Zoning Code - Adopted 02/26/2020

Print Feedback

Font Size: + -

After three years and over 40 public meetings…
the new Zoning Code was unanimously adopted by the Board of Commissioners on February 26, 2020!

A Story Map including an overview of the Zoning Code, user guide, reference sheets, and a Zoning Map may be viewed at this link: Story Map

This project builds upon the 2016 Comprehensive Plan process that resulted in a consensus-driven, solution-oriented vision for the future. The vision of the Comprehensive Plan is to:

"Preserve Lower Merion's classic residential neighborhoods, township's village cores and commercial areas to improve walkability, expand transit use, and encourage design excellence."

A primary recommendation of the Comprehensive Plan was to prepare a new, user-friendly Zoning Code to achieve the community's vision.

The zoning effort launched in January 2017 with the Board of Commissioners' selection of DPZ Partners, LLC for this historic undertaking. The first draft of the new Zoning Code was publicly distributed on October 24, 2018.

**IMPORTANT NOTICE** The new Zoning Code was adopted by the Board of Commissioners at a public hearing on February 26, 2020. The new Zoning Code became effective immediately.

Products

Zoning Code (Ecode Link) - Adopted February 26, 2020
Zoning Map - Adopted February 26, 2020 (3.9 MB PDF)
Interactive Zoning Map - Adopted February 26, 2020

Ordinances adopted unanimously by the Board of Commissioners on February 26, 2020
- Ord. 4181 - Zoning Code
- Ord. 4182 - Zoning Map
- Ord. 4183 - Amendment to Subdivision and Land Development Code
- Ord. 4184 - Amendment to Township Code
Previous Drafts:

Project Status

Phase 1: Assessment and Analysis of the existing Zoning Code was completed in September 2017.

Phase 2: Drafting of the New Zoning Regulations was completed October 2018.

Phase 3: The Zoning Code was adopted by the Board of Commissioners at a public hearing on February 26, 2020.

Background Materials

Presentations & Meeting Notes

02/26/2020: BOC Pubic Hearing - Recording - Adoption of the draft Zoning Code and Zoning Map
02/03/2020: Planning Commission Meeting - Presentation
12/18/19: BOC Meeting - Recording - Authorization to Advertise a Public Hearing
12/04/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
11/06/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
10/30/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
09/18/19: Board of Commissioners Meeting- Recording- Public Hearing and Action to Postpone Adoption
08/01/19: PC Meeting
07/31/19: B&P Meeting- Recording- Authorization to Advertise a Public Hearing
07/22/19: PC Meeting
07/17/19: B&P Meeting- Recording
07/10/19: B&P Meeting- Recording
07/01/19: PC Meeting
06/24/19: PC Meeting
06/05/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
05/22/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
05/02/19 : Civic Engagement Committee Meeting
04/24/19: B&P Meeting - Recording
04/04/19: Civic Engagement Committee Meeting- Presentation & Meeting Notes
03/27/19: B&P Meeting - Medium Density Residential/Commercial - Presentation - Recording
03/25/19: Regional Civic Association Meeting: Merion, Merion Park, NCBC, Belmont Hills, and Narberth - Meeting Notes
03/07/19: CEC Presentation - Commercial Area Zoning - Meeting Notes
02/25/19: Regional Civic Association Meeting: Meeting Notes (Ardmore Progressive Ard-Wood, North Ardmore, Wynnewood, Shortridge, Penn Wynne, and Wynnewood Valley)
02/07/19: CEC Presentation - Medium Density Residential Zoning - Meeting Notes
01/31/19: Regional Civic Association Meeting: Meeting Notes (Haverford, Gladwyne, Bryn Mawr, Penn Valley, and Rosemont-Villanova)
01/23/19: B&P Meeting - Low/medium density single-family residential - Presentation - Recording
01/10/19: CEC Presentation - Low/medium density single-family zoning - Meeting Notes
11/28/18: B&P Meeting - Staff presentation of Code consistency with Comp Plan - Presentation - Recording
11/07/18: B&P Meeting - DPZ Presentation of Draft Zoning Code - Presentation - Recording
06/19/18: DPZ Presentation to Lower Merion Township Civic Associations and Meeting Notes
05/31/18: CEC Presentation - Residential Land Use
05/30/18: B&P Presentation - Residential Land Uses
02/28/18: B&P Presentation - Institutional Land Uses
11/29/17: Retail Market Analysis Presentation - Recording
11/09/17: Lower Merion Conservancy - Historic Preservation Zoning Lecture Presentation
10/30/17: Panelist Discussion on DPZ Selected Videos and Readings Presentation
10/26/17: Lower Merion Conservancy - Open Space Zoning Lecture Presentation
09/27/17: B&P Presentation
09/26/17: CEC Presentation
06/12/17: CEC Presentation

Deliverables and Early Drafts

Institutional Zoning - Q&A
Retail Market Analysis - A study to inform policy decisions regarding commercial standards in the updated Zoning Code.
Draft Synoptic Survey
Stakeholder Interview Summary - July 2017

DPZ Videos and Suggested Readings

Gain a better understanding of the zoning project by reviewing the list of selected videos and readings compiled by DPZ. Many of the selected reading materials are now available through the Lower Merion Library System.