[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lancaster 8-24-2010 by Ord. No.
14-2010;[1] amended in its entirety 8-25-2015 by Ord. No. 9-2015. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 116.
Sewers — See Ch. 249.
Stormwater management — See Ch. 260.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 262.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 265.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 285.
Zoning — See Ch. 300.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Ch. 202, Parking
Lots, adopted as Article 1761 of the Codified Ordinances.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum construction
standards for the construction of new accessory and commercial surface
parking lots, and the improvement, including but not limited to reconstruction
and resurfacing, of existing off-street surface parking areas.
A.
AASHTO
ADEQUATE DRAINAGE
BMP (BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE)
CITY
CITY ENGINEER
DIRECTOR
ENLARGED
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE (GI)
IMPROVEMENT
(1)
(2)
(3)
MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE (MEP)
MINOR REPAIR (REHABILITATION)
PA BMP MANUAL
PARKING LOT
(1)
(2)
(a)
(3)
PARKING LOTS SUPPLEMENTAL SPECIFICATIONS
PAVEMENT STRUCTURE
POROUS (PERMEABLE, PERVIOUS) PAVEMENT
SALDO
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FACILITY (SWM FACILITY)
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
American Association of State Highway and Transportation
Officials.
Control and disposal of surface water from parking lots and
from any buildings, walks or other surfaces which drain onto parking
lots in accordance with the City's Stormwater Management Ordinance,[1] as amended, and other applicable statutes.
Activities, facilities, control measures, planning or procedures
used to minimize accelerated erosion and sedimentation and manage
stormwater to protect, maintain, reclaim, and restore the quality
of waters and the existing and designated uses of waters within this
commonwealth before, during and after earth disturbance activities.
The City of Lancaster. PA.
The Engineer of the City of Lancaster, or his/her designee.
The Director of the Department of Public Works or her/his
designee.
For the purpose of this chapter, "enlarged" shall mean extending
the total area of an existing parking lot beyond the area currently
occupied, including paved surface used for the parking of vehicles,
drive aisles, travel lanes, ticket booth, or similar use, and regardless
of whether or not the area was previously covered by impervious surface
including but not limited to buildings, structures or other paved
surfaces. This definition shall also include extending the total area
of a parking lot for the purpose of adding perimeter landscaping or
other unpaved areas for screening, buffering and/or stormwater management.
Systems that mimic natural processes in order to infiltrate,
evaporate, and/or reuse stormwater. Green infrastructure may use soils,
topography, and vegetation in a way that minimizes the impacts of
disturbance from development and maintains the pre-development hydrology
and water qualities of urban areas.
For the purposes of this chapter, "improvements" shall include
the modification of existing parking spaces and/or access aisles or
drives, provision of required handicapped-accessible spaces, correction
of existing drainage problems, installation of required landscaping
or reconstruction and resurfacing of paved areas. Sealing, restriping,
and similar minor repairs (rehabilitation) to paved areas of a surface
parking lot solely for maintenance shall not be deemed an improvement,
provided that the number of spaces is not altered.
RECONSTRUCTIONThe replacement of the entire existing pavement structure by the placement of a similar, equivalent, increased or alternative pavement structure. Reconstruction involves removing and replacing all or part of the asphalt, concrete, or paver surface and aggregate base. A parking lot shall be considered to be reconstructed when more than 10% of the pavement structure needs to be removed and replaced. Reconstruction may utilize either new or recycled materials incorporated into the materials used for the reconstruction of the complete pavement.
RESURFACINGStructural enhancements that extend the service life of the existing pavement and/or improve its load carrying capacity by removing and replacing the wearing surface. Resurfacing may include patching pot holes or badly deteriorated areas of old asphalt that have exposed base course and a total area less than 240 square feet of the parking lot area for parking lots less than 2,400 square feet, or less than 10% of the parking lot area for parking lots greater than 2,400 square feet.
