Bear Creek Township Luzerne County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 127-90 Purpose.
Off-street parking, loading and unloading facilities shall be provided to lessen traffic congestion in the streets. The facilities required by these provisions shall be available throughout the hours of operation for the particular business or use for which such facilities are provided. As uses herein, the term "parking space" includes covered garage or carport or uncovered parking lot space located off the public right-of-way.
§ 127-91 Size of off-street parking spaces.
Each off-street parking space shall have an area of not less than 162 square feet, being nine feet in width and 18 feet in length, exclusive of access drives or aisles.
§ 127-92 Dimensions and design.
The dimension and design of off-street parking areas, including parking garages, shall comply with the following:
A.
Stall width shall be not less than nine feet.
B.
Stall depth shall be not less than 18 feet.
C.
The minimum width of aisles providing access to stalls, with one-way traffic, varying with the angle of parking shall be as follows:
Angle of Parking (degrees) | Minimum Aisle Width (feet) | |
|---|---|---|
Parallel | 12 | |
30° | 11 | |
45° | 13 | |
60° | 18 | |
90° | 20 |
D.
The minimum width for aisles providing access to stalls with two-way traffic shall be 24 feet.
E.
Interior accessways and aisles shall be designed so as to prevent the blocking of vehicles entering or exiting the site.
§ 127-93 Size of off-street loading spaces.
Each off-street loading space shall be not less than 50 feet in depth, 12 feet in width and provide an overhead clearance of not less than 14 feet. All loading areas shall be designed, constructed and used so that all vehicular maneuvering is contained within the lot and no vehicle shall be permitted to back into or out of the public right-of-way.
§ 127-94 Access to off-street parking or loading areas.
There shall be adequate ingress or egress to all parking spaces. There shall be provided an access drive leading to off-street parking and/or loading areas. Such access drive shall not be less than 10 feet in width for residential uses and not less than 20 feet, or greater than 30 feet for any nonresidential use. Access drives to such off-street parking and/or loading areas shall be limited to well defined locations, not to exceed two along each front, side or rear lot lines. For corner properties, all access drives shall be not less than 35 feet from the intersection of streets, as measured along the right-of-way lines, unless a greater distance is required for a specific use as contained within Article VIII, Supplemental Regulations.
§ 127-95 Location of off-street parking areas.
The required off-street parking spaces for any type of use shall be located on the same lot as the principal use to which it is accessory. The required off-street parking may be permitted on another lot subject to the following requirements:
A.
The lot to be used for off-street parking and the lot on which the principal use is located shall be in the same zoning district.
B.
The lot to be used for off-street parking and the lot on which the principal use is located shall be held under the same ownership.
C.
The lot to be used for off-street parking shall be not less than 400 feet to any lot line on which the principal structure is located.
§ 127-96 Drainage and surfacing of off-street parking areas.
Any off-street parking area shall be graded for proper drainage and shall be surfaced so as to provide a pavement structure of bituminous asphalt or concrete. The design, location and material for any proposed catch basins may be referred to the Township Engineer for review and approval.
§ 127-97 Screening and landscaping.
A.
Side yards and rear yards. The side and rear yards areas of properties that contain off-street parking for 10 or more vehicles and/or any off-street loading areas shall be screened along such borders as provided herein:
(1)
A planting strip not less than five feet in depth, containing ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants and/or a similar vegetative cover that are a minimum of three feet in height at the time of planting.
(2)
Such borders shall also be screened by a substantial, tight fence, six feet in height, or in lieu of a fence, an evergreen hedge not less than five feet in height at the time of planting with a spacing distance of not greater than four feet between each planting.
B.
Front yards. The front yards areas of properties that contain off-street parking for 10 or more vehicles and/or any off-street loading areas shall be screened along such borders as provided herein:
(1)
A planting strip not less than 10 feet in depth shall be provided between the parking areas and the abutting street right-of-way, except for the location of access drives to the property. Said planting strip shall contain ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants or a similar vegetative cover.
(2)
Said planting strip shall also contain one shade tree for each 40 linear feet of planting strip. Said trees shall be not less than eight feet in height at the time of planting.
C.
Interior landscaping. Off-street parking areas that contain 20 or more parking spaces, in addition to the compliance with regulations contained under Subsections A and B of this section, shall provide interior landscaping to said parking area. Said landscaping shall be not less than 5% of the total area that is paved and utilized for parking and or loading. Interior landscaped areas shall contain ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants or a similar vegetative cover and a minimum of one shade tree not less than eight feet in height at the time of planting.
