Off-street parking and loading facilities for
separate uses may be provided jointly if the total number of spaces
so provided is not less than the sum of the separate requirements
for each use, and provided that all regulations governing the location
of accessory spaces in relation to the use served are adhered to.
No accessory space or portion thereof shall serve as required space
for more than one use unless otherwise approved by the Planning Board
as provided in the Site Plan Review Ordinance.
Every public or private off-street parking or
loading area shall be maintained in good condition, free of hazards
and deterioration. All improved and paved areas, sidewalks, curbs,
lighting areas, bumpers, guard rails, signs and landscaping and other
improvements shall be maintained in a safe and good condition.
[Amended 12-16-1996 by Ord. No. 1172; 5-18-1998 by Ord. No. 1220]
Every single-family or two-family dwelling unit
constructed and any dwelling unit converted from a single-family to
a two-family dwelling after the enactment of this chapter shall be
required to provide a minimum of two off-street parking spaces for
each single-family dwelling unit and four off-street parking spaces
for a two-family dwelling. A garage and/or carport shall be included
as spaces for off-street parking.
[Added 6-13-2022 by Ord.
No. 22-9]
A. Purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote and encourage
the use of electric vehicles by requiring the safe and efficient installation
of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces through municipal parking regulations
and other standards. EVSE and make-ready parking spaces will support
the state's transition to an electric transportation sector, reducing
automobile air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and stormwater
runoff contaminants. The goals are to:
(1)
Provide adequate and convenient EVSE and make-ready parking
spaces to serve the needs of the traveling public.
(2)
Provide opportunities for residents to have safe and efficient
personal EVSE located at or near their place of residence.
(3)
Provide the opportunity for nonresidential uses to supply EVSE
to their customers and employees.
(4)
Create standard criteria to encourage and promote safe, efficient,
and cost-effective electric vehicle charging opportunities in all
zones and settings for convenience of service to those who use electric
vehicles.
(5)
Renter access to EV charging infrastructure is key to equitable
EV deployment and promotion.
B. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
The certificate provided for in N.J.A.C. 5:23-2, indicating
that the construction authorized by the construction permit has been
completed in accordance with the construction permit, the act and
the regulations. See State Uniform Construction Code Act, P.L. 1975,
c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.) and regulations adopted pursuant
thereto.
CHARGING LEVEL
The amount of voltage provided to charge an electric vehicle
varies depending on the type of EVSE as follows:
(1)
Level 1 operates on a fifteen- to twenty-amp breaker on a one-hundred-twenty-volt
AC circuit.
(2)
Level 2 operates on a forty- to one-hundred-amp breaker on a
two-hundred-eight- or two-hundred-forty-volt AC circuit.
(3)
Direct-current fast charger (DCFC) operates on a sixty-amp or
higher breaker on a four-hundred-eighty-volt or higher three-phase
circuit with special grounding equipment. DCFC stations can also be
referred to as "rapid charging stations" that are typically characterized
by industrial grade electrical outlets that allow for faster recharging
of electric vehicles.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Any vehicle that is licensed and registered for operation
on public and private highways, roads, and streets; and operates either
partially or exclusively using an electric motor powered by an externally
charged on-board battery.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY/SERVICE EQUIPMENT or EVSE
The equipment, including the cables, cords, conductors, connectors,
couplers, enclosures, attachment plugs, power outlets, power electronics,
transformer, switchgear, switches and controls, network interfaces,
point of sale equipment, and associated apparatus designed and used
for the purpose of transferring energy from the electric supply system
to a plug-in electric vehicle. EVSE may deliver either alternating
current or, consistent with fast-charging equipment standards, direct
current electricity. "EVSE" is synonymous with "electric vehicle charging
station."
MAKE-READY PARKING SPACE
The prewiring of electrical infrastructure at a parking space,
or set of parking spaces, to facilitate easy and cost-efficient future
installation of electric vehicle supply equipment or electric vehicle
service equipment, including, but not limited to, Level 2 EVSE and
direct current fast chargers. Make-ready includes expenses related
to service panels, junction boxes, conduit, wiring, and other components
necessary to make a particular location able to accommodate electric
vehicle supply equipment or electric vehicle service equipment on
a plug-and-play basis. "Make-ready" is synonymous with the term "charger
ready," as used in P.L. 2019, c. 362 (N.J.S.A. 48:25-1 et al.).
