Part 6
R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District

§27-601 Purpose of District.

The purpose of the R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District is to:

A.    Provide for the orderly development of existing and proposed medium-high density residential areas where adequate public services and circulation facilities are available.

B.    Provide for areas of multi-family dwellings through the conditional use, thus ensuring their proper location and development in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

C.    Exclude those uses not compatible with such development.

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-31)

§27-602 Permitted Uses.

Permitted uses in the R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District are as follows:

A.    Dwelling, single-family.

B.    Dwelling, two-family.

C.    Private swimming pools.

D.    Accessory buildings and uses customarily incidental to the above uses.

E.    No impact home-based businesses. [Ord. 841]

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-32; as amended by Ord. 841, 10/7/2019, §3(D))

§27-603 Special Exception Uses.

Special exception uses (see §27-1609) in the R-3 Medium-High as follows:

A.    Boarding and lodging houses, provided that not more than four rooms of a residence are used for such purposes.

B.    Business office buildings to be used only for the administrative functions of companies, corporations, social or philanthropic organizations or societies and the professional offices of accountants, architects, brokers, engineers, lawyers and similar professions.

C.    Neighborhood commercial uses, provided that such uses are confined to the first floor or part of the first floor of a building and are designed to serve primarily persons residing in the immediate area and within walking distance of the commercial use.

D.    Conversions of existing buildings to any permitted use or to special exception uses in paragraphs .B and .C, provided that all regulations pertaining to conversions are met. See §27-1317.

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-33; as amended by Ord. 841, 10/7/2019, §5)

§27-604 Conditional Uses.

Conditional uses (see §27-1610) in the R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District are as follows:

A.    Townhouses.

B.    Garden apartments, as new construction or conversions.

C.    Elevator apartments.

D.    Churches, public schools.

E.    Appropriate public uses and essential services.

F.    Public swimming pools.

G.    Sanatoriums.

H.    Nursing homes.

I.    Mobile home parks in accordance with the provisions of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] and other applicable requirements.

J.    Conversions to conditional uses in paragraphs .C, .D and .E above, provided that all regulations pertaining to conversions are met. See §27-1317.

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-34)

§27-605 Height Regulations.

The height of all buildings shall not be greater than 40 feet, with the exception of elevator apartments which shall not be greater than 60 feet.

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-35)

§27-606 Area and Bulk Regulations.

Area and bulk regulations in the R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District are as follows:

A.    Dwelling, Single-Family.

(1)    Minimum lot size–7,500 square feet.

(2)    Minimum lot width–50 feet.

(3)    Minimum any one side yard setback–10 feet.

(4)    Minimum aggregate side yard setback–20 feet.

(5)    Minimum front yard setback–20 feet.

(6)    Minimum rear yard setback–20 feet.

(7)    Maximum impervious coverage–45 percent.

B.    Dwelling, Two-Family.

(1)    Minimum lot size for a two-family dwelling as defined in this Chapter–12,000 square feet. [Ord. 581]

(2)    Minimum lot width–100 feet.

(3)    Minimum any one side yard setback–10 feet.

(4)    Minimum aggregate side yard setback–20 feet.

(5)    Minimum front yard setback–20 feet.

(6)    Minimum rear yard setback–20 feet.

(7)    Maximum impervious coverage–45 percent.

C.    Townhouses.

(1)    Minimum lot size for initial three dwelling units–15,000 square feet with at least 2,200 square feet of lot area for each additional dwelling unit. [Ord. 652]

(2)    Minimum lot width–150 feet.

(3)    Minimum lot depth–100 feet.

(4)    Side yard–20 feet.

(5)    Aggregate side yards–50 feet.

(6)    Minimum front yard setback–20 feet.

(7)    Minimum rear yard setback–20 feet.

(8)    Maximum impervious coverage–60 percent.

D.    Garden Apartments.

(1)    Minimum lot size for initial three dwelling units–14,000 square feet with at least 2,000 square feet of lot area for each additional dwelling unit. [Ord. 652]

(2)    Minimum lot width–100 feet.

(3)    Minimum front yard setback–30 feet.

(4)    Minimum side yard setback–25 feet.

(5)    Minimum rear yard setback–30 feet.

(6)    Maximum impervious coverage–60 percent.

(7)    Maximum height–three stories or 40 feet, whichever is the lesser.

E.    Elevator Apartments.

(1)    There shall be at least 900 square feet of lot area for each dwelling unit.

(2)    Minimum lot width–140 feet.

(3)    Minimum front yard setback–35 feet.

(4)    Minimum side yard setback–30 feet.

(5)    Minimum rear yard setback–35 feet.

(6)    Maximum impervious coverage–75 percent.

F.    Business and Professional Office Uses.

(1)    Minimum lot size–none.

(2)    Minimum lot width–80 feet.

(3)    Minimum any one side yard setback–15 feet.

(4)    Minimum front yard setback–20 feet.

(5)    Minimum rear yard setback–20 feet.

(6)    Maximum impervious coverage–50 percent.

(7)    Maximum height–35 feet.

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-36; as amended by Ord. 581, 6/6/1988, §I; and by Ord. 652, 4/15/1996, §3(c))

§27-607 Townhouse Design Standards.

1.    Each townhouse dwelling unit shall incorporate varied architectural modes and setbacks.

2.    An overall structure of attached dwelling units shall not be permitted with one common roofline or with equal front and rear yard setbacks for all dwelling units. Similarly, the appearance of the front and rear wall of the building shall have a distinction between dwelling units by varying the unit width or height, providing different exterior materials on the facade or by changing the rooflines. Setbacks shall vary from every dwelling unit to the next so that every two units are offset from the adjoining units by a minimum of 2 feet front and rear.

3.    If topographical or other barriers do not provide adequate privacy for existing uses adjacent to the townhouse development, structures located on the perimeter must be set back a distance sufficient to protect the privacy and amenity of the adjacent uses or be permanently screened to the approval of the Planning Commission. Buffer areas consisting of hedges, evergreens or other suitable plantings may be required to sufficiently constitute an effective screen.

4.    All townhouse developments are subject to the provisions of the Borough Subdivision and Land Development Plan [Chapter 22].

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-37)

§27-608 Yard Regulations.

Yard regulations in the R-3 Medium-High Density Residential District are as follows:

A.    Accessory buildings–see §27-1310.

B.    On each corner lot there shall be two front yards, each butting a street.

C.    There shall be a minimum distance between all principal buildings of 15 feet. [Ord. 604]

(Ord. 565, 11/17/1986, §140-37.1; as amended by Ord. 604, 5/7/1990, §I)