The standards that follow shall be applied to the specific situations indicated and are intended to supplement the standards in Article
IV. Standards contained in a specific section regulating a specific use shall not exempt said use from other applicable regulations contained in this chapter.
This §
400-505 shall apply to all new and expanded uses and to changes of use, and all such uses shall be provided with parking and loading areas adequate to meet the needs of the use. Any proposal which is considered a land development as defined by Chapter
345, Subdivision and Land Development, shall be governed by the parking and loading area design standards in that chapter. Following the establishment of any land development, the ongoing operation and maintenance of the off-street parking and loading facilities shall comply with the requirements of this §
400-505, and violations shall be subject to the enforcement provisions of this chapter.
A. Availability and use of facilities.
(1)
Availability. The facilities required herein shall be available
throughout the hours of operation of the particular business or use
for which such facilities are provided. As used herein, the term "parking
space" includes either covered garage space or uncovered parking lot
space located off the public right-of-way.
(2)
Location of parking. Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot with the principal use served, except as approved in §
400-505K or
L.
(3)
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 exists,
and such spaces shall not be reduced in number below the minimum required
by this chapter.
(4)
Non-parking use. Required off-street parking, loading, and unloading
facilities and accessways shall not be used for any other purpose,
including, but not limited to, sales, display or storage areas, or
the parking of any vehicles for which the area was not approved (e.g.,
parking of tractor trailers in required passenger vehicle areas).
(5)
Existing parking. Any parking spaces serving such preexisting
structures or uses at the time of the adoption of this chapter shall
not in the future be reduced in number below the number required by
this chapter. 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, required parking and areas reserved for additional
parking if needed, requirements for channelization of traffic from
adjacent streets, channelization of traffic within the lot, minimum
aisle widths, paving and landscaping.
(6)
Driveways, garages and carports. Driveways, garages and carports
not in the public right-of-way may be considered parking spaces.
B. Site plan; design.
(1)
Site plan. The project application shall include a site plan
that shows the parking, loading and unloading area, and access design.
(2)
General. Parking spaces, loading and unloading areas, and accessways
shall be laid out to result in safe and orderly use and to fully address
all of the following: vehicular access onto and off the site, vehicular
movement within the site, pedestrian patterns and any drive-through
facilities. No parking area shall cause a safety hazard or impediment
to traffic on or off the lot.
(3)
Pedestrian access and circulation. The parking and access plan
shall include details of pedestrian access to the site and pedestrian
circulation within the site. The intent shall be to facilitate pedestrian
access and provide safe and convenient circulation from parking areas
to the structure or use.
(4)
Design. Off-street parking areas, accessways, fire lanes, traffic
flow signs, pavement markings, and other necessary facilities shall
be designed and provided in accord with the most current Institute
of Transportation Engineers Traffic Engineering Handbook, or other
generally accepted methodology approved by the Township. The applicant
shall provide copies of the methodology used for the design. Notwithstanding
the above, all parking spaces and the overall design shall be ample
in size for the vehicles for which use is intended and stalls shall
be a minimum of 10 feet by 20 feet with aisles of not less than 24
feet unless designed as required above.
C. Illumination. All driveways, aisles, maneuvering spaces, vehicular service areas, and spaces between or around buildings, designed for use by more than four cars other than those accessory to a single dwelling, shall be illuminated according to §
400-702J.
D. Public rights-of-way. Parking, loading and unloading of vehicles
shall not be permitted on public rights-of-way, except in designated
areas and in accord with municipal parking regulations. No parking
area shall be designed which requires or encourages parked vehicles
to be backed into a public street.
E. Parking between principal structure and road. Applicants should consider
locating off-street parking and loading to the side or rear of the
principal building to maintain rural and village character.
F. Number of spaces to be provided. The number of parking spaces required by this §
400-505F shall be considered the minimum and maximum requirements unless modified in accord with this §
400-505F.
(1)
Parking required for nonresidential uses. The number of spaces required by this §
400-505F shall be considered to the minimum and maximum requirements unless modified in accord with this §
400-505F.
(a)
Parking demand table. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided
and maintained in accord with the Parking Demand Table included as
an appendix to this chapter or the latest edition of Parking Generation
published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
[1]
Similar use. The parking provided for the proposed use shall
be based on the most similar use and unit of calculation listed in
the Parking Demand Table as determined by the Zoning Officer.
[2]
Table updates. The Parking Demand Table may be updated by resolution
of the Board of Supervisors to include more current data.
(b)
Land uses with 85th percentile data listed in the parking demand
table.
[1]
Constructed. The number of paved parking spaces constructed
shall conform to the average peak period demand as noted in the Parking
Demand Table.
