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Borough of Conshohocken, PA
Montgomery County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
In expansion of the declaration of legislative intent and the statement of community development objectives contained in Part 1 of this chapter, it is the specific intent of this Part to:
A. 
Set reasonable standards and controls to assure sufficient parking capacity for the uses or potential uses of land in the developed portion of the Borough.
B. 
Set appropriate and reasonable standards and controls to assure sufficient parking capacity for redevelopment in the Specially Planned Districts.
C. 
Provide flexibility in the implementation of these standards by permitting construction of a reduced number of parking spaces under appropriate conditions.
D. 
Prevent hazards to public safety caused by the intrusion and congestion of parking upon public rights-of-way.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
Any building or structure erected, altered, or used, and any lot used or occupied for any of the following purposes shall be provided with the minimum number of parking spaces set forth below, together with adequate driveways and street access in compliance with the requirements of the Conshohocken Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22]. When a use is not specifically listed below, the requirements of the most similar use shall apply.
Use
Requirement
Dwelling unit, multifamily dwelling (studio, efficiency or one-bedroom units)
1 1/2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Dwelling unit:
Elderly/disabled housing
1 space per dwelling unit.
Independent living
1 space per dwelling unit.
Personal care home
1 space per every 2 private living units.
Dwelling unit, all other types
2 spaces per dwelling unit.
Places of assembly, such as church or auditorium
1 space per 4 seats.
Retail stores
1 space per 150 square feet of gross floor area.
Shopping centers
1 space per 200 square feet of gross leasable area.
Business or administrative offices
1 space per 250 square feet of gross floor area.
Laboratory or industry
The larger of 1 space per employee or per 450 square feet of gross floor area.
Services:
1.
Doctor, dentist, or similar type, including out-patient clinics
7 spaces per doctor, dentist, or similar practitioner.
2.
Barber, beautician, tailor, or similar type
3 spaces per barber, beautician or similar practitioner.
3.
Plus
1 space per 2 employees not included in subsection (1) or (2) above.
Tourist home, rooming house, bed-and-breakfast
2 spaces, plus 1 space per rental unit.
Self-service laundry
1 space per 3 washers, dryers and/or dry cleaning machines.
Place of indoor amusements (not sports or exercise)
1 space per 100 square feet of gross floor area.
The following uses require 1 space per employee and/or volunteer on the largest shift or during peak periods, plus the number of spaces listed below:
1.
Library, museum or similar place
1 space per 800 square feet of floor area in public use.
2.
Hotel, motel, or similar use
1 space per rental unit.
3.
Motor vehicle repairs (body or mechanical)
3 spaces per service bay.
4.
Vehicle sales
1 space per 500 square feet of indoor sales area, plus 1 space per 5,000 square feet of outdoor sales area.
5.
Meeting, training, or classroom space as a primary use
1 space per 2 seats of total seating capacity.
Restaurants:
1.
Drive-in or fast-food
The larger of 1 1/2 spaces per table or booth, or 1 space per 50 square feet of gross floor area; minimum of 25 spaces.
2.
All others
1 space per 50 square feet of gross floor area.
Indoor sports facility
1 1/2 spaces per person for maximum court and exercise equipment capacity.
Studio for dance, art, music or photography
1 space per 5 students, and/or 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area for nonstudent patrons.
Day-care center
1 space per 3 children at maximum capacity.
Bank, financial institution
6 spaces per teller window, plus 3 spaces per automatic teller machine.
Elementary or intermediate schools
1 3/4 spaces per classroom.
High schools
5 spaces per classroom.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
No more than two commercial vehicles or trucks may be stored at a residential dwelling.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
If the number of spaces required by § 27-2002 of this Part is substantially larger than the number of spaces anticipated by the applicant, then the concept of parking held in reserve may be used to avoid unnecessary paving while ensuring adequate area for potential parking demands.
A. 
Suitable area must be available on the site for 100% of the parking required by § 27-2002, above.
B. 
The number of spaces, which must be paved initially, may be reduced by up to 50% by the Borough Council, upon recommendation of the Borough Engineer and the Borough Planning Commission.
C. 
