[Ord. 125, 7/18/2007, § 601]
1.
Overall Requirements.
A.
Number of Spaces. Each use that is newly developed, enlarged, significantly
changed in type of use, or increased in number of establishments shall
provide and maintain off-street parking spaces in accordance with
Table 27-6-1 and the regulations of this Part.
B.
Uses Not Listed. Uses not specifically listed in Table 27-6-1 shall
comply with the requirements for the most similar use listed in Table
27-6-1, unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning
Officer that an alternative standard should be used for that use.
C.
Multiple Uses. Where a proposed lot contains or includes more than
one type of use, the number of parking spaces required shall be the
sum of the parking requirements for each separate use.
[Ord. 125, 7/18/2007, § 602]
1.
General. Parking spaces and accessways shall be laid out to result
in safe and orderly use, and to fully take into account all of the
following: vehicular access onto and off the site, vehicular movement
within the site, loading areas, pedestrian patterns and any drive-through
facilities. No parking area shall cause a safety hazard or impediment
to traffic off the lot.
2.
Existing Parking.
A.
Any parking spaces serving such preexisting structures or uses at
the time of adoption of this chapter shall not in the future be reduced
in number below the number required by this chapter.
B.
If a new principal nonresidential building is constructed on a lot,
then any existing parking on such lot that serves such building shall
be reconfigured to comply with this chapter, including, but not limited
to, requirements for channelization of traffic from adjacent streets,
channelization of traffic within the lot, minimum aisle widths, paving
and landscaping.
3.
Change in Use or Expansion. A structure or use in existence at the
effective date of this chapter that expands or changes in use of an
existing principal building shall be required to provide all of the
required parking for the entire size and type of the resulting use,
except as follows:
A.
If an existing lawful use includes less parking than would be required
if the use would be newly developed, then that deficit of parking
shall be grandfathered for reuses of an existing building. For example,
an existing store might include three parking spaces and would have
been required to provide seven spaces if it was newly developed. Therefore,
there is an existing nonconforming deficit of four spaces. Then, if
that store is converted to an office that would need 10 spaces, the
office would need to provide a total of six spaces (10 spaces minus
the preexisting deficit of four equals six).
B.
If a nonresidential use expands by an aggregate total maximum of
5% in the applicable measurement (such as building floor area) beyond
what existed at the time of adoption of this chapter, then no additional
parking is required. For example, if an existing building included
3,000 square feet, and a single minor addition of 150 square feet
was proposed, then additional parking would not be required. This
addition without providing new parking shall only be allowed one time
per lot.
4.
Continuing Obligation of Parking and Loading Spaces. All required
numbers of parking spaces and off-street loading spaces shall be available
as long as the use or building which the spaces serve still exist,
and such spaces shall not be reduced in number below the minimum required
by this chapter. No required parking area or off-street loading spaces
shall be used for any other use (such as storage or display of materials)
that interferes with the area's availability for parking.
5.
Location of Parking.
A.
Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot or abutting
lot with the principal use served, unless the applicant proves to
the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that a method of providing
the spaces is guaranteed to be available during all of the years the
use is in operation within 300 feet walking distance from the entrance
of the principal use being served. Such distance may be increased
to 500 feet for employee parking of a nonresidential use. A written
and signed lease shall be provided, if applicable.
(1)
The Zoning Hearing Board may require that the use be approved
for period of time consistent with the lease of the parking, and that
a renewal of the permit shall only be approved if the parking lease
is renewed.
6.
Reduction of Parking Requirements as a Special Exception.
A.
Purposes. To minimize the amount of land covered by paving, while
making sure adequate parking is provided. To recognize that unique
circumstances may justify a reduction in parking.
B.
As a special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board may authorize a
reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required to be
provided for a use if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of
the Zoning Hearing Board that a lesser number of spaces would be sufficient.
(1)
The applicant shall provide evidence justifying the proposed
reduced number of spaces, such as studies of similar developments
during their peak hours. The applicant shall also provide relevant
data, such as numbers of employers, peak expected number of customers/visitors
and similar data.
(2)
Under this section, an applicant may prove that a reduced number
of parking spaces is justified because more than one principal use
will share the same parking. In such case, the applicant shall prove
that the parking has been designed to encourage shared use, and that
long-term agreements ensure that the parking will continue to be shared.
The amount of the reduction in parking should be determined based
upon whether the different uses have different hours of peak demand
and/or overlapping customers.
(a)
In addition, an applicant may prove that parking needs will
be reduced or that off-site parking is feasible because the applicant
agrees to make a long-term commitment to a shuttle service for residents
or employees.
(3)
Reserved Area for Additional Parking. Under this section, the
Zoning Hearing Board may require that a portion of the required parking
be met through a reservation of an area for future parking. The Board
may require the reservation for a certain number of years or an indefinite
period corresponding to the years the buildings are in use.
