1. Zoning rewrite A Refresher: Key Components, Recent Changes, Review Process
Abington Township
Zoning Rewrite Committee (Commissioner Steven Kline, Chair)
Abington Staff (Larry Matteo, Mark Penecale)
Mike Narcowich, AICP, Principal Planner II, MCPC

2. Conceptual planning: Density + Intensity
In beginning, we planned for range of density + intensity.
Reconfigured districts accordingly (work expanded on Comp Plan)
Reviewed uses in each district.

3. design (“form”)
“Hybrid” Zoning (more flexible than pure form- based code, but includes elements of it):
Extensive Study of Built Environment
Context-sensitive.
Heavy design element.
Promotes mixed uses and allows greater range of uses.
Heavily illustrated.

4. design (“form”)
Extensive design consideration for villages of Keswick and Roslyn.
New development to respect traditional town character.
Promotes walkable development (built near street, with doors and windows oriented to window- shopping).
High-quality architectural design encouraged.

5. New approaches: commercial
Began with Survey
Walkable, transit-supportive
Streetscape standards
Mixed uses encouraged in appropriate locations

6. New approaches: commercial (cont.)
“Street Wall”
Flexibility for developer (numerous bonus options)
Civic spaces, shared parking encouraged
High-quality design

7. Signs and billboards Zoning now addresses Billboards.
Sign Ordinance updated
Conforming w/Legal Considerations
Addresses Digital Signs
Influenced by MCPC Model Sign Ordinance

8. New approaches: Expanded “Bonus”
Various ways for developer to attain “bonus”
Encourages amenities desired by Township
Provides flexibility to developer to choose which to provide

9. New approaches: Residential
Infill/expansions – Ensures new development fits into neighborhood.
Accessory Dwellings –Allows aging relatives to live near family while retaining independence.

10. New code: user-friendly
Use Regulations, Use Matrix, & Definitions greatly expanded.
Less need for page- flipping.
Text-Heavy Regs transformed into more easy-reference Tables

11. New code: user-friendly
Web-based.
Color, w/tabs.
Fewer redundancies.
Greater use of explanatory illustrations.
Vertical Articulation

12. Subdivision and land development
Changes to Zoning need to be consistent with SALDO.
Landscaping
Riparian protection
ZRC made detailed recommendations SALDO changes to adopt concurrently w/zoning.

13. Past draft review meetings (1 of 2)
Draft #1 Completed 2013
Informal Community Meetings (at Township Building, Roslyn, McKinley & Edge Hill Firehouse)
1/19/2014
1/23/2014
1/26/2014
1/30/2014
Transition Overlay Meetings
4/23/2014 (for Ward 11)
5/21/2014 (for Wards 3 & 12)

14. Past draft review meetings (2 of 2)
o Put in PP slides Steven will go over. Changes since 2016
o Four informal neighborhood workshops (1/19/2014, 1/23/2014, 1/26/2014, 1/30/2014)
 Subsequent neighborhood meetings on potential Transition Overlay District (4/23/2014, 5/21/2014).
 PC (12/4/2014, 1/7/2015, 1/26/2015, 2/10/2015, 3/10/2015. Recommended comprehensive list of recommendations to BOC.
 BOC (3/24/2015, 10/19/2015). BOC voted to approved that list at the latter meeting.
• From Minutes: Draft One was completed in 2013 and four informal neighborhood workshops were held in Roslyn, McKinley, Edge Hill Fire House and Township Building as well as two meetings was held specific to the transition overlay zoning for Ward 11 and Wards 3 & 12 together. o
Past draft review meetings (2 of 2)
6 with Planning Commission
12/4/2014
1/7/2015
1/26/2015
2/10/2015
3/10/2015
3/24/2015 (PC voted to recommend list of items for possible revision to BOC)
Board of Commissioners
10/19/2015 (BOC voted to approve list of items for possible revision)

15. Billboards (1 of 2) Existing: Billboards are not addressed in zoning.
Draft: Are permitted in the BC Business Center District only.
No more than one (1) billboard is permitted in each of the five BC Business Center District areas (one in BC-Willow Grove Park, one in BC-Town Center, one in BC-Noble, one in BC-Foxcroft, and one in BC-Huntingdon Valley).
Are permitted on properties at least 10 acres in size.
Are permitted on properties having frontage of at least 200’ on a street with a right-of-way of at least 80’.

16. Billboards (2 of 2)
Not more than one billboard is permitted per property or development tract.
No billboard shall have more than two sides.
Shall be set back at least 40’ from all property lines.
The height of the billboard shall not exceed the setback of the billboard from the property line, up to a maximum height of 30’.
Must be set back at least 200’ from any property where zoning permits a residential use.

17. Political signs (1 of 3) Existing:
Political Signs are exempt from permits, and the following are the regulations:
Temporary signs advertising political candidates or parties for election may be erected and maintained, provided that:
No more than one sign for any candidate or party may be erected on any property held in single and separate ownership.
The signs shall be non-illuminated.
The property owner must grant permission for the sign.
The size of any such sign shall not be greater than sixteen (16) square feet.

18. Political signs (2 of 3) Existing:
No political signs may be placed on church, governmental, parkland, school district, or other public property.
No signs shall be placed on abandoned or vacant parcels nor erected in non-residential districts without landowner permission.
Political signs shall not be erected sooner than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and must be removed within ten days following the election. Successful primary candidates may not leave signs erected through to the general election.

19. Political signs (3 of 3) Draft:
Political signs are exempt from permits, and are regulated as follows:
Political Signs. A sign regarding a political candidate(s) or party’s election, or a position on a referendum or ballot initiative, may be erected and maintained, providing that:
The sign may not be illuminated.
The property owner must grant permission for the display of the sign.
No political sign may be placed on any governmental, parkland, school district or other public property. At polling places, political signs may be displayed on Election Day only.

20. Additional Map change
R1 > R2 on Pembroke next to Crosswicks

21. Questions?