Suitable area must be reserved for the balance of the total number of spaces required by § 27-2002. The total number of spaces shall be constructed by the applicant if and when determined necessary by the Borough Council, upon recommendation of the Borough Engineer. Borough Council may require the installation of these parking spaces under the following conditions:
(1) 
Evidence of continued overflow of parking as installed by the applicant.
(2) 
Re-evaluation of necessary parking capacity upon a change in status of use, ownership, number of employees, and/or size of building or land area used.
D. 
A financial guarantee shall be provided by the applicant to cover the cost of installation of the parking spaces held in reserve, for a period of one year following installation of the initially constructed parking spaces. The type and dollar value of the guarantee must be approved by the Borough Council upon the recommendations of the Borough Solicitor and Engineer.
E. 
To qualify for use of the reserve parking concept, the applicant shall demonstrate that the number of spaces required by § 27-2002 herein is substantially larger than the number of spaces anticipated, by providing evidence supporting reduced parking needs to the Borough Planning Commission and Borough Engineer for their review and recommendations to Borough Council.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
All parking spaces provided in compliance with this Chapter shall comply with the requirements of the Conshohocken Borough Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
A. 
Parking and driveways for nonresidential uses shall be paved.
B. 
Parking and driveways for single-family detached residential uses need not be paved, but must be of all-weather construction.
C. 
Parking and driveways for all other residential uses shall be paved.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
The nonresidential parking spaces required herein may be located elsewhere than on the same lot when authorized as a special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with the provisions of Part 6 of this Chapter, subject to the following conditions:
A. 
The owners of two or more establishments shall submit, with their application for special exception, a site plan showing joint use and location of a common off-street parking area.
B. 
Some portion of the common off-street parking area lies within 200 feet of an entrance regularly used by patrons, into the buildings served thereby.
C. 
The Zoning Hearing Board may, in its discretion, reduce the number of required parking spaces upon determination that greater efficiency is effected by joint use of a common parking area, but in no case shall the number of off-street parking spaces be reduced by more than 20% of the required number of spaces.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
All parking lots shall be operated and maintained in accordance with all applicable requirements of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] and the following conditions:
A. 
They shall not be used for the sale, repair, long-term inactive storage, or dismantling of any vehicles, equipment, materials, or supplies, except where such uses are clearly and customarily incidental to the permitted nonresidential use as specified in this Chapter.
B. 
They 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.
C. 
They shall be provided with entrances and exits so located to minimize traffic congestion and the effect of headlight glare.
D. 
They 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.
E. 
Lighting facilities shall be so arranged that they neither unreasonably nor unnecessarily disturb occupants of adjacent residential properties nor interfere with traffic by either location or glare.
F. 
Unless specified in an individual district, a buffer strip 10 feet in width shall be provided along each property line abutting a residential property or a public right-of-way. The buffer shall be designed according to the following standards:
(1) 
Where a parking area adjoins a residential property, a dense, continuous, evergreen screen at least six feet in height shall be provided. In lieu of a planted buffer, a six feet high decorative opaque fence may be substituted.
(2) 
Where a parking area adjoins a public right-of-way, a screening of continuous evergreen hedging a minimum of four feet in height shall be provided. In lieu of a hedge planting, a decorative wall at lease four feet in height or a combination of plantings, ornamental fencing and walls may be provided.
(3) 
The use of native plant materials and naturalistic design is encouraged.
G. 
There shall be no more than one attendant shelter building containing not more than 50 feet of gross floor area and set back a distance of not less than 15 feet from any boundary of the parking lot which abuts a residential use.
H. 
No parking area shall abut directly upon a public street, but instead shall be separated from the street by curbed planting strips a minimum of five feet in depth from the edge of the cart way or sidewalk, with suitable breaks for access ways.
I. 
Each property shall have not more than one access way on each street on which the property abuts; each access way shall be no more than 30 feet wide.
J. 
Shade trees shall be provided within all parking areas at a minimum rate of one 3 1/2 inch caliper shade tree per 10 parking spaces.
K. 
The minimum dimension of a parking space shall be nine feet by 18 feet, exclusive of all driveways or drive aisles.
L. 