§ 127-98 Lighting.
Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking or loading areas shall be arranged to reflect the light away from adjoining properties and the public right-of-way.
§ 127-99 Driveways.
A.
Residential. All driveways shall have a minimum setback distance of 10 feet to any side yard or rear yard property line. Townhouses, with exception of end units, shall be excluded from this provision.
B.
Nonresidential uses. All driveways shall have a minimum setback distance of 15 feet to any side yard or rear yard property line.
§ 127-100 Parking in yard areas.
A.
Required parking for residential properties shall be permitted within the required front, rear and/or side yard setbacks, provided that the minimum setback distance to any area used for off-street parking is not less than 10 feet to the nearest point of a side yard or rear yard property line and not less than 15 feet from the front yard property line.
B.
Any off-street parking areas for a nonresidential use, when abutting a residential zoning district or a residential property, shall be set back a minimum of 15 feet from the rear yard and any side yard property line.
§ 127-101 Existing structures and uses.
Structures and uses in existence at the date of adoption of this chapter shall not be subject to the off-street parking or off-street loading requirements, so long as a structure or use is not changed, altered or expanded. Existing off-street parking or off-street loading facilities provided prior to the adoption of this chapter shall not be reduced below the minimum required in this chapter.
§ 127-102 Changes of structures or uses.
Whenever the existing use of a building, structure or land is proposed to be changed to a new use, off-street parking and/or off-street loading facilities shall be provided as required for such new use. However, if said building or structure was erected or the use of the land established prior to the effective date of this chapter, additional off-street parking or off-street loading facilities shall be mandatory only in the amount by which the requirements for the new use would exceed those for the existing use.
§ 127-103 Fractional space.
When required parking computation results in fractions, any fraction less than 1/2 shall be disregarded and any fraction equal to or greater than 1/2 shall be construed to require a full space.
§ 127-104 Multiple activities or uses.
In any instance where a nonresidential structure, building or use of land contains more than one defined use, the required parking for each specific use shall be provided.
§ 127-105 Off-street parking requirements.
A.
Any structure, building or use of land hereafter erected, converted, enlarged or placed into use shall comply with the minimum off-street parking spaces as provided herein:
(1)
Residential structure: two spaces for each dwelling unit.
(2)
Boarding house or rooming house: two spaces for each guest room.
(3)
Personal care facility: two spaces for each person residing therein based upon the maximum number persons permitted under its state license.
(4)
Churches and similar places of worship: one space for every four seats in the main assembly room or one space for each 12 feet of bench length.
(5)
Places of public or private assembly, including auditoriums or meeting halls: one space for every four seats or one space for each 50 square feet of floor area when there is no fixed seating.
(6)
Schools, elementary and secondary: one space for each staff member, plus one space for every 20 classroom seats.
(7)
Day-care facility: one space for each employee, plus one space for every five persons, based upon the maximum number of persons which the facility is licensed to serve.
(8)
Medical or dental offices or clinics: six spaces for every doctor, dentist, chiropractor or other licensed medical practitioner, plus one for each staff member.
(9)
Methadone treatment facility: 12 spaces for every doctor, licensed medical practitioner, and/or counselor; employed at the facility, plus one additional space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area.
(10)
Clubs/lodges (private): one space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area.
(11)
Public uses: one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area, excluding storage area for vehicles and/or equipment.
(12)
Public utility facilities: two spaces per facility; if the facility includes maintenance and/or storage yards than the required number of spaces shall be one space for each employee assigned to work at such facility.
(13)
Outdoor recreational facilities: In cases where such facilities include spectator seating, there shall be one space for every four seats; facilities which do not provide any spectator seating shall provide one space for every 2,000 square feet in the recreational site, plus an additional 10 spaces, if there is a swimming pool and an additional two spaces if there is playground equipment.
(14)
Retail businesses: one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area.
(15)
Restaurants and taverns: one space for every 2 1/2 seats, plus two spaces for every three employees based upon the maximum working shift.
(16)
Fast-food restaurants: one space for every 80 square of service or dining area. A fast-food restaurant with a drive-in window shall, in addition to the above requirements, provide stacking spaces for the drive-through window services in conformance with § 127-71Z of this chapter.
(17)
Personal services: as defined in Article II of this chapter, such establishments shall provide one space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area.
(18)
Animal hospital: five spaces for every veterinarian.
(19)
Animal kennel: one space for each kennel and three additional spaces for staff.
(20)
Group residence: one space for each two employees based upon the maximum working shift and one space for each two residents who are eligible to operate a vehicle.
