City of Pleasantville, NJ Article XI Off-Street Parking and Loading

§ 300-54 Purpose and intent.

A. The purpose of this section is to prevent or alleviate the congestion of public rights-of-way and to promote the safety and welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the off-street parking and loading of motor vehicles in accordance with the use to which a property is put.

B. The duty to provide and maintain off-street parking and loading spaces shall be the joint and several responsibilities of the owner, operator and lessee of the use for which such spaces are required.

C. Where the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, grants variance relief from these parking or loading requirements, an approved parking plan or delivery plan, as appropriate, including but not limited to hours of operations and staging for deliveries, shall be made part and parcel of such grant of variance relief.

D. Applicability.

(1) Except as otherwise provided under Subsection D(2), (3) and (4), the provisions of this subsection shall apply to all new and existing uses in accordance with the provisions of § 300-19 through § 300-25, and off-street parking spaces shall be provided as required herein.

(2) Whenever a use existing on the effective date of this chapter is changed to a new use, off-street parking and loading shall be provided as required herein for such new use; except that when any such existing use was deficient in required off-street parking or loading spaces on such effective date, such new use may be established with a deficiency in required parking or loading spaces equal in number to the preexisting deficiency, provided that such new use does not increase the demand for parking or loading on the premises.

(3) Whenever the intensity of the use of any building, structure or use is increased through the addition of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other units of measurement specified herein for required off-street parking and loading, off-street parking and loading as required herein shall be provided for such increase in intensity; provided, however, that no building, structure or use lawfully existing on the effective date of this chapter shall be required to provide any additional parking or loading facilities pursuant to this subsection unless and until the aggregate increase in intensity shall equal more than 10% of the intensity existing upon such effective date, in which case off-street parking and loading spaces as required herein shall be provided for the total aggregate increase.

§ 300-55 Off-street parking.

A. Structural types permitted. Parking in the City of Pleasantville is permitted on surface parking lots, in structured parking garages or in mechanical parking facilities.

B. Location.

(1) All residential parking requirements shall be met on site.

(2) Nonresidential uses must provide 100% of required parking on site or within 1,000 feet of the premises, provided that no such off-site parking shall be located within a residential zoning district.

(3) All surface parking lots, structured parking garages and mechanical parking facilities shall be so located and designed to minimize the unnecessary routing of traffic along public rights-of-way.

(4) When possible, parking areas shall be located within the interior of lots and away from street frontages, which shall be developed with permitted principal uses.

C. Computation of required spaces.

(1) Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the following Schedule of Required Off-Street Parking Spaces.

(2) Should the computation of the number of required off-street parking spaces result in a fraction of a space, any fraction up to and including 1/2 shall be disregarded (i.e., rounded down), and any fraction over 1/2 shall require one parking space (i.e., rounded up).

D. Schedule of Required Off-Street Parking Spaces.

[Amended 3-19-2018 by Ord. No. 2-2018]

Schedule of Required Off-Street Parking Spaces

In addition to the number of spaces indicated, each use having employees on the premises, whether residential or nonresidential in nature, shall provide one space for each employee on a given shift.

