Township of Mount Joy, PA Off-Street Parking and Loading

The Board of Supervisors may permit the number of parking spaces required for multiple uses individually to be reduced to a number determined to be appropriate in a shared parking arrangement in consideration of the characteristics of each use and each use's projected parking demand, including days and/or hours of operation (e.g., daytime office use and evening restaurant use; shopping center, etc.), so long as the required number of spaces to serve the use generating the most demand for parking is provided. The proposal for shared parking must first be submitted to the Township Engineer for review and recommendation and thereafter to the Township Planning Commission for review and recommendation A shared parking arrangement allowed by the Board of Supervisors requires an agreement, subject to review and approval by the Township Solicitor, which contains terms for ownership and/or tenancy of the parking area, access and usage easements, maintenance standards and allocation of maintenance responsibilities, and other terms appropriate to the particular shared parking arrangement, which agreement upon acceptance by the Board of Supervisors shall be recorded with the Adams County Recorder of Deeds.

The shared parking area must be located on site or within 500 feet of the entry door of the related use(s).

Where the uses to be served by shared parking have overlapping hours of operation, the lots on which the uses are located shall share a lot line.

A convenient, visible pedestrian connection between the parking area and the uses must exist or be established.

The availability of shared parking must be indicated by directional and information sign(s).

(6)

Residential uses are not eligible for shared parking.

Reserved parking. Upon demonstration of a seasonal or other intermittent demand for parking associated with use(s) of a lot, as established by a parking study prepared by a professional engineer, planner, or landscape architect, the Board of Supervisors may permit up to 25% of the required parking to be provided in an on-site or shared area reserved for such use. As established by the parking study, the reserved area shall be improved with fixed access drives and parking spaces improved with surface (e.g., pavers) or subsurface support (e.g., wire mesh) materials appropriate to the demand for parking in the reserved area, but otherwise maintained in a landscaped condition. The proposal for reserved parking must first be submitted to the Township Engineer for review and recommendation and thereafter to the Township Planning Commission for review and recommendation.

Grandfathered conditions. After the effective date of this chapter, an expansion or change in use of a lot or an existing principal nonresidential building shall be required to provide all of the required parking and loading for the entire size and type of the resulting use, except as follows:

If a nonresidential use expands by no more than 10% in the applicable measurement (such as building floor area, maximum number of employees, seating capacity, etc.) existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter, no additional parking is required.

For a change in use of an existing building, any deficit of required parking for the immediate prior lawful use shall be grandfathered up to a maximum of two parking spaces or 10% of the required parking for the changed use, whichever is larger.

[Amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-01]

Prohibited uses of parking spaces and parking areas for residential uses.

The parking of more than one commercial truck, except where such vehicle is incidental to services being provided to the residential use or deliveries being made to the residential use, or where such commercial truck is used for an agricultural use of the lot on which parked, is prohibited.

For the purposes of this section, "commercial vehicles" shall mean any vehicle or trailer having a length longer than 24 feet, but shall not mean farm vehicles and equipment. Except in the BPC and BPC-O Districts or a lot in any other zoning district on which a lawfully existing, nonconforming commercial use exists, the parking of commercial vehicles is subject to the following:

[Amended 9-3-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-05]

(a)

The commercial vehicle must be owned by, leased to, or assigned to a residential occupant (owner or lessee) of the lot.

(b)

The parking area for the commercial vehicle shall:

[1]

On a one acre or smaller lot, not be parked in the area between the existing public road right-of-way and a dwelling on the lot;

[2]

On a lot larger than one acre, not be located in the front setback;

[3]

Be designed and operated so that at no time the commercial vehicle backs out onto the public road; and

[4]

Be of sufficient depth so that when parked in the parking area:

[a]

The commercial vehicle is far enough back that it does not impede the sight distance of the surrounding driveway entrances or public or private road intersection; and

[b]

The parked vehicle is a minimum of 25 feet from the right-of-way of the public road.

(c)

The access to the parking area shall:

[1]

Be a minimum of 10 feet in width; and

[2]

Have a tapered radius sufficiently designed to allow for the vehicle to back into the parking space without multiple maneuvers in the public road.

