Borough of Fanwood, NJ Off-Street Parking, Loading, Circulation and Access

To facilitate the smooth flow of traffic, reduce traffic hazards and provide for maximum security of life and property, it is the policy of the Borough that off-street parking shall be provided for all premises to the maximum extent possible.

§ 184-159 General requirements.

Off-street parking, loading, circulation and access improvements shall be designed to:

Provide adequate on-site space in appropriate locations for vehicles of employees, patrons, and visitors and for shipping and delivery vehicles, including future space needs;

Be compatible with the internal circulation system of a site and avoid unusual risks of traffic congestion, public safety or hazards;

Avoid substantial negative impacts to adjacent properties;

Discourage illegal and improper parking of vehicles;

Provide only the minimum area of pavement necessary to meet site needs, and to break up large areas of pavement with landscaping;

Ensure proper drainage;

Provide for access by disabled persons;

Enable appropriate property maintenance and security; and

In the case of residential development, comply with the RSIS.

§ 184-160 Minimum number of off-street parking and loading spaces.

All developments shall be required to provide at least the minimum number of off-street parking and loading spaces required by this section, unless greater number of parking and loading spaces are required by other provisions of this chapter. §§ 184-116I(6),(7), and (8) and 184-117 for the MAH and TAH Zones shall govern where there is a conflict with the provisions of Article XVIII.

General. In calculating the number of off-street parking and loading spaces required or provided, the following general provisions shall apply;

(1)

Zone districts and uses calculation. The minimum number of parking spaces shall be calculated by both the zone district within which the development is located, as set forth in Subsection B below, and by the nature of the proposed use as set forth in Subsection C below. If a proposed use is listed in Subsection C, the minimum number of parking spaces set forth therein shall apply. If a proposed use is not listed in Subsection C, the minimum number of parking spaces set forth in Subsection B shall apply.

[Amended 12-13-2001 by Ord. No. 01-22R]

(2)

Change of use. A change of use or modification of utilization shall be subject to the required number of parking spaces for the new use or utilization, or the number required in the zone district, whichever is more restrictive. Anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, approval shall be valid only for the particular utilization for which it was granted.

(3)

More than one utilization. When one or more utilizations are proposed on one lot, the minimum number of parking spaces shall be the aggregate of the number of parking spaces required for each utilization, computed separately for each utilization and summed, unless specified otherwise herein.

(4)

Primary and minor utilizations. If the primary utilization includes minor elements of other types of utilizations (e.g. as with home occupations or as with an office associated with a nursing home), the entire parking required shall be calculated based on the requirements from the primary utilization. [1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Original Section 18.03A(5), regarding additional parking spaces, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 12-13-2001 by Ord. No. 01-22R.

(5)

Basement space. If basement space is used as part of the primary utilization of the building either as a result of being a permitted use, or by variance or by meeting the requirements of a preexisting nonconforming use, such basement space shall be included in determining the number of parking spaces to be provided based on the aforesaid requirements. Basement space which is vacant, used to contain utility equipment serving the building or for storage alone shall not be included in the calculation of basement space being used.

(6)

Fractions of spaces. Requirements for a fraction of a parking or loading space shall be rounded down if the fraction is 1/2 space or less, and rounded up if the fraction is greater than 1/2 space.

(7)

Garage parking. Parking spaces located inside garages shall be counted toward the number of required parking spaces only if they are included as such on a parking plan. Garaging as an accessory use capable of storing motor vehicles shall not be designed or used to store more than three motor vehicles on a single lot in any residential zone district. (SIS) With regard to the MAH and TAH Zones, see 184-116B(3)(h) and 184-117.

Minimum number of parking spaces in each zone district. In all zone districts, off-street parking shall be furnished in accordance with the following requirements, unless more stringent requirements are provided in other articles of this chapter: (SIS)

(1)

Residential zones. The minimum number of parking spaces shall in the residential zones be determined solely on the basis of the proposed use as set forth in Subsection C below.

(2)

CO Zone District. One space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area of the principal building shall be required.

(3)

CC, LI & GC Zone Districts. One space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area of the principal building shall be required.

