Borough of Essex Fells, NJ Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements

[Amended 7-19-1994 by Ord. No. 94-630]

In all zones, off-street parking shall be provided for all uses, including conditional uses, in accordance with the following schedule:

Required number of off-street parking spaces by specific use (Figure 170-81A).

Figure 170-81A. Required Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces by Specific Use
Use		Required Parking Spaces
Colleges		1 for each 3 full-time day students and 1 for each 5 part-time day students
Country clubs		1 for each 250 square feet of gross floor area of the principal structure
Day-care centers		1 for each 250 square feet. of gross floor area
Golf courses		4 per hole
Nursery and preschool facilities		1 for each 250 square feet of gross floor area
Nursing home		1 for each 2 beds
Office, dental or medical		4 for each doctor or dentist, plus 1 for each 250 square feet of net floor area
Office, other		1 for each 250 square feet of net floor area
Places of worship, community building, social hall, and place of assembly		1 for each 3 seats, or 1 for each 72 inches of seating space when benches rather than seats are used. Where the specific amount of seating is undetermined, then 1 parking space shall be required for each 25 square feet of assemblage area
Recreation uses:
	Court games	4 for each court
	Other	1 for each 150 square feet of floor area
Residence:
	Single-family detached dwelling	3 per dwelling unit
	Supplementary apartment	2 per dwelling unit
Restaurant, eating and drinking establishment, catering hall		1 for each 2 1/2 seats
Schools: grades K-6		1 1/2 for each classroom
Swim club		1 for each family membership unit

Note: Off-street parking requirements for a combination of uses shall be computed separately and then added together to compute the total number of required parking spaces, except for places of worship, community buildings, social halls, and places of public ownership where the facility or use requiring the maximum number of spaces shall prevail. In all questionable or doubtful cases, or for uses not enumerated, the Planning Board shall determine the required number of spaces.

Parking in residential zones. Only currently registered operational, noncommercial light vehicles may be parked on any property in a residential zone, except that the following are also permitted:

(1)

One commercial light vehicle used by the occupant, if garaged.

(2)

Unregistered or nonoperational light vehicles owned by the occupant, if garaged.

(3)

Recreational equipment, if garaged.

(4)

Vehicles other than light vehicles used by an occupant in connection with a conditional use, if garaged.

(5)

Vehicles used in connection with a service, pickup, or delivery being provided at the property.

Location of parking.

(1)

No required off-street parking area shall be located in a minimum required front or side yard except for driveways used solely for access to parking areas.

(2)

In all zones, not more than one of the required off-street spaces shall be on the driveway.

(3)

At least 50% of all parking provided for a residential use shall be in garages.

(4)

Off-street parking facilities as accessory to any use permitted in a residential zone shall be provided on the same lot with the permitted principal building.

Size of parking spaces. Each off-street parking space shall measure not less than nine feet in width and 18 feet in length and shall be of usable shape and condition. End-to-end parking spaces shall measure not less than eight feet in width and 23 feet in length. Not more than 2 1/2 feet of any stall length may be provided in an overhang area, provided that curbing or wheel bumpers are provided.

Size of aisles. The width of all aisles providing direct access to individual parking spaces shall be in accordance with the requirements set forth below. Only one-way traffic shall be permitted in aisles serving parking spaces placed at an angle other than 90°.

	Parking Angle (degrees)	Aisle Width (feet)
	0 (end-to-end parking)	12
	30	12
	45	13
	60	18
	90 (perpendicular parking)	24

All off-street parking areas shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles and no commercial repair work or service of any kind shall be conducted on the parking area.

Sidewalks in parking areas for nonresidential uses. Sidewalks may be required between parking areas and principal structures, along aisles and driveways, and wherever pedestrian traffic occurs. They shall have a minimum of four feet of passable width and shall be raised six inches or more above the parking area except when crossing streets or driveways. Guardrails and wheel stops permanently anchored to the ground shall be provided in appropriate locations. Parked vehicles shall not overhang or extend over sidewalk areas, unless an additional sidewalk width of 2 1/2 feet is provided to accommodate the overhang.

Landscaping, paving and drainage for parking areas in nonresidential zones or nonresidential uses.

(1)

Not less than 10% of the area of each parking area shall be suitably landscaped to minimize noise, glare and other nuisance characteristics as well as to enhance the aesthetics, environment and ecology of the site and surrounding area. Waived required parking areas which are landscaped shall not be included in the required 10%.

(2)

Off-street parking areas shall be effectively screened where required by the Board by a berm, fence or wall not less than four nor more than six feet, six inches in height, maintained in good condition; provided, however, that a screening hedge or other natural landscaping may be substituted for the required fence or wall if approved by the Board. The fence or wall as required by this section may be waived by the Board if, in its judgment, because of topographic or other unusual conditions, the fence is not necessary to protect adjoining property.

(3)

Parking areas, loading areas and driveways, except for one-family residences, shall be curbed with granite block and paved except when waived by the Board.

Lighting in parking areas. The Board may require that all parking areas shall be lighted to provide a minimum of a total average illumination of 1 1/2 footcandles throughout the parking area. The lighting shall be shielded and shall not be a hazard or nuisance to the adjoining properties or the traveling public. Light fixtures shall not be higher than 16 feet above grade.

Markings and access. Parking spaces, driveways and aisles shall be clearly marked with directional signs and double space markings. The Board may require that certain areas be maintained for fire-fighting or other emergency purposes, and these areas shall be appropriately designated.

Waiver of parking requirements. If any applicant can clearly demonstrate to the Board or if the Board determines that, because of the nature of the operation or use, the parking requirements of this article are unnecessary or excessive, the Board shall have the power to approve a site plan showing less paved parking area than is required by this article; provided, however, that a landscaped area of sufficient size to meet the ordinance requirement shall be set aside and reserved for the purposes of meeting future off-street parking requirements in the event that a change of use or operation of the premises shall make the additional off-street parking spaces necessary.