	Type of Development/Uses1			Required Spaces
	Residential development
		Single-family detached, duplexes
		Two-family stacked dwelling units2
			1 to 3 bedrooms	2.03
			4 to 5 bedrooms	3.0
		Garden apartments and other multifamily dwelling units as defined in § 300-102
			1 bedroom4	1.8
			2 bedrooms	2.02
			3 bedrooms	2.1
		Townhouses and 3- to 4-family attached dwelling units ("tri" or "quad")2
			1 bedroom	1.8
			2 bedrooms	2.32
			3 bedrooms	2.4
		Vertical development, as defined in § 300-10
			1 bedroom	0.8
			2 bedrooms	1.35
			3 bedrooms	1.9
		Mobile homes
			1 bedroom	1.8
			2 bedrooms	2.05
			3 bedrooms	2.1
		Nursing homes, as defined in § 300-10		1 space for every 5 beds
		Age-restricted housing (other than nursing homes) as defined in § 300-10; community residences for the developmentally disabled, persons with head injuries, terminally ill and victims of domestic violence; and transitional home care facilities5		The greater of 1 space for every 2 dwelling units or in accordance with the most appropriate, similar dwelling unit type and size as described herein, plus 1 space per client based on 30% of capacity where adult day care is included as an accessory use
	Nonresidential development6
		Adult day-care centers		1 space for each client based on 30% of capacity
		Adult establishments		1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area for any retail component plus 1 space for each seat for any theater or similar component
		Automotive uses
			Car washes, automatic	5 spaces for each service stall7
			Manual	3 spaces for each service stall7
			Fueling stations	4 queueing spaces for each fuel dispenser7
			Service stations	4 spaces for each service stall7
			Fueling and service stations	4 spaces for each service stall7
			Open-air or enclosed storage facilities for inventoried vehicles intended for sale or rental	1 space for every 300 square feet of showroom or lot area
		Commercial activities (where not otherwise included herein)
			Downtown- and neighborhood-oriented	1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
			General- and regionally oriented	1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
		Contractor's warehouse and offices, including material or design showrooms		1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area
		Eating and drinking establishments
			Bars and taverns	1 space for every 2 seats at 7 square feet per standing customer, 7 square feet per bar stool and 15 square feet per seat per table seat where food is served
			Nightlife establishments	1 space for each customer based on 30% capacity at 7 square feet per standing customer, 7 square feet per bar stool and 15 square feet per seat per table seat
			Drive-in (takeout) restaurants, including fast-food restaurants with takeout component	The greater of 1 space for each customer, based on 30% of capacity at 15 square feet per table seat and 1 space for each 7 square feet of patron queueing area
			Eat-in/full-service restaurants	1 space for each customer based on 30% of capacity at 15 square feet per table seat.
		Educational uses
			Child-care centers/facilities	1 space for each classroom or child based on 30% of capacity
			Elementary school	2 spaces for each classroom
			Intermediate school	1.5 spaces for each classroom
			Secondary (High) school	2.5 spaces for each classroom
			Public/private training facilities offering life skills or career educational courses	1 space for every 3 students
		Family day-care homes		Number of spaces required for residential development under this schedule plus 1 space for each child based on 30% of capacity
		Food production uses		1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area
		Fraternal social, charitable or eleemosynary facilities		1 space for each member based on 30% of capacity
		Funeral homes and mortuaries		1 space per viewing room/chapel based on 30% of capacity for mourners plus 3 spaces per viewing room/chapel for facility vehicles
		Home occupations		Number of spaces required for residential development under this schedule plus 1 space
		Hotels, motels and bed-and-breakfast establishments		1 space for each guest room plus the number of spaces provided herein for amenities and nonroom uses
		Laundromats (self-service laundry facilities)		1 space for each 3 washing machines
		Kennels		2 spaces minimum
		Libraries; museums (cultural or popular); art galleries; studios for artists, musicians, photographers and other artisans; and like and similar activities		1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area plus as required for public assembly areas
		Light industrial operations		1 space for each 800 square feet of gross floor area
		Marinas		1 space for each boat slip
		Office uses
			Medical, dental, psychiatric, veterinarian and related	1 space for every 2 examination/treatment rooms
			Professional and administrative services	1 space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area
			Governmental administrative	1 space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area
			Real estate	1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
		Public parks, playgrounds, active or passive open space, conservation areas		5 spaces per acre or any part thereof
		Personal service establishments		Where applicable, 1 space for each 1/3 of an operator; otherwise, 1 space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area
		Places of worship		1 space for every 3 seats (or 24 inches of pew/bench space) plus requirements for places of public assembly for assembly/meeting rooms plus 1 space for each 2 residents of an accessory rectory
		Places of public assembly		1 space for each user, based on 30% of facility capacity or 1 space for every 150 square feet of gross floor area where there are no fixed seats
		Postal, shipping and receiving facilities (including U.S. Postal Service offices)		1 space for each service window plus 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area
		Research and design laboratories		1 space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area
		Warehousing and storage facilities		1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area
		Watercraft
			In-water fueling stations	1 space for each employee
			Land-based fueling stations	2 spaces for each service stall (does not include actual service stall)
			In-water service stations	1 space for each employee
			Land-based service stations	4 spaces for each service stall (does not include actual service stall)
			Land-based fueling and service stations	2 spaces for each fueling stall plus 4 spaces for each service stall (does not include actual stalls)
			In-water fueling and service stations	1 space for each employee
			Open-air or enclosed storage facilities for inventoried vehicles intended for sale or rental	1 space for each 500 square feet of showroom or lot area

