Zoneomics Logo
search icon

Bath Township City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XVII

PARKING, LOADING, AND ACCESS

Sec. 17.01.- Intent.

Modern planning recognizes that requiring large amounts of off-street parking is not appropriate for most land uses, and over-reliance on impervious pavements can lead to notable issues related to stormwater runoff, heat island effect, and pollution. It is the purpose of this ordinance to provide for requirements, standards, and guidelines for the implementation of parking, loading, and access for both motorized and non-motorized transportation with an emphasis on context-sensitivity and environmental factors.

(Ord. No. 31.72, § 2, 1-4-2022)

Sec. 17.02. - Off-street parking general provisions.

At the time any building or structure is erected, enlarged or increased in capacity, or uses established, off-street parking spaces shall be provided as hereinafter prescribed:

A.

Plans and specifications showing required off-street parking spaces, including the means of access and interior circulation shall be submitted to the zoning administrator for review at the time of application for a building permit.

B.

Off-street parking for other than residential uses shall be either on the same lot or within 500 feet of the building it is intended to serve, measured from the building entrance to the nearest point of the parking lot.

C.

No parking area which exists at the time this ordinance becomes effective and is provided for the purposes of complying with the provisions of this ordinance shall thereafter be relinquished or reduced in any manner below the requirements established by this ordinance.

D.

No commercial repair work, servicing or selling of any kind shall be conducted on any parking area except that which is specifically permitted by this ordinance. No items such as plastic animals, streamers, cloth signs, children's play area, mechanical entertainment devices or other similar devices shall be permitted in the parking area.

E.

Where the owners of two buildings, or uses, desire to utilize common off-street parking facilities, the zoning administrator may grant approval of such dual function off-street parking facilities, subject to a finding that the following conditions have been met:

(1)

The common parking lot meets the off-street parking requirements of the larger building or use plus 33 percent of said requirement.

(2)

The common parking lot meets all locational requirements of this ordinance with respect to each building or use.

Sec. 17.03. - Schedule of requirements.

The attached material specifies the minimum number of off-street parking spaces by type of use. For any land use not found in the table below, a determination of off-street parking requirement standards shall be made by the zoning administrator. The zoning administrator shall review the table below and determine the land use most similar to the proposed land use not found below.

