The purposes of this article are to adequately provide for the
parking needs of all uses in the Township, to reduce traffic congestion
on public streets by getting parking off streets and to allow faster
emergency access. The secondary purposes include minimizing development
problems with neighboring uses, providing for special parking needs
of handicapped drivers and providing flexibility in meeting the Township's
parking problems and needs by methods such as shared parking arrangements.
A.
Basic requirements. Off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements in § 600-139 below.
B.
Existing structures and uses. No building or use of land lawfully
in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be
subject to the following requirements so long as the kind or extent
of use is not changed so as to require additional parking.
C.
Provision and retention of facilities. All required parking facilities
shall be provided and maintained so long as the use exists which the
facilities were designed to serve. Off-street parking facilities shall
not be reduced in total extent except when such reduction is in conformity
with this article.
[Amended 5-6-2021 by Ord. No. 746]
Spaces for off-street parking shall be provided as required
below:
|
Use
|
Off-Street Parking Space Requirements
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Agricultural uses
|
1 for every 200 square feet of sales area, but not less than
3 spaces
| ||
|
Residential uses
| |||
|
Single-family
2 for every dwelling unit
| |||
|
Townhouses
|
2 for every dwelling unit plus 1 for every 3 dwelling units
for guests
| ||
|
Multifamily and two-family dwellings
|
1 per dwelling plus 1 for 2-bedroom units
| ||
|
2 per dwelling for 2- and 3-bedroom units plus 1 for every dwelling
unit for guests in multifamily developments of 16 or more units
| |||
|
Major home occupations and home offices
|
1 for every 200 square feet of space devoted to office use or
home professional offices occupation, plus the residential requirement
| ||
|
Mobile homes and mobile home parks
|
2 for each dwelling unit, plus 1 for every 4 dwelling units
for guests in developments of 16 or more units
| ||
|
Community residence facilities
|
1 for every 4 residents and 1 for every employee on the shift
of greatest employment
| ||
|
Public or private recreational uses
| |||
|
Private clubs
|
1 for every 150 feet of floor area devoted to member or patron
use
| ||
|
Bowling alley
|
4 for each lane
| ||
|
Gymnasium, stadium
|
1 for every 4 seats
| ||
|
Outdoor commercial
|
1 for every 150 recreation square feet of floor area devoted
to such use
| ||
|
Indoor commercial recreation
|
1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area devoted to such
use
| ||
|
Governmental, institutional and educational uses
| |||
|
Auditoriums, churches, and other places of worship or public
assembly
|
1 for every 5 seats plus 1 for every 150 square feet of meeting
room
| ||
|
Community center library or similar use
|
1 for every 250 square feet of gross area
| ||
|
Continuing care facility
|
1 for every dwelling unit, plus 1 for every 2 employees on the
shift of greatest employment.
| ||
|
Intermediate day-care center, group day-care center
|
1 for every 500 square feet of gross floor facility plus 1 for
each adult attendant. This shall be in addition to the parking requirements
of the primary use such as a school or church, if applicable
| ||
|
Adult day-care center
|
1 for every 5 clients, plus 1 for each employee on the shift
of greatest employment
| ||
|
Primary and secondary schools
|
1 for each faculty member or other full-time schools employee,
plus 2 for each classroom, plus 1 for every 12 students aged 16 years
or older
| ||
|
Colleges and universities
|
1 for every 2 faculty members and full-time employees plus 1
for every 3 students
| ||
|
Dormitories
|
1 for every 2 residents plus 1 for every 4 units
| ||
|
Recycling facilities
| |||
|
Small collection facility
|
2 per facility
| ||
|
Standard collection
|
1 for every 500 square feet of area occupied by the facility,
but in no case less than 4
| ||
|
Processing facility
|
1 for every 750 square feet of gross floor areas plus 1 for
every employee on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Retail, commercial and other business uses
| |||
|
Retail store or shop
|
1 for every 200 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Furniture or appliance store
|
1 for every 300 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Convenience store
|
1 for every 125 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Supermarket
|
1 for every 125 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Personal service business such as barber, shoe repair shop,
tailor and other similar business
|
1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Shopping center
|
1 for every 250 square feet of gross leasable floor area
| ||
|
Professional and other
| |||
|
Banks, credit unions, and savings and loans
|
1 for every 200 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Medical, dental or veterinary or clinics
|
1 for every 100 square feet of waiting room space, plus 2 for
each practitioner
| ||
|
Restaurant
| |||
|
Sit-down
|
1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for
every 2 employees on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Restaurant with drive-through service
|
1 for every 75 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for every
2 employees on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Movie theater or place of amusement