OVERLAYSimilar to resurfacing but does not include removing existing pavement. Overlay consists of increasing pavement thickness to strengthen existing pavement and may include patching pot holes or badly deteriorated areas that have not impacted the binder course and have a total area of less than 240 square feet.
Applies when the applicant demonstrates to the City of Lancaster's
satisfaction that the performance standard is not achievable. The
applicant shall take into account the best available technology, cost
effectiveness, geographic features, and other competing interests
such as protection of human safety and welfare, protection of endangered
and threatened resources, and preservation of historic properties
in making the assertion that the performance standard cannot be met
and that a different means of control is appropriate.
Nonstructural enhancements made to the existing pavement
sections to eliminate age-related, top-down surface cracking that
develop in flexible pavements due to environmental exposure. Minor
repairs shall include, but are not limited to, crack sealing, and
patching pot holes or other deteriorated areas that have not impacted
the base course and have a total area of less than 240 square feet.
The Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual
of December 2006, or most recent version thereof.
An off-street area, not within the public right-of-way, designed
and improved for the parking of motorized and nonmotorized vehicles,
including access drives and driveways, aisles and maneuvering space
appurtenant thereto. For the purposes of this chapter, a parking lot
shall be those areas of 1,200 or more square feet used for parking,
access drives, driveways and aisles.
ACCESSORY SURFACE PARKING LOTA parking lot on which more than 80% of parking is allocated to a specific use or uses and for the exclusive use by customers, users or employees of the use or uses.
COMMERCIAL SURFACE PARKING LOTA parking lot used as a commercial enterprise for the short- or long-term parking or storage of motor vehicles, is not accessory to any other use, and contains parking space rented to the general public or reserved for individuals by the hour, day, week or month.
Where there exists a mix of dedicated spaces for a specific
use or uses and general rental spaces, if such general spaces represent
a majority of the available parking spaces, it shall be considered
a commercial surface parking lot.
TEMPORARY SURFACE PARKING LOTA parking lot created for special events such as sporting events, theatrical performances, or other events that last no longer than seven days in duration or a total of not more than 30 days in any calendar year, or as overflow accessory parking, or as the staging area and parking for construction projects that last no longer than the schedule of construction.
The details, specifications and standards for the construction,
reconstruction and repair and improvements of surface parking lots.
The Parking Lots Supplemental Specifications are available on the
City of Lancaster website and from the Department of Public Works.
The structure of a paved surface including at a minimum a
surface or wearing course and an aggregate base course.
An alternative to standard impervious asphalt, concrete or
masonry surfaces that allows stormwater to drain through the porous
surface to a stone reservoir underneath. The reservoir temporarily
stores surface runoff before infiltrating it into the subsoil or slowly
releasing it into the municipal sewer system. The appearance of the
alternative surface may be similar to asphalt, concrete, or masonry
materials, but it is manufactured without fine materials and instead
incorporates void spaces that allow for storage and infiltration.
Underdrains may also be used below the stone reservoir if soil conditions
are not conducive to complete infiltration of runoff.
City of Lancaster Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance.[2]
Any structure, natural or man-made, that, due to its condition,
design, or construction, conveys, stores, infiltrates/evaporates/transpires,
cleans or otherwise affects stormwater runoff. Typical SWM facilities
include, but are not limited to, detention and retention basins, open
channels, watercourses, road gutters, swales, storm sewers, pipes,
BMPs, and infiltration structures.
B.
If a word or term is not defined by this chapter, but is defined
in the City Stormwater Management (SWM) Ordinance, Subdivision and
Land Development Ordinance (SALDO), Zoning Ordinance,[3] or other City ordinance or code, then that definition
shall apply. If a word or term is not defined in this chapter, SWM
Ordinance, SALDO, Zoning Ordinance or other City ordinance or code,
then the word or term shall have its plain and ordinary meaning within
the context of the section. In the latter case, a standard reference
dictionary should be consulted.
All new and existing surface parking lots shall conform to the
following minimum standards:
A.
