Borough of Schwenksville, PA Article XVII Off-Street Parking and Loading

§ 176-1700 Required off-street parking facilities.

Any building or other structure erected, altered or used, and any lot used or occupied, for any of the following purposes shall be provided with minimum off-street parking spaces as set forth below together with adequate passageways, or driveways or other means of circulation and access to and from a street or way:

A. Dwelling. For all dwellings, including Use A-1: Accessory Dwelling Units, one paved, 9' x 18' parking space per bedroom is required, with a minimum of two per dwelling unit.

B. The parking space requirements by use or multiple uses on a site shall follow the minimum standards found in the table below, unless and until they are modified through the application of the provisions of § 176-1701 or 176-1706.

[Amended 1-6-2022 by Ord. No. 407; 1-6-2022 by Ord. No. 411]

Land Use Code	Land Use Type	Spaces Required
Commercial Uses
A-4	Bed and Breakfast Inn	Two off-street parking spaces for the owner-occupant and one additional off-street parking space per guest room shall be required. Tandem parking may be used.
A-9	Home Child Day-Care Facilities	One additional on-site parking space provided per non-resident employee above the number of spaces required for the residential use.
B-1	Art Studio	1 space per 800 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-2	Automotive Sales	1 space per 10 vehicles on display plus 1 space per employee
B-3	Bank	1 space per 500 square feet of gross leasable floor area, plus 2 spaces per drive through window
B-4	Club	1 space per 200 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use, excluding hallways, entrance areas and bathrooms
B-5	Convenience Store/Mini-Market	1 space per 200 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-7	Dry Cleaners (On-Site)	1 space for every 250 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-8	Medical Marijuana Dispensary	1 space for every 250 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-9	Pharmacy	1 space for every 300 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-10	Funeral Home	1 space per 100 square feet of floor area in parlors or assembly areas
B-11	Hotel/Motel/Inn	1.5 spaces for each rentable room or suite
B-12	Laundry (Self-Service)	1 space for every 3 washing or drying machines, whichever is greater
B-13	Mixed-Use Building	The total parking of each individual use located within the mixed use building.
B-14	Personal Care Business	1 space for every 250 sf of floor area devoted to sales and service, plus one per employee on largest shift
B-15	Professional Service Business	1 space for every 250 sf of floor area devoted to sales and service, plus one per employee on largest shift
B-16	Repair Shop	1 space for every 250 square feet of gross leasable floor area
B-17	Restaurant	1 space for every 200 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use, excluding hallways, entrance areas and bathrooms
B-18	Retail Shop	2 spaces for every 1000 sf of floor area
B-19	Retail Take-Out Foods	1 space for every 200 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use, excluding hallways, entrance areas and bathrooms
B-20	Service or Gas Station	2 spaces per fuel pump plus one for every employee on largest shift
B-21	Tavern/Bar	1 space per 200 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use, excluding hallways, entrance areas and bathrooms
B-22	Pet Grooming	1 space for every 250 square feet of floor area devoted to sales and service
B-23	Veterinary Clinic	1 for every 200 square feet of gross floor area of space devoted to sales/service.
B-24	Brewery/Brewpub	1 space for every 200 square feet of floor space devoted to patron use, excluding hallways, entrance areas and bathrooms
B-25	Artisanal Production/Retail Manufacturing	2 spaces for 1,000 square feet of floor area
Community Service Uses
C-1	Adult/Child Day Care	1 space per 10 occupants, plus one per employee on largest shift, plus one safe drop off space for every 20 occupants
C-2	Cemetery	Accessory sales offices, chapels, etc., shall comply with the requirements with the closest use categories herein.
C-3	Conservation/Recreation	As determined by the Borough
C-4	Emergency Services	As determined by the Borough
C-5	Client-Based Social Service Provider	1 space for every 275 square feet of gross leasable floor area
C-6	Group Supervision Facility	1 on-site, off-street parking space shall be provided for each employee on duty, and 1 space for each bed, plus 1 space for each 6 beds for guest parking
C-7	Art Gallery	1 space for every 800 sf of public floor area
C-8	Library/Museum	1 space for every 800 sf of public floor area
C-10	Place of Worship	1 space for every 6 seats
C-11	Retirement Community	1 space for every 4 beds
C-12	School - Public/Private	2 spaces per classroom
Office Uses
D-1	Office Building	1 space for every 275 square feet of gross leasable floor area
D-2	Professional Office	1 space for every 275 square feet of gross leasable floor area
D-3	Medical Clinic or Office	1 space for every 275 square feet of gross leasable floor area
Entertainment/Recreational Uses
E-1	Athletic Club	1 for each 300 square feet of gross leasable floor area
E-2	Indoor Recreation	1 space per 250 square feet floor gross leasable area plus one per employee on largest shift
E-3	Movie Theater	1 space for every 4 seats
E-4	Outdoor Recreation	1 space per 4 persons of total design capacity
E-5	Theater (Performing)	1 space for every 4 seats
Industrial Uses
F-1	Body Shop/Automobile Repair	3 spaces per service bay
F-2	Building Supply	1 space per employee on largest shift plus 1 space per company vehicle
F-3	Car Wash	1 space for each space's worth of queuing area
F-4	Commercial School	1 space per 2 student seats
F-5	Contracting Shop	1 space per employee on largest shift plus 1 space per company vehicle
F-6	Kennel	1 space for every 100 square feet of gross leasable floor area
Any Other Use Not Expressly Listed Herein
Any use not specifically listed in this Chapter shall provide parking spaces in compliance with the Parking Generation Manual of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), as last amended.

