Aberdeen Township City Zoning Code
§ 25-5.12
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Driveways.
[Ord. No. 11-1985]
a.
Size of Stalls.
1.
Each off-street parking space shall have an area of not less than one hundred sixty-two (162) square feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles, except in sections for the handicapped. It shall measure nine (9) feet in width by eighteen (18) feet in length. These conditions shall not apply to parallel parking spaces, which shall measure no less than eight (8) feet in width and twenty-three (23) feet in length.
2.
Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be a minimum of twelve (12) feet wide.
3.
No parking stall shall be so located as to require a vehicle to back into any portion of the right-of-way in order to enter or exit the parking stall.
b.
Parking Requirements by Use. Each use shall meet the following requirements in terms of parking. Where more than one (1) use exists on a lot, the required parking shall be the sum of the parking spaces required for each individual use.
1.
Detached dwelling units, apartments and townhouses shall each provide two (2) spaces per unit. In all residential districts, one (1) commercial vehicle may be parked on the premises by the dwelling unit owner or tenant.
2.
Churches shall provide one (1) space per every five (5) permanent seats and one (1) additional space for every thirty (30) square feet of floor area which can be used for overflow seating capacity. (One (1) seat shall be considered twenty-two (22) inches in calculating the capacity of pews or benches.)
3.
Public and private schools, grades K—8, shall provide one (1) space for every twelve (12) students as determined by the school's functional capacity. Public and private schools, grades 9—12, shall provide one (1) space for every eight (8) students as determined by the school's functional capacity.
4.
Banks, offices and retail and service activities shall provide parking at a ratio of five (5) spaces per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area.
5.
Restaurants, bars, taverns and theaters shall provide one (1) space for every four (4) seats. (Note: This requirement may be waived if the use is located within a shopping center.)
6.
Bowling alleys shall provide four (4) spaces per bowling lane.
7.
Service stations shall provide at least six (6) spaces for the first lift, wheel alignment pit or similar work area; five (5) additional spaces for a second work area; and an additional three (3) spaces for each additional work area. Such spaces shall be separated from the driveway and general apron areas which give access to the gasoline and air pumps and service areas. No designated parking space shall obstruct access to such facilities.
8.
Commercial recreation facilities shall provide four (4) spaces per one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area.
9.
Marinas, boat yards and yacht basins shall provide parking on the following basis:
(a)
One (1) space for every one thousand (1,000) square feet of storage, dry dock or similar area plus one (1) space for every two hundred (200) square feet or fraction thereof of floor area used for offices.
(b)
One (1) space shall be provided for every three (3) boat mooring slips.
(c)
One (1) space shall be provided for every vehicle operated by the use operating from that site.
(d)
Sufficient area shall be reserved for the temporary storage of auto-towed trailers if ramp launching facilities are provided.
10.
Automobile Sales. Ten (10) spaces for customer convenience separated from vehicular displays and not used by employees.
11.
Car Washes. Three (3) access lanes for each mechanized car wash entrance with each lane having a minimum capacity for twelve (12) vehicles; one (1) separate space for each waxing, upholstery cleaning or similar specialized service area; and one (1) space for every two (2) employees. All vehicle entrances shall be from the rear of the building, and all parked and waiting vehicles shall be accommodated on the lot.
12.
Manufacturing plants and industrial plants shall provide parking at the ratios of one (1) space for every one thousand (1,000) square feet of gross floor area used for inside storage and warehousing plus one (1) space for every seven hundred (700) square feet of gross floor area used for manufacturing plus one (1) space for every two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area used for offices. Additionally, one (1) space shall be provided for every vehicle owned and/or operated by the manufacturing or industrial plant operating from the site.
13.
Hotels and motels shall provide one and one-quarter (1.25) spaces per room.
14.
Non-residential uses shall provide one (1) space for every vehicle owned and/or operated by a use operating from a site in addition to any parking requirement set forth hereinabove. Such spaces shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the vehicles intended to be parked therein, if oversized.