All surface parking lots shall be designed in accordance with the
dimensional requirements and other parking requirements in this chapter
and other City codes and ordinances including but not limited to the
City Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance,
as applicable.
B.
Paved surfaces. All new, reconstructed and resurfaced parking lots,
including all parking spaces, access drives, drive aisles, entrances,
exits, circulation and maneuvering areas, and interior lanes for all
uses shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, pavers or a masonry-type
material. Stone or gravel is not considered a masonry-type material.
C.
All surface parking lots shall meet the minimum design and construction
standards with regards to the following:
(1)
Paved surfaces.
(2)
Anticipated loading, soil characteristics and other load-bearing
stresses.
(3)
Access aisle drives, parking stall angles, stall sizes, and landscaping.
(4)
Provisions for adequate drainage.
(5)
The design and construction of any proposed permeable parking spaces
and green infrastructure techniques.
(6)
All construction standards shall be in accordance with the City of
Lancaster Zoning Ordinance and SALDO, City of Lancaster Parking Lots
Supplemental Specifications. AASHTO or similar, and applicable manufacturer
standards, as approved by the City.
D.
Handicapped-accessible spaces shall be provided and designed in accordance
with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, the ICC
ANSI A117.1-2009 standard or its successors and the City Zoning Ordinance,
as applicable.
(1)
Signage for accessible spaces are required by the ANSI standard and
shall be indicated on the plans.
E.
Adequate lighting. Lighting shall be provided in all surface parking
lots in accordance with the following minimum standards:
(1)
All lighting shall be properly shielded in accordance with International
Dark-Sky Association guidelines so as to eliminate glare and light
spillage beyond the property line and onto adjacent property. All
luminaires shall be fully shielded so that no light is emitted above
the horizontal plane.
(2)
Photometric lighting design plans shall indicate fixture location
and height and light intensity measured in foot-candles at grade.
(3)
In commercial areas, parking surfaces shall have target illumination
as set forth in the Parking Lots Supplemental Specifications and the
current recommended practices of the Illuminating Engineering Society
of North America (IESNA) as contained in the IESNA Lighting Handbook.
(4)
When designing lighting for new parking lots, existing lighting from
adjoining light sources shall be considered in order to avoid excess
illumination. Lighting shall be placed to avoid conflict with overhead
utilities, trees and structures. Wall packs and similar fixtures may
be used for small accessory parking lots.
(5)
Light poles and standards in parking lots shall be installed in accordance with the provisions in the Parking Lots Supplemental Specifications, and, to the maximum extent practicable, shall be in compliance with the Streetscape Guidelines in the Streetscape District Ordinance, Chapter 262, Article VII, when located within the Streetscape District.
(6)
The use of motion sensors for dimming and extinguishing lights after
dark is encouraged.
(7)
Irrespective of the provisions for adequate lighting herein, and
when approved by the City, a surface parking lot not used between
dusk and dawn shall not be required to install lighting.
F.
Landscaping and screening. All surface parking lots shall be designed
and effectively landscaped and screened in accordance with standards
for landscaping and screening in the Parking Lots Supplemental Specifications
in addition to the following:
(1)
General landscaping standards and guidelines.
(a)
Landscaping shall be provided in low-lying or depressed perimeter
landscape strips, interior planting islands and divider strips, as
applicable, to minimize noise, glare and other nuisances as well as
to enhance the environment and ecology of the site and surrounding
area.
(b)
Landscape areas shall be designed and constructed to provide stormwater management. Landscape areas shall incorporate green infrastructure (stormwater management) in order to comply with § 202-4. herein. Acceptable designs shall be consistent with Chapter 260, Stormwater Management, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
(c)
All landscape areas shall include a combination of trees, shrubs
and ground covers.
(d)
To the maximum extent practicable, native species of trees and
other plant materials shall be provided.