[2]
Reserved. Space shall be reserved to allow for expansion to the 85th Percentile, as listed in the Parking Demand Table, unless a reduction is approved in accord with §
400-505F(4).
(c)
Land uses without 85th percentile data listed in the Parking
Demand Table.
[1]
Constructed. The number of paved parking spaces constructed
shall be the average peak period demand or 85% of the peak, whichever
is reported in the Parking Demand Table.
[2]
Reserved. Space shall be reserved to allow for expansion to 115% of the number of spaces required by §
400-505F(1)(c)[1] unless a reduction is approved in accord with §
400-505F(4).
(d)
When the required number of parking spaces cannot be determined
because the Parking Demand Table in the Appendix does not include
the proposed use, the following table shall be used. If this following
table also does not include the proposed use, the required number
of parking spaces shall be determined by the Planning Commission,
based on recommendations from the Zoning Officer and the Township
Engineer, and on information provided by the applicant.
[Added 5-20-2019 by Ord.
No. 2019-04]
Table of Parking Standards for Specific Uses
|
---|
Minimum Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces Required
|
|
1 Off-Street Parking Space Required for Each
|
Plus 1 Off-Street Parking Space Required for Each
|
Residential Uses
|
Boarding house
|
1 room or occupant
|
N/A
|
Home occupations and home-based businesses
|
1 nonresident employee working during an 8-hour period
|
1 space per customer during any 1-hour period of maximum use
|
Recreational Uses
|
Commercial swimming pool
|
4 persons of total capacity
|
1 space per employee or worker at maximum number in a shift
|
Driving range, miniature golf
|
3 persons of total capacity
|
Each employee
|
Private or membership clubs or lodges
|
6 members or 6 persons of total capacity
|
1 space per an employee in a shift with maximum employees
|
Institutional And Educational Uses
|
Auditoriums
|
3 seats
|
2 full-time employees
|
Meeting or assembly hall for fraternal or civic organizations
|
50 square feet of floor area
|
Each employee
|
Retail And Commercial Service Uses
|
Automobile or truck sales; furniture or appliance store
|
300 square feet of sales floor area
|
Each employee
|
Business services such as banks and credit unions
|
100 square feet of floor area used for serving customers
|
Each employee
|
Funeral home
|
4 seats for patron use or 50 square feet of gross floor area
|
Full-time, nonresident employee
|
Flea markets (indoor and outdoor)
|
200 square feet of gross floor area
|
Each vendor
|
General retail stores and businesses
|
150 square feet of area used for serving customers
|
Each employee
|
Personal services business such as barber shops, photo shops,
appliance repair
|
100 square feet of area used for serving customers
|
2 full-time employees
|
Professional offices, such as consultants, insurance, real estate
|
200 square feet of gross floor area
|
Each employee
|
Self-service laundromat
|
Washing or dry-cleaning machine
|
2 full-time employees
|
Vehicle servicing and repair
|
1/3 service bay (3 spaces per bay)
|
Each employee, full- or part-time
|
NOTE:
|
If one of the tables conflicts with the other table, the more
restrictive or larger parking standard will apply.
|
(2)
Parking required for residential uses. Off-street parking spaces
shall be provided and maintained for each dwelling unit as follows:
(a)
Single-family dwellings: three per dwelling unit.
(b)
Two-family dwellings: two per dwelling unit.
(c)
Multifamily dwellings: two per dwelling unit located with the
unit plus 0.25 per dwelling unit for visitors and other spillover
parking. No dwelling unit shall be less than 250 feet from a spillover
parking area. No spillover parking area shall have less than five
spaces.
(d)
Multifamily senior citizen and other senior citizen housing:
one per dwelling unit located with the unit plus 0.25 per dwelling
unit for visitors and other spillover parking. No dwelling unit shall
be less than 250 feet from a spillover parking area. No spillover
parking area shall have less than 5 spaces.
(e)
Assisted-living facilities: 0.5 per dwelling unit.
(3)
Township required reduction. In the case of parking for conditional uses and special exceptions, if the Board of Supervisors/Zoning Hearing Board determines that the number of parking spaces required by this §
400-505 is not necessarily required to meet the immediate needs of the proposed use, the Township may require the number of spaces provided to be reduced by a maximum of 25% based on the average peak period demand or peak, whichever is reported for the use in the Parking Demand Table. The developer shall dedicate sufficient and suitable area to future parking to meet the normal standards in this §
400-505.