Minimum number of parking spaces required for each utilization. Each utilization of land shall provide off-street parking in accordance with the following requirements, unless more stringent requirements are provided in other articles of this chapter.

[Amended 5-8-2007 by Ord. No. 07-08R]

(1)

Residential uses.

(a)

Single-family or two-family dwellings:

[1]

Two-bedroom unit: 1.5 spaces.

[2]

Three-bedroom unit: 2.0 spaces.

[3]

Four-bedroom unit: 2.5 spaces.

[4]

Five-bedroom unit: 3.0 spaces.

(b)

Townhouse dwellings/condominium:

[1]

One-bedroom unit: 1.8 spaces.

[2]

Two-bedroom unit: 2.3 spaces.

[3]

Three-bedroom unit: 2.4 spaces.

(c)

Community shelters and residences:

[1]

One off-street parking space for each employee during the shift employing the largest number of persons plus one off-street parking space for each other five persons or fraction thereof residing on the site.

(d)

Dwellings units in the same building as a nonresidential use in the CC, GC and CO Zone Districts:

[1]

One parking space for each dwelling unit, in addition to the parking spaces required for the nonresidential use.

(2)

Lodging and Assembly.

(a)

Hotel/Motel:

[1]

One space/guest room, plus one space/employee on maximum shift, plus one space per four fixed seats in any meeting rooms or one space for each 100 sf GFA, in any meeting rooms without fixed seats.

(b)

Private clubs, lodges:

[1]

One space per 100 sf GFA.

(c)

Public theater, auditorium with fixed seats:

[1]

One space per three seats, plus one space/meeting hall with fixed employee seats.

(d)

Public theater, auditorium without fixed seats;

[1]

One space per 100 sf GFA or meeting hall without fixed seats.

(3)

Educational or religious uses.

(a)

House of worship:

[1]

One space per three fixed seats, or one space per 90 sf GFA of all buildings on the property, whichever is greater, provided that the calculation of parking spaces shall be based upon the maximum floor area or seats, as applicable, which may reasonably be occupied at any one time in the foreseeable future, as determined by the Board.

(b)

Preschool, day care or nursery school:

[1]

One space/each staff or employee.

(c)

Elementary/middle junior high/senior high school:

[1]

One parking space for each staff member or employee for schools containing grades under the 10th grade. For schools containing grades 10th and/or 11th and/or 12th, off-street parking, in addition to that required for staff or employees, shall be provided at the rate of one space for each four students. The Board may require additional parking if, in its opinion, the parking spaces prescribed above are not sufficient to insure that the use will not cause parking in a public street during the course of normal education programs.

(4)

Industrial or warehouse uses.

(a)

Light industry, assembly:

[1]

One space per 400 sf GFA or one space/employee on maximum shift, whichever is greater.

(b)

Warehouse, storage:

[1]

One space per 1,000 sf GFA, or one space/employee maximum shift, whichever is greater.

(5)

Office uses.

(a)

Medical office:

[1]

Four spaces/doctor present at one time plus one space/employee other than doctor, or one space per 175 sf GFA, whichever is greater.

(b)

Other professional office: One space per 200 sf GFA.

(c)

Business/Administrative:

[1]

One space per 250 sf GFA (under 50,000 sf office GFA) or one space per 300 sf GFA (50,000 sf GFA or greater).

(d)

Research offices: One space per 350 sf GFA.

(6)

Health related uses.

(a)

Veterinary hospitals:

[1]

Three spaces/examination room or doctor present at one time, or one space for each 200 sf GFA (but not including kennel space) whichever is greater.

(b)

Nursing/convalescent home/assisted living:

[1]

One space per three beds.

(7)

Retail/wholesale sales and services

(a)

General retail sales/service:

[1]

One space per 300 sf GFA.

(b)

Auto/truck sales:

[1]

One space per 30 sf GFA of all buildings or two spaces/employee, whichever is greater.

(c)

Bank:

[1]

One space per 250 sf GFA.

(d)

Bar/tavern: One space per two seats

(e)

Barber/beauty shop:

[1]

Three spaces/barber or beautician present at one time.

