Haverford, PA Zoning Overlays & Bonuses: Density Bonus Law (2026)

Haverford Township's only printed density bonus sits inside the special residential development rules of § 182-721 of the Township Code. Under § 182-721E(2), in R-1 Districts the Township may grant an increase in density of no more than 20% as a bonus for the provision of common open space in excess of the amount which may be required under § 182-716. Each additional 2% of a tract devoted to common open space results in a one-percent increase in density over that otherwise allowed in an R-1 District. Such land, if requested, can be counted as developable land for the purpose of determining density, and the bonus cannot be used in conjunction with any other density bonus provided for in the chapter. The code now lists § 182-716 as reserved, with the park and recreation dedication provision moved to § 160-5C.

The bonus applies to a special residential development, which the Board of Commissioners can authorize on a subdivision or land development plan after recommendation by the Planning Commission. Section 182-721A(1) covers tracts of 10 acres or more in R-1 and R1-A Residential Districts and five acres or more in R-2 and R-3 Residential Districts. Approval is a conditional use decided by the Board of Commissioners, based on a review of all land use considerations including external impacts on the surrounding neighborhood (§ 182-721L(2)).

The baseline density is a calculation, not a guess. Gross density cannot exceed the maximum allowed by the underlying district, calculated by dividing gross acreage by the minimum lot size for that district (§ 182-721C(1)(a)). Individual lots can shrink to a printed minimum lot area per lot: 20,000 square feet in R-1, 10,125 in R-1A, 8,000 in R-2 and 6,500 in R-3. Street area is excluded in computing gross density, and no lot capable of further subdivision is included in the average lot area unless a deed restriction or agreement removes that possibility (§ 182-721E(1)).