(4)
Applicant proposed reduction/increase. The required number of
parking spaces may be reduced or increased subject to conditional
use approval by the Board of Supervisors for uses classified as principal
permitted uses and conditional uses and by the Zoning Hearing Board
for uses classified as special exceptions. The applicant shall provide
evidence justifying the proposed reduction or increase of spaces,
such as studies of similar developments during peak hours. The applicant
shall also provide relevant data, such as number of employees and
peak expected number of customers/visitors. Any approval to permit
such decrease or increase shall be subject to the following:
(a)
Ordinance and plan consistency. The project design and parking
space decrease shall be consistent with the purposes contained in
this chapter and the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
(b)
Quality of design. The applicant shall demonstrate to the Board
of Supervisors that the proposed decrease will result in an adequate
number of parking spaces or the increase will not produce an excess
number of spaces for the use based on a specific study of the parking
demands for the proposed use or empirical data reported by a generally
accepted source such as the Institute of Transportation Engineers,
the Urban Land Institute, the American Planning Association, or similar
entity.
(c)
Local conditions. In making its determination, the Board of
Supervisors or the Zoning Hearing Board shall also consider, among
others, the demographics and character of the neighborhood, demographics
of targeted customers and employees, availability of mass transit,
existing on-street parking conditions, and any employer-instituted
transportation demand management programs.
(d)
Burden; conditions.
[1]
If the Board of Supervisors or the Zoning Hearing Board, in
its sole discretion, determines that the applicant has met the burden
of proof, it may grant a conditional use for the decrease or increase.
[2]
In no case shall parking be reduced by more than 30% nor be
increased by more than 20% of the minimum parking requirement.
[3]
If the applicant provides more parking spaces than the minimum
required, the additional parking spaces shall not result in the removal
of specimen trees.
[4]
The Board of Supervisors or the Zoning Hearing Board may impose
such conditions as will, in its judgment, secure the objectives and
purposes of this chapter, including, but not limited to, reserving
parking.
(5)
Form of reservation. Each parking reservation shall be in a
form acceptable to the Township Solicitor that legally binds current
and future owners of the land to keep the reserved parking area in
open space and, if the Township determines it is necessary, to provide
the additional parking in the time and manner as stipulated in the
reservation document. Proof of recording of the agreement shall also
be provided to the Township before the issuance of a zoning permit
for the project.
(6)
Reserved parking disturbance and stormwater. The reserve parking
areas shall remain undisturbed or shall be landscaped, but shall be
included in the calculations of lot coverage area and for stormwater
management and for the requirement of a NPDES permit. The stormwater
facilities shall be constructed in accord with the approved sequencing
design as parking areas are constructed.
(7)
Multiple uses. (See also §
400-505L.) For projects involving more than one use and/or structure, the total number of parking spaces required shall be determined by summing the number of spaces for each individual use.
(8)
Handicapped parking. Parking for the handicapped shall be provided in accord with the Americans With Disabilities Act and shall count as part of the spaces required for the use by this §
400-505.
G. Off-street loading and unloading areas.
(1)
Required. In connection with any building or structure which is erected or substantially altered and which requires the receipt or distribution of materials or merchandise by trucks or similar vehicles, off-street loading and unloading berths shall be provided as specified in this §
400-505. For the purposes of this section, the words "loading" and "unloading" are used interchangeably.
(2)
Number. Each use shall provide off-street loading facilities
sufficient to accommodate the maximum demand generated by the use
and the maximum-sized vehicle in a manner that will not routinely
obstruct traffic on a public street. If a reasonable alternative does
not exist, traffic may be obstructed during off-peak hours for loading
and unloading along an alley, rear service lane or parking area. Loading
areas shall not be used to satisfy parking requirements.
(3)
Location. All required loading areas shall be located on the same lot as the use to be served. No loading area for vehicles of more than two-ton capacity shall be located closer than 100 feet from any residential district. No loading area shall be located within 50 feet of a property line unless the lot is less than 200 feet wide, in which case, such setback may be reduced to not less than 25 feet, at the discretion of the Township. No loading facilities shall be constructed within any required setback areas. Loading facilities shall be located on either the side or rear of the building and screened in accord with §
400-702C and Chapter
345, Subdivision and Land Development.
(4)
Access. Each required off-street loading area shall be designed
with appropriate means of vehicular access to an interior drive in
a manner which will least interfere with traffic movements, and shall
be subject to the approval of the Township. Such access shall have
paved surfaces to provide safe and convenient access during all seasons.
(5)
Repair and service. No storage of any kind, nor motor vehicle
repair work of any kind, except emergency work, shall be permitted
within any required loading area.
(6)
Hours of operation. Where the use requiring loading and unloading
activities is located within 500 feet of a residential use or district,
the hours of operation for loading or unloading activities shall be
prohibited between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.
(7)
Fire lanes. All buildings shall be accessible to emergency vehicles
and shall meet applicable requirements.
