Interior drives shall comply with the following regulations:

A. Interior drives shall be designed so as to prevent blockage of vehicles entering or leaving a site. In order to achieve efficient interior circulation, the following shall be required where two or more uses are serviced by a common street or drive, or where any use or uses require parking facilities.
B. Interior streets shall be clearly marked by signs, curbing and painting.
C. Interior circulation shall be designed and established in conformance with applicable regulations of the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
D. Interior streets or aisles shall have a minimum width of 22 feet.

A. Purpose. In addition to increasing the aesthetics of a given site, landscaping shall be required in order to:

(1) Provide stability for soil;
(2) Protect against erosion;
(3) Increase the drainage capacity of the land;
(4) Maintain the rural quality of the Township; and
(5) Provide shade and protection from the elements.

(1) Any part of a site not used for buildings, structures, parking, loading, travel ways or sidewalks shall be planted, landscaped and maintained with suitable ground cover and plants.
(2) A landscape plan shall be required for one or more of the following situations in accordance with § 170-20: Preliminary plans of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance:

(a) The proposed use is a commercial or industrial use.
(b) An existing commercial or industrial use is proposing to expand the amount of existing floor area by more than 50%.
(c) Where the aggregate disturbed area of a site for any proposed use affects one acre or more.
(d) Where site disturbance affects 1/2 acre or more of land with a slope of 15% or greater.

(e) When specified in any other section of this chapter.

C. Design criteria. Landscaping shall be incorporated into the design of proposed uses and intended to achieve the following:

(1) Provide vegetative protection to land not covered by buildings, structures, parking facilities or sidewalks.
(2) Complement the topography and vegetation of the site to maintain and enhance the existing vegetative community.
(3) Create new streamside buffers and augment existing streamside buffers within the Township.
(4) Enhance the appearance of a site for the betterment of the Township.
(5) Limit the disturbance to existing vegetation.
(6) Provide live vegetation throughout the existence of the use according to § 200-100E of this chapter.

(1) Off-street parking areas shall be landscaped to provide shade; to screen autos from public roads; and to reduce glare and noise.
(2) Landscaping within parking areas shall be provided in accordance with § 170-40: Parking areas. of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
(3) Maintenance of the landscaping shall be required according to the provisions set forth in § 200-100E.

A. Applicability. For the purpose of safety, lighting facilities shall be required in the following circumstances:

(1) For loading areas.
(2) For ingress and egress areas.
(3) For parking areas of multiple-family, commercial and industrial uses.
(4) For automated bank teller machines.
(5) At location where pedestrian facilities abut roads or parking facilities.
(6) Lighting shall be required at all proposed intersections with an arterial road.
(7) Where otherwise required by this chapter.
(8) The Board of Supervisors may require lighting to be incorporated for other uses where personal security and safety reasons warrant.

(1) For the following uses, lighting shall provide at the specified illumination level:

 

Use	Maintained Footcandles	Uniformity Ratio (Average: Minimum)
Pedestrian walkways	0.5 average	5:1
Street intersections	4.0 average	6:1
Multifamily common areas	0.6 minimum	3:1
Direct illuminated signs	0.7 average	NA
Recreational uses	1.0 minimum	3:1
Institutional activities	1.0 minimum	3:1
Indirect illuminated signs	1.1 average	6:1
Industrial parking lots	0.5 minimum	4:1
Commercial parking lots:
Low-activity lots	1.0 average	3:1
High-activity lots	2.0 average	3:1

 

(2) All lighting facilities shall have underground wiring.
(3) No lighting shall be permitted which shines directly into a residential unit.
(4) All lighting shall be shielded from glare within any right-of-way.
(5) Where possible, indirect lighting of signs and short post lighting along walkways should be incorporated to reduce glare.
(6) Proposed lighting facilities shall meet the approval of the Township prior to approval of the plan.
(7) Maximum mounting height for lighting fixtures shall be 20 feet. All fixtures in excess of 16 feet mounting height shall meet applicable IESNA (Illuminating Engineering Society of North America) full cutoff criteria.
(8) The intensity of illumination projected onto a residential use shall not exceed 0.1 vertical footcandle, measured anywhere on residentially used property.
(9) Externally illuminated signs shall be lighted by fixtures mounted at the top of the sign and aimed downward.

