A. Adult business. See "sexually oriented business" in this section.
B. Boarding houses. Such uses shall only be allowed where listed in the zoning district regulations, provided that the following conditions are met in addition to any conditions set forth by City Council:
(1) A site plan and architectural plans, drawn to scale, shall be submitted. These plans shall show the location and dimensions of off-street parking, private entrances, walkways, landscaping, the dimensions and square footage of each room and storage space and shall indicate the intended use of each room.
(2) One off-street parking space shall be provided for each two occupants of the dwelling.
(3) Each boarding house shall contain complete bath facilities and a central kitchen with complete cooking and washing facilities. The facilities shall be available to the occupants of the boarding house at all hours. No cooking facilities of any kind shall be located in any room except the central kitchen.
(4) The applicant shall document to City Council that the boarding house meets all of the plumbing, electrical, heating, building, fire and similar standards set by the City and by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(5) Every rooming unit shall contain a minimum of 150 square feet of floor area and may be occupied by one person. In every rooming unit, the bedroom thereof shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area.
(6) In any dwelling in which water closet, lavatory basins, bathtubs or shower facilities are shared by the occupants of more than one rooming unit, such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be accessible without going through another dwelling unit or rooming unit.
(7) No basement or cellar shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
(a) Floors and walls are substantially watertight.
(b) The total window area, total open area and ceiling height are in accordance with Chapter 180, Construction Codes.
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(c) The required minimum window area of every habitable room is entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area, not including stairwells and accessways.
(8) See also provisions for roommate housing arrangements, which is a separate use.23
C. Bottle clubs. Bottle clubs shall only be allowed where listed in the zoning district regulations, and provided the following standards are met along with any other conditions set forth by City Council:
(1) Parking requirements shall be met as set forth in § 600-1603 of this chapter.
(2) A site plan and architectural plans, drawn to scale, shall be submitted. These plans shall show the location and dimensions of off-street parking, private entrances, walkways, landscaping, the dimensions and square footage of each room and storage space and shall indicate the intended use of each room.
(3) A statement must be presented setting forth the full particulars of the use, including the hours of operation and any proposed entertainment and dancing.
(4) The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed use in the intended location will not adversely affect the value, or the safe and comfortable enjoyment of property rights for adjacent property owners.
(5) Any building of a bottle club shall not be located within 1,000 feet of any primary or secondary school, place of worship, day-care facility, municipal park, playground, library, sexually oriented business, or other bottle club.
(6) After-hours clubs that allow on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. in return for an admission charge or an annual membership fee are effectively prohibited by State Act 219 of 1990, as amended (18 Pa.C.S.A. § 7327).
(7) In the event that such use would be determined to be allowed, a two-hundred-foot setback shall apply from the building and any parking areas from any residential zoning district. The applicant shall prove that adequate on-site security will be in place. See also Chapter 127, Alcoholic Beverages, of the Code of the City of Reading, or the successor chapter. Where that provision and this chapter may differ, the strictest provision shall apply.
D. Conversions. This section applies to an existing building where it is allowed by the zoning district regulations to be converted into new dwelling units. The conversion of an existing one-family detached dwelling, one-family attached dwelling or one-family semidetached dwelling into two or more dwelling units shall be prohibited, as per §§ 600-803 and 600-804. [Amended 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 8-2011; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 83-2013]
(1) A site plan, drawn to the scale, showing the location and dimensions of all off-street parking, private entrances, walkways and landscaping, shall be submitted, as well as architectural plans showing the dimensions and square footage of all rooms and storage spaces and indicating the intended use of all rooms.
(2) The conversion shall have the minimum floor area as designated by the following schedule:
Apartment | Square Feet |
Efficiency or studio | Not allowed |
One-bedroom | 550 |
Two-bedroom | 700 |
Three or more bedroom | 850 |
(3) For each dwelling unit, there shall be a minimum 1 1/2 off-street parking spaces per unit.
(4) Documents indicating to the City Codes staff's satisfaction that all plumbing, heating and electrical equipment and facilities are adequate and appropriate for the proposed use. The entire building shall also be made available for a code inspection.