	NOTES:
	1 Unless otherwise indicated, as defined in § 300-8 herein.
	2 Includes guest parking at 0.5 space per dwelling units. Guests must park on street or in common parking areas. For the purposes of this schedule, residential garages shall not count toward the off-street parking requirement.
	3 Applicable where applicant cannot specify the number of bedrooms per unit.
	4 Efficiency and studio
	5 Applicable where applicant cannot specify the number of bedrooms per unit.
	6 g.f.a. = gross floor area
	7 Does not include actual service stalls.
	8 For multifamily residential and multistory commercial buildings, parking stalls with electric vehicle supply equipment shall be provided at a rate of one EVSE per 20 stalls. The provision of EVSE for single-family detached units, duplexes, garden apartments, and townhouses shall be at the discretion of property owners. Each EVSE-capable stall counts as 1.5 parking spaces towards the requirement.
	9 Off-street parking stalls with electric vehicle supply equipment shall be provided at a rate of one EVSE per 20 stalls. The provision of EVSE for single-family detached units, duplexes, garden apartments, and townhouses shall be at the discretion of property owners. Each EVSE-capable stall counts as 1.5 parking spaces towards the requirement. For nonresidential uses (excluding commercial/residential mixed use), off-street parking spaces with EVSE shall be provided at a minimum rate of one EVSE per 20 stalls. If fewer than 20 stalls are required, the provision of off-street EVSE is encouraged and shall count as 1.5 parking spaces towards the parking requirement.

(1) For places of worship, sporting events and other places of assembly in which patrons or spectators occupy benches, pews or other similar seating, each 20 inches of such seating shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining the requirement for off-street parking.

(2) When parking spaces are required on the basis of the number of faculty, staff, students or employees, the maximum number of personnel present at any one time shall govern.

(3) Where a use is not expressly listed in the Schedule of Off-Street Parking Spaces, parking spaces shall be provided on the same basis as required for the most similar use listed, or as determined by the Zoning Officer, Planning Board or Zoning Board, as the case may be, pursuant to their authority to interpret the provisions of this chapter. In making such determination, the Zoning Officer, Planning Board or Zoning Board, as the case may be, may look to the parking requirements for the use in question or for similar uses in neighboring municipalities for guidance.

(4) Reduction in parking requirements. In locations within 300 feet of an established public transit route, the parking requirements established herein may, if approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be at the time of site plan and/or subdivision approval, be reduced up to 50% of the required number of spaces for office and similar uses and up to 85% of the required number of spaces for retail and similar uses.

(5) Collective and shared parking. Subject to the following conditions, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent collective parking arrangements for multiple uses on the same lot or shared parking arrangements for multiple uses on separate lots:

(a) Unless site plan approval is required, in which case approval for the collective or shared parking arrangement shall be issued by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, a zoning permit for such collective or shared parking arrangement shall be issued pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Except for the following regulations for shared parking, the total of such off-street parking spaces to be shared shall not be less than 75% of the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately.

[1] Up to 50% of the off-street parking requirement for theaters or eating or drinking establishments (including bars and taverns), and up to 100% of such spaces required for places of worship or schools, may be supplied by off-street parking spaces provided in connection with financial institutions, office buildings, retail stores, personal service establishments, home improvement or furniture stores, light industrial uses and similar uses when not normally open, used or operated during the principal operating hours of the aforesaid uses.