(d)

The parking area, including access drive, must be stabilized with gravel, pavement or concrete.

(e)

The parking area and access drive shall be set back a minimum of 25 feet from the lot line of any lot in the AC, OC and BPC Districts.

(f)

All parking areas must be designed and permitted in accordance with Mount Joy Township Stormwater Management chapter.

(g)

Routine maintenance and repair of the commercial vehicle, e.g., oil change; tire rotation, repair, or replacement; light fixture or bulb replacement, may be conducted on the lot. Major engine repair, engine replacement, exhaust system repair and replacement, and body work (including painting) is not permitted to be conducted on the lot.

Prohibited uses of parking spaces and parking areas for nonresidential uses. Parking spaces and parking areas for nonresidential uses are for the sole purpose of accommodating the vehicles of persons patronizing the use that requires parking. Such parking spaces and parking areas shall not be used for the following:

The sale, rental, display or storage of automobiles or other merchandise.

The placement of storage devices or structures of any kind, including sheds, portable storage containers, and pallets.

The performance of any services, including services to vehicles, except emergency vehicle repair and service.

The repair or rebuilding of vehicles.

Loading and unloading, except as is incidental to the patronizing of the use otherwise not required to provide a loading space(s).

(6)

Parking or storage of unlicensed vehicles, recreational vehicles, campers, trucks and boats, except for that period of time during which their occupants are patronizing the use that requires parking.

(7)

Vehicle sign.

§ 110-603 Table of Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements.

[Amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-03]

