[Amended 12-18-1961 by Ord. No. 110; 4-20-1966 by Ord. No.
66-174; 2-10-1969 by Ord. No. 69-230; 11-22-1971 by Ord. No.
71-286; 12-10-1973 by Ord. No. 73-320; 1-31-1977 by Ord. No.
77-368; 4-11-1977 by Ord. No. 77-372; 2-13-1978 by Ord. No.
78-381; 9-18-1978 by Ord. No. 78-388; 11-13-1978 by Ord. No.
78-392; 3-12-1979 by Ord. No. 79-396; 6-1-1987 by Ord. No.
87-508]
The intent of these regulations is to provide
standards relating to the amount and design of off-street parking
and loading facilities to ensure safe and efficient ingress and egress
for vehicular and pedestrian traffic and to provide the proper relationship
between the proposed and existing uses of the land and the vehicular
traffic generated by development.
[Amended 8-21-1988 by Ord. No. 89-561]
The requirements of this article shall not apply
to structures and uses lawfully in existence at the date of adoption
of this article so long as the kind and extent of use is not changed.
Any parking or loading area now serving such structures or uses shall
not be reduced below the requirements of this article nor can they
be counted as serving a new use or structure on the property unless
all provisions of this article are met prior to the installation of
the new use or the construction of the new structure. All required
parking and loading areas shall be provided and maintained so long
as the use exists for which the parking and loading areas were designed.
Any building or other structure erected, altered
or used and any lot used or occupied for any of the following purposes
shall be provided with minimum off-street parking spaces as set forth
below, together with adequate passageways, driveways or other means
of circulation and access to or from a street or way. Where a use
is not specifically listed below, the requirement of the most similar
use shall be applied. If a use falls into two or more of the following
categories, the category which requires the greatest parking shall
apply.
A.
Dwellings.
[Amended 12-11-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-776]
(1)
Single-family dwellings (detached, semidetached, rowhouse).
(a)
Number of off-street parking spaces: two spaces plus one additional
space for each bedroom in excess of three bedrooms.
(b)
Placement of parking spaces:
[1]
The first space located within a garage may not be counted toward
the required minimum number of parking spaces.
[2]
The width of a driveway may not exceed 18 feet at the right-of-way
line for the full depth of the required front yard setback unless
it is located behind a minimum buffer 10 feet in width which meets
the standards of a filtering buffer.
(c)
Visitor parking. All single-family dwellings shall provide one
visitor space for every three units. Public on-street parking, whether
on a public or private street, may be used to satisfy this requirement
if the entire parking space is located within the lot frontage for
the dwellings to which it applies. Visitor parking may also be located
in a common parking field if it is located on the same site as the
proposed development and is within 300 feet of the dwellings to which
it applies.
[Added 9-10-2015 by Ord.
No. 2015-838]
(2)
Multifamily dwellings. There shall be one off-street parking
space for each bedroom unit.
[Amended 9-10-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-838]
(4)
Existing parking deemed lawfully nonconforming.
(a)
Existing parking arrangements built prior to the adoption of
this subsection are deemed to be lawfully nonconforming to the Zoning
Ordinance and shall not be required to meet the standards set forth
above.
(b)
A dwelling unit which is modified, expanded, or enlarged after
the effective date of this subsection so as to affect the parking
requirement must comply with all current parking standards.
B.
Nonresidential uses.
[Amended 4-17-1989 by Ord. No. 89-555; 8-12-1993 by Ord. No.
93-616; 2-3-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-796]
(1)
Commercial uses.
(a)
Freestanding retail that is not a part of a shopping center:
[1]
Retail less than 20,000 square feet gross leasable area: 4 1/2
spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area.
[2]
Retail greater than 20,000 square feet gross leasable area:
four spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area.
[3]
Outdoor sales areas associated with freestanding retail: 2 1/2
spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area.
(b)
Supermarket: 5 1/2 spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable
area.
(c)
Furniture store: two spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable
area.
(d)
Convenience store: one space per 100 square feet gross leasable
area for the first 3,000 square feet then one space per 150 square
feet gross leasable area. The first row perpendicular to the building
shall be a width of not less than 10 feet and have a drive aisle width
of not less than 30 feet.