[2] Conversely, up to 50% of the off-street parking spaces required by this section for financial institutions, office buildings, retail stores, personal service establishments, home improvement or furniture stores, light industrial uses and similar uses may be supplied by off-street parking spaces provided in connection with theaters, eating or drinking establishments (including bars and taverns), places of worship and schools when not normally open, used or operated during the principal operating hours of the aforesaid uses.

(c) The location requirements of § 300-55B shall be met for all uses.

(d) When possible, collective or shared parking areas shall be consolidated into a single, contiguous lot.

(e) A legal instrument establishing the rights of each party entering into such collective or shared parking arrangement, approved as to form and manner of execution by the Planning Board or Zoning Board Solicitor in the case where the parking arrangement is part of a Board action, and executed by the parties requesting such arrangement, shall be filed with the application for a zoning permit.

E. Design and maintenance.

(1) Minimum setbacks.

(a) No part of any surface parking lot, other than driveways for ingress and egress, shall be located closer to its street frontage than the minimum front yard setback, including setbacks applicable for corner lots, required for a principal building in the relevant zoning district, or the front facade of the principal building on the lot in question, whichever is greater.

(b) With the exception of single-family detached, single-family semidetached (duplex) and two-family stacked (multistory) dwelling units, designed shopping centers and commercial centers not located within the Central Business District, no surface parking shall be located between the front facade of the building such parking is designed to serve and the street.

(c) With the exception of single-family detached, single-family semidetached (duplex) and two-family stacked (multistory) dwelling units, no part of any surface parking lot, other than driveways for ingress and egress, shall be located in any required side yard or between a side lot line and the side of any principal building on such lot, unless located to the rear of such building.

(d) No part of any surface parking lot in a nonresidential district shall be located within 15 feet of any lot line forming part of a residential zoning district boundary line.

(e) Except as limited by the foregoing provisions, surface parking lots may be located in a required rear yard.

(f) Other than for ingress and egress, no surface parking stall (space) shall be so located as to require or permit any vehicle it is designed to accommodate to extend into any front yard or across any lot line.

(g) Structured parking garages and mechanical parking facilities shall be governed by the setback requirements for principal buildings in the zoning district where such parking garage or parking facility is located.

(2) Screening and landscaping.

(a) In any zoning district where a front yard setback is required, including setback requirements for corner lots, the setbacks required by § 300-55E(1) shall be treated as a perimeter landscaped open space.

(b) In any zoning district where no setback from streets is required, a perimeter landscaped open space of a width of at least five feet, or a durable and well-maintained solid wall, fence, compact evergreen hedge or other screening device of a permanent three feet to four feet in height, shall be provided along every street line.

(c) In all zoning districts, shade trees shall be provided at a ratio of one tree for every 10 parking spaces, exclusive of other landscaping that might be required under this chapter. Such trees shall be planted throughout the parking lot.

(d) Trees in paved areas shall be installed in landscaped islands in order to permit proper watering and fertilization, and to protect the trees from inadvertent vehicular damage.

(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no parking or screening shall be located or designed as to obstruct any sight triangle required by § 300-47B.

(f) For surface parking lots adjoining residential uses:

[1] The fifteen-foot setback required by § 300-55E(1)(d) shall be treated as a perimeter landscaped open space.

[2] Sufficient screening shall be provided along all lot lines abutting any residentially zoned or residentially developed property to visually insulate the residential use.

(g) For structured parking garages or mechanical parking facilities, traditional, open parking decks or mechanical elements wherein parked vehicles are visible from the right-of-way are prohibited. Window-like cutouts and/or other architectural elements are required so as to resemble active permitted uses while providing for garage ventilation as necessary.

(3) Dimensions.

(a) Minimum spacing specifications for off-street parking stalls shall be as follows:

(b) Off-street parking stalls designed for the disabled shall meet the requirements of N.J.A.C. 5:23-7.10.

(4) Access and circulation.

(a) Access to surface parking lots, parking garages and mechanical parking structures shall be designed so as not to obstruct the free flow of traffic, either interior to the parking lot, garage or facility or between such parking and the City's street system.