Table of Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements
Except where requirements are provided in supplemental regulations for specific use.
Use	Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required	Plus 1 Off-Street Parking Space for Each	Number of Loading Spaces Required
RESIDENTIAL USES
Dwelling	2 per dwelling unit
Group home	2 per group home if no residents are capable of or allowed to drive If residents are allowed to drive, plus 0.5 per 2 group home residents	Caretaker on site in a single shift and medical or social services provider on site for fixed period of time
ALL INSTITUTIONAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL USES
See specific uses identified below
Use not specifically identified below	1 per 250 square feet of gross floor area accessible to patrons or customers or 1 per 3 fixed seats or 1 per 3 occupants based on maximum capacity as calculated under the UCC, whichever is largest	Except where specific requirements are provided, manager/operator and employee on maximum shift	As demonstrated to meet use operations
INSTITUTIONAL USES
Nursing home (assisted living facility, retirement center, life-care or continuing care facility, congregate care facility, and similar uses)	1 per 5 beds and 1.5 per independent living dwelling unit	Employee on largest shift	As demonstrated to meet use operations
Place of worship	1 per 4 seats of permanent seating or equivalent space if bench seating, movable seating or floor space is utilized		1 loading space
COMMERCIAL USES
Adult use	1 per 3 fixed seats or 1 per 200 square feet of floor area accessible to patrons, whichever is larger		1 loading space
Animal grooming and (indoor) training	1 per 250 square feet, but not fewer than 2 spaces
Auction house or flea market	1 per 2 seats or 1 per 200 square feet of floor area accessible to attendees, whichever is larger		1 loading space per 500 square feet of floor area accessible to attendees
Bakery	1 per 5 square feet of customer waiting area and 1 per 2 fixed or moveable seats in sit-down eating area		1 loading space
Bed-and-breakfast	2 plus 1 per guest room	Employee on maximum shift and every 2 seats in the dining area exceeding 2 seats per guest unit
Campground	1 per camp site plus one per every 5 camp sites or recreational vehicle spaces
Catering facility (no on-site consumption)	1 per 250 square feet of floor area accessible to customers		1 loading space per 500 square feet of floor area
Construction company or tradesperson's headquarters - office only	1 per 250 square feet of floor area accessible to customers	Business vehicle and each employee vehicle
Construction company or tradesperson's headquarters - outside storage of equipment and materials	1 per 250 square feet of floor area accessible to customers	Business vehicle and each employee vehicle	1 loading space per 2,000 square feet of floor area
Convenience store	1 space per 350 square feet of gross floor area, excluding storage areas, plus 1 space per 3 seats of on-site seating		1 loading space
Day-care center, child or adult	1 per 5 children or adults
Financial institution	1 per 200 square feet of patron waiting area plus 1 space per 2 fixed or moveable seats assigned to patrons		1 loading space
Funeral home	1 per 3 seats in each room available for concurrent use for attendees or 1 per 75 square feet of area accessible to attendees whichever is larger
Gasoline service station	1 per 4 gas pumps (a double-sided gas dispenser is two pumps) plus 2 per services bay
Grocery store	1 per 250 square feet of floor area accessible to customers		As demonstrated to meet use operations
Hotel or motel	1 per guest unit		As demonstrated to meet use operations, but no fewer than 1 loading space
Junkyard	1 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area and 1 per 5,000 square feet of lot area
Kennel	1 per 400 square feet of gross floor area
Laundromat or dry cleaner	1 per 3 washing machines
Medical office (medical, dental, chiropractic, or physical therapy office, clinic or health care facility)	1 per 300 square feet of floor area not used for storage, hallways/stairways	Physician, dentist, nurse, physician's assistant, dental hygienist and employee on maximum shift
Motor vehicle repair facility	2 per service bay	Business vehicle and employee vehicle
Motor vehicle sales	1 per 500 square feet of area accessible to customers
Office, unless otherwise specified	1 per 300 square feet of floor area not used for storage, hallways/stairways
Personal service (hair salon, nail salon, barber, masseuse, tattoo parlor, body-piercing studio, health spa, tanning salon, and similar uses)	1 per 250 square feet of area accessible to customers	Operator/manager and employee on maximum shift
Place of assembly	1 per 250 square feet of floor area accessible to patrons or 1 per 4 seats, whichever is greater	Employee on maximum shift	As demonstrated to meet use operations, but no fewer than 1 loading space
Plant nursery or garden center	1 per 150 square feet of customer accessible floor area		As demonstrated to meet use operations
Professional office (attorney, accountant and similar uses)	1 per 300 square feet of floor area not used for storage, hallways/stairways
Recreation facility (health club, gymnasium, paintball, skateboard, tennis club, and similar uses not otherwise listed)	1 per 250 square feet of building floor accessible to patrons or 1 per 4 seats, whichever is greater; 2 spaces per golf hole; 1 per driving range tee; 1 per go-cart	Employee on maximum shift	As demonstrated to meet use operations, but no fewer than 1 loading space
Repair facility (appliance and equipment, including bicycles and excluding motor vehicles)	1 per 200 square feet of customer-accessible area or 1 per 3 fixed or movable customer seats, whichever is larger		1 loading space
Restaurant	1 per 250 square feet of customer accessible area and 1 per 3 fixed or movable customer seats, whichever is greater; 1 per 5 square feet of waiting area if no dining area		1 loading space
Retail sales and rental (excluding vehicle sales and rental)	1 per 200 square feet of area accessible to customers		As demonstrated to meet use operations, but no fewer than 1 loading space
Self-storage	1 per 20 storage units, minimum of 3 spaces
Stable	1 per 2 horses		As demonstrated to meet use operations
Tavern or bar (pub, brewpub, wine bar, nightclub, after-hours club and similar uses)	1 per 3 persons of maximum seating capacity under Pennsylvania UCC		1 loading space
Trade	1 space per student attending proposed class, training or demonstration with the largest number of attendees	Employee, instructor/trainer and person conducting a demonstration
Veterinary office	1 per 250 square feet of reception, examining, treatment, operating and medical boarding areas	Veterinarian, and employee on maximum shift
Wholesale sales	1 per 500 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 per 3 fixed customer seating or 1 per 250 square feet of customer accessible-area, whichever is larger		As demonstrated to meet use operations, but no fewer than 1 loading space
INDUSTRIAL USES AND USES INVOLVING HEAVY TRUCK ACTIVITY
All industrial, including light and heavy manufacturing uses, distribution center, motor freight terminal, truck stop, and truck stop with major vehicle repair services uses, except where otherwise specified	1.5 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area	1 per 250 square feet of customer or visitor accessible area	As demonstrated to meet use operations

§ 110-604 General regulations for off-street parking and loading.