H. Access to off-street parking and loading areas. There shall be adequate
provisions for ingress and egress to all parking and loading spaces
designed for use by employees, customers, delivery services, salespeople
and/or the general public. Access to and from all off-street parking,
loading and vehicle service areas along public rights-of-way shall
consist of well-defined separate or common entrances and exits and
shall comply with the following provisions:
(1)
Width. Unless otherwise required by PennDOT for access to a
state road, the width of the driveway/accessway onto a public street
at the right-of-way shall comply with the most current Institute of
Transportation Engineers design standards for the type and volume
of vehicles anticipated.
(2)
Controlled access. Each entrance and exit shall be clearly defined
with curbing, fencing, landscaping or vegetative screening so as to
prevent access to the area from other than the defined entrance and
exit.
(3)
Highway occupancy permit. All new uses shall be required to
obtain a highway occupancy permit from the Township or PennDOT, as
the case may be. In the case of a change in use or the expansion of
an existing use, a highway occupancy permit or a revised highway occupancy
permit shall be required if there will be increase in average daily
traffic based on the most recent edition of the International Traffic
Engineers Traffic Generation Manual. Where a use accesses the public
right-of-way via a private road, the highway occupancy permit requirement
and criteria shall be applied at the public right-of-way intersection.
(4)
Interior travelways. The applicant shall demonstrate that travelways
within the property are adequate to safely and efficiently serve vehicles
which are reasonably expected to visit the property. Turning radius
templates developed by the American Association of State Highway Transportation
Officials (AASHTO) shall serve as the design standard.
(5)
Curbing. Access drives and landscaping shall be defined with
concrete curbing or such alternate material as may be approved by
the Township.
I. Parking and loading area setbacks.
(1)
Roads and property lines. All parking and loading areas (not including parking decks) and parallel circulation and service lanes serving any commercial, industrial, institutional or multifamily use shall be separated from any public road right-of-way or adjoining property lines by a landscaped buffer area not less than 10 feet wide unless a wider buffer is required by another ordinance provision or adjoining uses share parking in accord with §
400-505L.
(a)
Measurement. The width of the buffer shall be measured from
property lines and from the curbline or from the legal right-of-way
line after development if no curbs will be provided.
(b)
Uses prohibited. The buffer area shall be maintained in natural
vegetative ground cover and shall not include:
[1]
Paving except for approved driveway/accessway crossings.
[2]
Fences unless integral to landscaping.
[3]
Parking, storage or display of vehicles.
(c)
Uses permitted. The buffer area may include the following:
[1]
Permitted freestanding signs.
[2]
Pervious stormwater facilities.
[3]
Approved driveway/accessway crossings.
(d)
Sidewalks. Sidewalks, existing or proposed, may be included
in the buffer area.
(2)
Buildings. Parking spaces serving principal nonresidential buildings
and multifamily dwellings shall be located a minimum of 10 feet from
any building wall, unless a larger distance is required by another
ordinance provision. This distance does not apply at vehicle entrances
into or under a building.
J. Grading and drainage; paving.
(1)
Grading and drainage. Parking and loading facilities, including
driveways, shall be graded and adequately drained away from building
areas, to prevent erosion and to avoid increased or altered flow of
stormwater runoff into streets or onto adjacent properties.
(2)
Grade. All areas provided for the parking of vehicles shall
have a minimum grade of 0.5% and a maximum grade of 6%.
(3)
Paving. Except for single-family homes, all portions of required parking areas, loading areas and accessways (except for landscaped areas) shall be surfaced with a minimum of 2.5 inches of asphalt paving, paving blocks, or porous pavers over a suitable base. Other surface systems of equal performance, only for additional spaces above the minimum required, may be approved by the Board of Supervisors, provided the applicant details in writing the justification for any relief from the applicable standards. Surfacing of parking and loading areas within a proposed project which is considered to be a land development shall be governed by Chapter
345, Subdivision and Land Development.
[Amended 5-20-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04]
(4)
Low or seasonal use. The Board of Supervisors may allow parking
areas with low or seasonal use to be maintained in stone or other
suitable surfaces. For example, the Board may allow parking spaces
to be unpaved, while the major aisles are surfaced with stone or other
suitable material. Any request must be in writing and a justification
for relief presented.
[Amended 5-20-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-04]
K. Off-lot parking. Required parking may be provided on a different
lot than on the lot on which the principal use is located, provided
the parking is not more than 400 feet from the principal use lot.
Off-lot parking areas shall be permitted only in a district where
the principal use is permitted. Both parcels shall be under the same
control, either by deed or long-term lease, as the property occupied
by such principal use, and the owner shall be bound by covenants of
record filed in the office of the County Recorder of Deeds requiring
the owner and his or her heirs and assigns to maintain the required
number of off-street parking spaces during the existence of said principal
use.