15.
Public utilities shall provide sufficient spaces and maneuvering areas, as determined by the Board during site plan approval, to prevent any parking along public rights-of-way or private driveways, fire lanes and aisles.
c.
Loading Area Requirements. Each activity shall provide for off-street loading and unloading in accordance with the following requirements:
1.
For each building, one (1) space shall be provided for the first five thousand (5,000) square feet of gross floor area and one (1) additional space shall be provided for each additional ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof.
2.
Each loading space shall be a minimum of fifteen (15) by forty (40) feet with a minimum vertical clearance of fourteen (14) feet.
3.
In shopping centers, this requirement may be met by combining the floor areas of several activities taking place under one (1) roof and applying the above ratios.
4.
Boat launching or storage areas shall not be construed to fulfill the off-street loading space requirement.
5.
Buildings designed exclusively for office use may be exempted from the loading area requirement provided that at least one (1) entrance other than the main entrance is designed to accommodate deliveries of supplies and office equipment and furnishings.
d.
Location of Parking and Loading Areas. Required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be located on the same lot or premises as the use served regardless of the number of spaces required. No parking of vehicles or unloading or loading shall be permitted in fire lanes, streets, driveways, landscaped areas, aisles, buffer areas, sidewalks or turning areas.
1.
Parking spaces may be on, above, or below the surface of the ground. When parking spaces are provided within a garage or other structure, said structure shall adhere to the proper accessory or principal building setbacks.
2.
Parking areas in residential zones for uses other than single family dwellings may be located in any rear yard or side yard, but may not be located in any required front yard.
3.
Parking areas in the "H-C" and "R-C" zones shall be located in side and rear yards only except that parking for not more than one-fifth (1/5) of the total required spaces may be provided in the front yard if the depth of the parking area setback is increased by fifty (50%) percent over that required in subsections 25-4.7g2 and 25-4.8g2 respectively.
e.
Design of Parking and Loading Areas.
1.
Access.
(a)
Access points from any one (1) lot crossing the street line shall be limited to a maximum of two (2) along the frontage of any single street. The centerlines of any separate access points shall be spaced at least seventy (70) feet apart; shall handle no more than two (2) lanes of traffic; shall be at least forty (40) feet from any property line; and shall be set back from the street line of any intersecting street at least fifty (50) feet or one-half (1/2) the lot frontage, whichever is greater, except that in no case need the setback distance exceed two hundred (200) feet.
(b)
Continuous open driveways in excess of sixteen (16) feet at the street line shall be prohibited, except that for non-residential uses, driveways of eighteen (18) feet for one-way traffic and twenty-five (25) feet for two-way traffic shall be provided.
(c)
Unrestricted vehicular access shall not be permitted between adjacent properties. Controlled vehicular access between two (2) or more adjacent properties, if required or approved by the Board, shall be limited to not more than one (1) opening providing two (2) lanes of traffic and shall be located in such a manner as to maintain continuity of traffic circulation on both properties. The opening shall occur at the point furthest from the street line which would facilitate the joining of the properties. The remainder of the side lot lines shall be separated by a landscaped dividing strip, ten (10) feet in width, located on each property being developed. If an adjoining property is not yet being developed, there shall be provided a similar dividing strip at least ten (10) feet wide at the time of development.
2.
Aisles. The provision of parking spaces shall also include adequate driveways and necessary turning areas for handling the vehicles for which provision is made. Parking areas shall be designed to permit each motor vehicle to proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other motor vehicle. Aisles providing access to parking spaces shall have the following minimum dimensions. Where the angle of parking is different on both sides of the aisle, the large aisle width shall prevail.
Angle of Parking Space | One-Way Aisle | Two-Way Aisle |
|---|---|---|
90 | 24 ft. | 24 ft. |
60 | 18 ft. | 20 ft. |
45 | 18 ft. | 20 ft. |
30 | 15 ft. | 20 ft. |
parallel | 12 ft. | 20 ft. |
3.