(e)
Convenience store with gas or fueling station: Parking for convenience
store plus one space for each four fuel pumps or fraction thereof.
No parking within 25 feet of a fuel pump.
(f)
Gasoline service or of filling station with a convenience store
or mini market: The greater of 10 spaces per service bay or one space
per employee. No parking within 25 feet of a fuel pump.
(g)
Auto service or repair: three spaces per service bay plus one
space for each employee.
(h)
Auto sales/leasing: one space per 1,000 square feet gross leasable
area plus one space per employee plus six spaces for customers.
(i)
Car wash: two spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area
plus one space per employee plus stacking for 10 vehicles.
(j)
Shopping center: four spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable
area plus three spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area of
office that is more than 20% of total gross leasable area.
(k)
Regional shopping center: 5 1/2 spaces per 1,000 square
feet gross leasable area for first million square feet gross leasable
area plus 4 1/2 spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area
for second million square feet gross leasable area plus four spaces
per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area for additional gross leasable
area.
(2)
Offices/banks.
(a)
Offices: four spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area.
(b)
Bank: five spaces per 1,000 square feet gross leasable area.
(c)
Drive-through teller (each): eight spaces for waiting vehicles
that do not interfere with other required parking or circulation.
(d)
Medical office, medical office building and medical clinic:
The greater of seven spaces per doctor, dentist or other practitioner
or four spaces per examining or treatment room, plus one space for
each employee or staff.
[Amended 11-15-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-809]
(3)
Services.
(a)
Hotel or motel: one space per room plus one space for each two
employees on largest shift.
(b)
Hotel/motel with restaurant: Hotel plus parking for restaurant.
(c)
Hotel/motel with meeting/convention facilities: Hotel plus one
space per 300 gross square feet of assembly area.
(d)
Restaurant:
[1]
Sit-down without drive-through or take out: one space per 50
square feet devoted to patron use or one space for every four seats,
whichever is greater, plus one space for each employee or largest
shift.
[2]
Carry-out and drive through: one space per 100 square feet gross
leasable area or one space for every three seats, whichever is greater,
plus a minimum of eight stacking spaces for each sales window, none
of which shall interfere with required parking or circulation.
(e)
Funeral homes: one space per 100 square feet gross leasable
area.
(f)
Veterinary office, including veterinarian with accessory animal
kennel: four spaces per doctor plus one space for each staff on largest
shift.
(g)
EMS: fire, ambulance, rescue and other emergency services of
a municipal or volunteer nature: One space for every two employees
of the largest shift. Where a community room is provided, one space
per 100 square feet gross leasable area.
(h)
Entertainment or recreational facility operated as a business
within a building: one space for each four seats or one space per
50 square feet gross leasable area used for customers, patrons, clients,
guests or members, whichever results in the greater number of spaces.
(i)
Day-care centers and homes for children and adults: 1 1/2
spaces per employee plus one safe dropoff space for each 10 persons
that the facility is licensed to accommodate.
(j)
Personal services: barber, beautician, laundry and dry cleaning,
shoe repair, tailor, photographer or travel agent: one space per 150
square feet gross leasable area used or intended to be used for servicing
customers plus one space per employee.
(4)
Institutional/assembly.
(a)
Auditorium, theater, etc.: one space for each three seats.
(b)
Church, place of worship: one space for each five seats.
(c)
Library, museum, post office or similar public use: one space
per 400 square feet gross leasable area.
(d)
Convention center, exhibition hall: one space for each 3 1/2
seats of maximum seating capacity or one space per 60 square feet
gross leasable area.
(e)
Schools:
[1]
Senior high, trade and professional schools: one space for each
faculty and staff, plus one space for each five students of building
capacity.
[2]
Kindergarten, elementary and junior/intermediate schools: one
space for each faculty and staff plus two spaces per classroom.
[3]
Post-secondary or trade: one space per student based on design
capacity plus one per 300 square feet office.
[4]
College, junior and community college: one space for each faculty
and staff plus one space for each three students of building capacity.
(f)
Facilities for attendance of large groups or spectators, such
as auditoriums, theaters, gyms and other similar places of assembly:
one space for each three seats capacity.
(g)
Hospital/nursing home: one space for each three beds plus one
space for each two staff on the largest shift.