A. Residential
(1) Residential one-family and two-family Two for each dwelling unit.
(2) Residential multiple-family Two for each dwelling unit.
(3) Homes for the aged, convalescent homes, family day care and adult foster care facilities/homes of all types One for each employee on peak employment shifts, and additional parking as may be determined by the planning commission based on anticipated residency.
B. Institutional
(1) Churches or temples One for each three seats or six feet of pews in the main unit of worship.
(2) Hospitals One and one-half for each one bed plus one for each employee on peak employment shift.
(3) Homes for the aged, convalescent homes, family day care and adult foster care facilities/homes of all types One for each two beds plus one for each employee on peak employment shifts.
(4) Elementary and junior high One for each one teacher, employee, or administrator, plus one for each classroom, plus required space for auditorium.
(5) Senior high school and college One for each one teacher, employee, or administrator, one for each classroom, and one for each ten students, plus required space for auditorium.
(6) Private clubs, or lodges One for each three persons allowed within the maximum occupancy load as established by the fire marshal, plus one for each employee.
(7) Private golf clubs, swimming pool clubs, tennis clubs, or other similar uses One for each two member families or individuals.
(8) Golf courses open to the general public, except miniature or "par 3" Six for each one golf hole and one for each one employee.
(9) Stadium and sports arena or similar outdoor place of assembly One for each five seats or ten feet of benches plus one for each employee.
(10) Theaters and auditoriums One for each three seats plus one for each employee.
(11) Libraries and museums One per 500 feet of gross floor space, plus one per employee.
(12) Public utility One per employee.
(13) Nursery school, day nursery or child care center One for each 350 square feet of usable floor space.
C. Commercial
(1) Auto wash, hand or coin-operated Three waiting spaces at entry plus two drying spaces at exit, all on exterior of building, shall be provided on the premises for each bay.
(2) Auto wash, automatic Fifteen waiting spaces at entry plus two drying spaces at exit, all on exterior of building, shall be provided on the premises for each wash lane, plus one space for each employee.
(3) Beauty parlor or barber shops Two for each chair.
(4) Bowling alleys Eight for each bowling lane plus one for each employee, plus required parking for each auxiliary use such as restaurant, snack bar, etc.
(5) Dance halls, roller rinks, exhibition halls and assembly halls without fixed seats One for each 100 square feet of gross floor area.
(6) Drive-in banks or laundries or restaurants (with drive-in window) Four waiting spaces for each drive-in window in addition to normal parking required for banks or laundries.
(7) Drive-in restaurants One for every three patron seats or one for each 30 square feet of usable floor area, whichever is greater.
(8) Establishments for sale and consumption on the premises of beverages, food or refreshments One for each 100 square feet of gross floor area.
(9) Furniture and appliances, household equipment repair shops, showroom of a plumber electrician or similar trade, and other similar uses One for each 800 square feet of usable floor area.
(10) Auto service stations Two for each lubrication stall, rack or pit; and one for each gasoline pump.
(11) Laundromats and coin-operated dry cleaners One for each two machines.
(12) Miniature or "par-3" golf courses Three spaces per hole plus three spaces for employees.
(13) Mortuary establishments One for each 25 square feet of assembly room floor space.
(14) Motel or hotel One space for each rental unit, plus one additional space for each employee.
(15) Motor vehicle sales and service establishments One for each 200 square feet of floor area of sales room, one for each auto service stall in the service room, plus one for each employee.
(16) Retail stores except as otherwise specified herein One for each 150 square feet of usable floor area.
(17) Planned commercial or shopping centers or discount department stores containing at least 25,000 square feet Six per 1,000 square feet of gross leasable floor area.
D. Offices
(1) Banks One for each 200 square feet of usable floor area.
(2) Business offices or professional offices, except as indicated in the following item (3) One for each 150 square feet of usable floor area.
(3) Professional offices of doctors, dentists and similar professions One for each 150 square feet of usable floor area in waiting rooms, plus one for each examining room or dental chair, plus one for each doctor, dentist, or employee.
E. Industrial
(1) Industrial or research establishments Five, plus one space on site for every two employees in the largest working shift, or one space for every 550 square feet of usable floor space, or whichever is greater.
(2) Wholesale or warehouse establishments One for every two employees in the largest working shift, or one for every 1,700 square feet of usable floor space, or whichever is greater.
F. When units or measurements determining the number of required parking spaces result in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including one-half shall be disregarded and fractions over one-half shall require one parking space.

 

(Ord. No. 31.32, § 3, 10-20-2003; Ord. No. 31.83, § 4, 5-9-2023)

Sec. 17.04. - Off-street parking development standards.

Whenever the off-street parking requirements in section 17.03 require the building of an off-street parking facility, such off-street parking lots shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards and regulations:

A.

Plans for all off-street parking lots providing spaces for more than five vehicles shall be submitted as part of the site plan review process and must be approved by the planning commission prior to construction.

B.

Each off-street parking space for vehicles shall not be less than 180 square feet in area, exclusive of access drives or aisles.

C.

Each space shall be clearly marked and reserved for parking purposes.

D.

There shall be provided a minimum access drive of 20 feet in width and so located as to secure the most appropriate development of the individual property. Where a turning radius is necessary, it shall be of an arc that reasonably allows an unobstructed flow of vehicles.

E.

Parking aisles shall be of sufficient width to allow a minimum turning movement into and out of parking spaces. The minimum width of such aisles shall be in accordance with the following minimum regulations:

Parking
Pattern
Maneuvering Lane Width Parking space Parking Space Total Width of Two Tiers of Spaces Plus Maneuvering Lane
In degrees One Way
(In Feet)
Two Way
(In Feet)
Width
(In Feet)
Length
(In Feet)
One Way
(In Feet)
Two Way
(In Feet)
0 (parallel
parking)
11 18 8.5 25 28 35
30—53 12 20 9 21 54 62
54—74 13 22 9 21 55 64
75—90 15 24 9.5 20 55 64

 

F.