(b) Adequate provision shall be made for ingress to and egress from all parking spaces and for circulation within parking areas to ensure ease of mobility, ample clearances and safety of vehicles and pedestrians.

[1] Turnaround area. Where more than three parking spaces are served by a single driveway, a turnaround area shall be provided or other provision shall be made to permit cars to exit the parking lot, garage or mechanical facility without backing onto any street or sidewalk.

[2] Backup area. Each parking space shall be provided with a sufficient backup area to permit egress in two maneuvers consisting of one backward and one forward movement.

[3] Driveway access. There shall be adequate provision for ingress to and egress from all parking areas. Minimum driveway width shall be 24 feet.

[4] Circulation aisles. There shall be adequate provision for circulation within parking areas. Aisle width providing access to individual parking stalls shall be determined by the angle of the stall serviced by such isle as follows:

		Aisle Width
	Parking Angle (degrees)	One-Way Aisles (feet)	Two-Way Aisles (feet)
	0° (parallel)	12	24
	30°	12	n/a
	45°	15	n/a
	60°	18	n/a
	90°	22	24

[5] Only one-way traffic shall be permitted in aisles serving single-row parking spaces placed at an angle other than 90°.

[6] Parking lots with 100 or more parking spaces shall require a minimum of two means of ingress/egress.

(5) Surface and drainage.

(a) Off-street parking lots areas shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or portland cement binder pavement providing an all-weather, durable and dustless surface.

(b) Individual parking stalls shall be clearly identified by markings four inches to six inches wide.

(c) Off-street parking lots shall be designed to ensure that all stormwater runoff will be directed away from adjacent properties and shall further be designed to be in full conformance with Chapter 251 (drainage and watercourses) of the Pleasantville City Code.

(d) No area of any surface parking lot, excluding access ramps, shall have a slope in excess of 5%. No ramp shall have a slope in excess of 8%. Aprons shall have the same slope as the sidewalk adjacent thereto.

(e) Fixed lighting shall be so arranged and shielded to prevent glare beyond the lot's property lines.

(f) Suitable wheel stops or curbing shall be provided, located and designed to protect sidewalks, screening devices, landscaping and other vehicles from vehicles extending beyond the required parking stall length and to provide necessary traffic control.

(g) Special standards for residential parking areas. For accessory parking areas located in a front yard of a residential duplex, two-family stacked multistory dwelling, three- to four-family attached dwelling, townhouse, garden apartment, multifamily building or any other attached dwelling, where such parking is developed after the effective date of this chapter:

[1] Each space shall be accessory to and permanently assigned to a single dwelling unit and, if possible within the requirements of this subsection, be located in the front yard of such unit, except that parking in the front yard shall be prohibited where the attached dwelling exceeds 30 feet in width or where the rear yard has access to a street or alley.

[2] No more than one space (front-to-back) shall be located in the front yard of any dwelling unit, and not more than two spaces shall be contiguous (side-by-side) with each other. Areas between groupings of two parking spaces shall be landscaped in an appropriate manner so as to minimize visual impact.

[3] A fence or landscaped buffer surrounding the parking area is required in order to minimize the visual impact of an automobile's presence on adjacent properties.

[4] Every parking space and driveway shall be designed and shall be of sufficient length and width to prevent the parked automobile from encroaching onto any street or sidewalk. Within this context, the width of any single driveway or parking space shall not be less than eight feet nor greater than 10 feet, unless the width in excess of 10 feet is treated with decorative concrete, pavers or similar surfacing.

[5] The grade of pavement from parking lot to street shall not exceed 2%.

(6) Signage. No sign shall be displayed in any surface parking lot, structured parking garage or mechanical parking facility except such signs as may be necessary for the orderly use of such lot, garage or facility.

§ 300-56 Loading.

A. Structural types permitted. Loading in the City of Pleasantville is permitted from designated on-street loading zones, from dedicated loading areas on surface parking lots and from structured loading docks.

B. Location.

(1) On-street loading zones shall be located as close as is possible to the use to for which they are intended.

(2) Off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the building or structure to which they are accessory. No loading space shall be located in any required front yard.