L. Shared parking. Shared parking may be permitted subject to conditional
use approval by the Board of Supervisors for uses classified as principal
permitted uses and conditional uses and by the Zoning Hearing Board
for uses classified as special exceptions. The following regulations
shall apply:
(1)
Application for shared parking. Applicants seeking a shared
parking arrangement shall have a shared parking study prepared by
a traffic engineering firm qualified in the field of shared parking
as demonstrated through submission of qualifications and references
to the Board of Supervisors/Zoning Hearing Board. The applicants shall
submit the shared parking study to the Township for review. Factors
to be considered in evaluating the desirability of implementing parking
arrangements should include operating hours, seasonal/daily peaks
in parking demand, the site's orientation, location of access driveways,
transit service, accessibility to other nearby parking areas, pedestrian
connections, distance to parking area, availability of parking spaces,
and cooperation of adjacent owners.
(2)
Calculation of parking spaces required. The minimum number of
shared parking spaces for a mixed-use development or where shared
parking strategies are proposed shall be determined by a study prepared
by the applicant following the procedures of the Urban Land Institute
Shared Parking Report, ITE Shared Parking Guidelines, or other professionally
recognized procedures. A formal shared parking study may be waived
by the Board for developments proposing 12 or fewer shared parking
spaces and where the applicant has established to the Board of Supervisors/Zoning
Hearing Board's satisfaction that its impact is expected to be minimal.
(3)
Location of shared parking spaces. Shared spaces for residential
units shall be located within 300 feet of the dwelling unit entrances
they serve. Shared spaces for other uses shall be located within 600
feet of the principal building entrances of all sharing uses. However,
up to 20% of the spaces may be located greater than 600 feet but less
than 1,000 feet from the principal entrances. Clear, safe pedestrian
connections shall be provided. Pedestrians shall not be required to
cross an arterial street in order to access shared parking spaces.
(4)
Easement agreements. If a privately owned parking facility is
to serve two or more separate properties, a legal agreement between
property owners guaranteeing access to, use, maintenance and management
of designated spaces is required. Such agreement shall be submitted
to the Township for review and approval. The Board of Supervisors/Zoning
Hearing Board may require that the property owners record the agreement
as an easement with the Monroe County Recorder of Deeds.
(5)
Shared parking plan. A shared parking plan shall be submitted
when the shared parking study determines that the number of parking
spaces which would otherwise be required under the applicable ordinances
can be reduced by 10% or more by the application of shared parking
to the parcel or parcels. Where a shared parking plan is submitted,
it shall include:
(a)
Site plan of parking spaces intended for shared parking and
their proximity to the land uses they serve.
(b)
A signage plan that directs drivers to the most convenient parking
areas for each particular use or group of uses (if such distinctions
can be made).
(c)
A pedestrian circulation plan that shows connections and walkways
between parking areas and land uses. These paths should be as direct
and short as possible consistent with pedestrian safety.
(d)
A safety and security plan that addresses lighting and maintenance
of the parking areas.
(e)
A drawing identifying a location which shall be held in reserve
for future parking needs should changes in the tenant/occupant mix
on the parcel or other circumstances reduce the effectiveness of shared
parking among the parcels.
(6)
Adoption of a shared parking plan. The Board of Supervisors/Zoning
Hearing Board may condition the grant of subdivision or land development
approval upon compliance by the applicant with a shared parking plan
acceptable to the Board.
(7)
Modification of a shared parking plan. The owner of a property where parking has been provided pursuant to a shared parking plan may request the Board to approve a revision to that shared parking plan if the tenants/occupants of buildings on the involved parcels change such that a new shared parking study shows an increase by 10% or more for parking spaces on the parcel. The Board of Supervisors/Zoning Hearing Board may, in its sole discretion, grant or deny such request based upon its analysis of the parking needs of the site, the availability of parking on neighboring parcels or on the streets, and such other factors as it deems relevant. The request may only be granted if the affected parcel(s) have a reserved parking location as set forth in §
400-505L(5)(e) above and only to the extent that the additional required parking spaces can be placed in that reserve area.
(8)
Reserve area. The number of parking spaces to be constructed pursuant to a shared parking plan may be less than the number required under this §
400-505 pursuant to a shared parking plan only where the following conditions are met:
(a)
The land development plan submitted by the applicant shall identify an area which, if necessary, could be used to meeting the parking requirements of this §
400-505 without the use of shared parking (the "parking reserve area"). That area shall be set aside for possible future use as parking if necessary. The Board of Supervisors/Zoning Hearing Board may, upon application of the property owner and for good cause shown, allow such area to be converted to parking;
(b)
In no event shall the authorized portion of the required parking
area that is not to be constructed but reserved for possible future
use be counted towards satisfying any open space requirements which
must be met under the terms of this chapter;
(c)
The parking reserve area shall be designed so that, if required,
it will be easy to convert the area into parking;
(d)
Stormwater management plans proposed for the affected land development
shall be prepared on the assumption that the parking reserve areas
will be part of the impervious coverage; and
(e)
The parking reserve area shall be buffered and landscaped in accord with §
400-702C and
D, respectively.