(5) See also the requirements of Chapter 308, Housing, including but not limited to requirements for the designation of a local agent if the owner does not live locally.
E. Fire and ambulance stations. A fire and/or ambulance station may be permitted as provided in the zoning district regulations, provided that the following standards are met:
(1) A proposed social hall and/or benefit association shall be considered as an additional "principal use" for the purposes of this Part.
(2) A complete plan of proposed traffic signalization and disruption devices, lighting, alarms, sirens, public address systems, and other infrastructure commonly associated with fire or ambulance stations, shall be provided to the Planning Commission as part of the review required by § 303.a.2. of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10303.a.2, and/or land development plans.
F. Bus shelter. The applicant shall seek input from the local public bus service provider regarding bus stops. Any transit shelter shall be placed such that it does not impede the normal pedestrian functions of the sidewalk.
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G. Junkyards. Junkyards may be allowed in the H-M Zone and shall need conditional use approval; provided, that the following conditions are met in addition to any stipulations set forth by City Council:
(1) All junkyards shall establish and maintain a fifty-foot wide buffer strip in accordance with § 600-1401 of this chapter. No junk material or accessory structures shall be stored or placed in the setback area.
(2) All junk shall be completely screened from public streets and adjacent off-street parking areas by fencing, landscaping and other appropriate measures, in accordance with the provisions established in § 600-1402 of this chapter, and City Planning recommendations.
(3) All junk shall be stored or arranged to permit access by emergency equipment and personnel, and to minimize the accumulation of water.
(4) Any junkyard shall be maintained in such a manner to minimize public or private nuisance, nor to cause any offensive or noxious sounds or odors, nor to cause the breeding or harboring of rats, flies, or other vectors.
H. Public utilities. Public utility uses such as telephone equipment centers and electric substations (but not including service storage yards), may be allowed where provided in the zoning district regulations, provided that the following standards are met:
(1) The entity shall be regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission.
(2) The proposed installation in a specific residential location is necessary for efficient service to the public in the neighborhood or area in which the particular use is to be located.
(3) The design of any building in connection with such a facility conforms to the general character of the area and will not adversely affect the safe and comfortable enjoyment of property rights.
(4) Approved fencing and other security devices shall be provided.
(5) A buffer strip 10 feet in width and screening are provided and shall be continually maintained in accordance with Part 14 of this chapter.
(6) Adequate off-street parking is provided.
(7) All area yard and building coverage requirements of the zoning district in which the use is located shall be met.
(8) These provisions shall not apply to sanitary sewage pumping stations, which shall be considered a municipal use.
I. Residential care facility, including group care facilities and group care institutions. See the zoning district regulations concerning which types are allowed in various districts.
(1) The following standards shall be for all residential care facilities:
(a) A site plan and architectural plans, drawn to scale, shall be submitted. These plans shall show the location and dimensions of off-street parking, private entrances, walkways, landscaping, the dimensions and square footage of each room and storage space and shall indicate the intended use of each room.
(b) No residential care facility shall be located within 800 feet of another group care facility, group institution, school, day-care home, or day-care center.
(c) One off-street parking space shall be provided per employee computed on the basis of the estimated maximum number of employees at any one time, plus one space for each four patient/client beds.
(d) The premises at which the residential care facility is located shall be owned or leased by the social service agency sponsoring the group care facility.
(e) The sponsoring entity shall document to the Zoning Administrator that all building, fire, plumbing, heating, electrical and similar systems meet the standards set by the City and by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(f) See also § 600-1201B.
(2) The following standards are for all group care facilities:
(a) Group care facilities, by design and intent, shall provide for the temporary needs of transient residents.
(b) No group care facility shall have more than nine residents at any given time, not including live-in supervisors. [Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 83-2013]
(c) The only physical changes to the dwelling shall be those required by law. When the use is abandoned, any subsequent use shall conform to permitted uses in that zoning district.
(d) No more than two live-in supervisors shall reside in the group care facility.
