 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917; 12-27-1999 by Ord. No. 927; 4-14-2008 by Ord. No. 986; 10-26-2009 by Ord. No. 1000; 5-10-2010 by Ord. No. 1006; 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 1012; 11-10-2014 by Ord. No. 1047; 1-25-2016 by Ord. No. 1060; 1-6-2020 by Ord. No. 1085; 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 1091; 2-24-2025 by Ord. No. 1133]
The governing body may authorize conditional uses as follows if all conditions and provisions of Article VI are met:
A.
R-1 Residential District. Conditional uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Churches.
(2)
Golf clubs.
(3)
Golf courses.
(4)
Public buildings.
(5)
Recreation areas.
(6)
School building conversions.
(7)
A mobile home not located within a mobile home park shall be subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-50O(6)(b) through (d).
(8)
Domestic livestock use accessory to a single-family dwelling, subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-49P.
(9)
Public and charter schools.
B.
R-2 Residential District. Conditional uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Churches.
(2)
Golf clubs.
(3)
Golf courses.
(4)
Public buildings.
(5)
Recreation areas.
(6)
School building conversions.
(7)
A mobile home not located within a mobile home park shall be subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-50O(6)(b) through (d).
(8)
Domestic livestock use accessory to a single-family dwelling, subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-49P.
(9)
Public and charter schools.
C.
R-3 Residential District. Conditional uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Churches.
(2)
Golf clubs.
(3)
Golf courses.
(4)
Public buildings.
(5)
Recreation areas.
(6)
School building conversions.
(7)
A mobile home not located within a mobile home park shall be subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-50O(6)(b) through (d).
(8)
Domestic livestock use accessory to a single-family dwelling, subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-49P.
(9)
Public and charter schools.
D.
R-4 Residential District. Conditional uses shall be as follows:
(1)
Churches.
(2)
Golf clubs.
(3)
Golf courses.
(4)
Public buildings.
(5)
Recreation areas.
(6)
Public schools.
(7)
Swim clubs.
(8)
Tennis courts.
(9)
School building conversions.
(10)
A mobile home not located within a mobile home park shall be subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-50O(6)(b) through (d).
(11)
Mobile home park.
(12)
Domestic livestock use accessory to a single-family dwelling, subject to the conditions set forth in § 450-49P.
(13)
Public and charter schools.
G.
M Manufacturing District. Conditional uses shall be as follows: any use not prohibited by ordinance and not specifically permitted in any district by this chapter, and specifically including gas and oil well drilling, oil and gas development, and oil and gas drilling subsurface facilities.
H.
R-C-1 Residential-Commercial District.
I.
LAR-TND Larimer Avenue Traditional Neighborhood Development District. Conditional uses shall be as follows:
(1)
All those permitted uses as identified in the R-2 Residential District.
(2)
All those permitted uses as identified in the R-1 Residential District.
(3)
Ambulance station.
(5)
Contractor yards.
(6)
Self-storage facilities.
(7)
Dry cleaners and laundries.
(8)
Laundromats.
(9)
Light manufacturing and assembly.
§ 450-12 Height regulations.
[Amended 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917]
Except as provided in § 450-20, no structure shall exceed 35 feet in height above average ground level. Heights up to 45 feet may be permitted as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board using the following criteria:
A.
In determining whether to grant or refuse such special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board shall consider the fire-fighting equipment available within the Township of Wilkins at the time of the request for special exception and the ability of such equipment to be used in fighting fires in the proposed building and in the rescue of persons occupying the same.
B.
The "structure" is any of the following and does not constitute a hazard to an established airport: television and radio towers, church spires, belfries, monuments, tanks, water and fire towers, stage towers and scenery lofts, cooling towers, ornamental towers and spires, chimneys, elevator bulkheads, smokestacks, conveyors, and flagpoles.
§ 450-13 Lot and yard requirements.
[Amended 9-11-1978 by Ord. No. 638]
The minimum lot area, minimum width of a lot, minimum depth of the front yard and minimum width of each side yard for each district shall be as shown in Subsection A.
A.