C. Installation responsibilities. Where lighting facilities are required by this chapter, installation of such shall be governed by the following:

(1) The installation of lighting fixtures shall be in accordance with the lighting plan approved for the use in which the lighting plan was submitted.
(2) Where required by this chapter, the applicant shall install or cause to be installed all lighting fixtures.
(3) Fixtures shall be provided at the expense of the applicant, and shall be in accordance with a utility plan prepared by the applicant and approved by the Board of Supervisors and the appropriate utility company.
(4) For residential development where a public street is created or an intersection with an existing public street is created, the applicant or his/her successor shall be responsible for all costs involved in the lighting of streets and street intersections from the date the first dwelling is occupied.
(5) For proposed commercial or industrial development where a public street is created or an intersection with an existing public street is created, the applicant shall be responsible for all costs involved in the lighting of streets and street intersections from the date structures are first utilized for business.

Loading and storage areas shall comply with the standards of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, and shall be designed so that these activities will not block or interfere with the use of accessways or parking areas in accordance with § 200-103: Interior circulation of this chapter.

A. Applicability. Any building or structure, commercial or industrial shall be provided with a sufficient number of off-street loading berths, as required by this chapter.
B. Number of loading berths.

(1) A minimum of one loading berth shall be required for commercial, industrial, or storage uses with a gross leasable floor area between 6,000 and 50,000 square feet.
(2) Commercial, industrial, or storage uses with a gross leasable floor area over 50,000 square feet shall be required to provide a minimum of two loading berths.

C. Design. Loading berths shall be designed according to the following:

(1) Loading facilities shall be located on the same lot and adjacent to the principal structure or use.
(2) Appropriate means of safe and convenient vehicular access shall be provided to and from loading berths that will create the least interference with other traffic.
(3) Each loading berth shall be a minimum of 14 feet wide and 60 feet long.
(4) Each loading area shall have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet.
(5) No loading area shall be located within any required yard area.
(6) All loading areas shall be screened from public streets.
(7) An all-weather surface shall be provided for loading berths.
(8) Loading berths shall be designed in a manner that no portion of any vehicle in the process of loading or unloading shall extend into any traffic lane.
(9) All required loading berths shall be located in the side or rear yard area of the use to be served.
(10) No loading berth shall be permitted within any front yard area.
(11) Loading berths shall be located a minimum of 100 feet from any adjacent property line.

D. Calculations. No loading berth shall be used in the calculation of parking space requirements. Neither required off-street parking spaces nor access lanes can substitute for loading berths.

A. Applicability. The regulations established under this section apply to all uses other than residential.
B. Design.

(1) There shall be sufficient spaces provided for each use so that there is a minimum of one space per employee, plus additional parking to be provided.
(2) The number of additional spaces shall be calculated using the formula listed in § 200-109B(2).
(3) All uses not specified shall provide a minimum of one space per employee plus such additional spaces as deemed necessary by the Board of Supervisors.

C. Off-street parking spaces, with proper and safe access from a public street, shall be provided on the lot as the use to be served. In the event a parking lot is to be located on a separate tract, the applicant shall submit satisfactory evidence to the Zoning Officer that an agreement exists to use the tract permanently for parking.
D. No on-street parking shall be permitted on any public street or within its right-of-way during snow storms so as to facilitate snow removal.
E. Off-street parking facilities as accessory to uses listed herein shall be solely for the parking of passenger automobiles of patrons, occupants and/or employees. The use of such parking facilities for the overnight parking and/or storing of recreational equipment or recreational vehicles, or the like, used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes is prohibited on any lot not approved for such use. Further, the parking, keeping or maintaining of any storage trailer or similar unit or enclosure on any property for any storage or similar use is expressly prohibited unless the same is on a temporary basis (less than 10 continuous days) and is authorized pursuant to a permit issued by the Township.

