[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Somerville 11-4-91 as Ord. No. 1111. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this Article is to establish restricted parking
spaces for handicapped persons in all parking facilities under the
jurisdiction of the Borough of Somerville and on private property
that is open to the public or to which the public is invited.
This Article is enacted in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.46
which confers upon the Borough of Somerville the right to regulate
parking in all places within its jurisdiction which are open to the
public or to which the public is invited in order to preserve and
safeguard the public health, safety, morals and welfare.
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Anyone who qualifies as a "handicapped person" as defined
under the N.J.S.A. 39:4-204 and who possesses a handicapped person
identification card issued by the Director of the Division of Motor
Vehicles.
Any building, structure, facility or complex used by the
general public or to which the general public is invited, including
but not limited to theaters, concert halls, auditoriums, museums,
schools, libraries, recreation facilities, public transportation,
terminals and stations, factories, office buildings, businesses, shopping
centers, hotels or motels and public eating places, whether privately
or publicly owned, except that this term shall not include private
family residences, warehouse storage areas and all buildings conducting
hazardous occupancies that involve highly combustible, highly flammable
or explosive material.
The owners of all public buildings which provide parking spaces
adjacent to or used in conjunction with the public building shall
within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of this
Article, provide parking spaces for handicapped persons in accordance
with the guidelines herein set forth and in a location and manner
as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer. Any parking facility
with less than twenty (20) existing spaces shall be exempt from the
provisions of this Article.
The Borough of Somerville shall have the authority to provide
parking spaces for handicapped persons in all parking lots or areas
maintained by it pursuant to the applicable standard set forth herein.
Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be constructed
according to the following guidelines:
A.Â
A minimum of one (1%) percent of the total number of parking spaces
in the parking facility shall be used for handicapped parking, but
there shall not be less than two (2) parking spaces in each such facility.
B.Â
The location of spaces for the physically handicapped shall be in
an area of the parking facility which is most accessible and proximate
to the building or buildings which the building serves. The determination
of said location shall be made by the Code Enforcement Officer. In
shopping centers and other multistore facilities, the spaces for the
handicapped shall be as near to the flagship store as possible and/or
at such other locations as designated by the Code Enforcement Officer.
C.Â
Each space or group of spaces shall be identified with a clearly
visible sign which shall conform to the specifications of the current
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for streets and highways.
Each space shall be twelve (12) feet wide to allow room for persons
in wheelchairs or on braces or crutches to get in and out of each
side of an automobile on to a level, paved surface suitable for wheeling
and walking.
D.Â
Where possible such spaces shall be located so that persons in wheelchairs
or using braces or crutches are not compelled to wheel or walk behind
parked cars.
E.Â
Where applicable the curb ramp shall be provided to permit handicapped
people access from the parking area to the sidewalk.