(f)

Funeral homes: One space per 100 sf GFA.

(g)

Furniture store: One space per 800 sf GFA.

(h)

Gasoline filling station and/or public garage:

[1]

One space per two pumps plus five spaces/service bay, if applicable.

(i)

Supermarkets (greater than 10,000 sf GFA): One space per 250 sf GFA.

(j)

Hardware store: One space per 300 sf GFA.

(k)

Laundromat: One space per four washing machines plus one space per four dryers.

(l)

Liquor store: One space per 300 sf GFA.

(m)

Lumber and building supply: One space per 400 sf GFA supply store space.

(n)

Miniwarehouse/commercial storage:

[1]

Two spaces/manager plus one space per 10 storage units, plus one visitor space per 25 storage units

(o)

Plant, nursery garden store: One space per 400 sf sales area center.

(p)

Restaurant, predominantly seating, full service: One space per three seats.

(q)

Restaurant, all others:

[1]

One space per 75 sf GFA or one space per three seats, whichever is greater.

(r)

Shopping center or strip mall:

[1]

One space per 225 sf GFA or the parking store center with required by computing the total retail stores required spaces using the standard herein for each individual occupant, whichever is greater.

(8)

Recreation, cultural uses.

(a)

Health/sports club: One space per 250 sf of nonstorage floor area.

(9)

Utilization not specified above. The minimum parking requirement for any utilization not otherwise specified shall be as determined by the Board, but in no case less than the number of spaces required in the zone district as set forth in Subsection B above.

Minimum number of barrier-free spaces. Provisions are to be made for the disabled for any parking facility as required by law. In any parking lot designed to accommodate the public, a minimum number of designated parking spaces accessible to disable persons shall be required as follows, unless exempted by the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act or the New Jersey Barrier-Free Subcode: (SIS)

	Total Parking Spaces in Lot	Required Number of Accessible Spaces
	1 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

Minimum number of off-street loading and unloading spaces. In all districts, for every building or part thereof hereafter erected which is to be occupied by manufacturing, storage, goods display, retail store, wholesale store or warehouse, market, hospital, laundry, dry cleaning or other use similarly requiring the receipt or distribution in vehicles of materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same premises with such building off-street loading spaces in relation to floor area as set forth below. In the following provisions, "GFA" shall mean gross floor area.

(1)

Less than 5,000 square feet GFA: one space.

(2)

Five thousand to 10,000 square feet GFA: three spaces.

(3)

Over 10,000 square feet GFA: three spaces for the first 10,000 square feet GFA, plus one additional space for each 30,000 square feet of additional GFA, or part thereof.

Shared parking. Subject to the provision of § 184-161 below (location of parking), which shall control, any owners of property in the nonresidential zone districts may provide the required number of parking spaces by participating in a joint parking program involving two or more business uses, provided the plans for such a joint program shall have been approved by the Board, and provided further that the number of parking spaces shall equal the collective parking area requirements of the participating properties to be serviced. (SIS)

§ 184-161 Location of required parking spaces.

Required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be located as hereinafter specified.

General location of parking areas.

(1)

Residential uses and residential zone districts. For all residential buildings and structures, regardless of the district in which they may be located, and for all nonresidential buildings and structures in residential zone districts, required parking shall be provided on the same lot with the building or upon an adjacent lot in common ownership. (SIS)

(2)

Nonresidential zone districts. In all nonresidential zones, required parking shall be furnished on the same lot as the principal building, structure or use; provided, however, that up to 50% of the required number of parking spaces may be located on other property owned by the applicant, or under a joint parking program agreement, in a nonresidential zone so long as such parking spaces are located within 500 feet of any customer entrance way to the principal building, structure or use as measured along the normal pedestrian route between the parking and the entrance-way to the principal building, structure or use. (SIS)

Yard location of parking areas.

(1)

R-75 and R-150. No vehicle shall be parked in any front yard, provided, however, that parking accessory to single-family and two-family dwellings shall be permitted in the driveway area leading from the street upon which the premises involved is located. Required parking for single-family and two-family dwellings may be located in either a garage or driveway, provided said driveway meets the residential driveway requirements herein.