A. Purpose. Pedestrian accessways are required by this chapter in order to:

(1) Encourage pedestrian travel;
(2) Promote safe access between uses, buildings and structures; and
(3) Foster community interaction.

B. Applicability. Sidewalks shall be required in accordance with § 170-34: Sidewalks of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
C. Parking lot access.

(1) Parking areas with more than 25 spaces shall be required to provide walkways between parking rows to provide safe pedestrian access.
(2) Areas where walkways cross vehicular traffic lanes, shall be marked and signed in such a manner as to alert drivers to potential pedestrians.

D. Sidewalk design and maintenance. Sidewalks shall be designed and maintained in accordance with § 170-34: Sidewalks of the New Garden Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

The following performance standards shall apply to all uses in New Garden Township:

A. No obnoxious, toxic or corrosive fumes or gases shall be emitted as a result of the use.
B. No use shall emit offensive odors which are perceptible at lot lines.
C. No use shall discharge into the air dust or other particulate matter.
D. No use shall emit smoke from operations.
E. No use shall produce any heat or glare perceptible at or beyond the lot boundaries.
F. No use shall utilize lighting in a manner which produces glare perceptible at or beyond the lot boundaries.
G. No use shall permit physical vibrations perceptible at or beyond the lot boundaries.
H. No use shall emit potentially harmful radiation.
I. No use shall engage in the production or storage of any material designed for use as an explosive.
J. Storage of waste material:

(1) No use shall engage in the storage of waste materials on the lot for any period beyond 30 days.
(2) Interim waste storage shall be located behind the front building line of the primary building and no closer than 50 feet to any rear or side lot line.
(3) All storage shall be completely screened from the view of any street or adjoining property.

K. No use shall discharge an objectionable and/or potentially dangerous effluent from plant operations.
L. No industrial lagoons for chemicals or other liquid waste shall be permitted.
M. No use shall be conducted so that noise, whether sustained or sporadic, shall exceed the level of ordinary conversation at the boundaries of the lot.

A. Applicability. The following regulations shall apply to all residential units including but not limited to single-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings.
B. Design.

(1) All residential units shall be provided with a minimum of two off-street parking spaces having proper and safe access to a public street.
(2) Each parking space shall be at least nine feet by 18 feet in size.
(3) All parking spaces shall have an improved, all-weather surface, providing safe and convenient access in all seasons.

C. Substitution. Single-family dwellings can substitute driveways and garages in the calculation for parking spaces.
D. Driveways.

(1) Driveways for all single-family semidetached units (twins) within any cluster development shall have one common access driveway to serve at least two dwelling units.
(2) Driveways for all single-family attached dwelling units (townhouses) within any development, including, but not limited to cluster development, shall have one driveway to provide access to not less than two residential dwelling units.

​​​​A. Purpose. Screening shall be required in certain circumstances to reduce possible light, sound, and visual intrusions caused by some permitted uses that would otherwise impact upon neighboring properties.
B. Applicability. Vegetative screens shall be required by the Board of Supervisors under the following circumstances:

(1) Where a proposed industrial or commercial use abuts an existing residential or agricultural use or district.
(2) Where an activity has been granted as a conditional use.
(3) Where an activity has been granted as a special exception.
(4) Where an outdoor storage activity or mechanical equipment area is proposed.
(5) Where specified by other sections of this chapter.
(6) The Board of Supervisors may further determine that screening shall be required for a proposed use when the proposed use is determined to be incompatible with uses on adjacent tracts. The following situations may create incompatibility between uses:
(a) The density of the proposed use is greater than that of adjacent uses.
(b) The proposed use involves outdoor activities beyond normal parking and loading.
(c) Traffic volumes, noise generation, the use of lighting, or other factors make the proposed use more intensive then adjacent uses.