(e)
All trees shall be sited and planted in accordance with Chapter 273, Trees, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
(f)
Shrubs, ground covers and perennials used below shade trees
within parking lots shall be of species able to withstand the harsh
conditions and runoff of a parking lot. Plant selection should take
into consideration tree growth and canopy cover and should be partially
shade tolerant species.
(g)
Provisions to prevent conflicts with the opening and closing
of automobile doors and to reduce damage from automobile overhang.
(h)
Trees shall be placed in order to avoid conflict with light
standards and the effectiveness of light fixtures.
(i)
Plantings required within the parking areas are exclusive of
other planting requirements such as street trees.
(j)
All damaged and dead landscape plantings, including trees, shall
be replaced upon notice by the City.
(k)
Continuous curbing including but not limited to formed concrete
and rolled asphalt shall not be installed to impede the flow of stormwater
into landscaped areas. The use of depressed concrete curbs is permitted.
(l)
Replacement of trees. Where one or more required shade trees
are proposed to be removed, they shall be replaced by new shade trees
meeting City requirements, and the new locations and species shall
be approved by the City. The Zoning Officer may require that the City
Shade Tree Commission and/or the City Arborist be provided with an
opportunity for a review. This provision does not apply to required
street trees.
(m)
Raised landscape and planting beds may be allowed upon permission
of the City Engineer when used for accenting vehicle and pedestrian
access points.
(2)
Perimeter landscape strips shall be required for all surface parking
lots with frontage on a public street and/or adjacent to residential
dwellings.
(3)
Planting islands shall be required for all surface parking lots containing
40 or more parking spaces.
(4)
Vegetated divider strips may be utilized in surface parking lots
with 100 or more spaces in lieu of planting islands. However, divider
strips shall be used in all surface parking lots with double-loaded
parking rows that exceed 40 spaces.
(5)
In the event the tree planting or landscaping requirements in this
subsection would result in the loss of the required number of off-street
parking spaces as set forth in Article VIII of the City of Lancaster
Zoning Ordinance, the number of trees and the area of landscaping
may be reduced in accordance with the following:
G.
Curb stops or other means shall be used to ensure that parked vehicles
do not overhang onto walking areas, sidewalks, or landscape areas.
H.
Maintenance. The parking lot owner and lessee or operator are responsible for properly maintaining the pavement surface per the applicable manufacturer's recommendations. The surface grade shall be maintained as installed, and ruts and potholes shall be repaired upon notice by the City. All vegetation must be properly maintained and replaced as necessary per applicable City codes and regulations. A schedule of maintenance shall be recorded in an operations and maintenance agreement for stormwater facilities in accordance with Chapter 260, Stormwater Management, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
I.
Safety. Parking lots shall be designed to allow for the safe flow
of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and shall include design features
to discourage through vehicular traffic between adjacent streets.
Parking lot design shall consider vehicle speed in relation to pedestrian
crossings and shall incorporate features such as designated pedestrian
crosswalks when deemed necessary by the City. Appropriate sight distances,
subject to approval by the City Engineer, at intersections of vehicle
lanes shall be provided, and traffic control measures shall be installed
where needed to facilitate public safety.
A.
All accessory and commercial surface parking lots shall be drained in a manner which is consistent with the City's Stormwater Management Ordinance, Chapter 260 of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
B.
Stormwater management facilities shall be installed and maintained
in accordance with all applicable governmental and manufacturer's
standards.
C.
All new or reconstructed surface parking lots shall be designed to incorporate stormwater management BMPs that permanently remove stormwater runoff in accordance with Chapter 260, Stormwater Management, of the Code of the City of Lancaster.
(1)
Any combination of SWM facilities may be incorporated for the control
and management of stormwater runoff, including green infrastructure/low-impact
development best management practices in accordance with the PA BMP
Manual and the City Specifications Manual.
(2)
SWM facilities, including green infrastructure, may be installed
in series.
(3)
Stormwater shall not be permitted to enter the sewer system in any
area of the City of Lancaster with a combined sewer system without
approval from the City Engineer.
