Bellefonte City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIX
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 575-92 Intent.
It is the intent of this article to:
A.
Ensure adequate parking and loading facilities to serve the use or uses of the property;
B.
Ensure that any parking facility is designed so as to provide proper circulation, reduce hazards to pedestrians, and protect the users of adjoining properties from nuisance created by the use of the facility;
C.
Reduce congestion in the streets and contribute to traffic safety; and
D.
Encourage shared parking facilities and alternative modes of travel that will reduce overall impervious coverage and reduce dependence on the single-occupancy automobile.
§ 575-93 Application.
Off-street parking and loading space shall be provided and maintained for each use and structure hereafter established, erected, altered or extended in accordance with the provisions of this article.
§ 575-94 General regulations.
B.
Location. It is the intent of this chapter that newly constructed and reconstructed parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use they serve, except as provided for in the shared parking provisions of this article.[2]
(1)
If the newly constructed or reconstructed off-street parking spaces cannot be reasonably provided on the same lot as the building they serve, such spaces may be provided on other property located not more than 500 feet away from the subject property, as measured from lot line to lot line along the nearest pedestrian route.
(2)
Up to 50% of nonresidential spaces may be provided at distances greater than 500 feet if dedicated shuttle bus or van service is provided from a remote parking facility.
(3)
Newly constructed or reconstructed off-site parking for any property in the Central Business District may be provided in the Waterfront Business District, and newly constructed or reconstructed off-site parking for any property in the Waterfront Business District may be provided in the Central Business District, regardless of distance from lot line to lot line, provided that a minimum of 1.5 parking spaces are provided for every one required parking space.
C.
In all instances, the total number of spaces provided shall not be less than the sum of spaces required for all the uses.
D.
Means of pedestrian access from the parking space to the uses they serve shall be provided such that pedestrians are not required to traverse property owned by other than said property owners, except where public sidewalks may provide the access. Pedestrians shall not be required to cross an arterial street except at a signalized intersection along the pedestrian pathway.
E.
A lease, easement or other form of agreement shall be executed among said property owners assuring use of the required parking spaces are located on the same lot as the use they serve and recorded in the office for the recording of deeds of Centre County.[3]
F.
Unless utilizing the shared parking provisions on adjoining parcels, all parking spaces and lots open to the sky (i.e., not in garages or carports) shall be located no closer than 10 feet to any property line, except for the Highway Commercial, which shall be located no closer than 30 feet from the property line.
G.
All covered parking spaces and lots, including garages and carports, shall not be located within any yard setback area.
H.
For any lot of record at the time of adoption of this subsection which is divided by a zoning line and where said zoning line separates commercial and residential zones, the owner of such lot may use the area of the lot which is zoned residential to locate the parking required or proposed for the commercially zoned portion of the lot. If the owner elects to use the area zoned residential for parking, such parking area shall not be within 100 feet of any property line adjacent to the residential zoned portion. All other parking regulations for commercial areas shall apply.
I.
In order to promote and provide for more flexibility within the current zoning regulations and to maintain an aesthetically pleasing visual appearance of both the road corridor and individual businesses and properties, the front yard parking setback area for Highway Commercial Districts may be reduced by 10 feet, at the discretion of the municipal governing body, by reducing the maximum impervious surface coverage ratio by 5%. This reduction may only be permitted when the developer can demonstrate to the municipal governing body the following:
(1)
That the reduction in setbacks and impervious area will allow the developer to provide open space in sensitive areas, such as wetlands and steep slopes, or to provide additional buffering to adjacent properties.
(2)
That the reduction is not requested solely to help enhance the visibility or desirability of the business.
J.
No parking shall be permitted in residential districts within the front yard, as defined by the width of the residential structure, less the width of a side attached garage. Parking is permitted in the corner portion of the side yard located in the front yard setback.
K.
Parking of self-propelled motor vehicles (not including recreational vehicles) is prohibited on the lawn or in yard areas for all residential uses in all districts except for the rural zoning districts. This does not include the incidental parking of vehicles for washing or cleaning.
§ 575-95 Provisions to reduce required off-street parking spaces.
In an effort to reduce impervious coverage, traffic congestion and allow an increase in landscaped green space area and/or building size, the following shall be considered:
A.
Shared parking spaces that are accessible by neighboring properties or uses may be permitted when use of the spaces does not occur during the same daily time period. The applicant must provide justification showing calculations of the peak parking use for the spaces that would have overlapping users during their respective hours of operation or a mix of uses with different peak hours of traffic generation (e.g., development proposals combining retail or professional office uses with residential uses). The hours of operation must show that sufficient spaces would be available for the shared parking purpose. As a result, the number of parking spaces could be reduced no more than 1/2 of the total required for the particular use(s) participating in shared parking. Should the use change in the future and its associated off-street parking, the parking must be provided as required or shared additional parking be pursued.