Parking spaces and loading areas, and their respective accessways, shall be laid out to result in safe and orderly use, and to fully take into account all of the following: vehicular access onto and off of the site, vehicular movement within the site, loading areas, pedestrian patterns, and any drive-through facilities. No parking area shall cause a safety hazard or impediment to traffic off the lot.

If a new principal nonresidential building is constructed on a lot, any existing parking or loading areas on such lot that serves such building shall be reconfigured to comply with this chapter, including, but not limited to, paving and landscaping.

All required numbers of parking spaces and loading spaces shall be available as long as the use or building which the spaces serve still exists, and such spaces shall not be reduced in number below the minimum required by this chapter.

Except where permitted as shared parking, required parking spaces and loading spaces shall be on the same lot as the principal use served.

§ 110-605 Design standards for off-street parking and loading.

General requirements.

All parking areas shall include clearly defined and marked traffic patterns and shall be separated from pedestrian routes.

No parking or loading area shall be designed to require or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public street in order to leave a parking or loading space, except for a single-family or two-family dwelling with access onto a local street.

Every required parking space shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other vehicle, unless specifically permitted otherwise. This provision shall not apply to a dwelling improved with a garage and driveway or improved with a driveway designed for parking of more than one motor vehicle.

[Amended 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-01]

Parking and loading areas shall not be located within a required buffer or street right-of-way, including ultimate right-of-way.

Size, marking and location of parking spaces; access aisle.

Except handicapped spaces, each parking space shall be a rectangle with a minimum width of 10 feet and a minimum length of 20 feet, except the minimum-sized rectangle shall be eight feet by 22 feet for parallel parking.

Each parking space or area shall be connected to the street by means of an access drive or driveway.

Each parking space shall be marked to indicate its location, except those for a one- or two-family dwelling.

No parking space may be located closer than five feet to the exterior wall of a nonresidential building.

No parking space shall be located within 10 feet of a septic system absorption field.

(6)

Except as otherwise required in this chapter, no parking space or access to a parking space or area may be located closer than 10 feet to the lot line of the lot on which located or closer than 25 feet to the lot line of a lot improved with a dwelling or of an unimproved lot in a residential zoning district.

(7)

The aisle accessing a parking space shall have a minimum width of 12 feet if a one-way access aisle and 24 feet if a two-way access aisle.

Size, configuration and location of loading spaces.

The size of the loading space shall be determined by the type of commercial vehicle associated with the use. If a truck, the loading space shall be either 63 feet or 33 feet in length; if a pickup truck or van, the loading space shall be 20 feet in length. The loading space shall be 12 feet in width. A vertical clearance of 15 feet is required.

Each loading space shall be connected to a street by means of an access drive or driveway.

Loading spaces shall not interfere with parking spaces and parking aisles.

No access drive to a loading space or the loading space itself shall be located within 50 feet of any lot improved with a dwelling or a residential zoning district.

Each loading space shall be so located and configured to allow the needed maneuvering room without intrusion into required setbacks, buffer areas and landscaped areas.

Paving, grading and drainage of parking and loading spaces.

Parking and loading spaces and area, including accesses, shall be graded and adequately drained to prevent erosion or excessive water flow across streets or adjacent lots.

Except for landscaped areas, all portions of required parking, loading and accessways shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, paving block, or other low-dust materials approved by the Township Engineer.

(a)

If found acceptable by the Township Engineer for the expected usage, parking areas with low or seasonal usage may be maintained in stone, pavers, or other suitable surfaces.

(b)

If the design and material are found acceptable by the Township Engineer for the expected usage, portions of parking spaces may be covered with a low-dust porous parking surface that is designed to promote groundwater recharge.

Parking for persons with disabilities.

Vehicle parking for persons with disabilities shall comply in number and design with applicable federal and state requirements. (Note: As of the enactment date of this chapter, such provisions were published in ANSI standard A117 and Section 1106 of the International Building Code.)