C. Computation of required spaces.

(1) On- and off-street loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following Schedule of Required Off-Street Loading Spaces.

(2) Should the computation of the number of required off-street loading spaces result in a fraction of a space, any fraction up to and including 1/2 shall be disregarded (i.e., rounded down), and any fraction over 1/2 shall require one loading space (i.e., rounded up).

D. Schedule of Required Off-Street Loading Spaces.

	Schedule of Required Off-Street Loading Spaces
	Residential Development
	1 space for every 200,000 square feet of gross floor area, or any part thereof
	Nonresidential Development
	Gross Floor Area	Required Spaces
	Up to 9,999 s.f. of g.f.a.	1 space for every 5,000 g.f.a, or any part thereof
	Thereafter	1 space for every 10,000 g.f.a, or any part thereof

(1) The requirements of this schedule notwithstanding, on- and off-street loading spaces shall be provided in sufficient number and of sufficient size so as to appropriately service the use for which they are intended, and, with the exception of on-street loading, so that no loading and unloading operations infringe upon any street, sidewalk or public property.

(2) Collective and shared loading. Subject to the following conditions, nothing herein shall be construed to prevent collective loading arrangements for multiple uses on the same lot or shared loading arrangements for multiple uses on separate lots:

(a) Unless site plan approval is required, in which case approval for the collective or shared loading arrangement shall be issued by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, a zoning permit for such collective or shared loading arrangement shall be issued pursuant to this chapter.

(b) The total of such off-street loading spaces to be shared shall not be less than 50% of the sum of the requirements for the various uses computed separately.

(c) When possible, collective or shared loading areas shall be consolidated into a single, contiguous space.

(d) A legal instrument establishing the rights of each party entering into such collective or shared loading arrangement, approved as to form and manner of execution by the Planning Board or Zoning Board Solicitor in the case where the loading arrangement is part of a Board action, or by the City Solicitor in the case where the loading arrangement is approved by the Zoning Officer pursuant to Subsection D(2)(a) hereinabove, and executed by the parties requesting such arrangement, shall be filed with the application for a zoning permit.

E. Design and maintenance.

(1) Minimum setbacks. Off-street loading areas shall comply with the setbacks required by § 300-55E(1), and no loading space shall be so located as to require or permit any vehicle it is designed to accommodate to extend into any front yard or across any lot line while being loaded or unloaded.

(2) Screening.

(a) Off-street loading areas accessory to uses with floor areas in excess of 100,000 square feet, exclusive of required off-street parking areas, shall be located internally and not be visible from any public street.

(b) To the extent possible, open-air off-street loading areas shall be located and screened as to be visually insulated from public rights-of-way or adjacent properties.

(3) Dimensions. Off-street loading spaces shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width and 35 feet in length and have a minimum vertical clearance of 10 feet. These dimensions notwithstanding, all off-street loading spaces shall be sized for the delivery vehicles anticipated.

(4) Access and circulation.

(a) Off-street loading spaces shall be designed and arranged to provide access to a street or alley in a manner which will create the least possible interference with traffic movement, both interior to the loading area or between the loading area and the City's street system.

(b) Adequate provision shall be made for ingress to and egress from all loading spaces and for circulation within loading areas to ensure ease of mobility, ample clearances and safety of vehicles and pedestrians.

(c) Unless approved by the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment, as the case may be, in the course of site plan, subdivision and/or variance review, access to and from loading spaces shall be approved by the Zoning Officer.

(5) Surface and drainage.

(a) Every off-street loading space shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or portland cement binder pavement providing an all-weather, durable and dustless surface.

(b) Off-street loading areas shall be designed to ensure that all stormwater runoff will be directed away from adjacent properties and shall further be designed to be in full conformance with Chapter 251 (drainage and watercourses) of the Pleasantville City Code.

(c) Individual loading stalls shall be clearly identified by markings four inches to six inches wide.

(d) Fixed lighting shall be so arranged and shielded to prevent glare beyond the lot's property lines.

F. Signage. No signs shall be displayed in any off-street loading area except such signs as may be necessary for the orderly use of the loading spaces.