B.
When increasing the passengers per vehicle to sites with high employment would decrease parking demand, relief in the required parking spaces may occur. The parking spaces may be reduced by a factor of 50% if the applicant for land development plan approval provides a transportation management program to utilize one or a combination of the following modes to reduce single-occupant vehicles that is based on substantiated projections of reduction in demand:
C.
To qualify for the above, the applicant must provide evidence to the approval of the municipal governing body that:
(1)
The applicant shall establish an approved carpooling program;
(2)
Applicant will obtain or lease to qualified employees vans, buses or high-passenger-capacity vehicles for the purpose of providing transportation of additional passengers (vanpooling);
(3)
Applicant will operate or hire vans, buses or other high-passenger-capacity vehicles to provide exclusive or nonexclusive commuter transportation of employees from residential areas, other transit terminals, such as park and ride; or
(4)
Applicant shall contribute to the public bus service to add routes, shelters, amenities or fare contributions that would be generated by those employees to utilize the bus service.
D.
Additional programs.
(1)
In addition to programs to increase vanpooling and carpooling are examples that follow:
(2)
As a part of the request to reduce parking spaces, the applicant shall show to the satisfaction of the Bellefonte Borough Council that the actions proposed shall reduce the parking demand by the amount requested. All shared parking arrangements are subject to the approval of the Borough Council.
E.
At the option of the approval by the municipal governing body, a reduction of off-street parking spaces may be considered as follows that would pertain only to parking at the site fronting arterial and/or highway roads:
(1)
The buffer yard in the front contains unique natural features, as determined by the municipal governing body, that may require an area to be wider than the minimum front buffer.
(2)
The buffer yard in the front contains features that contribute to the community character of the municipality, as determined by the governing body, that may require an area to be wider than the minimum front buffer.
(3)
The requirements of a corridor overlay zone that may provide for a wider than minimum buffer.
(4)
Opportunities to preserve stands of existing trees using creative landscaping designs would be helpful to enhance the appearance of pedestrian areas as well as breaking up the monotony of a large lot. The Planning Commission may recommend, and the governing body may approve, the reduction in off-street parking spaces associated with increasing the front buffer yard. The area removed from parking must be sufficient to provide the required parking. The area removed from parking may be returned to parking at a future date should the operator of the use experience a parking shortage based on demand after the use has been in operation for a period exceeding two years. The requirement of land development plan submission and approval must follow in order to return the area to parking.
§ 575-96 Existing facilities.
Parking spaces and lots serving structures and uses in existence at the date of the adoption of this chapter shall not be subject to the requirements of this article as long as the kind or extent of use is not changed, provided that any parking facility now serving such structures or uses shall not in the future be reduced below such requirements, or if already below such requirements, be reduced further.
§ 575-97 Change in requirements.
Whenever there is an alteration or extension of a use or structure which increases the parking requirements according to the parking calculation requirements below, the total additional parking required for the alteration or extension shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of that section.
§ 575-98 Construction. [1]
A.
All newly constructed and reconstructed off-street parking spaces, aisles and driveways shall be paved with an all-weather material. For spaces and aisles which are not part of a parking lot, as herein defined, this may include gravel or other crushed stone. However, for parking lots, the paving material shall be limited to asphalt, concrete or similar hard surface material with all parking spaces designated with a four-inch contrasting stripe painted the entire length of each space in accordance with the dimensional requirements stipulated below.
B.
All newly constructed or reconstructed off-street parking spaces and aisles for private recreational areas shall be constructed, at a minimum, with six inches of crushed and compacted stone. Private and/or public recreation areas shall be exempt from such other construction regulations.
§ 575-99 Required newly constructed and reconstructed off-street parking spaces. [1]
All uses and structures shall provide off-street parking spaces in an amount equal to, or greater than, the number listed below. The total number of parking spaces necessary for two or more uses on the same lot shall be the sum of that required for each use.
A.
Dimensions. Each required off-street parking space shall be at least 9.5 feet wide and 18 feet long if set at an angle to the access aisle, or eight feet wide and 24 feet long if parallel to the access aisle.
B.
Number and computation. In computing the required number of spaces, all fractional numbers more than 1/2 shall be increased to the next highest integer. When computation is based on the number of employees, the number employed during the largest work shift shall be used.
(1)
Residential uses.
