A.
Existing parking. Parking for existing structures and uses that were in existence at the date of adoption of this chapter shall be made to comply with Article IV when the structure or use changes. Parking for existing structures and uses shall not be permitted to decline and failure to keep these parking areas in satisfactory condition (i.e., free from holes or clear delineation of spaces) shall be considered a violation of this chapter.
B.
Change in requirements. Whenever there is an alteration of a structure or a change or extension of a use which increases the parking requirements according to the standards of Article IV of this chapter, the total additional parking required for the alteration, change or extension shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of that article; however, when the use of the existing structure is changed or intensified without substantial addition to the structure, the additional parking normally required may be reduced or waived by special exception if the Zoning Hearing Board finds that the provisions of Article VIII are impracticable or would require destruction of important architectural or landscape elements.
C.
Conflict with other uses. No parking area shall be used for any use that interferes with its availability for the parking need it is required to serve.
D.
Continuing obligation. All required parking facilities shall be provided and maintained as long as the use exists which the facilities were designed to serve. Off-street parking facilities shall not be reduced in total extent after their provision, except upon the approval of the Zoning Hearing Board and then only after proof that, by reason of diminution in floor area, seating area, the number of employees, or change in other factors controlling the regulation of the number of parking spaces, such reduction is in conformity with the requirements of this chapter. Reasonable precautions shall be taken by the owner or sponsor of particular uses to assure the availability of required facilities to the employees or other persons whom the facilities are designed to serve. Such facilities shall be designed and used in such a manner as to at no time constitute a nuisance, a hazard, or unreasonable impediment to traffic.
E.
Joint use. Two or more uses may provide for required parking in a common parking lot if the total space provided is not less than the sum of the spaces required for each use individually. However, the number of spaces required in a common parking facility may be reduced below this total by special exception under Article XII if it can be demonstrated to the Zoning Hearing Board that the hours or days of peak parking needed for the uses are so different that a lower total will provide adequately for all uses served by the facility.
F.
Fractional measurements. If in determining the number of required off-street parking spaces, there results a fractional space, any fraction up to and including 0.5 shall be disregarded and any fraction over 0.5 shall require one space.
G.
Location of parking spaces. Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot or premises with the principal use served. Where this requirement cannot be met, it shall be within 300 feet of the same principal use, but not in an R-1, R-2, or BC District. Off-premises parking shall be either owned by the principal use or leased on a long-term basis of five years or longer. Pedestrian access from the parking facility to the nonresidential use shall be provided.
H.
Maintenance of parking areas. On parking areas for three or more vehicles, the area not landscaped and so maintained, including driveways, shall be graded, surfaced with asphalt or other suitable material, and drained to the satisfaction of the Borough Engineer to the extent necessary to prevent dust, erosion, or excessive water flow across streets or adjoining properties. All off-street parking spaces shall be marked to indicate their location.
I.
In the Residential Districts R-1 and R-2, parking of vehicles shall be prohibited from lawn areas in the front yard. And no more than 800 square feet of the front yard may be taken up by parking spaces.