The Table of Lot, Area and Bulk Requirements shall be as follows:
[Amended 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917; 5-10-2010 by Ord. No. 1006; 11-9-2020 by Ord. No. 1091]
Table of Lot, Area and Bulk Requirements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
District | Minimum Lot Area (square feet) | Lot Area Per Family (square feet) | Lot Width (feet) | Front Yard (feet) | Rear Yard (feet) | Side Yard (feet) |
R-1 | 15,000 | 15,000 | 80 | 40 | 25 | 15 |
R-2 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 65 | 30 | 20 | 10 |
R-3 | 7,500 | 7,500 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 8 |
R-4 | 7,500 | 2,500 | 50 | 30 | 20 | 5 |
C | 5,000 | 2,000 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 0 |
M | 20,000 | — | 50 | 50 | 30 | 1 |
F-1 | 20,000 | 10,000 | 50 | 50 | 30 | 10 |
LAR-TND | See § 450-50M | |||||
GP-TOZ | See § 450-49Q | |||||
NOTE: |
|---|
1 See § 450-13F. |
B.
Lots which abut on more than one street shall provide the required front yards along every street.
C.
Except as provided in §§ 450-16, 450-17 and 450-20 of this chapter, all structures, whether attached to the principal structure or not and whether open or enclosed, including porches, carports, balconies or platforms above normal grade level, shall not project into any minimum front, side or rear yard.
[Amended 12-28-1998 by Ord. No. 917; 11-22-2010 by Ord. No. 1011]
D.
Any lot of record existing at the effective date of this chapter and then held in separate ownership different from the ownership of adjoining lots may be used for the erection of a structure conforming to the use regulations of the district in which it is located, even though its area and width are less than the minimum requirements of this chapter.
E.
Where an on-lot septic tank is to be used, the minimum lot size shall not be less than required by percolation tests and in no case shall it be less than 15,000 square feet.
F.
Nonresidential structures or uses shall not be located or conducted closer to any lot line of any other lot in any R District than the distance specified in the following schedule:
Minimum Side or Rear Yard Abutting Any Lot in Any R District (feet) | Use |
|---|---|
20 | Off-street parking spaces and access drives for nonresidential uses |
40 | Churches, schools and public or semipublic structures |
70 | Recreation facilities, entertainment facilities, motels, all business uses and industrial uses |
G.
Any manufacturing or commercial use abutting any R District shall be further required to place a masonry wall or hedge between six and 10 feet tall along the full length of the boundary except that it may be omitted within 25 feet of a street line.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Section 207, entitled "Floodplain District," which immediately followed this section, was repealed 9-11-1978 by Ord. No. 638.
H.
Anything in this Code to the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no minimum front, rear or side yard requirement applicable to additional structures erected on lots owned or leased by volunteer fire companies and ambulance or emergency medical services companies, provided the lot is in use for fire or ambulance or emergency medical service at the time of adoption of this amendment.
[Added 1-28-2002 by Ord. No. 937]
§ 450-13.1 Regulations governing multiple-family dwellings in R-3 and R-4 Residential Districts.
[Amended 11-25-2024 by Ord. No. 1129]
A.
The definition of "family" contained in § 450-7 of this chapter shall apply to multiple-family dwellings.
B.
No part of any lot used for a multiple-family dwelling shall be located any closer than 250 feet to any part of any other lot in the R-3 and R-4 Districts used as a multiple-family dwelling.
C.
Off-street parking shall be provided as follows:
(1)
There shall be two parking spaces for each multiple-family unit, and each space shall meet the requirements of § 450-23A(2).
(2)
All parking areas shall be graded for proper drainage and surfaced to provide a durable and dust-free surface.
(3)
All lighting in the parking area shall be arranged to reflect light away from other premises and to prevent glare thereon or therein.
(4)
At least 50% of the required parking spaces shall be totally enclosed within the principal or an accessory structure.
(5)
No more than 1/2 of the required front and rear yard area shall be used for parking.
(6)
No part of the required side yard area shall be used for parking.
D.
Lot, yard height and sidewalk requirements shall be as follows:
(1)
Minimum lot area: 20,000 square feet.
(2)
Minimum lot width: 80 feet.
(3)
Required front yard: 50 feet.
(4)
Required side yard: 15 feet.
(5)
Required rear yard: 30 feet.
(6)
Maximum height: 35 feet.
(8)
Sidewalks shall be installed according to existing Township standards along the portion of the multiple-dwelling lot abutting all streets.
E.
The maximum number of multiple-family units permitted on a tract of 20,000 square feet shall be six.
F.
The maximum number of multiple-family units permitted on any single lot or tract shall be 13.