WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION

7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA  17112

WEDNESDAY, January 12, 2005

WORKSHOP MEETING – ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATES

 

MEMBERS PRESENT                                                          MEMBERS ABSENT

Jim Zeiters                                                                    Barbara Zemlock                                 

David Wingeard                                                            Rick Bolt

Carol Buskirk

Terry Bailey

Marlin Moyer

 

STAFF PRESENT

Bob Leonard, Zoning Administrator

 

The workshop meeting came to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

ZONING ORDINANCE UPDATE #2

 

Discussion occurred regarding Open Space.  With the concept of no minimum lot size required for the structures, the FRA District no longer needs 3 Open Space percentages.  Decision to leave at 80%.  Neighborhood Commercial also is to receive Open Space, but be apportioned by use between 10% and 20%.  Marlin Moyer brought up the issue with condominiums on one lot and how to handle spacing between units if we eliminate minimum lot size.  RTL to check with Harold Arndt regarding minimum fire separation of buildings.  May want to consider a minimum unit width of 24’ and a maximum number of units strung together.

 

Carol Buskirk found recommended changes from the November workshop were not incorporated into most recent version of Open Space.  RTL to correct.  May want to look at PADEP’s definition of silviculture.

 

Discussion regarding flag lots allowed under Open Space went from expansion of allowed numbers to elimination altogether.  Consensus was to remove all flag lots from the Ordinance.  Suggestion made to add a copy of the Private Open Space Ownership Agreement to the back of the SALDO.  The need to identify these agreements on deeds was discussed, and will be reviewed during SALDO updates.

 

Article X, Neighborhood Commercial (NC) District, Section 195-49 Development requirements.

ADD:

M.       Open space residential and nonresidential development.  Open space residential and nonresidential development shall be in accordance with Article XVII.

 

Article XVII, Open Space Residential and Nonresidential Development, Section 195-86 Determining open space, et.al.

                                                                                    Minimum Percent

District                                                 of Open Space

 

Flexible Rural Agriculture (FRA)           80%

 

Rural Residential (RR)              40%

 

Low-Density Residential (R-1)  35%

 

Medium-Density Residential (R-2)        25%

 

Suburban Residential (R-3)                   20%Hanoverdale Hamlet (HH) 20%

 

Village (V)        15%

 

Business Enterprise                               20%

 

Neighborhood Commercial (NC)      20% Residential use only

                                                            15% Mixed use

                                                            10% Commercial use only

 

Commercial Highway (CH)                   10%

 

Starting on Article XVIII General Regulations, discussion followed regarding why accessory apartments should be allowed solely in R-1 and R-3 Districts.  Consensus was to drop R-3 and add FRA and RR since they naturally have larger lot sizes, which is one of the requirements to have one.  In addition, we may need to look at some of the size and parking requirements.

 

Article XVIII General Regulations, Section 195-94, Accessory Apartments in FRA, RR and R-1 Districts

Amend to add:

 

G.                 Two additional off-street parking spaces shall be required for the accessory apartment.

 

Delete:  J.  Where public sewage is …

 

Discussion of accessory buildings in certain districts brought up that R-2 was not listed, and HH and V would have to be removed.  In addition, a final discussion was about fences and walls.

 

Article XVIII General Regulations, Section 195-95A Accessory buildings

Amend to add/change:

 

(7)        Accessory building or buildings shall not cover more than 10% of the net lot area in the R3, R2, HH or V NC or BE Districts.  An accessory building shall not be more than 35% of the gross floor area of the principal building.  (Net lot area shall mean, for the purposes of this section, the total lot area minus the floor area of the principal building).

 

Article XVIII General Regulations, Section 195-95D Fences and walls

Amend to add/change:

 

(2)                Any fence or wall in the side or rear yard may be solid or opaque up to six feet in height, and may extend higher if at least 50 % open in character to a maximum of 8 feet total.

(3)               Any fence in the front yard must be kept out of the road right-of-way.

(4)               Farm animal and livestock fences shall be exempt from (3).

 

The next PC workshop meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 9, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.