Lots Over One Hundred (100) Spaces.
(a)
The parking area shall be divided as nearly as possible into smaller lots of not more than fifty (50) spaces separated by landscaped dividing strips.
(b)
Exit drives in which direct access to stalls is prohibited shall extend a minimum distance of sixty (60) feet from the curb to the first major access aisle.
(c)
Wherever feasible, access drives located along one-way streets or divided highways shall be one-way drives.
(d)
If the Board determines that the total number of off-street parking spaces required by this section may not be required for a specific use or in the immediate future it may approve a staged development plan requiring that only a portion of the parking area, in no case less than sixty-five (65%) percent of the required spaces, be completed initially, subject to the following regulations:
(1)
The site plan shall clearly indicate both that portion of the parking area to be paved initially and the total parking needed to provide the number of spaces required by this section.
(2)
The plan shall provide for adequate drainage of both the partial and total parking areas.
(3)
The portion of the parking area not to be paved initially shall be landscaped.
(4)
The applicant shall post a separate performance guarantee which shall reflect the cost of installing the additional parking facilities necessary to provide the total number of parking spaces required. This shall be in addition to the performance guarantees required by Section 25-9.
(5)
In lieu of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy, a temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued for a period of two (2) years. Prior to the expiration of the two (2) year period, the applicant may either install the additional parking shown on the site plan and apply to the Construction Official for issuance of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy or apply to the Board after the use has been in operation a minimum of eighteen (18) months for a determination as to whether or not the initial paved parking area provided is adequate. If the Board determines that the parking facility is adequate as originally constructed, the additional performance guarantee may be released and a permanent Certificate of Occupancy issued. The area to be landscaped may be provided in either curbed safety islands or curbed divider strips, or both, as approved by the Board. These areas shall have a minimum width of ten (10) feet, and be distributed throughout the parking area in order to break the view of long rows of parked cars in a manner not impairing driver visibility.
4.
Parking for the Handicapped. Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be located to provide convenient access to building entrances by way of depressed curbs and ramps in accordance with State regulations. The number of spaces to be provided shall be determined by the following table:
Total Parking Spaces in Parking Area | Minimum Number of Spaces to Be Provided for Physically Handicapped |
|---|---|
16—50 | 2 |
51—75 | 3 |
76—100 | 4 |
101—150 | 5 |
151—200 | 6 |
201—300 | 7 |
301—400 | 8 |
401—500 | 9 |
501—1,000 | 2% of Total |
over 1,000 | 20 plus 1 for each |
5.
Sight Easements. No commercial signs, light standards or other above-ground obstructions other than plantings shall be permitted within ten (10) feet of the street right-of-way.
f.
Conditions for Waiver of Parking and Loading Requirements. If the Board determines that the total number of off-street parking spaces required by this section may not be required for a specific use or in the immediate future it may approve a staged development plan requiring that only a portion of the parking area, in no case less than sixty-five (65%) percent of the required spaces, be completed initially, subject to the following regulations:
1.
The site plan shall clearly indicate both that portion of the parking area to be paved initially and the total parking needed to provide the number of spaces required by this section.
2.
The plan shall provide for adequate drainage of both the partial and total parking areas.
3.
The portion of the parking area not to be paved initially shall be landscaped.
4.
The applicant shall post a separate performance guarantee which shall reflect the cost of installing the additional parking facilities necessary to provide the total number of parking spaces required. This shall be in addition to the performance guarantees required under Section 25-9.
5.