C. Design criteria. Vegetative screening shall use native, noninvasive species in order to fulfill its purpose according to the following design criteria:

(1) Include a variety of deciduous and evergreen species which are indigenous to the area, so as to provide vegetative variety and a year-round buffer.
(2) The species to be used shall be selected from those identified in Appendix A which is available in the Township offices.
(3) Vegetative screening shall be designed to produce a seventy-five-percent-opaque buffer within one year of planting from the following locations:
(a) Any public right-of-way; and
(b) Adjacent lots, buildings, or structures.
(4) The percentage of evergreens within a vegetative screen shall be no less than 50% and shall not exceed 75% of the total plantings.
(5) Provide a screen with a minimum depth of 20 feet, having no planting closer than five feet to any property line, and no planting located to obstruct motorist visibility at intersections.
(6) Incorporate earthen mounds into the planting scheme to improve sound as well as visual buffering.
(7) Plantings shall be designed as groupings of plant materials intended to represent a naturalistic setting while screening views of specific buildings, structures or uses, rather than in the form of continuous linear plantings.
(8) Vegetative screen design shall be reviewed and approved by the Township prior to installation.

D. Parking lot screening. Where a use is proposed that contains a parking lot with 20 or more parking spaces, the parking lot shall be designed in accordance with Article VI: Design and Improvement Standards of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.
E. Responsibility and maintenance.

(1) Vegetative screens and buffers shall be continually maintained during the life of the use.
(2) The applicant shall be responsible for plantings for a period of one year after conveyance.
(3) The landowner shall be responsible for maintenance after the one-year period has expired.
(4) All nonsurviving plantings shall be replaced within six months, as long as the building or structure which requires the screening continues to exist.

F. Enforcement. Violation of these provisions will result in a citation by the Zoning Officer and any other enforcement as provided by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote, protect and preserve the public health and safety and general welfare of the citizens of New Garden Township in accordance with the following objectives:

(1) To control the size, location and illumination of the signs in the Township in order to reduce hazards to pedestrian and vehicular traffic;
(2) To encourage signs which are well designed and pleasing in appearance and to provide incentive and latitude for variety, in order to enhance the economic value as well as the visual character of the Township;
(3) To establish criteria designed to encourage signs which are compatible with their surroundings, appropriate to the type of activity to which they pertain, expressive of the identity of the individual proprietors, and legible in the circumstances in which they are seen;
(4) To prohibit signs or advertising distractions or obstructions which may contribute to traffic accidents or hazards caused by signs overhanging or projecting over or near the public rights-of-way; and

(5) To prohibit the construction of and provide for the removal of signs which constitute a hazardous or dangerous situation.

(1) No sign may be erected, placed and/or maintained in any district of the Township unless it is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any other ordinances and regulations of the Township.
(2) No sign shall be erected, placed and/or maintained unless kept in good condition or repair and not allowed to become dilapidated. Each sign shall be promptly removed when the circumstances leading to its erection or placement no longer apply.
(3) No sign shall be erected in such a position as to unduly interfere with or unduly impede driver's vision or vehicular traffic or safety signs.

