Borough Council Adopts New Zoning Regulations

By Phil Ehlinger, Asst. Borough Manager

Borough Council recently adopted a strict new set of zoning regulations intended to maintain the Borough's character. With a comprehensive and successful zoning ordinance already in-place, the new code amendments are designed to regulate the smaller issues that can affect neighborhood livability.

The Borough's high quality of life and desirable residential neighborhoods have created a record demand for Borough residential properties. This has increased the level of new "in-fill" construction as well as significant additions to existing dwellings in our compact neighborhoods.

With this increased construction, several issues have arisen concerning the development and redevelopment of residential Borough properties . These issues include the location of driveways and mechanical equipment in the setback areas, building height, and fences. The recently adopted Zoning Amendments address these three issues and create reasonable controls to mitigate any potential adverse impacts from new In-fill housing and residential additions.

The new regulations create setbacks for residential and commercial driveways. This will helps control storm water run-off and allow for improved landscape buffering.

The code will now prohibit air conditioners, generators, or other large mechanical equipment from being located in setback areas. These pieces of equipment can sometimes cause a nuisance from their sound and vibrations when they are placed very close to property lines.

The new regulations specifically define how building height is measured which will prevent inappropriately elevated buildings which can adversely affect neighborhood scale and solar access. The new definition is also consistent with the statewide building code procedures for measuring building height.

Detailed fence regulations and standards for their placement and design have also been added. With these new fence regulations, the Borough is protected from unregulated fences which can have a detrimental affect on neighborhood livability.

The definition of signs is also addressed to now permit the regulation of signs displayed just behind a storefront window, but not actually on the glass. These types of signs had been heretofore unregulated and can cause a blight of windows signs in the historic downtown.

Doylestown Borough has had a Zoning Ordinance since 1937. It was one of the first communities in Bucks County to implement zoning, land use, and building regulations. The success of our community owes much to this tradition of careful town planning. The Borough continues to be a leader in community planning with the recent creation of the first TND, or Traditional Neighborhood Development, in Bucks County: the award winning Lantern Hill TND. This latest package of Zoning Amendments will strengthen and preserve the Borough's unique community fabric and continue the tradition of progressive community stewardship