(e) Although live-in supervision is not required, the sponsoring social service agency shall document to the Board that the agency shall provide the residents of the group care facility with the physical safety and the emotional support they require. Because residents of a group care facility are likely to be suffering from personal crises, some form of immediate contact with a counselor should be available at all hours. Likewise, immediate contact with sponsoring social service agency should be available to members of the public who may be in need of the services of the group care facility.
(3) The following standards are for all group care institutions.
(a) The group institution, by design and intent, shall provide for the long-term needs of its residents and shall not accommodate the needs of transient individuals.
(b) A licensed physician, psychologist, counselor or social worker in the employ of or under contract to the social service agency shall be responsible for the assignment of residents to the group institution.
(c) At least one supervisor shall be on call during all hours during which any resident of the group institution is on the premises.
(d) The dwelling unit shall not be altered in any manner that would change the original dwelling unit character of the group institution.
J. Sexually oriented businesses. Sexually oriented businesses shall only be allowed where provided under the zoning district regulations and shall need conditional use approval and shall meet the following standards, along with any other conditions set forth by City Council:
(1) Such businesses shall include, but not be limited to, book and video stores, movie theaters, cabarets and massage parlors.
(2) No sexually oriented business shall be established within 1,000 feet of a place of worship, a primary or secondary school, lot line of a dwelling, residential zoning district boundary, child day care, nursery school, park, playground, recreation trail, recreational facility open to community use, or existing sexually oriented business.
(3) No pornographic material or other material deemed offensive to the general public shall be visible from the outside of the premises.
(4) Any use established or approved after the effective date of this chapter shall not be open to customers or patrons between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m.
(5) See also Chapter 473, Sexually Oriented Businesses, of the Code of the City of Reading, including, but not limited to, the statement of purposes and findings.
K. Student home. Student homes in the R-1A, R-1 and R-2 Districts are permitted only in an existing lawful apartment dwelling, as per §§ 600-801, 600-802 and 600-803. In all other districts and in the Institutional Overlay Zone, the student home regulations shall not apply and instead the occupancy of a dwelling shall be regulated by the definition of a "family." [Amended 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 83-2013]
(1) A student home shall meet the same regulations as apply to the type of dwelling unit, in addition to the student home regulations.
(2) The owner of any existing student home shall register its location with the Zoning Administrator within one year after the enactment of this chapter.
(3) Where a property is used for student housing and has been legally established as a nonconforming use, the use shall only be allowed to continue in such nonconforming manner if the owner registers such nonconformity with the Zoning Administrator within one year after the effective date of this chapter or a zoning amendment that made the use nonconforming.
(4) A site plan and architectural plans, drawn to scale. These plans must show the location and dimensions of off-street parking, private entrances, walkways, the dimensions and square footage of each room and storage space and shall indicate the intended use of each room.
(5) The housing arrangement must meet the standards of the City of Reading Building, Housing and Fire Codes (Chapter 180, Construction Codes) as required for residential rental properties. The owner must verify to the Zoning Administrator on an annual basis that the building meets all of the plumbing, electrical, heating, building, fire, and similar standards set by the City and by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(6) No cooking facilities of any kind shall be located in any room except the central kitchen.
(7) Every bedroom shall be at least 70 square feet of floor area and there shall be no more than two occupants per bedroom.
(8) No basement or cellar shall be used as a habitable bedroom except by special exception approval or variance.
(9) No student home shall be located within 500 linear feet of any other lot on which is established a student home, except by variance, measured by the shortest distance between the two lots where the proposed student home is located (including, but not limited to, each existing student home use located in any district which is of a different designation than the district in which the new student home use is proposed).
(10) A one-family dwelling used as a student home shall have a floor area of at least 1,000 square feet, exclusive of basements, garages and accessory buildings.
(11) A student home shall meet the area and bulk requirements for the type of dwelling in the applicable zoning district where such use is proposed.