In lieu of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy, a temporary Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued for a period of two (2) years. Prior to the expiration of the two (2) year period, the applicant may either install the additional parking shown on the site plan and apply to the Construction Official for issuance of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy or apply to the Board after the use has been in operation a minimum of eighteen (18) months for a determination as to whether or not the initial paved parking area provided is adequate. If the Board determines that the parking facility is adequate as originally constructed, the additional performance guarantee may be released and a permanent Certificate of Occupancy issued. If, however, the Board determines that the parking area initially paved is not adequate, the applicant shall be required to install the additional parking facilities in accordance with the terms of the additional performance guarantee prior to the issuance of a permanent Certificate of Occupancy.
g.
Landscaping.
1.
Except for detached dwelling units, a screen planting of a dense evergreen material not less than four (4) feet in height shall be provided between the off-street parking areas and any lot line or street line except where a building intervenes or where the distance between such areas and the lot line or street line is greater than one hundred fifty (150) feet.
2.
All loading areas shall be landscaped and screened sufficiently to obscure the view of the parked vehicles and loading platforms from any public street, adjacent residential district or uses and the front yards of adjacent commercial and industrial uses. Such screening shall be by a fence, wall, planting or combination of the three (3) and shall not be less than four (4) feet in height.
3.
Parking areas for more than fifty (50) cars shall contain landscaped islands or strips. These areas shall be planted with trees or shrubs or a combination of the two (2).
h.
Lighting. All parking facilities providing five (5) or more parking spaces shall be lighted. Lighting in and around the parking areas shall provide for nonglare, color corrected lights focused downward. The light intensity provided at ground level shall be a minimum of three-tenths (.3) footcandle anywhere in the area to be illuminated, shall average a minimum of five-tenths (.5) footcandle over the entire area, and shall be provided by fixtures with a mounting height of not more than twenty-five (25) feet or the height of the building, whichever is less, measured from the ground level to the centerline of the light source and spaced a distance not to exceed five (5) times the mounting height.
i.
Surfacing. Off-street parking lots and loading areas, together with their access aisles, driveways and fire lanes, shall not occupy more than thirty-five (35%) percent of the lot area.
j.
Curbing.
1.
All off-street parking and loading areas shall be provided with curbing so that vehicles cannot be driven onto required perimeter landscaped areas, buffer zones and street rights-of-way and so that each parking and loading area has controlled entrances and exits and drainage control. Curbing shall be located to prevent any part of a vehicle from overhanging internal sidewalks or landscaped areas. Parking and loading spaces shall not be an extension of any street right-of-way.
2.
Curbing shall be depressed at the driveway or the curbing may be rounded at the corners and the driveway connected with the street in the same manner as another street.
3.
Parking areas for twenty-five (25) or more cars and access drives for all parking areas on arterial streets shall provide curbed return radii of not less than fifteen (15) feet for all right turn movements and left turn access from one-way streets and concrete aprons on entrance and exit drives.
4.
Parking areas for fewer than twenty-five (25) cars may utilize concrete aprons without curb returns at entrance and exit drives which are not located on an arterial street.
k.
Drainage. All parking areas, regardless of size and location, shall be suitably drained and maintained.
l.
Markings. All off-street parking lots shall have adequate designations to control traffic flow and indicate parking spaces. Such designations may include traffic safety signs and devices, paint striping to delineate parking stalls, barrier lines, lane lines, directional arrows, stop lines, fire lanes and other striping as may be required to insure safe and convenient traffic circulation. Striping shall be in substantial conformance with the Uniform Manual on Traffic Control Devices.
m.
Pavement. The pavement for all off-street parking shall be constructed according to the specifications and procedures as set forth in the standard specifications in accordance with the following guidelines:
1.
The base course for all off-street parking shall be placed on a compacted, unyielding subgrade and shall consist of a minimum of six (6) inches of graded quarry blend (Mix No. 5A) which has been inspected and approved by the Township Engineer.
2.
The surface course for all off-street parking shall consist of two (2) inches of bituminous concrete, Type FA-BX-1, Mix No. 5 constructed in accordance with New Jersey State Highway Specifications.
3.
A prime coat shall be applied between the base course and the surface course in accordance with the New Jersey State Highway Specifications.