All off-street parking areas shall be drained so as to eliminate surface water ponding and prevent drainage onto abutting properties. The surface of the parking lot, including drives and aisles, excepting landscaped areas, shall be constructed of a dustless and durable all-weather surface.

G.

Any lighting fixtures used to illuminate off-street parking shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from any adjoining residential properties, institutional premises, or streets and highways; and shall be installed in such manner as to allow the reduction of the amount of light after normal parking hours each day.

H.

Where a parking area with a capacity of five or more vehicles adjoins a residential district, a buffer at least 20 feet in width shall be provided between the parking area and the adjoining property and a vertical screen shall be erected consisting of structural (fence) or plant materials no less than five feet in height.

I.

Where a parking area with a capacity of five or more vehicles adjoins a public street, a buffer at least ten feet wide shall be provided between the parking area and the adjacent street right-of-way. Plantings or a berm shall be provided to screen the parking area from view along the entire length of this buffer strip. Plantings in this buffer area shall be maintained in a healthy condition. No more than two driveway approaches may be permitted to break this buffer from a major street or no more than one driveway from a minor street. When parking lots are larger than 50 vehicles, the required buffer shall be 20 feet between the parking area and the public street.

J.

In addition to any landscaping required in any particular district, all parking areas of ten or more vehicles shall be landscaped. Such landscaping shall be accomplished throughout, including the interior, of the parking area on the basis of 200 square feet of grass and planted area (including trees) for each ten parking spaces. All landscaping shall be adequately maintained in a healthy condition.

Sec. 17.05. - Off-street loading and unloading.

On the same premises with every building, or part thereof, erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display, department store, wholesale store, market, laundry, dry cleaning, or other uses similarly involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for standing, loading and unloading services in order to avoid undue interferences with public use of the streets, alleys, or any required access aisles for off-street parking areas.

A.

Such loading and unloading space, unless adequately provided for within a building, shall be an area ten feet by 40 feet, with 15-foot height clearance, and shall be provided according to the following schedule:

Gross Floor Area in Square Feet Loading and Unloading Spaces Required in Terms of Square Feet of Gross Floor Area
0—1,999 None
2,000—19,999 One space
20,000—99,999 One space plus one space for each 20,000 square feet in excess of 20,000 square feet
100,000—500,000 Five spaces plus one space for each 40,000 square feet in excess of 100,000 square feet

 

B.

The location and design of loading and unloading areas shall be reviewed at the time of site plan submission to insure adequate protection is afforded adjacent districts, especially residential districts, from noise and other disruptive elements normally associated with such facilities.

Sec. 17.06. - Bicycle parking.

Bicycle parking may be required at the discretion of the Planning Commission. Bicycle parking includes both short-term, traditional bicycle parking as well as long-term bicycle parking. It is recommended that there be an appropriate balance of short-term and long-term bicycle parking and that context be considered when determining the balance between the two. For example, multifamily residential developments will likely require more long-term bicycle parking versus short-term bicycle parking while retail or office uses may be more oriented toward short-term bicycle parking.

(Ord. No. 31.72, § 3, 1-4-2022)

Sec. 17.07. - Pervious pavement.

Use of pervious pavement for parking areas is strongly encouraged where feasible. The planning commission shall have the ability to reduce the number of required parking spaces by ten percent, up to a maximum of ten spaces, if the applicant utilizes pervious pavements for parking areas on-site. All pervious materials must be appropriately maintained in order to ensure that the original design's form, function, and permeability.

(Ord. No. 31.72, § 4, 1-4-2022)

Sec. 17.08. - Reduction in required parking.

The planning commission shall have the ability to reduce the amount of off-street parking required under section 17.03 of this ordinance as they deem appropriate.

(Ord. No. 31.72, § 5, 1-4-2022)

Sec. 17.09. - Other provisions.

A traffic study or parking demand study shall be conducted and submitted by the applicant if deemed appropriate by the planning commission. No site plan or special use permit approval may be granted without acceptance by the planning commission of a traffic study or parking demand study, should such a study be required under the provisions of this section.

(Ord. No. 31.72, § 6, 1-4-2022)