Cooper Township Montour County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Off-Street Parking, Loading and Access Drives
§ 250-71 Off-street parking requirements.
In all districts, in accordance with every use, there shall be provided at the time any new building or structure is erected or any existing building is converted to a new use or increased in capacity off-street parking spaces in accordance with the requirements of this section. The facilities required herein shall be available throughout the hours of operation of the particular business or use for which they are provided.
A.
All off-street vehicle parking spaces shall contain a minimum of 162 square feet of usable area and shall have a minimum width of not less than nine feet and a minimum length of not less than 18 feet.
[Amended 9-20-2010]
B.
Off-street parking spaces for residential uses shall be located on the same lot or contiguous lot as the dwelling unit(s) being served, either inside or outside of a building. Off-street parking spaces for nonresidential uses may be located on a lot other than that containing the principal use but shall be located within 600 feet of the principal building being served. Such remote parking areas shall, however, remain under the control and care of the owner of the use to which it is accessory, and applications involving such parking areas shall include documentation which authorizes the use of said area for parking in connection with the proposed use and sets forth appropriate maintenance responsibilities for the parking area.
C.
All parking spaces and areas shall be graded for proper drainage and shall be stabilized so as to provide a durable dustless surface and shall be designed to provide for the orderly and safe parking or storage of vehicles.
D.
All lighting which is used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be mounted and shielded in such a manner to avoid creating safety problems for motorists on public streets and to avoid causing direct glare on adjacent properties. No mercury vapor lamps or lighting fixtures may be used to illuminate off-street parking areas.
E.
All nonresidential parking areas, regardless of the number of vehicles served, shall be set back a minimum of 20 feet from the edge of any adjoining street right-of-way. A minimum five-foot setback shall be provided between nonresidential parking areas and all side and rear property lines when parking is proposed to be located adjacent to another lot in a nonresidential district. Where, however, such parking abuts a residential district or residential use, a setback of 15 feet shall be required. Screening, as provided in § 250-52 of this chapter, shall be used to effectively screen nonresidential parking areas from residential uses.
F.
Adequate provisions shall be made for ingress and egress to all off-street parking spaces and parking areas. Access shall be limited to a minimal number of well-defined locations. In no case shall unrestricted access along the length of a street upon which the parking abuts be permitted. Parking areas shall be designed so there will be no need for motorists to back over major thoroughfares. In instances where a parking area is proposed to be located adjacent to or intersect a Township road, Township Supervisors shall review the application prior to the issuance of a permit for the facility.
G.
Required parking spaces for any number of separate uses may be combined into one lot, but the required spaces assigned to one use may not be assigned to another use at the same time, except as may be approved by the Township Supervisors.
H.
\Off-street parking shall be provided as set forth in Table 1 below. In the case of any building or premises the use of which is not specifically mentioned herein, the provisions for a use so mentioned and to which said use is similar, in the opinion of the Zoning Officer, shall apply. In the case of mixed uses, the total number of required parking spaces shall be the sum of the required spaces for the various uses computed separately. Off-street parking spaces for handicapped persons shall be provided as per the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Table 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Off-Street Parking Schedule [Amended 9-20-2010] | ||||
Use Classification | Spaces Required | |||
Residential Uses: | ||||
Single-family detached dwelling units; two-family dwellings; and conversion apartments | 2 for each dwelling unit | |||
Single-family attached dwelling units and multifamily dwelling units | 2 for each dwelling unit; 1 for each dwelling unit for elderly housing | |||
Mobile home parks | 2 for each dwelling unit | |||
Rooming houses or boardinghouses | 2 for the dwelling unit plus 1 for each boarding unit or room | |||
Institutional Uses: | ||||
Day-care facilities | ||||
Family day-care homes or accessory group day-care homes | 2 for the dwelling unit plus 1 for each 3 students/clients | |||
Day-care centers or group day-care homes | 1 for each 3 students/clients plus 1 for each employee | |||
Schools (public or private) | ||||
Elementary schools | 5 for each classroom plus 1 for each employee | |||
Middle or high schools or postsecondary education facilities | 1 for each 3 seats of auditorium or gymnasium capacity, whichever is greater | |||
Places of public or private assembly, including churches, government or municipal buildings, or similar facilities | 1 space for 3 seats of total facility capacity | |||
Police or fire stations | 1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area | |||
Group homes or institutional residences | 1 for each 2 residents plus 1 for each employee in the maximum work shift | |||
Nursing or convalescent homes or assisted living facilities | 1 for each 3 beds plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Medical or dental clinics or health care management facilities | 5 for each service provider plus 1 for each employee | |||
Medical centers or hospitals, including health care management facilities | 1 for each patient bed plus 0.75 space for each staff member and each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Cemeteries | 5 visitor spaces plus 1 per employee | |||
Commercial/Retail Uses: | ||||
Retail stores or personal service business establishments, except as provided below | 1 for each 200 square feet of retail floor area plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
No-impact home-based businesses or home occupations | 2 for the dwelling unit plus 2 customer spaces | |||
Bed-and-breakfast establishments | 2 for the dwelling unit plus 1 for each guest room | |||
Restaurants; supermarkets or grocery stores | 1 for each 100 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Automobile sales facilities or automobile service stations and repair garages | 1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 for each employee | |||
Business or professional offices, inc. banks or financial institutions; and medical or administrative office buildings | 1 for each 300 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, and/or kennels | 3 for each service provider plus 1 for each employee | |||
Commercial lodging facilities | 1 for each guest room plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Public or adult entertainment establishments | 1 for each 3 persons of total facility capacity plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Funeral homes or mortuaries | 1 for each 50 square feet of assembly area plus 1 for each employee | |||
Farm-related businesses; roadside stands; plant nurseries and greenhouses | 4 for each business and/or market stand plus 1 for each employee; or, for multivendor facilities, 2 for each vendor plus 1 for each employee | |||
Industrial Uses: | ||||
Industrial or manufacturing operations; warehousing or storage facilities, except as provided below | 1 for each 2 employees in the maximum work shift plus 5 visitor spaces | |||
Research and development facilities | 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Sawmills, lumber yards or building materials storage facilities; machine shops or metal fabrication operations; or contractors' shops and yards | 1 for each employee plus 3 customer spaces | |||
Mining and quarrying | 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift plus 3 visitor spaces | |||
Distribution or freight terminals; moving companies or parcel delivery transfer stations | 1 for each employee plus 1 for each vehicle maintained on the premises | |||
Recreational or Open Space Uses: | ||||
Parks, playgrounds or recreation areas | 1 for each 5 persons of total facility capacity | |||
Outdoor commercial recreation uses | 1 for each 3 persons of total facility capacity plus 1 for each employee on the maximum work shift | |||
Campgrounds or RV parks | 1 for each camping space plus 1 additional space for every 5 camping spaces | |||
Camps, cabins or vacation homes | 2 for each seasonal unit | |||
§ 250-72 Off-street loading requirements.