(a)
Such reservation shall be in a form acceptable to the Zoning
Hearing Board Solicitor that legally binds current and future owners
of the land to keep the reserved parking area in open space and then
to provide the additional parking if the Township determines it is
necessary. A deed restriction is recommended.
(b)
If approved under this subparagraph, the applicant shall present
a site plan to the Zoning Officer that shows the layout that will
be used for the additional parking if the parking is required to be
provided in the future. The site plan shall show that the additional
parking is integrated with the overall traffic access and pedestrian
access for the site, and that the additional parking will be able
to meet Township requirements.
(c)
The additional parking that is "reserved" under this subsection
shall be required to be kept as landscaped open area, until such time
as the Zoning Hearing Board decision may authorize the land's
release from the restriction, or until the Township may require that
the land be developed as parking.
(d)
The Zoning Officer shall periodically review the sufficiency
of the parking that is provided. If the Zoning Officer in the future
determines that the reserved parking is needed to meet actual demand,
he/she shall provide written notice to the property owner. The property
owner shall then have one year to develop the reserved area into off-street
parking in compliance with this chapter.
[Ord. 125, 7/18/2007, § 603]
1.
General Requirements.
A.
Backing onto a Street. No parking area shall be designed to require
or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public street in order
to leave a parking space, except for a single-family or two-family
dwelling with its access onto a local street or parking court. Parking
spaces may back onto an alley.
B.
Every required parking space shall be designed so that each motor
vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it
without requiring the moving of any other vehicle, unless specifically
permitted otherwise.
C.
Parking areas shall not be within a required buffer yard or street
right-of-way.
D.
Separation from Street. Except for parking spaces immediately in
front of individual dwellings, all areas for off-street parking, off-street
loading and unloading and the storage or movement of motor vehicles
shall be physically separated from the street by a continuous grass
or landscaped planting strip, except for necessary and approved vehicle
entrances and exits to the lot.
E.
Stacking and Obstructions. Each lot shall provide adequate area upon
the lot to prevent back-up of vehicles on a public street while awaiting
entry to the lot, or while waiting for service at a drive-through
facility.
2.
Size and Marking of Parking Spaces.
A.
Each parking space shall be a rectangle with a minimum width of nine
feet and a minimum length of 18 feet, except the minimum sized rectangle
shall be eight feet by 22 feet for parallel parking.
C.
All spaces shall be marked to indicate their location, except those
of a one- or two-family dwelling.
3.
Aisles.
A.
Each aisle providing for one-way traffic to access parking stalls
shall have the following minimum width:
|
Angle of Parking
|
Minimum Aisle Width
(feet)
|
|---|---|
|
Parallel or 30°
|
12
|
|
45°
|
14
|
|
60°
|
18
|
|
90°
|
20
|
B.
Each aisle providing access to stalls for two-way traffic shall be
a minimum of 22 feet in width, except a width of 20 feet may be allowed
for parking areas with spaces that are parallel or involve an angle
of parking of 45° or less.
4.
Accessways and Driveways.
A.
Width of Driveways and Accessways.
|
Width of Driveway/Accessway at Entrance Onto a Public
Street, at the Edge of the Cartway*
|
1-way use
(feet)
|
2-way use
(feet)
|
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum
|
12*
|
25*
|
|
Maximum
|
20*
|
30*
|
|
NOTES:
|
|---|
|
*Unless a different standard is required by PennDOT for an entrance
to a state road, or the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the
Zoning Officer that a wider width is needed for tractor-trailer trucks.
|
B.
Drainage. Adequate provisions shall be made to maintain uninterrupted
parallel drainage along a public street at the point of driveway entry.
The Township may require an applicant to install an appropriate type
and size of pipe at a driveway crossing.
5.
Paving, Grading and Drainage.
A.
Parking and loading facilities and including driveways shall be graded
and adequately drained to prevent erosion or excessive water flow
across streets or adjoining properties.
B.
Except for landscaped areas, all portions of required parking, loading
facilities and driveways shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete,
paving block, or other low-dust materials pre-approved by the Township.
(1)
However, by special exception, the Zoning Hearing Board may
allow parking areas with low or seasonal usage to be maintained in
stone, grass or other suitable surfaces. For example, the Board may
allow parking spaces to be grass, while major aisles are covered by
stone.
(2)
If the design and material are found acceptable by the Township
Engineer, portions of parking areas may be covered with a low-dust
porous parking surface that is designed to promote groundwater recharge.
This might include porous asphalt or pervious concrete placed over
open graded gravel and crushed stone. Porous parking surfaces shall
not be allowed in areas routinely used by heavy trucks.
(3)
Curbing should not be required in parking areas except where
absolutely necessary to control stormwater runoff.
6.
Lighting of Parking Areas. See "light and glare control" in Part
5.
7.
Parking for Persons With Disabilities/Handicapped Parking.
A.