§ 176-1701 Modification of requirements through shared parking.

A. Applicants are permitted, though not required, to implement shared parking schemes between two or more uses on the same lot, or between multiple uses on multiple properties, in order to fulfill the parking requirements of this Chapter. A shared parking agreement between all Applicants involved in the shared parking scheme is required, which shall include a written contractual agreement between the Applicants, the terms of which shall effectuate the intent of this section to the satisfaction of the Borough Solicitor. A shared parking agreement allows users an opportunity, if they choose, to redesign parking lots to be more efficient in serving multiple users. This may consist of making new curb cuts between parking lots, restriping lots, or redesigning internal traffic circulation and pedestrian walkways. Shared parking is permitted along or across a common lot line. Any subsequent changes in use shall require reevaluation and approval by the Borough.

1. Applicants shall be required to show that shared parking is less than 500 feet from the use.

2. The minimum amount of shared parking required shall be calculated according to the following formula (See table: Shared Parking Calculations.):

a. Calculate the minimum amount of parking required for each land use as if it were a separate use.

b. To determine peak parking requirements, multiply the minimum parking required for each proposed land use by the corresponding percentage in the table below for each of the six time periods.

c. Calculate the column total for each of the six time periods.

d. The column (time period) with the highest value shall be the minimum parking requirement.

Shared Parking Calculations
	Monday through Friday			Saturday and Sunday
Uses	8:00 am to 6:00 pm	6:00 pm to Midnight	Midnight to 8:00 am	8:00 am to 6:00 pm	6:00 pm to Midnight	Midnight to 8:00 am
Residential	60%	100%	100%	80%	100%	100%
Office	100%	10%	5%	5%	5%	5%
Commercial	90%	80%	5%	100%	60%	5%
Hotel	70%	100%	100%	70%	100%	100%
Restaurant	70%	100%	10%	70%	100%	20%
Movie theater	40%	80%	10%	80%	100%	10%
Entertainment	40%	100%	10%	80%	100%	50%
Institutional (nonreligious institution)	100%	40%	5%	10%	10%	5%
Religious institution	20%	40%	5%	100%	50%	5%

§ 176-1702 Parking design requirements for all nonresidential zoning districts.

The following design requirements for off-street parking facilities shall apply in the C Commercial, VC-1 Village Commercial-1, VC-2 Village Commercial-2, IN Institutional and MI Manufacturing and Industrial Zoning Districts.

A. Parking spaces within the front yard of the lot, and in the space between the street line and the building line, are specifically prohibited. All required parking spaces shall be located in the side or rear yard areas.

B. Any grading to create or expand parking facilities on a lot shall be consistent with neighboring properties and shall be designed acceptable to the Borough in consultation with the Borough Engineer.

C. Parking facilities shall not be used for the sale, repair or dismantling of any vehicles, equipment, materials, or supplies.

D. Parking facilities shall be properly graded for drainage; surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, asphalt, oil or any dust-free surfacing and maintained in good condition, free of weeds, dust, trash or debris.

E. Parking facilities shall be provided with entrances and exits so located as to minimize traffic congestion and the effect of headlight glare.

F. Parking facilities shall be provided with wheel or bumper guards so located and arranged that no part of any parked vehicles will extend beyond the boundaries of the parking lot. The area containing wheel or bumper guards shall be lighted at all times so as to eliminate hazards to pedestrian or vehicular safety. Such guards or obstacles shall be removed from the premises if not lighted whenever the public has actual or physical access thereto.

G. Lighting facilities shall be full cut-off fixtures and so arranged that they neither unreasonably nor unnecessarily disturb occupants of adjacent residential properties nor interfere with traffic by either location or glare.

