Township of Wolf, PA OFF-STREET PARKING, LOADING AND ACCESS DRIVEWAYS

§ 27-1101 Off-Street Parking Requirements.

[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016; and by Ord. 2018-02, 9/10/2018]

In all districts, in accordance with every use, there shall be provided at the time any new building or structure is erected or any existing building is converted to a new use, or increased in capacity, off-street parking spaces in accordance with the requirements of this Section. The facilities required herein shall be available throughout the hours of operation of the particular business or use for which they are provided.

All vehicle parking spaces shall contain a minimum of 180 square feet and shall have a width of not less than nine feet.

All parking spaces and areas shall be graded for proper drainage and shall be surfaced so as to provide a durable, dustless wearing surface, and shall be designed to provide for the orderly and safe parking or storage of vehicles. All such areas shall be maintained in good condition.

Off-street parking spaces for all residential uses shall be located on the same lot as the dwelling unit(s) to be served, and shall be exclusive of any space inside of a building. Off-street parking spaces for nonresidential uses may be located on a lot other than that containing the principal use, but shall be situated within 300 feet of the use being served. Such remote parking shall, however, remain under the control of the owner or operator of the use to which it is accessory and applications involving such parking areas shall include documentation which authorizes the use of said area for parking in connection with the principal use.

The required parking spaces for any number of separate uses may be combined in one lot, but the required spaces assigned to one use may not be assigned to another use at the same time. Parking spaces required for uses whose peak attendance will be at night or on Sundays may be assigned to a use which will be closed at night and/or on Sundays.

Adequate provisions shall be made for ingress and egress to all parking spaces. Access to off-street parking areas shall be limited to a minimal number of well-defined locations. In no case shall unrestricted access along the length of a street upon which the parking abuts be permitted, except where the parking area is less than 35 feet in depth. Parking areas shall be designed so there will be no need for motorists to back over public walkways or rights-of-way.

A strip of land at least 10 feet in width shall be reserved as open space between any street line and any parking area where the parking area is intended to serve five or more vehicles or as may be otherwise set forth in the district regulations for the C and I Districts. This reserve strip shall be protected by wheel bumpers or curbs and shall be planted with grass, shrubs or trees.

Parking areas for all nonresidential uses shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins or faces a Residential District or use. Such screening shall consist of a fence or wall, a building, or shall meet the requirements for screen plantings set forth in §27-507 of this Chapter.

Any lighting which is used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be mounted and shielded in such a manner that will effectively eliminate direct glare on adjacent properties or upon public streets.

Off-street parking shall be provided as set forth in Table 1 below. In the case of any building or premises the use of which is not specifically mentioned herein, the provisions for a use so mentioned and to which said use is similar, in the opinion of the Zoning Officer, shall apply. In the case of mixed uses, the total number of required parking or loading spaces shall be the sum of the required spaces for the various uses computed separately.

All parking areas shall be designed, constructed, and maintained for adequate drainage and dust-free conditions at all times. If the parking area provides spaces for five or more vehicles, all driveways shall be paved for a distance of at least 50 feet from the center line of the public street from which the site is accessed.

Table 1 Off-Street Parking Schedule
Use Classification	Spaces Required
A. Residential Uses
1. Single and two-family dwelling units. (Attached and detached)	2 for each dwelling unit
2. Multi-family dwelling units, including conversion apartments	2 for each dwelling unit
3. Mobile home parks	2 for each mobile home lot
B. Institutional Uses
4. Schools
a. Elementary schools	1 for each 2 classrooms + 1 for each employee
b. Middle or high schools or post-secondary education facilities	1 for each 4 seats of auditorium or gymnasium capacity, whichever is greater
5. Churches, social halls, and similar places of public or private assembly, government or municipal buildings	1 for each 4 seats of total facility capacity
6. Libraries, museums or other cultural facilities	1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
7. Personal care or nursing homes	1 for each 4 beds + 1 for each 2 employees
8. Group homes or institutional residences	1 for each 2 residents + 1 for each employee
9. Boarding or rooming homes	1 for each boarder
10. Day care facilities
a. Day care centers and group day care homes	1 for each 5 students/clients + 1 for each employee
b. Family day care homes	2 for each dwelling unit + 2 additional spaces
C. Commercial/Retail Uses
11. Retail stores or business establishments, including agribusinesses	1 for each 300 square feet of gross floor area + 1 for each 2 employees
12. Food markets or grocery stores	1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
13. Convenience stores	1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
14. Restaurants and taverns	1 for each 100 square feet of gross floor area + 1 for each employee
15. Clubs, lodges and similar uses	1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
16. Professional offices and financial institutions	1 for each 250 square feet of gross floor area + 1 for each 2 employees
17. Medical, dental or veterinary clinics	3 for each doctor + 1 for each employee
18. Hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments or other transient lodging facilities	1 for each guest room + 1 for each 2 employees
19. Automotive repair garages or service stations	1 for each 300 square feet of gross floor area + 1 for each employee
20. Public or adult entertainment facilities	1 for each 4 persons of total facility capacity
21. Funeral homes	1 for each 4 seats, with a minimum of 12 spaces
D. Industrial Uses
22. Manufacturing operations, wholesale establishments, or warehouses	1 for each 2 employees in the maximum work shift
23. Contractor’s shops and yards	1 for each 2 employees in the maximum work shift
E. Recreational Uses
24. Public, semi-public or private parks, playgrounds, or recreation areas	1 for each 5 persons of total facility capacity
25. Outdoor commercial or institutional recreation developments	1 for each 3 persons of total facility capacity + 1 for each 2 employees
26. Campgrounds	2 for each camping space + 1 additional space for every 5 camping spaces

§ 27-1102 Off-Street Loading Requirements.