Number of Spaces. Any lot including four or more off-street parking
spaces shall include a minimum of one handicapped space. The following
number of handicapped spaces shall be provided, unless a different
number of spaces is officially required under the Federal Americans
With Disabilities Act:
|
Total No. of Parking Spaces on the Lot
|
Required Minimum No./Percentage of Handicapped Parking
Spaces
|
|---|---|
|
4 to 15
|
1
|
|
16 to 40
|
2
|
|
41 to 65
|
3
|
|
66 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 required number of spaces
|
|
1,001 or more
|
20 plus 1% of required number of spaces over 1,000
|
B.
Location. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located where they
would result in the shortest reasonable accessible distance to a handicapped
accessible building entrance. Curb cuts shall be provided as needed
to provide access from the handicapped spaces.
C.
Minimum Size. Each required handicapped parking space shall be eight
feet by 18 feet. In addition, each space shall be adjacent to a five
feet wide access aisle. Such access aisle may be shared by two handicapped
spaces by being placed between them. However, one out of every eight
required handicapped parking spaces shall have an adjacent access
aisle of eight feet width instead of five feet.
D.
Slope. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located in areas of less
than 2% slope in any direction.
E.
Marking. All required handicapped spaces shall be well-marked by
clearly visible signs and by pavement markings. Such signs and markings
shall be maintained over time. Blue paint is recommended. The amount
of the fine for violations shall be noted on signs that are visible
to persons parking in the space.
F.
Paving. Handicapped parking spaces and adjacent areas needed to access
them with a wheelchair shall be covered with a smooth surface that
is usable with a wheelchair.
8.
Paved Area Setbacks (Including Off-Street Parking Setbacks).
A.
Intent. To ensure that parked or moving vehicles within a lot do
not obstruct sight distance or interfere with pedestrian traffic,
to aid in stormwater management along streets and to prevent vehicles
from entering or exiting a lot other than at approved driveways.
B.
Any new or expanded paved area serving a principal nonresidential
use shall be separated from a public street by a planting strip. The
planting strip shall have a minimum width of 15 feet and be maintained
in grass or other attractive vegetative groundcover. At least 10 feet
of the planting strip shall be outside of the existing street right-of-way.
This 15 feet width shall be increased to 20 feet for a lot including
100 to 250 parking spaces, and to 25 feet for a lot including more
than 250 parking spaces.
(1)
The planting strip shall not include heights or locations of
plants that would obstruct safe sight distances, but may include deciduous
trees that motorists can view under the leaf canopy.
(2)
The planting strip may be placed inward from the shoulder of
an uncurbed street or inward from the curb of a curbed street. The
planting strip may overlap the street right-of-way, provided it does
not conflict with PennDOT requirements, and provided that the Township
and PennDOT as applicable maintain the right to replace planting areas
within the right-of-way with future street improvements.
(3)
Township-approved sidewalks, recreation paths and approximately
perpendicular driveway crossings may be placed within the planting
strip. Mostly vegetative stormwater channels may be placed within
the planting strip.
(5)
Where feasible, where a sidewalk is not installed, this setback
should include an unobstructed generally level width running parallel
to a street that is suitable for a person to walk.
9.
Parking Setback from Buildings. Parking spaces serving principal
nonresidential buildings and apartment buildings shall be located
a minimum of 10 feet from any principal building wall, unless a larger
distance is required by another provision. This distance shall not
apply at vehicle entrances into or under a building.
10.
Speed Bumps. Speed bumps, speed tables and similar raised areas to
reduce speeds shall be allowed, provided the raised area is maintained
in a highly visible color or pavement markings and a sign warns motorists
of the raised pavement.
[Ord. 125, 7/18/2007, § 604]
1.
Each use shall provide off-street loading facilities, which meet
the requirements of this section, sufficient to accommodate the maximum
demand generated by the use and the maximum size vehicle, in a manner
that will not routinely obstruct traffic on a public street and traffic
entering and exiting the lot. If no other reasonable alternative is
feasible, traffic may be obstructed for occasional loading and unloading
along an alley, provided traffic has the ability to use another method
of access.
2.
At the time of review under this chapter, the applicant shall provide
evidence to the Zoning Officer on whether the use will have sufficient
numbers and sizes of loading facilities. The Planning Commission and/or
Board of Supervisors may provide advice to the Zoning Officer on this
matter as part of any plan review by such boards. For the purposes
of this section, the words "loading" and "unloading" are used interchangeably.
3.
Each space and the needed maneuvering room shall not intrude into
approved buffer areas and landscaped areas.
[Ord. 125, 7/18/2007, § 605]
1.
Fire lanes shall be provided where required by state or federal regulations
or other local ordinances.
2.
Access shall be also provided so that fire equipment can reach all
sides of principal nonresidential buildings and multifamily/apartment
buildings. This access shall be able to support a loaded fire pumper
truck, but shall not necessarily be paved.
3.
The specific locations of fire lanes and fire equipment access are
subject to approval by the Township, after review by local fire officials.