D.
All surface parking lots shall be properly graded and maintained
to prevent conditions which may lead to water flowing over public
sidewalks, standing water, ice or other conditions deemed to pose
a threat to the public health, safety and welfare.
(1)
Paved surfaces, including but not limited to parking spaces and drive
aisles, shall be graded and sloped in such a way for directing stormwater
into landscaped areas or other stormwater management facilities.
(2)
Stormwater flows onto adjacent property shall in conformance with
the performance standards in the City of Lancaster Stormwater Management
Ordinance.
Prior to construction, enlargement or improvement of a surface
parking lot or conversion of land for use as a surface parking lot,
the owner, tenant or other party in interest who proposes such construction
or conversion shall first submit a parking lot permit application
and construction documents to the City Engineer. The construction
documents shall include the following:
A.
For surface parking lots involving new or modified access drives
to a public street or alley requiring Traffic Commission approval
and/or where a highway occupancy permit would be required from the
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the owner, tenant or other
party in interest shall obtain prior to final permit approval the
necessary approvals and submit evidence of same with the permit application
to the City Engineer. An application for access to a public street
or alley shall require that the applicant submit a written request
to the City Traffic Commission. Applicants shall present to the Traffic
Commission pertinent documentation concerning sight and safe stopping
distances, safety for pedestrians and vehicles and impacts resulting
from any loss of on-street parking. Proposed access drives and driveways
shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the City SALDO.
B.
For any parking lot requiring a special exception or variance from
the Zoning Hearing Board, the applicant shall first present evidence
to the City Engineer that required approvals have been granted and
are in effect.
C.
Site plan. Three copies of a site plan shall be submitted along with
the permit application for all new surface parking lots and all surface
parking lot improvement projects.
(1)
All new and reconstructed surface parking lots shall also submit
a stormwater management site plan in accordance with Article IV of
the City Stormwater Management (SWM) Ordinance.
(2)
If proposed parking lot project is part of an overall land development, then the SALDO plan submission procedure and plan requirements set forth in Ch. 265 of the Code of the City of Lancaster shall apply.
(3)
The site plan shall include the width and angle of all parking spaces,
aisle width and direction, access drives, landscaping, lighting, and
signage, in accordance with all City of Lancaster codes and ordinances.
(4)
For sealing, restriping, patching and similar minor repairs to paved
areas of a lot solely for maintenance, a site plan or drawing is not
required.
D.
Material specifications, construction details, and cross-section
profiles for the proposed pavement material shall be prepared in accordance
with applicable industry, City or state standards.
E.
Grading plan with contours and spot elevations, nearest sewers, method
of connection and materials used in the system shall be submitted
showing final proposed contours at intervals of no more than two feet
in areas of disturbance.
F.
Details concerning excavation, reconstruction or installation of
any curbs, streets, sidewalks and invert elevation of inlets and appurtenances
which will be installed for the surface parking lot shall be shown
on the site plan in accordance with applicable City specifications.
G.
The site plan shall indicate the location of all proposed relocation
of utilities, poles, fire hydrants, signage, parking meters or demolition
of structures.
H.
Erosion and sediment pollution control plan with sequencing narrative
to address earthmoving activities, if applicable, shall be included
with the site plan. All new, enlarged and reconstructed surface parking
lots, regardless of size, shall indicate erosion and sediment pollution
control methods on site plan.
The City Engineer shall first determine whether or not the submitted parking lot permit application and construction documents are sufficient for review pursuant to § 202-5. The application shall then be submitted to:
A.
Other City code administrators, including but not limited to the
Bureau of Planning, Bureau of Code Compliance and Inspections, and
Bureau of Stormwater, who shall review and comment upon the application's
compliance with their respective codes and specifications. Comments
may include reference to materials, inspections, permits, fees or
escrow deposit accounts, if any, that are required with respect to
the construction of drainage lines, tapping, repairs to street, curb
or sidewalk, erosion control during construction, driveway or access
drive permit, stormwater facilities or installation of other required
improvements in compliance with all City codes and ordinances, and
the City's Specifications and Guidelines Manual.