|
1 for every 3 seats plus 1 for every employee on the shift of
greatest employment
| ||
|
Health club
|
1 for every 100 square feet of gross floor area
| ||
|
Funeral home
|
1 for every 75 square feet of floor area in viewing rooms or
parlors, plus 1 for each official funeral car, plus 2 for the resident
family, plus 1 for every 2 employees exclusive of the resident family
members
| ||
|
Hotel, motel or inn
|
1 for every guest room plus 1 for every 2 full-time employees
| ||
|
Car wash
| |||
|
Standard car wash
|
10 per bay for stacking plus 4 for standing between the exit
of the facility and the street, plus 1 for each employee on the greatest
shift
| ||
|
Self-service car wash
|
4 per bay for stacking plus 1 for standing between the exit
of the facility and the street
| ||
|
Laundromat, self-service
|
1 for every 2 washing machines
| ||
|
Automobile service and repair
|
2 spaces, either within or outside the repair structure, for
every 200 square feet of floor or ground area devoted to repair or
service facilities and, in addition, such space as is necessary for
vehicles purchasing gasoline or being stored. In no case shall the
spaces for permitted motor vehicle storage in conjunction with a service
station be less than 5
| ||
|
Temporary uses such as Halloween costume and decoration stores,
and Christmas tree sales sites
|
1 for every 200 square feet of sales space but in no case less
than 3 spaces
| ||
|
Taproom, tavern
|
1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area dedicated to
on-site food and beverage consumption, plus 1 for every employee on
the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Brewpub
|
1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area dedicated to
on-site food and beverage consumption, plus 1 for every 1,000 square
feet of gross floor area dedicated to production and storage of materials,
plus 1 for every employee on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Industrial and other related uses
| |||
|
Research and development, and light manufacturing
|
1 for every 750 square feet of gross floor facilities area,
plus 1 for every assembly employee on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Manufacturing, warehousing and distribution
|
1 for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for
every employee on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
|
Brewery, microbrewery
|
1 for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for
every employee on the shift of greatest employment
| ||
A.
Where a use is not specifically listed in this chapter, the Zoning
Officer shall apply the standards of the most similar use listed to
determine the number of parking spaces required.
B.
If the computation of the parking ratios listed in § 600-139 of this chapter results in a fraction, an additional parking space shall be required.
C.
All parking areas, loading areas and driveways shall be graded and
surfaced with asphalt or other suitable materials to prevent dust
and erosion. Such areas shall also be drained in conformance with
municipal standards to prevent excessive water flow onto streets or
adjoining properties.
D.
In parking areas with five or more spaces, each space shall be clearly
line-striped and maintained.
E.
Freestanding establishments located adjacent to shopping centers or strip plazas shall have adequate parking as required in § 600-139 and will not rely on any parking in adjacent location to meet the aforementioned requirements.
F.
All parking areas with five or more spaces shall be adequately lighted
so as to assist in the safe maneuvering of motor vehicles and to provide
security for users of the lot. All lighting shall be arranged to avoid
glare on adjacent properties.
G.
No commercial motor vehicle with more than single rear wheels or
construction equipment may be stored on a lot in a residential district,
unless such vehicle is stored in a private garage.
H.
Parking or storage of disabled, partially dismantled or junk cars,
trucks, boats or other vehicles shall be permitted on a lot for a
continuous period of not more than seven days.
K.
Parking as a primary use by right is permitted only in the Industrial
Commercial District.
A.
The size of a standard parking space shall be nine feet wide and
18 feet long, an area of 162 square feet.
B.
Handicapped parking requirements shall comply with the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code (UCC) which contains the handicapped parking
standards based on the current International Building Code (IBC) of
the International Code Council.
C.
All parking areas for three or more vehicles shall be designed so
that vehicles need not back directly into a public street but can
enter and leave the parking area in a forward motion.
D.
All parking shall be accessible from a street or driveway.
E.
Every parking lot or area with 10 or more off-street spaces shall
be separated from the street or highway by a raised curb, planting
strip, wall or other suitable barrier against unchanneled motor vehicle
entrance or exit, except for necessary accessways or exits.
F.
Drive-through establishments such as fast order and pickup, automatic
bank teller, and similar uses shall provide not less than five waiting
spaces for each drive-through lane. This is in addition to the space
for the car being serviced.
G.
Two-way driveways shall be a minimum of 22 feet wide and a maximum
of 36 feet wide. One-way driveways shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide.