Off-street loading spaces or berths shall be provided in connection with every commercial, industrial, institutional or other building or part thereof hereafter erected which requires the delivery or shipment of merchandise or materials. Such accommodations shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this section and shall meet the following standards.
A.
Each off-street loading space or berth shall be of sufficient size to adequately accommodate the use being served and shall be located entirely on the subject lot. At a minimum, each loading space shall be 12 feet in width, 35 feet in length, and shall have an overhead clearance of no less than 14 feet, exclusive of drives or maneuvering area. Where possible, such areas shall be designed to that there will be no need for drivers to back over public walkways or rights-of-way.
B.
All off-street loading spaces or berths shall be graded for proper drainage and shall be surfaced so as to satisfactorily accommodate the anticipated type and intensity of traffic. Required loading space shall be provided in addition to the required number of off-street parking spaces.
C.
All lighting used to illuminate off-street loading spaces shall be mounted and shielded in such a manner to avoid creating safety problems for motorists on public streets and to avoid causing direct glare on adjacent properties. No mercury vapor lamps or lighting fixtures may be used to illuminate off-street loading spaces.
D.
The number of off-street loading spaces required shall be as set forth in Table 2 below.
Table 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
Off-Street Loading Schedule | ||
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Minimum Number of Spaces Required | |
Up to 10,000 | 1 | |
10,000 to 20,000 | 2 | |
20,000 to 50,000 | 1 additional space for each 10,000 square feet of gross floor area | |
Over 50,000 | As approved by the Township Supervisors but no less than 5 spaces | |
§ 250-73 Driveway and access drive requirements.
To minimize traffic congestion and control street access in the interest of public safety and to encourage the appropriate development of street and road access, the following standards shall apply to the construction or creation of all new driveways and access drives.
A.
Every building or lot shall have access to a public street or an approved private street. Where possible, residential lots shall access onto a local street rather than a collector road. Access onto state roadways shall require a highway occupancy permit in accordance with PennDOT standards, and access onto a Township road shall require a driveway or access drive permit in accordance with municipal requirements. Applications for Township driveway or access drive permits shall be signed by the homeowner and shall be kept on file in the municipal office.
B.
All new driveways or access drives proposed for construction shall adhere to the clear sight triangle requirements set forth in § 250-50D of this chapter and shall meet the design standards established in the Township Driveway and Access Drive Ordinance.[1] In addition, all such driveways or access drives should be located where street alignment and profiles are favorable and should avoid sharp curves and steep grades where possible.
[Amended 10-16-2006]
C.
Where a driveway or access drive is to be installed in conjunction with a proposed use, the zoning permit application for such use shall include a scaled drawing showing the location, construction material(s), and the sight distance proposed for the driveway or access drive.
D.
Driveways or access drives for residential development shall be limited to one point of intersection, and access for nonresidential development shall be limited to two drives or intersections. When, however, a residential lot's frontage exceeds 100 feet or a nonresidential lot exceeds 300 feet in width, or other exceptional circumstances exist, the Township Streets Department Group Leader or other Supervisors' designee may authorize additional access intersections.
[Amended 10-16-2006]
E.
Except in the case of single- and two-family dwellings, all driveways and access drives shall be designed so that there will be no need for motorists to back over public walkways or street rights-of-way.
F.
No residential driveway shall be closer than 12 feet to any other driveway nor closer than five feet to a side property line, unless the two adjoining property owners mutually agree to a common driveway. In such an instance, a written agreement shall be prepared by the property owners and submitted to the Township Supervisors for review and approval. A copy of the approved agreement shall be recorded in the Office of the County Recorder of Deeds, and a receipt verifying such recording shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer prior to the issuance of a driveway permit and/or zoning permit, as applicable.
G.
Driveways and access drives shall be designed and constructed in such manner to avoid impairing drainage within a street right-of-way or any adjacent area. Where determined necessary by the Township Streets Department Group Leader or other Supervisors' designee, a drainage pipe shall be installed under the driveway or access drive by the property owner. The length and diameter of such pipe shall be as established and approved by such municipal designee.