Table of Required Parking Spaces per Use — Residential Uses | |
|---|---|
Use | Parking Spaces Required (per dwelling unit unless otherwise noted) |
Single-family detached dwelling unit (on a lot less than 10,000 square feet) | 2 spaces |
Single-family detached dwelling unit (on a lot 10,000 square feet or greater) | 3 spaces |
Duplex | 2 spaces |
Townhouse | 2.25 spaces |
Multifamily | 2.5 spaces (1 space per unit in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Age-restricted housing (55 and older, any type) | 1 space per unit (plus additional spaces based on office and other service areas if applicable) |
Group home | 1 space per 300 square feet gross floor area |
Personal care boardinghome | 1 space per unit |
(2)
Commercial uses. Any portion of a building used for office, repair/service, retail, and restaurants requires parking as pertains to that individual use, as if it were a freestanding use.
Table of Required Parking Spaces per Use — Commercial Uses | |
|---|---|
Use | Parking Spaces Required (spaces per gross floor area unless otherwise noted) |
Retail (general) | 1 space per 200 square feet (no spaces required in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Supermarket/grocery stores | 1 space per 200 square feet |
Furniture, appliance, carpet, musical instrument stores | 1 space per 350 square feet |
Sales of construction equipment, farm equipment, feed, boat and marine vehicles, mobile-/motor-home vehicles, motor vehicles, and monument, burial vault and casket sales | 1 space per 350 square feet of office, sales and service area plus 1 space per 3,000 square feet of outside sales area |
Automobile service station | 1 space per pump, 6 spaces per repair/service bay, and additional spaces based on retail space |
Barbers and beauticians | 2 spaces per chair |
Car wash | 4 spaces per stall, plus 1 space per vacuum if applicable |
Funeral home | 1 space per 3 seats based on maximum building occupancy |
Bowling alley, miniature golf course | 5 spaces per alley, 2 spaces per golf tee |
Billiard parlors, amusement enterprises | 2 spaces per table or machine |
Business, professional and financial offices (including mail order) | 1 space per 250 square feet (1 space per 500 square feet in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Medical, dental and veterinary offices/hospitals | 1 space per 200 square feet |
Arenas, stadiums, auditoriums, theaters, dance halls | 1 space per 4 fixed seats; otherwise 1 space per 4 persons based on maximum building occupancy |
Eating and drinking establishments (apply dance hall to dance floor area) | 1 space per 50 square feet of inside seating area, plus 1 space per 100 square feet of outside seating area (no spaces required in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Hotels or motels | 1.2 spaces per room |
Radio and/or television studios | 1 space per 250 square feet |
Post office | 1 space per 200 square feet |
Mining and quarrying | 1 space per 250 square feet of office use |
Horse riding stables and academies | 1 space per 2 stalls |
Animal kennels | 1 space per 500 square feet |
Cemeteries | 1 space per 350 square feet of public area in mausoleum or similar structure |
Caterers | 1 space per 200 square feet |
Shoe repair, tailors, seamstresses | 1 space per 200 square feet |
Public and private garages for the storage of motor vehicles | 1 space per 250 square feet of office |
Tanning salon | 1 space per bed |
Laundromat | 1 space per three washers or dryers |
Rural agricultural service establishments | 1 space per 250 square feet |
Greenhouses open to the public | 1 space per 250 square feet of sales area |
(3)
Industrial uses. Any portion of a building used for office, repair/service, retail and restaurants requires the parking as pertains to that individual use, as if it were a freestanding use, in addition to the following:
Table of Required Parking Spaces per Use — Industrial Uses | |
|---|---|
Use | Parking Spaces Required (spaces per gross floor area unless otherwise noted) |
All industrial uses except those specified below | 1 space per 350 square feet plus 1 space per 1,000 square feet of outdoor operations (excluding storage); (1 space per 1,000 square feet in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Auto wrecking, junk and scrap establishments | 1 space per 5,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor storage area plus required office/repair/service area |
Freight and trucking terminals, moving and storage, parcel delivery and express transfer stations, depots and wholesale distribution warehouses | 1 space per 2,000 square feet |
(4)
Public, quasi-public, and transportation uses. Any portion of a building used for office, repair/service, retail and restaurants requires the parking as pertains to that individual use, as if it were a freestanding use, in addition to the following:
Table of Required Parking Spaces per Use — Public, Quasi-Public and Transportation Uses | |
|---|---|
Use | Parking Spaces Required (spaces per gross floor area unless otherwise noted) |
Ambulance, emergency, fire and rescue, taxi and limousine service | 2 spaces per vehicle plus 1 space per 350 square feet |
Bus passenger station (park-and-ride lots, vanpooling lots, etc.) | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area or lot area sufficient to support program |
Child day-care center | 1 space per 350 square feet (minimum of 3) |
Churches and other places of worship | 1 space per 4 seats based on maximum occupancy |
Clubs, lodges, fraternal organizations, community centers, health and athletic clubs, studios for instruction in music, performing arts, photographic and craft studios, martial arts, dance and gymnastics facilities | 1 space per 3 persons based on maximum occupancy |
Golf courses and driving ranges | 4 spaces per hole, 2 spaces per tee on driving ranges |
Hospital | 1 space per 400 square feet |
Nursing homes, personal care homes, and other convalescent homes | 1 space per room |
Libraries, museums, art galleries, government buildings | 1 space per 500 square feet with bus/van parking areas of 1 space per 2,000 square feet (apply auditorium standards to auditorium areas); (no spaces required in Central Business and Waterfront Business Districts) |
Institutions of higher education, high schools, vocational/technical and business training schools | 1 space per 300 square feet for classrooms, offices, cafeteria, plus additional spaces based on components (e.g., arena, theater, etc.) |
Nursery, kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools | 1 space per 1,000 square feet |
Private recreation areas | 25 spaces per established field/activity area |
C.