(12) The owner of the student home, or the agent or manager of the student home, shall annually register the student home with the Codes Enforcement Division on a form provided by the City of Reading. If the owner of the student home fails to maintain a current registration of his or her student home, the Codes Enforcement Division in conjunction with the Zoning Administrator shall enforce such condition in accordance with § 600-201 et seq. of this chapter.
(13) If the one-family dwelling where the student home is proposed cannot meet the parking requirements set forth in § 600-1603A(36) herein, the governing body may still authorize the conditional use with the condition that the number of occupants which may reside at the student home shall be limited to the number of off-street parking spaces provided for the dwelling.
(14) See the regulations of the R-1A, R-1 and R-2 Districts, which may limit the types of dwellings that may be used as a "student home."
L. Taverns and nightclubs. Taverns and nightclubs shall be allowed as provided in Part 8 of this chapter, in addition to any conditions set forth by the City Council where conditional use approval is needed:
(1) For the purpose of this chapter, taverns are reputable, PLCB licensed establishments designed primarily for the on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages by consenting adults.
(2) The term "taverns" also includes bars, pubs, beer gardens, cocktail lounges, saloons, and taprooms. See the definition of "nightclub."
(3) Except in the C-C District, no tavern or nightclub shall be located within 500 feet of another tavern or other PLCB-licensed establishment.
(4) Except in the C-C District, no tavern or nightclub shall be located within 1,000 feet of a school, place of worship, playground, hospital, day-care facility, residential care facility or charitable institution.
(5) All taverns or nightclubs shall hold a valid license for the premises in which the establishment is located.
(6) All taverns and nightclubs, except for food sales, if the establishment holds a state- extended hours food license, shall only operate between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. the following day.
(7) No tavern or nightclub shall contain less than 300 square feet of usable floor area.
(8) Entertainment shall be permitted as an accessory use.
(9) All taverns and nightclubs shall comply with all state and local codes regulating such establishments.
M. Treatment center.
(1) See definition.
(2) The applicant shall provide a written description of all conditions (such as criminal parolees, alcohol addiction) that will cause persons to occupy the use during the life the permit. Any future additions to this list shall require an additional conditional use approval.
(3) The applicant shall prove to the satisfaction of the City Council that the use will involve adequate on-site supervision and security measures to protect public safety. If any applicable county, state, federal or professional association standards provide guidance on the type of supervision that is needed, the proposed supervision shall be compared to such standards.
(4) City Council may place conditions upon the use to protect public safety, such as conditions on the types of residents and security measures.
(5) A methadone treatment center or other drug treatment center or a use involving housing of two or more persons required to register their place of residence under Megan's Law II, 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 9791 et seq., shall be set back a minimum of 500 feet from each of the following: a primary or secondary school, a public park or playground, or a child day-care center.
(6) See also § 600-1201B.
N. Telecommunications facility, tower based WCF and antenna that are not defined as exempt under the PA Wireless Broadband Collocation Act (Note see §600-800, 2100 and 2206).
(1) The applicant shall present a plan showing the following items:
(a) Locations of all existing uses and proposed telecommunications facilities.
(b) Elevations of any existing uses and proposed telecommunications facilities.
(c) Vehicular access, fencing and any easements for access and utilities.
(d) The locations desired with two alternative locations.
(2) The telecommunications facility shall comply with all state and federal laws and regulations concerning aviation safety.
(3) The applicant shall provide stealth technology to camouflage the proposed facility to make them more visually appealing and blend the proposed facility to render it minimally visible to the casual observer defined, as approved by the Zoning Administrator, in consultation with the Public Works Director.
(4) The City may retain the assistance of a consultant and/or expert to assist in the review and evaluation of the application. The fees or costs incurred will be covered by the zoning permit fee.
(5) If additional information is requested by the City or the consultant before the application is deemed complete, the time required to provide the additional information shall not be counted toward the 150 day review period. [Added 3-27-2017 by Ord. No. 21-2017]
22. Editor's Note: Amended during codification (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Part 2).
23. Editor's Note: See § 600-1202R.
24. Editor's Note: Original Subsection B, relating to sidewalks, which immediately followed this subsection, is now included as § 600-1505.