M. Shopping carts. Establishments furnishing carts or mobile baskets
shall provide definite areas on the site for the storage of the said
carts. Storage areas shall be clearly marked and designed for the
storage of shopping carts and/or mobile baskets. Establishments furnishing
carts or mobile baskets shall provide definite areas on the site for
the storage of the said carts. Storage areas shall be clearly marked
and designed for the storage of shopping carts and/or mobile baskets.
N. Snow storage and removal. All plans for proposed parking areas of
30 or more spaces shall include details for adequate snow storage
and removal.
O. Landscaping. All improved off-street parking areas not entirely contained in a garage or building shall comply with the buffering and landscaping requirements of §
400-702C and
D, respectively.
For the purposes of this chapter the streets and roads in Polk
Township are classified in the following tables, which may be updated
by resolution of the Board of Supervisors:
Polk Township Streets and Roads
|
---|
|
Name
|
Classification
|
Township Road #
|
---|
1
|
Alpine Drive
|
Local
|
475
|
2
|
Arnold Drive
|
Local
|
468
|
3
|
Astolat Road
|
Collector
|
431
|
4
|
Barry South Road
|
Collector
|
436
|
5
|
Bear Road
|
Collector
|
416
|
6
|
Blue Mountain Court
|
Local
|
630
|
7
|
Bruch Road
|
Collector
|
614
|
8
|
Burger Hollow Road
|
Minor Arterial
|
644
|
9
|
Cane Lane
|
Local
|
467
|
10
|
Carney Road
|
Collector
|
375
|
11
|
Doney Road
|
Collector
|
424
|
12
|
Dorshimer Road
|
Collector
|
645
|
13
|
Dotters Corner Road
|
Collector
|
446
|
14
|
Eagle Drive
|
Local
|
647
|
15
|
Emily Way
|
Local
|
628
|
16
|
Floyd Drive
|
Collector
|
422
|
17
|
Frantz Road
|
Local
|
617
|
18
|
Gemerd Road
|
Collector
|
441
|
19
|
Getz Dawl Road
|
Collector
|
373
|
20
|
Glenwood Road
|
Collector
|
417
|
21
|
Golf View Drive
|
Local
|
460
|
22
|
Greenway Lane
|
Local
|
464
|
23
|
Haney Road
|
Collector
|
438
|
24
|
Heiney Lane
|
Local
|
419
|
25
|
Hell Hollow Road
|
Collector
|
439
|
26
|
Hideaway Hill Road
|
Collector
|
356
|
27
|
High Hill Road
|
Collector
|
454
|
28
|
High Point Drive
|
Local
|
618
|
29
|
Hill Road
|
Local
|
625
|
30
|
HTY Road
|
Local
|
440
|
31
|
Jason Lane
|
Local
|
619
|
32
|
Keller Road
|
Collector
|
429
|
33
|
Kitty Lane
|
Local
|
638
|
34
|
Kresge Farm Road
|
Collector
|
445
|
35
|
Kyle Drive
|
Local
|
616
|
36
|
Laurel Lane
|
Local
|
471
|
37
|
Leisure Drive
|
Local
|
473
|
38
|
Leisure Lane
|
Local
|
477
|
39
|
Link Lane
|
Local
|
633
|
40
|
Long Acre Drive
|
Collector
|
470
|
41
|
Long Mountain Road
|
Collector
|
450
|
42
|
Lower Green Hill Road
|
Collector
|
350
|
43
|
Lower Middle Creek Road
|
Collector
|
444
|
44
|
Maple Spring Drive
|
Local
|
650
|
45
|
McCormack Lane
|
Local
|
649
|
46
|
Meadow Drive
|
Local
|
643
|
47
|
Memorial Drive
|
Collector
|
443
|
48
|
Meriwill Lane
|
Local
|
639
|
49
|
Mertz Road
|
Collector
|
442
|
50
|
Mount Clay Drive
|
Collector
|
469
|
51
|
Mountain Laurel Drive
|
Local
|
652
|
52
|
Murphy Lane
|
Local
|
651
|
53
|
New Smith Drive
|
Local
|
428
|
54
|
New York Boulevard
|
Collector
|
452
|
55
|
Old Sawmill Road
|
Local
|
627
|
56
|
Old Stage Coach Road
|
Collector
|
412
|
57
|
Overlook Drive
|
Local
|
634
|
58
|
Par Drive
|
Local
|
462
|
59
|
Peggy Lane
|
Local
|
648
|
60
|
Pheasant Run Road
|
Collector
|
646
|
61
|
Pine Tree Lane
|
Local
|
632
|
62
|
Pohopoco Drive North
|
Local
|
421
|
63
|
Polk Township Road
|
