A student home is permitted by special exception, only, within the R-1, R-2 and R-3 Zoning Districts within a lawful single-family dwelling unit under the Township Zoning Code, provided all of the following requirements are met.
(a) A student home shall only be permitted within a single-family detached dwelling.
(b) No student home shall be permitted within a two-family dwelling unit, of any kind, including but not limited to, twins, townhouses or duplexes.
(c) No more than one building on a lot may be used as a student home.
(d) A special exception authorizing a student home shall expire unless the use is licensed and occupied as a student home within six months from the date of the special exception authorization.
(e) No student home shall be closer than 500 feet to another student home property line. The distance requirement is measured from the closest property line of a potential student home to another student home property line.
(f) The rules and regulations applicable to the conduct of student tenants in student homes authorized under this section shall, at a minimum, conform to those applicable to on-campus dormitories of the college or university wherein the student tenants at issue attend. The owner shall provide proof of such rules and regulations to the township.
(g) The student home shall have a minimum of 1,000 square feet of living area, exclusive of building area covered by a basement, garage or an accessory building.
(h) The student home shall meet the minimum yard setbacks, lot area and lot width requirements for single-family detached dwellings within the zoning district in which located.
(i) Noise abatement measures acceptable to the township shall be used to avoid conflicts with nearby neighbors.
(j) A buffer area with a width of ten feet shall be required for student homes along the rear and side lot lines of the subject property.
(k) Landscaping acceptable to the township shall be used as a buffer between a student home and any nearby dwellings.
(l) The number of persons living in such a student home shall not exceed four. Any number of persons in excess of four would tend to create an institutional atmosphere that would threaten the residential character of the subject zoning district.
(m) The student home shall meet the minimum area, yard setback, lot width and other area and bulk requirements for single-family detached dwellings, unless otherwise specified herein.
(n) A minimum of one paved off-street parking space per student home located to the side or rear of the premises and not in the front yard shall be required, in addition to those otherwise required for a single-family dwelling.
(o) The owner, manager and/or agent of the student home shall secure an annual license from the township in accordance with Chapter 1461 of these codified ordinances.
(p) The owner of the property shall provide the township with the number of students that reside within a student home and shall provide the names and contact information for each student residing therein.
(q) The owner of the property shall notify the township when there is a change in the individual students residing within a student home and/or if the property is no longer used as a student home. The owner of the property shall immediately notify the township of a change in the property’s status as a student home. In the event that the student home is no longer leased to students for a period of one year or more, any request to relicense the dwelling as a student home shall only be permitted in accordance with all requirements of this section.
(r) No student residing within a student home shall conduct himself or herself in a disruptive manner.
(s) A student home shall not be permitted to be used for any purpose other than a residence.
(t) The owner of the student home and the students residing within said student home shall not engage in, nor tolerate nor permit others on the property of the student home to engage in, conduct declared illegal under the State Crimes Code, being 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 101 et seq., Liquor Code, being 47 P.S. §§ 1-101 et seq. and/or Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, being 35 P.S. §§ 780-101 et seq. The owner shall provide the township with proof of rules and regulations enforcing the same at the subject property.
(u) The student home’s exterior appearance shall be maintained so as to resemble the dwellings within the immediate vicinity of the student home, and there shall be no signs identifying the use and/or identifying it as a student home.
(v) This section is not intended, nor shall its effect be, to limit any other enforcement remedies, which may be available to the township against an owner, student tenant and/or guest thereof found in this chapter and/or other applicable law.
(Ord. 939, passed 7-15-2015; Ord. 942, passed 1-20-2016)