1008 Church Rd, Green Lane, PA 18054

Village Commercial District

In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent found in Article I, 275-2 of this chapter, and the statement of community development objectives found in Article I, 275-3 of this chapter, it is the intent of this article to: Encourage an uncongested environment for the harmonious intermingling of residential, office, and limited commercial uses that are compatible with the character of Sumneytown.; Accommodate nonresidential uses in the center of Sumneytown which do not generate large volumes of traffic, which minimize adverse impacts on abutting residential uses, and which maintain the visual character and scale of existing development. The edges of the Village may be appropriate for larger, more vehicle-friendly uses that still minimize adverse impacts and maintain the visual character and scale of existing development.; Maintain, to the greatest extent possible, the historical visual character established along Route 63 by the locations, sizes, structures, styles, and spatial relationships of existing residential buildings, businesses, and other properties relative to each other.; Discourage strip-type, highway-oriented commercial uses which create traffic congestion.; Consolidate driveways and establish common parking areas at the rear of parcels that front Route 63, and provide a network of sidewalks or pedestrian pathways throughout the village to give priority to pedestrian movement and encourage walking among buildings, open spaces, and streets.; Provide standards that are necessary to encourage orderly, well-planned development and to ensure compatibility with existing development.; Protect and retain the character of the village by encouraging retention and reuse of existing buildings.; Provide standards for village expansion on larger tracts of land that would integrate more intense uses or development with existing village character.