Parking areas shall be designed according to the following dimensions:
Drive Aisle Width
(feet)
Angle of Parking
Parking Space Size
(feet)
One Way
Two-Way
90
9 x 18
24
24
65
9 x 21
18
20
45
9 x 19
14
18
Parallel
9 x 22
12
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this Chapter or off-street parking facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this Chapter shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this Chapter except in accordance with the requirements of § 27-2006 of this Part.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
In the case of mixed or multiple uses within a single structure or building or the use of land, the amount of off-street parking required shall be determined by the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately in accordance with § 27-2002 of this Part, except where the applicant(s) qualifies under § 27-2006 of this Part or in the case of a shopping center.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
Off-street loading berths shall be provided and maintained, on the same lot with such buildings, in accordance with the following requirements:
A. 
Schools of 15,000 square feet or more: one loading berth.
B. 
Offices of 10,000 square feet or more: one loading berth.
C. 
Commercial and Institutional Uses: one loading berth for the first 5,000 square feet up to a maximum of 10,000 square feet; one additional loading berth for each additional 10,000 square feet or fraction thereof.
D. 
Each loading space shall not be less than 12 feet wide, 56 feet long and 14 feet high, and may occupy part of any required side or rear yard, except that portion which is required to be used for a buffer area in compliance with Borough requirements.
E. 
Loading and unloading space shall be separated from the street by a curbed planting strip a minimum of 10 feet in depth, with a suitable break for vehicular access, not more than 30 feet wide. The planting strip must contain either a continuous, dense, evergreen buffer planting not less than six feet in height or an opaque, decorative fence, at least six feet high and architecturally integrated with the principle structure.
[Ord. 6-2001, 10/10/2001; as amended through 12/2005]
The following regulations apply only to the SP-1, SP-2 and SP-3 Districts.
A. 
Definitions. The following definitions apply to SP-1; SP-2 and SP-3 Districts only:
LOADING SPACE
An off-street space or berth, abutting upon a street or way or other appropriate means of access, intended for the temporary parking of a commercial vehicle while loading or unloading merchandise or materials not to include the space reserved or used for trash storage and compaction; which space or berth is not less than 10 feet in width and sufficient in length, to ensure that no motor vehicle using the space shall extend beyond a lot line, but in no case less than 25 feet in length.
PARKING-SELF PARK
Parking of motor vehicles other than valet parking.
PARKING STALL
(1) 
STANDARD SIZEA space in a garage or parking area not less than 8 1/2 feet wide clear dimension and 18 feet long clear dimension, reserved for the parking of only one motor vehicle.
(2) 
COMPACT SIZEA space in a garage or parking area not less than 7 3/4 feet wide clear dimension and 16 feet long clear dimension, reserved for the parking of only one compact size motor vehicle.
(3) 
HANDICAP SIZEA space in a garage or parking area not less than 13 feet wide and 20 feet long clear dimension, reserved exclusively for a motor vehicle registered with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with handicapped license plates or displaying an official Commonwealth issued handicapped placard.
PARKING VALET
Parking of motor vehicles by an attendant provided by the establishment for which the parking is provided.
B. 
Required Off-Street Parking, Specially Planned Districts.
(1) 
There shall be provided, at the time of the erection of any principal building or at the time any principal building is enlarged in capacity, minimum off-street motor vehicle parking space, including required number of parking stalls plus not less than 25% in total area for adequate provisions of ingress, egress, and general circulation.
Use in SP Districts
Number of Parking Stalls Required
Hotel
1 for each hotel room designed primarily for the purpose of overnight accommodations plus 1 for each 2 employees.
Restaurant or assembly hall
1 for every 150 square feet of floor area.
Movie theater
1 for every 5 seats provided.
Retail business
1 for every 250 square feet or 1 for every 100 square feet of floor area for retail establishments that collectively occupy more than 30%, by area, of the building in which they are situated.
Bank, professional office, or business office
3 for every 1,000 square feet of floor area. In addition, where a drive-in facility and/or automated banking machine is to be included, 6 in-line motor vehicles waiting spaces for each bank tells or remote teller station or window.
Bus or railroad passenger terminal
One for every 500 square feet of floor area.
Personal service shops
1 for every 150 square feet of floor area.