Collector
|
413
|
64
|
Potato Path Road
|
Local
|
629
|
65
|
Radiant Drive
|
Local
|
466
|
66
|
Rainbow Terrace
|
Local
|
623
|
67
|
Ralph Samuel Boulevard
|
Local
|
641
|
68
|
Red Fox Court
|
Local
|
635
|
69
|
Rena Drive
|
Local
|
472
|
70
|
Robin Lane
|
Local
|
426
|
71
|
Rodeo Drive
|
Local
|
640
|
72
|
Scheller Hill Road
|
Collector
|
430
|
73
|
Serfass Road
|
Collector
|
414
|
74
|
Short Lane
|
Collector
|
411
|
75
|
Short Ridge Drive
|
Local
|
631
|
76
|
Silver Fox Drive
|
Local
|
637
|
77
|
Smith Road
|
Collector
|
437
|
78
|
Squirrel Wood Court
|
Local
|
620
|
79
|
Steckel Road
|
Collector
|
448
|
80
|
Sterner Run Road
|
Local
|
615
|
81
|
Sunset Circle
|
Local
|
476
|
82
|
Sunset Lane
|
Local
|
621
|
83
|
Terrace Court
|
Local
|
474
|
84
|
Tiffany Court
|
Local
|
351
|
85
|
Trach Road
|
Local
|
501
|
86
|
Twin Pine Ct.
|
Local
|
—
|
87
|
Upper Green Hill Road
|
Collector
|
352
|
88
|
Upper Middle Creek Road
|
Collector
|
449
|
89
|
Valley Road East
|
Local
|
642
|
90
|
Valley Road West
|
Local
|
642
|
91
|
Village Road
|
Local
|
622
|
92
|
Vixen Drive
|
Local
|
636
|
93
|
Watercrest Avenue
|
Local
|
626
|
94
|
Whitey B. Drive
|
Collector
|
425
|
95
|
Windy Hill Road
|
Collector
|
447
|
96
|
Winter Court
|
Local
|
624
|
97
|
Winter Hill Road
|
Local
|
465
|
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Streets and Roads
|
---|
|
Name
|
Classification
|
State Route #
|
---|
1
|
Beltzville Drive
|
Minor Arterial
|
3012
|
2
|
Interchange Road
|
Major Arterial
|
0209
|
3
|
Jonas Road
|
Minor Arterial
|
3016
|
4
|
Mill Pond Road
|
Collector
|
3010
|
5
|
Molasses Valley Road
|
Collector
|
3006
|
6
|
Mountain View Drive
|
Minor Arterial
|
3008
|
7
|
Scenic Drive
|
Major Arterial
|
0534
|
8
|
Silver Spring Boulevard
|
Minor Arterial
|
3003
|
9
|
Weir Mountain Road
|
Collector
|
3005
|
[Added 8-26-2024 by Ord.
No. 2024-04]
A. Applicability. No person shall install, construct, modify, drill,
or excavate to facilitate the construction/installation and modification
of a GSHP without first obtaining from the Township a zoning permit.
A permit under the provision of this chapter shall be required prior
to any person:
(1)
Constructing or modifying a GSHP.
(2)
Drilling or redrilling any vertical GSHP.
(3)
Decommissioning or abandoning an existing GSHP.
B. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
CLOSED-LOOP GSHP
A geothermal heat exchanger that circulates a nontoxic antifreeze
heat transfer fluid through a loop or multiple loops of piping installed
below the ground surface or within a surface water body.
CLOSED-LOOP, HORIZONTAL
A closed-loop GSHP in which the loops of pipe are placed
horizontally in subsurface trenches.
CLOSED-LOOP, VERTICAL
A closed-loop GSHP in which the loops of pipe are installed
vertically within well borings.
GROUND SOURCE HEAT PUMP (GSHP)
A mechanical/electrical/electronic device, also known as
"geothermal heat pump or geoexchange system," which uses the geothermal
exchange properties and the relatively constant temperature of earth
formations for heating and/or cooling a building space. A GSHP generally
includes the heat pump unit, a heat exchanger and a heating/cooling
distribution system.
OPEN-LOOP GSHP
A geothermal heat exchanger that withdraws groundwater from
a supply well, or surface water, passes the water through a heat pump,
and discharges the water back to the ground in a return well, to the
ground surface, or into surface water.