[Ord. 3/13/1995]

Off-street loading berths or other space shall be provided in connection with every commercial, industrial, or institutional building exceeding 6,000 square feet in gross floor area which requires the delivery or shipment of merchandise or materials. Such accommodations shall meet the following requirements.

Each off-street loading space or berth shall not be less than 15 feet in width, 70 feet in length, and shall have an overhead clearance of no less than 14 feet, exclusive of drives or maneuvering area. The loading area shall be located entirely on the lot being served, either inside or outside of a building, and shall be designed so that there will be no need for drivers to use or back over public walkways or rights-of-way.

Loading areas and spaces shall be constructed at grade level whenever possible. When necessary, ramps may be permitted with a grade not exceeding 5% and shall include protection against water impoundment or drifting snow.

The number of loading spaces required shall be as set forth in Table 2.

Table 2 Off-Street Loading Schedule
Gross Floor Area	Berths Required
6,000–10,000 square feet	1
10,001–50,000 square feet	2
Over 50,000 square feet	2 + 1 for each additional 50,000 square feet of gross floor area.

§ 27-1103 Driveways and Access Drives.

[Ord. 3/13/1995; as amended by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011; by Ord. 2013-01, 6/10/2013; and by Ord. 2016-05, 11/14/2016]

To minimize traffic congestion and control street access in the interest of public safety, and to encourage the appropriate development of street and road access, the following standards shall apply to the construction or creation of all new driveways or access drives:

Every building or lot shall have access to a public street or an approved private street. Where possible, all residential lots shall access onto a local street rather than a collector road. Access shall require a driveway or highway occupancy permit in accordance with PennDOT standards or Township driveway requirements, as appropriate. (See also §27-1504.)

Where a driveway or access drive is to be installed in conjunction with a proposed use, the zoning permit application for that use shall include a scaled drawing showing the location, construction material(s), and the sight distance proposed for the driveway or access drive. (See also §27-1504.)

Except in the case of singleand two-family dwellings, all driveways shall be designed so that there will be no need for motorists to back over public rights-of-way.

The number of driveways or access drives provided shall be the fewest required to adequately serve the needs of the abutting property. The total number of driveways or access drives shall not exceed two per lot, except where frontages of exceptional length occur. In cases where frontages are 50 feet or less, each lot shall be limited to one driveway or access drive.

A common driveway serving two adjoining lots may be permitted; provided, that the lot owners involved submit a mutually acknowledged agreement subjecting said lots to such use to the Township.

Driveways and access drives shall be constructed of a durable, all weather material and shall not exceed 35 feet in width, except as may be increased by curb radii, and shall provide a minimum right-of-way of 50 feet.

Driveways and access drives should be located where street alignment and profiles are favorable, where there are no sharp curves or steep grades, and where sight distance related to the driveway is sufficient to avoid creating hazardous traffic conditions.

Driveways or access drives shall not cross a street right-of-way line within:

(1)

Forty feet of the right-of-way line of an intersecting street.

(2)

Five feet of a fire hydrant, catch basin or drainage inlet.

(3)

Ten feet of a property line for a commercial, institutional or industrial use.

(4)

Five feet of a property line for a residential use, unless adjoining property owners mutually agree to a common driveway or access drive.

Driveways or access drives shall be designed and constructed in such a manner to avoid impairing drainage within a street right-of-way or any adjacent area. Where determined necessary by Township officials, a drainage pipe shall be installed under the driveway or access drive by the property owner. The size or diameter of such pipe shall be as established by the appropriate Township officials.

In addition to the standards set forth above, the Driveway and Access Drive Design Guidelines contained in Table 3, below, shall be utilized to the greatest extent possible in the design and construction of such facilities.

Table 3 Driveway and Access Drive Design Guidelines
Type of Development	Minimum Width	Maximum Grade¹	Minimum Curb Radius²	Minimum Intervals³	Minimum Sight Distance⁴
Single Unit Residential	10 feet	15%	10 feet	40 feet	150 feet
Multi-Unit Residential⁵	20 feet	12%	15 feet	40 feet	200 feet
Nonresidential Uses	15 feet	8%	15 feet	40 feet	300 feet

Notes:

¹ All driveways shall provide a stopping or leveling area having a grade less than or equal to 5% which extends 25 feet from the edge of the shoulder or curb of the intersecting street. This leveling area shall intersect the street at an angle of no less than 60°, preferably 90°.

² Where dropped curbs are used to provide driveway access, the minimum width of the dropped curb shall be 20 feet for single-family residential uses and 35 feet for multi-unit and nonresidential uses. The transition from the-normal driveway width to the width of the dropped curb shall begin 10 feet back from the edge of the curb for single-family residential and 15 feet back for multi-unit and nonresidential uses.

³ Minimum intervals for single-family residential units shall apply between an intersection and the first driveway only. Minimum intervals for other types of uses shall be measured between any two points of access, including both driveways and public streets.

⁴ Minimum sight distance shall be measured from the point of intersection of the driveway centerline and the street right-of-way line to a point on the cartway centerline. No significant obstructions or plantings measuring between 30 inches above road grade and eight feet above road grade shall be permitted within this area. Sight distance shall be measured at a height of four feet above road surface.

⁵ For the purposes of driveway or access drive design, the multi-unit residential design criteria shall be used for driveways or access drives serving five or more dwelling units.

At the time of excavation and prior to foundation construction the access must be in a mud free state.

Access to any oil and gas excavation/development shall be so arranged as to minimize danger to traffic and nuisance to surrounding properties and to ensure the quality of public roads. All driveways shall be paved for a distance of at least 50 feet from the center line of the public street from which the site is accessed.