(h)
Recreation:
[1]
Bowling lanes: four spaces per bowling lane.
[2]
Membership club: one space for each six persons' total capacity.
[3]
Commercial stables: one space for each horse stall.
[4]
Golf course: five spaces per hole.
[5]
Driving range: 2 1/2 spaces per tee.
[6]
Miniature golf: 2 1/2 spaces per hole.
[7]
Fitness center or health club: one space per 200 square feet
gross leasable area.
[8]
Racquet or tennis facility: four spaces per court or one space
for each two spectator seats, whichever is greater.
[9]
Skating rink: one space per 180 square feet gross leasable area,
including rink, or one space for each two spectator seats, whichever
is greater.
[10]
Athletic field and basketball court: 40 spaces
per field and 20 spaces per basketball court or one space for each
two spectator seats, whichever is greater.
[11]
Swimming pool or club: one space per 60 square
feet of water surface area or one space for each two spectator seats,
whichever is greater.
[12]
Batting cage: two spaces per batting cage.
[13]
Accessory retail use: one space per 100 square
feet sales floor area.
[14]
Accessory restaurant use: one space for every
seat capacity.
(5)
Industrial.
(a)
LI/limited manufacturing: one space per 500 square feet gross
leasable area manufacturing plus spaces required for other uses.
(b)
Research and development: one space per 350 square feet gross
leasable area plus spaces required for other uses.
(c)
Warehousing: one space per 1,000 square feet gross leasable
area for the first 20,000 square feet gross leasable area the plus
one space per 2,000 square feet gross leasable area for the second
20,000 square feet gross leasable area plus one space per 4,000 square
feet additional gross leasable area plus spaces required for additional
uses.
(d)
Exterior industrial: one space per 2,500 square feet storage,
exclusive of landscaping, access and other storage areas.
(e)
Shops where the major activity involves activities such as carpentry,
cabinetmaking, furniture making/repair, upholstering or repair of
appliances, lawn mowers, watches, bicycles, small business machines,
but excluding automobiles, vehicles and heavy equipment: one space
per 500 square feet gross leasable area.
(6)
Unspecified uses. The parking requirement for any use not specified
shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors based on the submission
of credible evidence, including parking studies for the same or comparable
use and/or normally accepted regional or national parking standards.
(7)
Special provisions.
(a)
Reserve parking. At the discretion of the Board of Supervisors,
a developer may set aside up to 25% of the required parking spaces,
which shall be planted, landscaped and reserved for future parking
needs. The reserve parking shall be constructed at the sole expense
of the landowner or tenant, in total or in part, at the election of
the landowner or if so ordered by the Township Board of Supervisors.
Such reserve parking shall be fully engineered, areas shall not be
counted as any open space otherwise required, and the location and
design shall conform to all other applicable standards. If such parking
is ordered to be constructed by the Board of Supervisors, the landowner
must commence construction within 60 days.
(b)
Reduced parking. At the discretion of the Board of Supervisors,
a landowner may reduce the required number of parking spaces under
the following conditions:
[1]
The site must be under single ownership and occupancy.
[2]
The site must contain in excess of 25 acres.
[3]
The applicant must provide credible evidence that the property
has provisions for sufficient parking for employees, contract workers
and visitors who may be conducting business.
[4]
If approved, the property owner shall be required to enter into
a parking agreement with the Township.
(c)
Shared parking. At the discretion of the Board of Supervisors,
a landowner(s) may provide shared parking among one or more uses or
properties under the following conditions:
[1]
The applicant(s) shall submit a parking study for shared parking
using standards set forth by either the Institute of Traffic Engineers
or the Urban Land Institute.
[2]
The parking study shall include the following:
[a]
The required parking for the individual uses as
set forth in the Upper Merion Code.
[b]
The parking demand of the uses over the course
of the day, including weekends and holidays.
[c]
The proximity of the parking field to the entrances
of the various uses.
[d]
A circulation plan for the safe and efficient distribution
of vehicles through the site, including delivery.
[e]
A pedestrian plan showing a safe network of pathways
and crosswalks for visitors to the site.
[Amended 8-21-1989 by Ord. No. 89-561]
The parking spaces required by this article
shall be provided on the same lot or premises with the use served.