C. General regulations.
The following regulations shall be observed in all districts:

(1) A sign shall be related to the use of the structure or premises where it is located.
(2) A sign permit must be obtained from the Code Enforcement Officer before a sign is erected or placed in the Township, except for temporary real estate signs. See Sign permit for more information.
(3) Permit applications for signs larger than eight square feet in size shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the sign and the size and location of the sign with respect to the building and property boundaries. See Sign permit for more information.
(4) Other than as set forth in this section, plans for signs which exceed 20 square feet in size shall be subject to review and approval by the Zoning Hearing Board.
(5) No part of any sign shall be permitted closer than five feet from the nearest street right-of-way line.
(6) All signs shall be kept in a proper state of repair.
(7) If a sign has become dilapidated, or no longer conforms to the regulations set forth in this chapter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall notify the owner or lessee of the property to correct the condition within 30 days. The owner of lessee may appeal the decision within 30 days of the date of receipt of such decision.
(8) If, after 30 days, the condition has not been corrected, and the notice/decision has not been appealed, the Code Enforcement Officer shall cause the dilapidated/unconforming sign to be removed at the expense of the owner or lessee.
(9) If the Code Enforcement Officer determines that the condition of the sign poses an imminent danger to public safety, he may order the sign removed immediately, the owner or lessee shall have the right of appeal after the fact to the Zoning Hearing Board.
(10) No sign shall be placed in such a position that it will cause danger to traffic on the street by obscuring the view or to pedestrians by obstructing the sidewalk right-of-way.
(11) No sign shall be illuminated with colored lights, artificial light source or reflecting device, which may be confused with highway traffic signals.
(12) No stringing of light bulbs, animated signs or signs that revolve or swing or have movable parts or flashing lights or reflectors shall be permitted after the effective date of this chapter.
(13) No sign shall be erected on a roof.
(14) Parallel signs shall not project over 12 inches from the face of the building to which they are attached.
(15) No animated signs (other than time-and-temperature signs) or signs that emit smoke, vapor, or noise shall be permitted.
(16) No sign shall be permitted which implies that a property may be used for any purpose not permitted by this chapter.
(17) All signs shall front on the street and shall be placed only in the front yard with the exception of wall signs and window signs as permitted in § 200-112D.
(18) All signs, except for official traffic signs, shall be located on the tract or lot with which they are associated.
(19) The color and lettering of signs shall be either white, black, or other muted nonbrilliant color and shall otherwise be compatible with other signs in the vicinity and the lettering of the signs shall be in reasonable proportion to the dimensions of the sign surface.
(20) No sign permits shall be issued unless there is conformance with the regulations of this chapter, except upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board, granted pursuant to the procedures established for the issuance of a variance.
(21) No banner, flag, streamer, pennant, spinners or sign of any other type across a public street, or on any property shall be permitted, except as specifically permitted under this chapter.
(22) No sign shall be erected or maintained on a tree or utility pole, or painted or drawn on a rock or other natural feature, other than signs indicating the prohibition or control or fishing, hunting, or trespassing, etc.
(23) No part of any sign which is not attached to a building shall be higher than 25 feet above the level of the ground at the base of such sign.
(24) No part of any sign which is attached to a building shall be higher than the lowest area of the roof of the building to which such sign is attached with the exception of buildings having a flat roof where an architectural feature is provided above the roof line designed specifically for the purpose of mounting a wall sign. No part of any sign which is attached to a building shall be higher than 25 feet above grade level.
(25) Regardless of the construction type of a sign, there shall not be permitted on any property more than one sign for each public street on which the tract or parcel fronts, excluding wall signs and window signs as permitted in subsection D, below, and regardless of the number of establishments or businesses occupying such tract or parcel.
(26) No illuminated signs of any kind shall be permitted in the R-1 Low Density Residential or R-2 High Density Residential Zoning Districts, or any other residential zoning district.
(27) On any given lot in a nonresidential zoning district, only wall signs, projecting signs and/or freestanding signs shall be permitted to be illuminated, in accordance with this chapter. Accordingly, on any given lot within a zoning district other than residential, wall signs identifying a specific use on the property shall be permitted to be illuminated in accordance with this chapter; in addition, one freestanding sign shall be permitted to be illuminated on such a lot in accordance with the language of this chapter. No other illuminated signs shall be permitted.
(28) All sign lighting, where permitted, shall comply with § 200-106: Lighting of this chapter.

For complete information, see § 200-112: Signs.

A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to conserve natural resources and prevent erosion and pollution in the public interest and for the public good and welfare. This section shall apply to any and all applications for subdivision and/or land development.
B. Regulations for removal and replacement of trees. All plans for subdivision and/or land development, whether sketch, preliminary or final, shall set forth, with necessary detail, all existing trees which are to be saved on all lots and open space, if applicable, the tree protection zone ("TPZ") boundary and the tree preservation techniques, in accordance with § 170-49: Tree conservation, replacement standards and regulations of the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance which will be utilized during construction and development. Further, any and all development shall fully adhere to the terms and requirements of § 170-49: Tree conservation, replacement standards and regulations of the Township's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.

All vehicular access and traffic controls shall be designed in accordance with the provisions set forth in § 170-31: Street and driveway intersections., Street and driveway intersections, of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.