Meeting room facilities
1 for every 5 seats provided.
Fitness center, health club, racquet club
1 for every 100 square feet of floor area.
(2) 
Where two or more uses or separate establishments are located within the same structure, parking space shall be provided for each use or separate establishment according to the above requirements.
(3) 
In a parking garage with at least 25 spaces, designation and use of a maximum of 35% of the parking stalls in a garage or parking area as compact size for Specially Planned District is permitted.
(4) 
For the purpose of this Section, "floor area" means the gross floor area of the structure excluding the gross floor area of parking garages and loading facilities.
(5) 
The number of handicapped parking spaces required shall conform to the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards. The locations of the handicapped spaces shall be as close as possible to accessible building entrances.
C. 
Off-Street Loading. Every structure or part thereof, hereafter established, erected, enlarged, or occupied for uses involving the receipt or distribution of material or merchandise shall have permanently maintained loading spaces within the structure or on the same situate lot with the structure as follows:
(1) 
Every department store or retail establishment arranged, intended, or designed for such use shall provide loading spaces in accordance with the following table.
Square Feet of Aggregate Gross Loading Floor Area Devoted to Such Use
Number of Spaces Required
Up to and including 20,000
1
Over 20,000 up to and including 60,000
2
Over 60,000 up to and including 120,000
3
Over 120,000 up to and including 180,000
4
Over 180,000 up to and including 260,000
5
Over 260,000 up to and including 360,000
6
For each additional 120,000 or fraction thereof
1 additional
(2) 
Every auditorium, convention, or exhibit hall, hotel, office building, restaurant, municipal or community facility shall provide loading spaces in accordance with the following table.
Square Feet of Aggregate Gross Floor Area Devoted To Such Use
Number of Loading Spaces Required
Up to and including 75,000
1
Over 75,000 up to and including 300,000
2
Over 300,000 up to and including 500,000
3
For each additional 200,000 or fraction thereof
1 additional
(3) 
Provided that where a use is not specifically mentioned, the requirements for loading facilities for a use which is so mentioned and to which such use is similar, shall apply.
D. 
Parking/Off-Street Loading Exceptions.
(1) 
Erection, alteration, enlargement, or use of a structure or portion thereof, with modifications without loading space as required in subsection C may be permitted by special exception provided that the application provides the Zoning Hearing Board with verifiable technical information, including truck delivery data and traffic counts substantiating that the volume of vehicular service will not require compliance with the space provisions of such section and that such volume will not cause undue interference with the use of streets or ways nor imperil general safety.
(2) 
Under the procedure to obtain an occupancy permit and in accordance with the following provisions, use of the same parking stalls at different times in order to meet the parking requirements of two or more principal users may be authorized in Specially Planned Districts by special exception granted by the Zoning Hearing Board:
(a) 
The applicant shall substantiate to the Zoning Hearing Board the degree to which the normal operating hours of the users served do not conflict.
(b) 
A properly drawn legal instrument shall be executed by the parties concerned for such use of the garage or parking area, which instrument duly approved by the Borough Solicitor shall be filed with the application for occupancy permit.
(3) 
Utilization of valet parking for required motor vehicle parking spaces provided:
(a) 
A motor vehicle shall be retrievable from its parking space with the movement of a maximum of two additional vehicles.
(b) 
The Zoning Hearing Board with the assistance of the Planning Commission certifies that the valet parking operation as submitted by the applicant will not cause interference with the public use of streets or ways, or imperil the public safety.
E. 
Continuation of Facilities. Whenever an occupancy permit has been issued and the plans so approved contain motor vehicles parking and loading space provisions, the subsequent use of such property shall be conditional upon the continuance and availability of the parking and loading space provisions contained in such plans. Any other use of such property shall be a violation of this Part. Should the owner or occupant of any structure, as to which an occupancy permit has been issued containing motor vehicle parking or loading space requirements, so change the use to which such structure is put as to increase motor vehicle parking or loading space requirements under this Part, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this Chapter, to begin or maintain such altered use until such time as the increased motor vehicle parking or loading provisions of this Part are complied with and an amended certificate of occupancy from the Zoning Office has been issued.