Handicapped parking. The size and number of these spaces shall be required as specified in the municipal building code. The signage for each space must contain the handicapped symbol, state that violators will be towed or fined and the minimum and maximum fine.
§ 575-100 Parking lots.
For the purposes of this chapter, parking lots are defined as facilities providing off-street parking space for five or more motor vehicles. All parking lots shall meet the design and maintenance standards specified below. All applications for a zoning permit to use land, in whole or in part, as a parking lot as herein defined shall be accompanied by a land development plan.
A.
Dimensions.
(1)
All parking spaces shall comply with the dimensions specified in § 575-99A above. The minimum dimensions of all aisles providing access to parking lot spaces shall be as follows:
Aisle Width (feet) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Angle of Parking Space to Aisle (degrees) | One-Way | Two-Way | |
Parallel | 12 | 20 | |
30° (150°) | 12 | 20 | |
45° (135°) | 15 | 20 | |
60° (120°) | 18 | 20 | |
90° | 24 | 24 | |
(2)
No portion of any parking space shall intrude into the required aisle width. For aisles providing access to parking spaces set at angles other than those specified above, the required aisle width shall be that of the nearest specified angle of parking. If equidistant from specified angles, the greatest aisle width of the two nearest angles shall apply.
B.
Obstructions. Parking lots shall be designed to permit each motor vehicle to proceed to and from all unoccupied parking spaces without requiring the moving of any other parked motor vehicle.
C.
Ingress and egress. Entrance and exit driveways and aisles linking parking lots to public streets shall comply with the standards for motor vehicle access stipulated in Article XVIII, Motor Vehicle Access, of this chapter. Parking spaces shall be designed to prevent motor vehicles from backing onto a two-way public street in order to leave the lot. Where access to the parking spaces is from a one-way street or lane, backing into the one-way public right-of-way in order to leave the lot is permissible.
§ 575-101 Loading regulations.
Except in the Central Business District, space for the loading and unloading of vehicles shall be provided when required below. Each required space shall be at least 12 feet in width, 45 feet in length and have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet. Spaces shall be located no closer than 10 feet from a public right-of-way and five feet from any other lot line and shall be paved with an all-weather material.
A.
One off-street loading space is required for all nonresidential uses with a floor area of at least 5,000 square feet but less than 20,000 square feet or more; one additional space shall be provided for each additional 20,000 square feet or fraction thereof.
B.
Required off-street parking spaces shall not be used for loading and unloading purposes except during hours when business operations are suspended.
C.
All required loading and unloading spaces shall be located on the same property as the use they serve.
§ 575-102 Parking for vehicles for sale or rental and for vehicle storage.
Motor vehicles, motorcycles, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, boats and marine craft held for sale or rental may be displayed or stored only in accordance with the terms of this section:
A.
Motor vehicles, motorcycles, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, boats and marine craft held for sale or rental may be displayed or stored only on the lot of the principal place of business of the owner of the sale or rental business or on an adjacent separate lot, but only if the adjacent separate lot is used for no other purpose than the display or storage of said items.
B.
All areas used for such display or storage must be located in accordance with the setback requirements set forth in this chapter for parking lots. All screening required of parking lots shall apply to display and storage parking areas.
C.
Areas used for display or storage of said items must be constructed of an impervious surface, unless a pervious surface is approved by the Municipal Engineer and, in both cases, in accordance with the specifications of the Municipal Engineer.
D.
Areas used for display or storage of said items may not be used in calculating required off-street parking.
E.
No motor vehicle, motorcycle, mobile home, recreational vehicle, boat or marine craft may be displayed or stored in an area or manner other than set forth on an approved land development plan.