PRIVATE EVSE
EVSE that has restricted access to specific users (e.g.,
single- and two-family homes, executive parking, fleet parking, with
no access to the general public).
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE EVSE
EVSE that is publicly available (e.g., park and ride, public
parking lots and garages, on-street parking, shopping center parking,
nonreserved parking in multifamily parking lots, etc.).
C. Approvals and permits.
(1)
An application for development submitted solely for the installation
of EVSE or make-ready parking spaces shall be considered a permitted
accessory use and permitted accessory structure in all zoning or use
districts and shall not require a variance pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-70.
(2)
EVSE and make-ready parking spaces installed pursuant to Subsection
D below in development applications that are subject to site plan approval are considered a permitted accessory use as described in Subsection
C(1) above.
(3)
All EVSE and make-ready parking spaces shall be subject to applicable
local and/or Department of Community Affairs permit and inspection
requirements.
(4)
The Zoning Officer shall enforce all signage and installation
requirements described in this section. Failure to meet the requirements
in this section shall be subject to the same enforcement and penalty
provisions as other violations of the Borough of River Edge's land
use regulations.
(5)
An application for development for the installation of EVSE
or make-ready spaces at an existing gasoline service station, an existing
retail establishment, or any other existing building shall not be
subject to site plan or other land use board review, shall not require
variance relief pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-1 et seq. or any other
law, rule, or regulation, and shall be approved through the issuance
of a zoning permit by the administrative officer, provided that the
application meets the following requirements:
(a)
The proposed installation does not violate bulk requirements
applicable to the property or the conditions of the original final
approval of the site plan or subsequent approvals for the existing
gasoline service station, retail establishment, or other existing
building;
(b)
All other conditions of prior approvals for the gasoline service
station, the existing retail establishment, or any other existing
building continue to be met; and
(c)
The proposed installation complies with the construction codes
adopted in or promulgated pursuant to the "State Uniform Construction
Code Act," P.L. 1975, c. 217 (N.J.S.A. 52:27D-119 et seq.), any safety
standards concerning the installation, and any state rule or regulation
concerning electric vehicle charging stations.
(6)
An application pursuant to Subsection
C(5) above shall be deemed complete if:
(a)
The application, including the permit fee and all necessary
documentation, is determined to be complete;
(b)
A notice of incompleteness is not provided within 20 days after
the filing of the application; or
(c)
A one-time written correction notice is not issued by the Zoning
Officer within 20 days after filing of the application detailing all
deficiencies in the application and identifying any additional information
explicitly necessary to complete a review of the permit application.
(7)
EVSE and make-ready parking spaces installed at a gasoline service
station, an existing retail establishment, or any other existing building
shall be subject to applicable local and/or Department of Community
Affairs inspection requirements.
(8)
A permitting application solely for the installation of electric
vehicle supply equipment permitted as an accessory use shall not be
subject to review based on parking requirements.
D. Requirements for new installation of EVSE and make-ready parking
spaces.
(1)
Multiple dwellings.
(a)
As a condition of preliminary site plan approval, for each application
involving a multiple dwelling with five or more units of dwelling
space, which shall include a multiple dwelling that is held under
a condominium or cooperative form of ownership, a mutual housing corporation,
or a mixed-use development, the developer or owner, as applicable,
shall:
[1] Prepare as make-ready parking spaces at least 15%
of the required off-street parking spaces, and install EVSE in at
least 1/3 of the 15% of make-ready parking spaces;
[2] Within three years following the date of the issuance
of the certificate of occupancy, install EVSE in an additional 1/3
of the original 15% of make-ready parking spaces; and
[3] Within six years following the date of the issuance
of the certificate of occupancy, install EVSE in the final 1/3 of
the original 15% of make-ready parking spaces.
(b)
Throughout the installation of EVSE in the make-ready parking
spaces, at least 5% of the electric vehicle supply equipment shall
be accessible for people with disabilities.
(c)
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict the
ability to install electric vehicle supply equipment or make-ready
parking spaces at a faster or more expansive rate than as required
above.
(2)
Other parking lots and garages.
(a)
As a condition of preliminary site plan approval, each application involving a parking lot or garage not covered in Subsection
D(1) above shall:
[1] Install at least one make-ready parking space if
there will be 50 or fewer off-street parking spaces.
[2] Install at least two make-ready parking spaces
if there will be 51 to 75 off-street parking spaces.