(21)
Offices: one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area.
(22)
Funeral homes: 20 spaces for each viewing parlor.
(23)
Self-storage warehouse: one space for every 10 stalls or lockers available for rental, plus one for each employee on the maximum working shift.
(24)
Gasoline service stations: two exterior spaces for each service bay, one space for each pump, plus one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area which is used for the sale of retail goods, including food and/or beverages.
(25)
Automotive sales: one exterior space for every 600 square feet of gross interior floor space plus one additional space per each 5,000 square feet of open sales or display area.
(26)
Automotive repairs: one exterior space for every 200 square feet of gross interior floor area.
(27)
Equipment sales and repairs: one exterior space for every 200 square feet of gross floor space.
(28)
Entertainment facilities: such facilities, as defined in Article II of this chapter, shall require one space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area.
(29)
Motels and hotels: one space for each unit for guest accommodations plus one space for each two employees on the maximum working shift. Any such facility which also serves food and/or beverages shall also comply with the parking requirements of a restaurant or tavern.
(30)
Hospitals/nursing homes: one space for every three beds, based upon the maximum number of beds permitted under its state license, plus one space each employee on the maximum working shift.
(31)
Industrial, manufacturing, wholesale and warehouse establishments, truck terminals, research and testing facilities: one space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area; plus one space for each employee on the maximum working shift; in any case, however, the total parking area shall be not less than 25% of the total gross square feet of the building.
(32)
Sexually oriented businesses.
(a)
Sexually oriented bookstore: one space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus two additional spaces for every three employees based upon the maximum working shift.
(b)
Sexually oriented entertainment: one space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus:
[1]
One additional space for every two seats and/or one space for each 50 square feet of floor area when there is no fixed seating.
[2]
Two additional spaces for every three employees based upon the maximum working shift.
(c)
Massage parlor: one space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus two additional spaces for every three employees based upon the maximum working shift.
§ 127-106 Parking for other commercial uses.
Any commercial use or nonresidential use of a structure, building or land, not specifically listed within § 127-106 of this chapter shall provide one off-street parking space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area or lot area.
§ 127-107 Off-street loading requirements.
All commercial and industrial establishments shall provide off-street loading, unloading and commercial vehicle storage space adequate for their needs. In no case shall a public right-of-way be used for the loading, unloading or storage of such vehicles.
§ 127-108 Provision of handicapped parking spaces.
Any business, individual or corporation that owns, leases or operates a facility which includes the provision of public accommodations and/or commercial facilities shall be governed by the provisions of this section. A commercial facility shall include any business whose operations are open to the general public. A facility which provides public accommodations shall include, but may not be limited to the following:
A.
Places of lodging.
B.
Establishments serving food or drink.
C.
Places of exhibition or entertainment.
D.
Places of public gathering.
E.
Sales or rental establishments.
F.
Service establishments, stations used for specified public transportation.
G.
Places of public display or collection.
H.
Places of recreation.
I.
Places of education.
J.
Social service center establishments and places of exercise or recreation.
§ 127-109 Design features for handicapped parking spaces.
A.
The following provisions shall apply for required handicapped parking spaces:
(1)
An area not less than five feet in width shall be provided between each handicapped parking space. Said area shall be marked and/or designed to prevent parking therein.
(2)
An area not less than eight feet in width shall be provided between each van-accessible parking space. Said area shall be marked and/or designed to prevent parking therein.
(3)
Vehicular access to handicapped parking areas shall have a minimum vertical clearance of not less than 9 1/2 feet.
(4)
An off-street parking area shall be designed to provide convenient, accessible routes from the handicapped parking areas to an accessible building entrance and to public streets and sidewalks which adjoin the off-street parking area.
B.
Handicapped accessible spaces, serving a particular facility, shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from the parking area to an accessible entrance.
§ 127-110 Signage for handicapped parking.
Handicapped accessible parking spaces shall be designated as reserved by a sign showing the symbol of accessibility. Parking spaces designed for vans shall have an additional sign reading "Van-Accessible" mounted below the accessibility sign. Such signs shall be located in a manner so a vehicle cannot obscure them.
§ 127-111 Minimum number of handicapped-accessible spaces.
When parking spaces are provided for self-parking by employees or visitors, or both, within the total number of off-street parking spaces required under §§ 127-106 and/or 127-107 of this chapter, the following table shall be used to determine the required number of handicapped-accessible spaces:
Total Number of Spaces | Required Number of Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
1 to 25 | 1 |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 8 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1,000 | 2 percent of total |