H. A screening buffer shall be provided along each property line which is opposite or adjacent to a Residential District (R1, R2, GA and TH Districts), on which shall be planted hedge, evergreens or other suitable shrubbery, so arranged as to minimize noise, glare and dust from all parking facilities.

I. There shall be no more than one attendant shelter building containing not more than 50 square feet of gross floor area and set in a distance of not less than 20 feet from any boundary of the parking lot which abuts a residential district.

J. Number of curb cuts. Each lot shall have not more than one curb cut per street frontage for a two-way driveway for vehicular access, as subject to the regulations of PennDOT for state highways. If sufficient room is not available for one two-way driveway, the Borough may approve two curb cuts for two one-way driveways, subject to the approval of PennDOT.

K. Access driveways shall be located as far from a street intersection as feasible.

L. Shared access. Applicants are permitted to seek agreements for shared vehicular access for multiple users of one lot, or between multiple lots, provided the following requirements are satisfied:

1. When two or more abutting lots share an access driveway, that driveway shall be designed as the main access to those lots, and one or more existing access driveways shall then be closed.

2. Where development of three or more adjoining parcels consolidates vehicular access into one shared driveway, that driveway may be upgraded into a medium volume (between 1,500 and 3,000 vehicle trips per day) driveway according to PennDOT standards.

3. Shared access may be located entirely on one lot or be split along a common lot line.

4. Access easements and maintenance agreements or other suitable legal mechanisms shall be provided when shared access is required or provided, acceptable to the Borough in consultation with the Borough Solicitor.

5. Liability safeguards for all property owners and lessees served by the shared access shall be guaranteed to the satisfaction of the Borough in consultation with the Borough Solicitor.

§ 176-1703 Reduction of facilities.

Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced to an amount less than required hereunder for a similar new building or new use. Off-street parking facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this chapter.

§ 176-1704 Off-street loading and unloading facilities required.

In addition to required off-street parking spaces, the foregoing uses shall be provided with adequate off-street loading space.

A. Service and loading areas must be visually screened from the street and pedestrian ways. For new construction, service and loading must be behind the building. Loading docks shall not be on the main street but to the side and rear of the building.

B. Loading spaces shall be 12 feet in width, 40 feet in length with 14 feet of vertical clearance.

C. Loading areas shall be lit to provide security and safety; however, lighting shall be shielded to prevent glare onto adjacent properties.

§ 176-1705 Dimensions and composition.

All parking spaces shall be constructed in accordance with the dimensions set forth in Chapter 147, Subdivision and Land Development. The minimum dimensions for all aisles and turning radii shall conform with the standards contained in Chapter 147, Subdivision and Land Development, or shall conform with the direction of the Borough Engineer. Parking spaces shall be composed of concrete or bituminous material, not less than nine feet wide and 18 feet long and having an area of not less than 171 square feet exclusive of driveways, or other means of circulation or access.

§ 176-1706 Parking requirements for Main Street Business District incentivized uses.

[Added 1-6-2022 by Ord. No. 407]

A. The uses listed below ("incentivized uses") may utilize the following minimum off-street parking standards found in the table below, and including the off-street parking reductions, described in Subsection B.

1. B-17: Restaurant.

2. B-18: Retail Shop.

3. B-21: Tavern or Bar.

4. B-24: Brewery/Brewpub.

5. B-25: Artisanal Production/Retail Manufacturing.

6. E-2: Indoor Recreation.

Use	Parking Reduction
B-18: Retail Shop	No parking is required for the first 500 square feet of floor area; 1 space is required for each additional 500 square feet of floor area
B-25: Artisanal Production/Retail Manufacturing	No parking is required for the first 500 square feet of floor area; 1 space is required for each additional 500 square feet of floor area
E-2: Indoor Recreation	No parking is required for the first 500 square feet of floor area; 1 space is required for each additional 250 square feet of floor area plus 1 space per employee on largest shift

B. Off-street parking reductions:

1. On-street parking. The required number of parking spaces may be reduced by the amount of available on-street parking spaces available along the frontage of the property on either side of the street as determined by the Borough Manager or their designee.

2. Bicycle parking. In order to promote alternative modes of transportation and attract cyclists from the Perkiomen Trail, one parking space may be replaced with bicycle parking in the form of a bicycle rack located on the property that meets the following criteria:

a. Bicycle racks shall be placed in strategic locations in visually prominent areas while not interfering with pedestrian flow.

b. Bicycle racks shall contain space for at least eight bicycles and should conform to bicycle parking standards established by the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals.

C. Minimum parking requirement. The minimum off-street parking calculated using the standards of § 176-1706, Parking requirements for Main Street Business District incentivized uses, including all parking reductions, shall not be less than 50% of the required parking for each use according to the standards of § 176-1700.