[3] Install at least three make-ready parking spaces
if there will be 76 to 100 off-street parking spaces.
[4] Install at least four make-ready parking spaces,
at least one of which shall be accessible for people with disabilities,
if there will be 101 to 150 off-street parking spaces.
[5] Install at least 4% of the total parking spaces
as make-ready parking spaces, at least 5% of which shall be accessible
for people with disabilities, if there will be more than 150 off-street
parking spaces.
(b)
In lieu of installing make-ready parking spaces, a parking lot
or garage may install EVSE to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
(c)
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to restrict the
ability to install electric vehicle supply equipment or make-ready
parking spaces at a faster or more expansive rate than as required
above.
(d)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a retailer that
provides 25 or fewer off-street parking spaces or the developer or
owner of a single-family home shall not be required to provide or
install any electric vehicle supply equipment or make-ready parking
spaces.
E. Minimum parking requirements.
(1)
All parking spaces with EVSE and make-ready equipment shall be included in the calculation of minimum required parking spaces, pursuant to §
416-37.
(2)
A parking space prepared with EVSE or make-ready equipment shall
count as at least two parking spaces for the purpose of complying
with a minimum parking space requirement. This shall result in a reduction
of no more than 10% of the total required parking.
(3)
All parking space calculations for EVSE and make-ready equipment
shall be rounded up to the next full parking space.
(4)
Additional installation of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces above what is required in Subsection
D above may be encouraged, but shall not be required in development projects.
F. Reasonable standards for all new EVSE and make-ready parking spaces.
(1)
Location and layout of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces is
expected to vary based on the design and use of the primary parking
area. It is expected that flexibility will be required to provide
the most convenient and functional service to users. Standards and
criteria should be considered guidelines, and flexibility should be
allowed when alternatives can better achieve objectives for provision
of this service.
(2)
Installation.
(a)
Installation of EVSE and make-ready parking spaces shall meet
the electrical subcode of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C.
5:23-3.16.
(b)
Each EVSE or make-ready parking space that is not accessible
for people with disabilities shall be not less than nine feet wide
or 18 feet in length. Exceptions may be made for existing parking
spaces or parking spaces that were part of an application that received
prior site plan approval.
(c)
To the extent practical, the location of accessible parking
spaces for people with disabilities with EVSE and make-ready equipment
shall comply with the general accessibility requirements of the Uniform
Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and other applicable accessibility
standards.
(d)
Each EVSE or make-ready parking space that is accessible for
people with disabilities shall comply with the sizing of accessible
parking space requirements in the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C.
5:23, and other applicable accessibility standards.
(3)
EVSE parking.
(a)
Publicly accessible EVSE shall be reserved for parking and charging
electric vehicles only. Electric vehicles shall be connected to the
EVSE.
(b)
Reasonable time limits may be placed by the owner of the EVSE
on the number of hours that an electric vehicle may charge, prohibiting
indefinite charging and parking. Warnings shall be posted to alert
charging station users about the time limitations and hours of use.
(c)
Electric vehicles may be parked in any parking space designated
for parking, subject to the restrictions that would apply to any other
vehicle that would park in that space.
(d)
Public parking. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:48-2, municipally owned EVSE parking spaces shall be monitored by the municipality's police department and enforced in the same manner as any other parking. It shall be a violation of this section to park or stand a nonelectric vehicle in such a space, or to park an electric vehicle in such a space when it is not connected to the EVSE. Any nonelectric vehicle parked or standing in an EVSE parking space or any electric vehicle parked and not connected to the EVSE shall be subject to fine and/or impoundment of the offending vehicle as described in the general penalty provisions of the Borough's Municipal Code. Signage indicating the penalties for violations shall comply with Subsection
F(5) below. Any vehicle parked in such a space shall make the appropriate payment for the space and observe the time limit of two hours.
(e)
It is prohibited to remove the EVSE connection from the vehicle
of another that is parked or in an EVSE specified parking space.
(f)
A person may not obstruct, block, or otherwise bar access to
an EVSE or to a space designated for charging.
(g)
Private parking. The use of EVSE shall be monitored by the property
owner or designee. The owner of a private EVSE or other nonmunicipal
EVSE may set forth explicit rules regarding the use of their EVSE
by others. However, those rules must be reasonable and will be considered
on a case-by-case basis.
(4)
Safety.