(2)

CO Zones. Off-street parking areas are prohibited in the front yard and may be permitted in the side yard provided it is screened by natural vegetation; parking areas shall be permitted in the rear yards.

(3)

CC and LI Zones. Off street parking areas are prohibited in the front yard; parking areas shall only be permitted in the side and rear yards.

(4)

GC Zone. Off street parking areas should be permitted in any yard.

Minimum setbacks for parking areas. Unless more stringent requirements are set forth in other portions of this chapter, the following minimum setbacks shall apply to parking areas and driveways. Where a setback distance is specified, it shall be the distance measured from the nearest point of the paved parking area or driveway to the nearest point of the building or structure that such area is required to serve, or to the property line, as the case may be; provided, however, that curb returns for driveway openings at the street shall be excluded from such setback measurement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, joint parking areas and common driveways, where permitted, shall be exempt from the following setback requirements only to the extent such exemption is necessary to connect said parking and to provide common access.

Location of loading areas.

(1)

On lots containing a single principal building, no loading areas shall be permitted in the front yard.

(2)

On lots containing a single principal building, no loading areas shall be permitted in the front yard.

(3)

On lots containing more than one principal building, no loading areas shall be permitted closer to an abutting street than the minimum setback required for a building.

Loading areas shall comply with the setback requirements for parking areas applicable in the same location or to the same use; provided, however, that no loading area shall be permitted to be set back less than five feet from any property line.

In no case shall loading or unloading be conducted from public streets.

§ 184-162 Required dimensions for parking spaces and loading spaces.

Minimum parking space dimensions. Parking spaces shall be designed to provide a rectangular areas with the following minimum dimensions, which shall exclude any roadway, driveway or access aisle adjacent to the space. Parking spaces for persons with disabilities shall be in accordance with the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as applicable (SIS)

Type of Vehicle	Width (feet)	Depth (feet)
No curb overhang	9	20
With 2 inch curb overhang (90° angle only)	9	18
Parallel to aisle	8	23

Minimum loading space dimensions. Each applicant for site plan approval for a utilization requiring loading:

Type of Vehicle	Width (feet)	Depth (feet)
Semitrailers	10	55
Single unit large truck	10	35
Step vans	10	25

The Board shall also determine the space required for storage of delivery vehicles and for queue of vehicles waiting to load or unload.

§ 184-163 Access aisles, driveways and aprons.

[Amended 12-31-2001 by Ord. No. 01-22R; 7-9-2002 by Ord. No. 02-15R; 11-9-2010 by Ord. No. 10-16R]

All parking areas shall be provided with adequate means of ingress and egress, which areas shall be kept open and unobstructed at all times and which shall be designed to provide service driveways or aisles between rows of parking stalls, or between parking stalls and the edge of the parking areas, to comply with the following standards:

A driveway serving private property and intersecting with a public street shall be constructed in such a manner that it does not interfere with existing drainage, movement of traffic and/or removal of snow from the abutting roadway.

Flared driveway aprons shall be allowed between the street pavement and the sidewalk, or, when no sidewalk is provided or required, between the street pavement and the right-of-way line in accordance with the following standards:

(1)

The flare shall not encroach upon the frontage of an adjacent property.

(2)

Driveway aprons shall be constructed of concrete on lots where there are existing concrete sidewalks or bituminous concrete on properties where there are existing bituminous concrete sidewalks.

(3)

The driveway flare shall not exceed two feet on either side.

Maximum driveway widths shall be as follows:

(1)

Driveways may be full width (excluding apron flare) between the edge of the street and the property line.

(2)

Driveways shall not exceed 18 feet in width, or 30% of the frontage of the subject property, whichever is less, on private property, for one- and two-family dwellings.

Any proposed driveway expansion that results in an increase in impervious coverage of more than 200 square feet must be reviewed by the Borough Engineer for compliance with the Borough's stormwater management plan.

The driveway side yard setback shall be a minimum of three feet from an adjacent property line.

