In addition to the purpose set forth in § 255-2 of Article I of this chapter, this article is intended to recognize the unique characteristics of a portion of the Ft. Washington area of Upper Dublin Township, designated in this Code as the FW Ft. Washington Village District (FWVD). The FWVD lies between Pennsylvania Avenue, a primary, state owned arterial, on the south, and a quiet, single-family residential
on the north. Within this area lies one of the oldest properties in the Township as well as several other colonial era
. The Fort Washington train station, an express stop along the commuter rail line leading into Philadelphia, is one block south of the FWVD in Whitemarsh Township. The vision for the Fort Washington station area is for it to become a pedestrian-oriented mixed-
village center. Therefore, to remain vital, the provisions of the FWVD must take advantage of and compliment the train station area and serve as a transitional zone, buffering the adjacent residential
to the north from the major transportation corridor existing along Pennsylvania Avenue. More specifically, the intent of this overlay district is to:
A. Use scale,
orientation and landscaping to establish community identity.
B. To allow and encourage a mix of residential and appropriate commercial
within a
, property or a single
.
C. Encourage the preservation and reuse of the historic
in the district.
D. Establish appropriate design standards to protect the quality and character of the surrounding
.
E. Help foster bicycle and pedestrian accessible
, reflecting a pedestrian oriented village center rather than an auto-oriented commercial strip.
F. Prohibit retail/commercial
that are typically high volume traffic generators, contain excessive amounts of paved areas and numerous access points, and do not contribute to the historic character of the district.
G. Provide incentives that encourage shared access points, parking areas and public-spaces.
H. Protect, to the greatest extent possible, the
of the district including the open space, steep slopes and large trees.