C. Closed-loop systems. All ground source heat pump systems shall be
closed-loop systems. Open-loop GSHP systems shall not be permitted.
GSHP systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with
the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (hereafter IGSHPA)
Installation Standards.
D. Minimum isolation requirements. The perimeter of the GSHP subsurface
loops, vertical or horizontal, shall meet the following minimum isolation
requirements.
(1)
One hundred feet from any existing or proposed drinking water
wells;
(2)
Twenty-five feet from any existing or proposed individual or
community on-lot sewage disposal system including any primary or alternate
drain field sites;
(3)
Twenty-five feet from property lines, rights-of-way; and
(4)
Twenty-five feet from existing or proposed structures.
E. Subsurface loops. With respect to the subsurface loop of the GSHP
systems:
(1)
The subsurface loop piping for same must be made of polyethylene
or a substitute similar material approved for use by the IGSHPA. All
joints shall be sealed by heat fusion or IGSHPA certified process;
(2)
GSHP systems shall be equipped with an automatic shutdown device
to prevent circulating fluids or oil leaks from migrating;
(3)
Visual and audible alarms shall be installed in the building
or structure in the event of a system malfunction or leakage;
(4)
Warning labels shall be prominently posted near the interior
mechanical system; and
(5)
For closed-loop GSHP systems, only water or mixture of water
and food-grade propylene glycol may be used as the circulating fluid
unless a similarly inert fluid is approved for use by the IGSHPA.
F. Plan requirement. A written plan shall provide for the operation
and periodic inspections of the GSHP system proposed by the system
designer and approved by the property owner which, among other matters,
provides that:
(1)
Any GSHP system leaks or released will be reported by the owner
to the Township within two hours of the discovery of same, and the
owner shall covenant and agree to take all necessary appropriate action
to minimize any fluid release to the ground and to promptly repair
any system leaks; and
(2)
A system closure plan for use in the event of the discontinuance
of the use of the GSHP system.
G. Standards for vertical closed-loop GSHP systems.
(1)
Vertical closed-loop GSHP systems.
(a)
GSHP well drilling shall only be undertaken by a Pennsylvania
licensed well driller.
(b)
Well shall be grouted to protect against degradation or contamination
of the groundwater of intermingling of separate aquifers.
(c)
Grouting shall be mixed, pumped and placed in accordance with
the procedures recommended by the International Ground Source Heat
Pump Association. Acceptable grout materials are as follows:
[1]
High solids bentonite grout with a minimum of 30% solids (not
bentonite gel).
[2]
A material approved for use by the IGSHPA.
(d)
Grouting shall be placed in the borehole from the bottom to
the top. Grouting shall be pumped into place via a tremie pipe.
(2)
Prior to activation of the system with respect to each vertical
GSHP well installation, the Pennsylvania licensed well driller and/or
system installer shall provide to the Township Zoning Officer:
(a)
An accurate written drilling record and a written geologic log;
and
(b)
An accurate record of the grouting used for each such well;
and
(c)
As-built plans and related documentation for each such system
and well location; and
(d)
Written documentation of the GSHP system testing and certification.
(3)
Wells for closed-loops systems shall not be placed within a
special flood hazard area (floodplain) or within wetlands.
H. Standards for horizontal closed-loop systems.
(1)
Care shall be taken that no rocks are in contact with piping.
In rocky soils, pipe shall be placed in a bed of sand or limestone
screenings at the bottom of the trenches.
(2)
Flowable backfill consisting of water, sand and cement may be
used to surround the pipe in the trench.
(3)
Metallic pipe location tape shall be placed 12 inches below
the ground surface to alert future owners and excavators to the presence
and location of the system.
(4)
The depth of the tubing or heat transfer element must be at
least 30 inches below the surface of the ground.
(5)
Loop piping shall be subsurface, placed within the ground. No
loop piping shall be placed within surface waters.
(6)
Loop piping shall not be placed within a special flood hazard
area (floodplain) or within wetlands.
I. Inspections.
(1)
Fees to cover the cost of plan review and inspections shall
by set by the Board of Supervisors and included in the Polk Township
Fees Schedule, which may be amended from time to time by resolution.
(2)
Piping shall be flow and pressure tested before vertical borings
are sealed or before horizontal trenches are backfilled. The Township
Zoning Officer or his or her designee shall observe pressure testing.
(3)
The Township Zoning Officer, or his or her designee, shall observe
grouting of the vertical boreholes of the GSHP wells.
(4)
GSHP system installer shall contact the Township Zoning Officer,
or his or her designee, a minimum of 24 hours in advance to inspect
grouting pond piping and to verify pressure testing.