No circular driveway shall be installed on a lot which is less than 100 feet in frontage width or on any corner lot. A residential lot utilizing a circular driveway with two curb openings shall not exceed in width 10 feet at either curb opening and/or at the property line.

A zoning permit shall be required to construct or expand a driveway for a permitted principal residential use in the R-75 and R-150 zones. The applicant shall pay a fee of $25 to the Borough for a permit to resurface the driveway without an expansion of the driveway and a fee of $50 for a permit to reconstruct or expand a driveway.

[Amended 3-8-2011 by Ord. No. 11-04R]

Exceptions and modifications. The following provisions shall, where applicable, modify the foregoing standards:

(1)

Interior setback of the driveway shall not exceed two feet from the inside edge of the garage.

(2)

For homes with no garage or a detached garage, the width of the entire driveway shall be located within 25 feet of the side lot line.

Driveways for nonresidential uses. Driveways shall be at least 10 feet in width for one-way traffic and at least 20 feet in width for two-way traffic; provided, however, that the Board may require greater width when conditions warrant.

Access aisles for nonresidential uses. Access aisles serving parking areas for nonresidential uses shall have the following minimum widths, provided that any access aisle less than 24 feet wide shall only be permitted if designed for one-way traffic only: (SIS)

	Angle of Parking Space (degrees)	Aisle Width (feet)
	0	12
	30	12
	45	13
	60	18
	75	22
	90	24

Access aisles for loading spaces. The width of access aisles serving loading spaces shall be not less than the depth of the space required for the longest vehicle expected to use the space, as follows:

	Vehicle Type	Aisle Width (feet)
	Semitrailers	55
	Single-unit large trucks	35
	Step vans/light delivery truck	25

Access to/from arterial streets. Driveways and parking and loading areas providing access from arterial streets as indicated on the Borough Master Plan shall be designed so that all vehicles may turn around within the parking or loading area, thus preventing the necessity of any vehicle backing into an arterial street.

Shared access. No driveway shall be permitted to serve any use other than the permitted use on the lot upon which said driveway is located, except for joint parking and common access driveways permitted by this chapter.

Highway access management codes. All developments shall comply with the standards of the state highway access management code adopted by the NJDOT Commissioner in the case of a state highway, and with the standards of any access management code adopted by the county in the case of a county road or highway.

Driveways in the MAH, TAH, and LGAH Zones shall be governed by §§ 184-116B(3)(h) and 184-117.

§ 184-164 Pavement for parking and loading areas.

All off-street parking and driveway areas shall be surfaced with a bituminous concrete pavement with a crushed stone base at least four inches thick, and a wearing surface at least two inches thick, maintained in good condition; provided, however, that the Board may require greater pavement thickness when conditions warrant, and further provided that driveways and parking areas for single-family and two-family dwellings shall not be required to be paved. (SIS)

§ 184-165 Curbing for parking and loading areas.

All parking and loading areas and all driveways shall be curbed with granite block curbing installed in accordance with the specifications of the Borough for street curbing; provided, however, that driveways and parking areas for single-family and two-family dwellings shall not required to be curbed. (SIS)

§ 184-166 Painting spaces.

All spaces within any parking or loading area shall be clearly marked and maintained to show the arrangement of spaces within said parking and loading areas by lines painted on the pavement.

§ 184-167 Drainage.

Provisions shall be made for adequate drainage facilities for all parking and loading areas and other paved areas. All such installation shall be connected with an adequate, approved system and shall be adequate to accommodate the storm drainage runoff of the facility it is designed to serve. All drainage facilities shall be approved by the Borough Engineer prior to Board approval. (SIS)

§ 184-168 Illumination of parking and loading areas.

Illumination for parking and loading areas shall be provided in accordance with the following standards:

Illumination levels; definitions. For purposes of administering the illumination level standards in Subsections B(1) and B(2) below, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)

"General parking and pedestrian area" is an area where pedestrian conflicts with vehicles are likely to occur.

(2)

"Vehicular use area (only)" is an area where conflicts with pedestrian are not likely to occur, such as service areas or access road.