Parking spaces required by this article may be located elsewhere,
when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board,
subject to the following conditions:
A.
A portion of the off-site parking area shall be located
not more than 300 feet from an entrance regularly used by patrons.
B.
The off-site parking area shall be located within
the same zoning district or a less restrictive zoning district as
the property served.
C.
The location of the off-site parking shall not interfere
with other uses conducted on the site where the parking is to be located.
D.
Where required for the principal use, the location
of the off-site parking shall be shown on a development plan.
E.
The owner of the property where the off-site parking
is to be located shall consent to the same in writing.
A.
Handicapped accessible parking for residential uses
shall be provided at the rate of one space for each dwelling unit
that is designed for occupancy by the handicapped. Handicapped accessible
parking spaces required by this subsection shall count towards fulfilling
the overall required parking.
B.
Nonresidential parking areas shall be required to
provide handicapped accessible parking spaces, which shall count towards
fulfilling the overall required parking, as follows:
|
Total Parking Spaces in Lot
|
Required Number of Accessible Spaces
| |
|---|---|---|
|
Up to 25
|
1
| |
|
26 to 50
|
2
| |
|
51 to 75
|
3
| |
|
76 to 100
|
4
| |
|
101 to 150
|
5
| |
|
151 to 200
|
6
| |
|
201 to 300
|
7
| |
|
301 to 400
|
8
| |
|
401 to 500
|
9
| |
|
501 to 1,000
|
2% of total
| |
|
Over 1, 000
|
2%, plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000
|
C.
Required handicapped accessible parking spaces shall
conform to the following regulations:
(1)
Handicapped accessible parking spaces shall
be located as near as practical to a primary building entrance.
(2)
Pedestrian ways which are accessible to the
physically handicapped from each such parking space to related facilities,
including curbs or ramps as needed, shall be provided.
(3)
Ramps shall not encroach into any parking space.
(4)
Surface slopes of parking spaces for the physically
handicapped shall be of as minimum a slope as possible.
(5)
Identification.
(a)
Each parking space reserved for the physically
handicapped shall be identified by a permanently affixed reflectorized
sign, constructed of porcelain steel, beaded text or equal, displaying
the international sign of accessibility.
(b)
Each parking space reserved for the physically
handicapped shall be identified by signs complying with § 3354
of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code and applicable regulations
issued thereunder by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
[Added 6-6-1996 by Ord. No. 96-646A]
[Amended 4-17-1989 by Ord. No. 89-555; 2-3-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-796]
A.
Truck
loading facilities are required for structures containing uses devoted
to businesses, industry, manufacturing, storage, water housing, processing,
offices, professional buildings, hotels, multiple-family dwellings,
hospitals and any buildings of a commercial nature.
B.
There
shall be two size of off-street truck loading spaces designated: “large”
and “small.” Each large space shall have an overhead clearance
of at least 14 feet, shall be at least 12 feet wide and shall be at
least 50 feet long, exclusive of access or maneuvering area, platform
and other appurtenances. Each small space shall have an overhead clearance
of at least 10 feet, shall be at least eight feet wide and shall be
at least 20 feet long, exclusive of access or maneuvering area, platform
and other appurtenances.
C.
All loading
spaces shall be designed so that their use shall not interfere with
required parking, vehicle circulation or intrude into the street right-of-way.
D.
Loading
docks shall be screened with screening buffers to effectively shield
them from view form any adjacent property or public right-of-way by
a combination of landscaping, fences and walls.
E.
Two or
more establishments may be permitted to use a common loading and unloading
facility, as approved by the Board of Supervisors.
A.
Off-street loading shall be provided as follows:
|
Minimum Truck Loading Spaces
| ||
|---|---|---|
|
Square Feet of Gross Floor Area in Structure
|
Required Number of Spaces
| |
|
0 up to and including 12,500
|
1 (small)
| |
|
12,501 up to and including 25,000
|
2 (small)
| |
|
25,001 up to and including 40,000
|
1 (large)
| |
|
40,001 up to and including 100,000
|
2 (large)
| |
|
For each additional 80,000 over 100,000
|
1 (large)
| |
B.
For shopping centers and other buildings and structures
with multiple occupants that are to be served by a single loading
area, the combined area of all uses listed shall be used in computing
the number of required spaces.