(a)
Each publicly accessible EVSE shall be located at a parking space that is designated for electric vehicles only and identified by green painted pavement and/or curb markings, a green painted charging pictograph symbol, and appropriate signage pursuant to Subsection
F(5) below.
(b)
Where EVSE is installed, adequate site lighting and landscaping
shall be provided in accordance with the Borough of River Edge's ordinances
and regulations.
(c)
Adequate EVSE protection, such as concrete-filled steel bollards,
shall be used for publicly accessible EVSE. Nonmountable curbing may
be used in lieu of bollards if the EVSE is set back a minimum of 24
inches from the face of the curb. Any stand-alone EVSE bollards should
be three feet to four feet high with concrete footings placed to protect
the EVSE from accidental impact and to prevent damage from equipment
used for snow removal.
(d)
EVSE outlets and connector devices shall be no less than 36 inches and no higher than 48 inches from the ground or pavement surface where mounted, and shall contain a cord management system as described in Subsection
F(4)(e) below. Equipment mounted on pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other devices shall be designated and located so as not to impede pedestrian travel, create trip hazards on sidewalks, or impede snow removal.
(e)
Each EVSE shall incorporate a cord management system or method
to minimize the potential for cable entanglement, user injury, or
connector damage. Cords shall be retractable or have a place to hang
the connector and cord a safe and sufficient distance above the ground
or pavement surface. Any cords connecting the charger to a vehicle
shall be configured so that they do not cross a driveway, sidewalk,
or passenger unloading area.
(f)
Where an EVSE is provided within a pedestrian circulation area,
such as a sidewalk or other accessible route to a building entrance,
the EVSE shall be located so as not to interfere with accessibility
requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and
other applicable accessibility standards.
(g)
Publicly accessible EVSEs shall be maintained in all respects,
including the functioning of the equipment. A twenty-four-hour on-call
contact shall be provided on the equipment for reporting problems
with the equipment or access to it. To allow for maintenance and notification,
the Borough of River Edge shall require the owners/designee of publicly
accessible EVSE to provide information on the EVSE's geographic location,
date of installation, equipment type and model, and owner contact
information.
(h)
Owners and operators of private EVSE and other nonmunicipal
EVSE shall be obligated to maintain the EVSE and to provide for safe
operation and use of the EVSE.
(i)
EVSE shall not be installed or located within the public right-of-way
or in a sight triangle. The installation of EVSE must provide for
adequate sight distance.
(5)
Signs.
(a)
Publicly accessible EVSE shall have posted regulatory signs,
as identified in this section, allowing only charging electric vehicles
to park in such spaces. For purposes of this section, "charging" means
that an electric vehicle is parked at an EVSE and is connected to
the EVSE. If time limits or vehicle removal provisions are to be enforced,
regulatory signs including parking restrictions shall be installed
immediately adjacent to, and visible from, the EVSE. For private EVSE,
installation of signs and sign text is at the discretion of the owner.
(b)
All regulatory signs shall comply with visibility, legibility,
size, shape, color, and reflectivity requirements contained within
the Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices as published
by the Federal Highway Administration.
(c)
Wayfinding or directional signs, if necessary, specific to the EVSE, shall be permitted at appropriate decision points to effectively guide motorists to the EVSE parking space(s). Wayfinding or directional signage shall be placed in a manner that shall not interfere with any parking space, drive lane, or exit and shall comply with Subsection
F(5)(b) above.
(d)
In addition to the signage described above, the following information
shall be available on the EVSE or posted at or adjacent to all publicly
accessible EVSE parking spaces:
[1] Hour of operations and/or time limits if time limits
or tow-away provisions are to be enforced by the municipality or owner/designee;
[2] Usage fees and parking fees, if applicable; and
[3] Contact information (telephone number) for reporting
when the equipment is not operating or other problems.
(e)
Third-party advertising shall be prohibited from any and all
signage on or at EVSE parking stalls.
(f)
Any and all signs and EVSE shall comply with Borough signage,
lighting and noise requirements.
(6)
Usage fees.
(a)
Private EVSE. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to preclude
a private owner/designee of an EVSE from collecting a fee for the
use of the EVSE, in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations.
Fees shall be available on the EVSE or posted at or adjacent to the
EVSE parking space.
(b)
Parking fees for publicly accessible municipal EVSE may be assessed
and amended by a resolution adopted by the governing body.