(3)

"Level of activity" reflects both vehicular traffic and pedestrian activity and are illustrated by, but not limited to, the following examples. If the level of activity involves a large number of vehicles at night, the examples given below for low and medium levels of activity belong more properly in the next higher level.

	High:	Major cultural or civic events
		Fast food facilities
	Medium:	Community shopping centers
		Cultural, civic or recreational events
		Office parks
		Transportation parking (commuter lots, etc.)
		Residential complex parking
	Low:	Neighborhood shopping
		Industrial employee parking
		Educational facility parking
		Church parking

Illumination levels' standards. The following provisions set forth the required maintained horizontal illumination for general parking and pedestrian areas, and for other vehicle use areas.

(1)

General parking and pedestrian areas.

Level of Activity	Footcandles	Uniformity Ratio
High	0.9	4:1
Medium	0.6	4:1
Low	0.2	4:1

(2)

Vehicle use areas (only)

Level of Activity	Footcandles	Uniformity Ratio
High	2.0	3:1
Medium	1.0	3:1
Low	0.5	4:1

Maximum illumination level at property line. The level of illumination at ground level shall not exceed 0.5 of a footcandle at the property line, nor 0.3 of a footcandle at any property line abutting a property used by or zoned for residential use.

Shielding of fixtures. All lighting fixtures shall be directed downward and shall be equipped with the necessary shielding so as to prevent the direct source of light from being visible from any point beyond the property lines of the premises upon which the lighting structure is located.

Maximum height of fixtures. No lighting structure shall exceed a height of 15 feet above normal grade in the vicinity of the light fixture. Normal grade shall be construed to be the newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, burning, mounding, excavating or curbing or retaining wall which alters the grade at the base of the light fixture from the grade in the general vicinity of the fixture.

Duration of illumination. Duration of operation of all lighting and maximum lumen power permitted shall be as determined satisfactory by the Board with due regard to whether any limitations imposed will deprive the applicant, will be detrimental to the public health and general welfare or to the property and personal rights of the abutting owners. Provision shall be made for the reduction in the intensity of illumination to the minimum needed for security purposes when the facility is not in operation.

Conflicts with motor vehicles. Freestanding light fixture shall be mounted upon a concrete base or shall be set back at least three feet from the curb in order to avoid damage from motor vehicles.

Underground installation. All wiring for light fixtures shall be laid underground, and not strung between poles or buildings.

§ 184-169 Signs in parking and loading areas.

No sign other than entrance, exit, identification and condition of use signs shall be maintained in any parking area. The Board shall decide on the necessity for such signs and the number required. No such sign shall be larger than 1 1/2 square feet in area.

§ 184-170 Screening of parking and loading areas.

When a parking or loading area or driveway for nonresidential uses abuts an existing single or two-family residential use on an adjacent property, such parking or loading areas shall be screened by a fence and/or by landscape plantings to preclude to the maximum extent possible the transmission of headlight glare or other lighting, and to preclude to the maximum extent possible the view. The following provisions shall apply:

The width of any screening area shall be sufficient to accommodate the ultimate growth of any plantings in the screening area.

(1)

Trees and shrubs used for screening purposes shall be at least five feet high at the time of planting.

(2)

Screen plantings and/or fences shall be protected from impact by motor vehicles, and from the negative effects of road salt and snowplowing.

In cases where nonresidential uses abut one another, no screening between parking and loading areas shall be required.

§ 184-171 Pedestrian circulation.

Paved walkways shall be provided as necessary to insure safe pedestrian circulation throughout parking areas and into building entrances.

§ 184-172 Use restrictions.

Parking areas are intended and designed for the use of patrons, residents on site and employees on site. All parking areas required by this chapter shall be devoted exclusively to parking of motor vehicles so long as the principal building or use which requires such parking areas continues in existence. The following provisions shall apply:

All parking areas shall be used only for the parking of motor vehicles, except as may be specifically permitted otherwise by this chapter.

No storage or sales of materials of any kind shall be conducted in any parking areas. No commercial repair or sales, including the sale, rental, or leasing of new or used motor vehicles by a new or used car dealer or motor vehicle rental agency, nor any storage in connection with same, shall be permitted within a required parking area.