Number of Spaces. Each use that is newly developed, enlarged, significantly changed in type of use, or increased in number of establishments shall provide and maintain off-street parking spaces in accordance with Table 6.1 and the regulations of this Article.

Uses Not Listed. Uses not specifically listed in Table 6.1 shall comply with the requirements for the most similar use listed in Table 6.1, unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that an alternative standard should be used for that use.

Multiple Uses. Where a proposed lot contains or includes more than one type of use, the number of parking spaces required shall be the sum of the parking requirements for each separate use.

Parking Landscaping. See Sections 803 and 804 of this Ordinance.

Purposes. To recognize the availability of on-street parking in the TC district, and the limited ability to provide parking to serve existing buildings, and the potential of customers walking to businesses in the area.

Off-street parking shall not be required within the following portion of the TC district, in recognition of the availability of municipal parking:

The parking requirements in Table 6.1 shall be modified within the TC District as follows:

Any parking spaces serving such pre-existing structures or uses at the time of adoption of this Ordinance shall not in the future be reduced in number below the number required by this Ordinance.

If a new principal non-residential building is constructed on a lot, then any existing parking on such lot that serves such building shall be reconfigured to comply with this Ordinance, including but not limited to, requirements for channelization of traffic from adjacent streets, channelization of traffic within the lot, minimum aisle widths, paving and landscaping.

If an existing lawful use includes less parking than would be required if the use would be newly developed, then that deficit of parking shall be grandfathered for reuses of an existing building. For example, an existing store might include three parking spaces and would have been required to provide seven spaces if it was newly developed. Therefore, there is an existing nonconforming deficit of four spaces. Then, if that store is converted to an office that would need 10 spaces, the office would need to provide a total of six spaces (10 spaces minus the pre-existing deficit of 4 equals 6).

If a non-residential use expands by an aggregate total maximum of 5% in the applicable measurement (such as building floor area) beyond what existed at the time of adoption of this Ordinance, then no additional parking is required. For example, if an existing building included 3,000 square feet, and a single minor addition of 150 square feet was proposed, then additional parking would not be required. This addition without providing new parking shall only be allowed one time per lot.

Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot or abutting lot with the principal use served, unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that a method of providing the spaces is guaranteed to be available during all of the years the use is in operation within 300 feet walking distance from the entrance of the principal use being served. Such distance may be increased to 500 feet for employee parking of a non-residential use. A written and signed lease shall be provided, if applicable.

Within the TC district, no new off-street surface parking space shall be placed between a principal building and the curbline of Reading Avenue and Philadelphia Street. This requirement shall not prevent the realignment of existing parking areas. This provision shall not prevent vehicle parking from being located to the side or rear of a building, provided such building faces onto Main Street.

With the GR district within the Borough of Boyertown, if an existing rear or side alley is available or could be feasibly extended, it shall be used for access to any garage or parking spaces for the lot instead of a front yard driveway accessing directly onto Philadelphia Avenue or Reading Avenue.

Purposes. To minimize the amount of land covered by paving, while making sure adequate parking is provided. To recognize that unique circumstances may justify a reduction in parking.

As a conditional use, the Governing Body may authorize a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required to be provided for a use if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Governing Body that a lesser number of spaces would be sufficient.

Backing Onto a Street. No parking area shall be designed to require or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public street in order to leave a parking space, except for: a) a driveway serving one dwelling onto a local street or b) a driveway that enters onto a local street or parking court. Parking spaces may back onto an alley.

Every required parking space shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other vehicle, unless specifically permitted otherwise.

Parking areas shall not be within a required buffer yard or street right-of-way.

Separation from Street. Except for parking spaces immediately in front of individual dwellings, all areas for off-street parking, off-street loading and unloading and the storage or movement of motor vehicles shall be physically separated from the street by a continuous grass or landscaped planting strip, except for necessary and approved vehicle entrances and exits to the lot.

Stacking and Obstructions. Each lot shall provide adequate area upon the lot to prevent back-up of vehicles on a public street while awaiting entry to the lot, or while waiting for service at a drive-thru facility.

Each parking space shall be a rectangle with a minimum width of 10 feet and a minimum length of 18 feet, except the minimum sized rectangle shall be eight feet by 22 feet for parallel parking and except where a larger space is required by Section 603.C.

For handicapped spaces, see Section 603.F. below.

All spaces shall be marked to indicate their location, except those of a one or two family dwelling.

Drainage. Adequate provisions shall be made to maintain uninterrupted parallel drainage along a public street at the point of driveway entry. The Borough/Township may require an applicant to install an appropriate type and size of pipe at a driveway crossing.

Parking and loading facilities and including driveways shall be graded and adequately drained to prevent erosion or excessive water flow across streets or adjoining properties.

Except for landscaped areas, all portions of required parking, loading facilities and driveways shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, paving block, or other low-dust materials pre-approved by the Borough/Township.

Overall Requirements and Number of Spaces. See requirements enacted under the Federal Americans With Disabilities Act for parking for persons with disabilities. This Section 603.G. is a summary of some of the relevant requirements in effect as of the enactment of this Ordinance.

Location. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located where they would result in the shortest reasonable accessible distance to a handicapped accessible building entrance. Curb cuts shall be provided as needed to provide access from the handicapped spaces.

Minimum Size and Slope. See requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act regulations.

Marking. All required handicapped spaces shall be well-marked in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Such signs and/or markings shall be maintained over time.

Paving. Handicapped parking spaces and adjacent areas needed to access them with a wheelchair shall be covered with a smooth surface that is usable with a wheelchair.

Intent. To ensure that parked or moving vehicles within a lot do not obstruct sight distance or interfere with pedestrian traffic, to aid in storm water management along streets and to prevent vehicles from entering or exiting a lot other than at approved driveways.

Any new or expanded vehicle parking or vehicle storage area serving a principal non-residential use shall be separated from a public street by a planting strip. The planting strip shall have a minimum width of five feet and be maintained in grass or other attractive vegetative groundcover. The planting strip may be on one or both sides of any sidewalk, provided the planting width totals five feet. This five feet width shall be increased to 10 feet for a lot including 15 to 50 parking spaces, to 15 feet for a lot including 50 to 99 parking spaces, and to 25 feet for a lot including 100 or more parking spaces.

See landscaping requirements in Section 803 and 804.

In general, loading spaces for smaller trucks shall be 10 feet wide by 20 feet long, for medium trucks shall be 10 feet wide by 40 feet long, for larger trucks shall be 10 feet wide by 50 feet long, and for tractor-trailers shall be 11 feet wide by 65 feet long.