A.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent collective
provision of off-street parking facilities for two or more nonresidential
buildings or uses, provided that the total of such off street parking
facilities provided collectively shall be not less than the sum of
requirements for the various uses complied separately.
B.
Two or more nonresidential uses may provide for required parking
in a common parking area, provided such area is on or adjacent to
such uses. The number of spaces required in such a common parking
area may be reduced below the sum of the total requirements if it
can be demonstrated to the Zoning Officer that the hours or days of
peak parking demand for the uses are so different that a lower overall
total of parking spaces will adequately provide for the uses to be
served. In such case, sufficient parking shall be provided to meet
the minimum needs of the use, which requires the greater parking area.
A.
In addition to the off-street parking spaces required in this article,
any building erected, converted and/or enlarged for any nonresidential
use shall provide off-street areas for loading and unloading and commercial
vehicle parking spaces.
B.
The minimum size loading space shall be 50 feet long and 12 feet
wide, with an overhead clearance of 14 feet, exclusive of drives and
maneuvering space, and located entirely on the lot being served. Any
overhead canopy should extend a minimum of four feet beyond a loading
dock.
C.
All loading space shall have adequate access from a street or way which does not block or interfere with the required parking as specified in § 600-139. This required space will be provided in addition to established requirements for patron and employee parking.
D.
In no case shall public rights-of-way be used for loading or unloading
of materials. Furthermore, no loading dock or space shall be located
or arranged in such a way that it is necessary to back any vehicle
into or off any public right-of-way or require the use of any public
right-of-way for maneuvering space.
E.
All accessory driveways and entranceways shall be graded, paved and
drained to Township standards to the extent necessary to prevent nuisance
of dust, erosion or excessive water flow across streets and adjoining
properties.
F.
All off-street loading berths shall be provided on either the side
or rear of the lot. In no case shall off-street loading berths be
provided in the front of the lot.
G.
Such facilities shall be designed and used in such a manner so as
to at no time constitute a nuisance, a hazard or an impediment to
traffic.
A.
Screening between any parking area and the street line shall be effective
at the time of occupancy, subject to the following provisions:
(1)
All off-street parking areas, which provide more than five parking
spaces, shall be screened from any abutting property in a more restrictive
zoning district.
(2)
Effective screening may be accomplished through the use of the
following: plant materials, fencing or walls and/or mounding through
the use of an earthen berm forming a continuous visual buffer.
(3)
The area for planting and fencing, walls or earthen berms shall
not extend beyond the street line.
(4)
When planted visual screens are employed, the following shall
apply:
(a)
A buffer planting strip shall be provided. It shall be a minimum
of 10 feet in width unless-specifically required otherwise in this
chapter.
(b)
Planted visual screens shall be of sufficient height and density
to constitute a continuous visual screen six feet in height at the
time of planting except as provided below. The type and spacing of
plant materials shall be subject to review and approval by the Township
Commissioners.
(5)
Whenever fencing or walls are employed, the effective height
of the continuous visual buffer shall be not less than five or more
than six feet.
(6)
Whenever earthen berms are employed, the effective height of
the continuous visual buffer shall be not less than five feet.
(7)
In the case of a parking lot which is the main use, such lot
shall be enclosed, except for entrances and exits, by an ornamental
fence or wall or by a compact evergreen ridge not less than four feet
high, except when the boundary of such parking lot is an adjoining
building.
B.
Landscaping within any parking area which provides 20 or more parking
spaces shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1)
Off-street parking areas shall be landscaped to reduce wind
and air turbulence, heat, noise and the glare of automobile lights;
to reduce the level of carbon dioxide; to provide shade; to improve
stormwater drainage problems; to replenish the groundwater table;
and to provide for a more attractive setting.
(2)
The interior of each parking lot shall have at least one three-inch
caliper deciduous shade tree for every 10 parking spaces if there
are no existing shade trees to satisfy this requirement. Shrubs and
other plant materials are encouraged to be used to complement the
trees but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping. These
trees shall be in addition to those required as an effective screen.
Trees selected for landscaping in parking areas shall be of a species
proven to be salt and dust resistant.
(3)
Landscaped areas at least five feet wide shall be provided around
the periphery of parking areas. Such areas shall, at a minimum, extend
the full length and width of the parking areas, except for necessary
accessways, to prevent the encroachment of moving vehicles into parking
areas.
(4)
Landscaped islands between every 20 parking spaces or at the
end of each parking row, whichever is less, shall be provided and
shall be the length and width of the parking spaces.
(5)
Existing plant material and trees with a caliper of six inches
or more shall be preserved wherever possible during construction.
Such existing plants may be credited toward the amount of required
plantings.
