Details

Title	Reading, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance (Article 27)
Highlights	There is implicit recognition that delays in zoning decisions have an impact on the creation of affordable housing.   Reading, Pennsylvania allows the zoning administrator to approve certain zoning permits without review by the zoning board or the City council.                       It is often difficult to convert disused industrial buildings into housing.   Reading, Pennsylvania allows the conversion of industrial and manufacturing buildings as well as single family housing into higher density housing under certain circumstances.                       There is implicit recognition many zoning codes do not promote the creation of affordable housing units.   Reading, Pennsylvania allows home occupations and increases in government-assisted high-rise apartments heights under certain circumstances.
Description	The Reading, Pennsylvania, Zoning Ordinance contains a number of provisions that have a positive impact on the development and or maintenance of affordable housing. In order to streamline the development process, Reading requires less oversight depending on the type of zoning request made to the City. The Zoning Administrator has the authority to issue certain permits without review. The Zoning Hearing Board must approve special exceptions, while the City Council must approve conditional uses. In Section 27-415 the City also authorizes mediation to aid in completing the negotiations for land development decisions. Other provisions that impact affordable housing are contained in the uses permitted in restrictive residential zones. There are several such provisions in the Reading code. Section 27-1202 permits home occupations as special exceptions in any residential zone. There are several conditions the City places on home occupations. The businesses must be professional or service businesses; the residence must be the principal’s primary residence; the use must take up no more than 25 percent of the habitable floor area of the residence; no more than two employees who are not permanent residents can work at the site; and no advertising is permitted. The City also provides separate regulations for home computer occupations [27-1006] and home crafts [27-1007]. Home computer occupations are not special exception uses in residential zones but must be a secondary use to the primary residential use, cannot exceed 20 percent of the total habitable area and must employee only family members living in the residence. Other requirements apply to this use. Home crafts are also not special exception uses. This use cannot exceed 20 percent of the total habitable area, cannot employee anyone except for family members residing in the house, and cannot generate noise, odors smoke, or other nuisances. Reading also makes provision for mid-rise garden and high-rise apartments constructed by or subsidized by the Federal or State government in Section 27-1101. The City may authorize a reduction in parking requirements for certain elderly apartment units. In addition, the Zoning Hearing Board may increase the number of stories in an assisted high-rise apartment if the community will not be adversely impacted. The Code, in Section 27-1104, specifies the conditions under which an owner may create a manufactured home park. The City may allow manufactured home parks in the M-C Manufacturing Commercial Districts if the park contains at least five acres, each lot contains 2,500 square feet, the maximum density does not exceed 12 units per acre, and all water and sewer systems are connected to public water and sewer services. Other regulations apply. Reading allows owners of industrial or manufacturing buildings to convert these buildings to residential uses in Section 27-1202. The City requires that the owner submit a site plan. The apartments must be at minimum a certain specified size and must have adequate parking. Other regulations apply. The City also allows the conversion of single- and two-family detached or attached dwellings into more intense residential uses. The units must be in certain zoning districts, the owner must submit a site plan, and each unit must have a minimum size. Other requirements apply. To find the ordinance a user must go to the home page and click on “City Documents” and then “Codified Ordinances”. From there scroll to the bottom of the page where the Chapter 27 Zoning Ordinance is located.
Publication Date	2002
Organization	City of Reading, Pennsylvania
Web Location	http://www.cityofreadingpa.com

Notice: The contents of this record reflect the views of the author and/or promulgating municipality, and should not be construed as representing the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or U.S. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research. No attempt has been made by U.S. HUD or its contractors to verify the accuracy, currency, or validity of the record contents presented herein.