B.
Within 30 working days of receipt of the application, the City Engineer
shall return a copy of the plan(s) and related documents with any
written comments to the applicant. The applicant shall address all
comments and submit three copies of the revised plan/documents along
with the original comment plan/documents to the City Engineer.
A.
Upon the City Engineer determining that any requested plan revisions
have been made in accordance with City codes and specifications, that
approvals have been granted by other boards, commissions or agencies
and that all fees and escrow monies have been paid, the City Engineer
shall authorize the issuance of the parking lots permit.
(1)
An approved permit shall grant the City the right to enter upon private
property on which a surface parking lot is to be or has been constructed,
reconstructed, resurfaced or repaired at any time for purposes of
inspection.
B.
In the event that the City Engineer refuses to issue a permit, the
City Engineer shall state in writing the reason for the refusal and
the regulation, ordinance or law upon which such refusal is based.
The denial of the permit by the City Engineer shall be appealable
to the Director of Public Works in accordance with the terms herein.
Any person or property owner receiving a notice of violation
of this chapter, or who has been denied a permit to construct, reconstruct,
resurface or otherwise improve a surface parking lot, shall have 10
working days following receipt of said notice or denial to file a
written appeal of the same to the Director of the Department of Public
Works, or her/his designee. The Director shall review the application,
review the denial and any other information deemed appropriate, and
hear the appeal and make a determination within 30 working days of
the receipt of the appeal. Decisions of the Director shall be appealable
as provided by law. Appeals to the Director shall be recorded and
decisions shall be written and shall include findings of fact.
The Council of the City of Lancaster, by resolution adopted
from time to time, shall establish any and all such fees that are
assessable by the City for the administration and enforcement undertaken
pursuant to this chapter.
Whoever violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall,
upon conviction in a summary proceeding, be fined an amount not less
than $100 and not to exceed $1,000 or be sentenced to a term of imprisonment
not exceeding 30 days, or both, together with costs of prosecution
for each offense. Any fines accessed hereunder shall be collected
as other fines and costs or by law collectible. Each day of violation
shall constitute a separate offense hereunder.
A.
The provisions of this chapter are minimum standards for the protection
of the public welfare. However, the City Engineer shall have the power
to modify any provisions of this chapter as may be necessary in the
public interest as follows:
(1)
Where the developer/applicant can show that the strict application
of any provision of this chapter is unreasonable or will cause undue
hardship, or that an alternative standard will provide equal or better
results, the City Engineer may modify the strict terms and conditions
of the chapter so that substantial justice may be done and the public
interest secured: provided, however, that such modification will not
have the effect of nullifying the intent and purpose of this chapter.
(2)
In granting waivers and modifications, the City Engineer may impose
such conditions as will substantially secure the objectives of the
standards or requirements so varied or modified.
B.
When subsurface conditions exist on a project site where the strict
application of the provisions of this chapter may result in the transport
of known pollutants or have potentially harmful impact on groundwater
quality, the City Engineer may modify the strict terms and conditions
of this chapter so that public health, safety, and welfare; and water
quality are secured.
The design, construction, reconstruction, and repair and improvements
standards in the Parking Lots Supplemental Specifications and City
of Lancaster Specifications and Guidelines Manual may be amended and
revised by the City Engineer. No such amendments or revisions shall
be effective, however, until 30 calendar days after their promulgation
by the City Engineer, their publication on the City's website
and notice thereof has been published in one newspaper of general
circulation.
A.
Any owner or operator of a surface parking lot shall cause the repair,
resurfacing or reconstruction of parking lot within a period of 180
calendar days from the date of notice to do so.
B.
The City Engineer shall include in the written notice all violations
of this chapter and all other applicable City codes and ordinances.
