For every use, activity or structure permitted by these chapters, and for all buildings or structures erected in accordance therewith, there shall be provided sufficient space for access and off-street standing, parking, circulation, unloading and loading of motor vehicles that may be expected to transport its occupants, whether as patrons, residents, customers, employees, guests or otherwise, to an establishment, activity or place of residence at any time under normal conditions for any purpose. When a use is expanded, accessory off-street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with the regulations herein for the area or capacity of such expansion in combination with the previously existing uses, structure or activity.

(Prior code § 13-17.1)

Every building permit application for a new, enlarged or remodeled building, structure or use, other than residential, shall include therewith a site plan and landscape plan, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any off-street parking or loading facilities and related site improvements and landscaping.

(Prior code § 13-17.2)

When a building or structure undergoes a decrease in the number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, number of employees or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter as a means for determining required off-street parking or loading facilities, or when the application of the standards herein would result in a requirement for fewer total off-street parking or loading spaces than are provided on the subject site, the available off-street parking and loading facilities may be so reduced accordingly; provided, that existing off-street parking or loading facilities may be so decreased only when the parking or loading facilities remaining would at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of these standards to the entire building, activity, or structure as modified.

(Prior code § 13-17.3)

When any building or structure undergoes a change of use or any increase in the number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter as a means for determining required off-street parking or loading facilities, and when such a change or increase, through application of the provisions of these standards thereto, would result in a requirement for greater total off-street parking or loading spaces, such off-street parking or loading facilities should be increased to equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of these standards to the entire building or structure, as modified in use or capacity.

(Prior code § 13-17.4)

All entrances, exits and loading areas from a public right-of-way shall be subject to specific approval by the planning board by site plan approval in order to ensure the smooth and safe circulation of vehicles to and from the public street system. In no event shall parking in a loading space be provided in a manner requiring the backing out of vehicles into public rights-of-way.

(Prior code § 13-17.5)

All required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided on the same parcel of land occupied by the use or building to which it is appurtenant; provided, however, that where there are, in the judgment of the planning board, practical difficulties in satisfying the requirement for parking space or if the public safety or convenience would be better served by another location, the planning board may authorize an alternative location for any portion of the required parking for a nonresidential use which will adequately serve the public interest, subject to the following conditions:

A.

Required accessory off-street parking facilities may be provided elsewhere than on the lot on which the principal use served is located; provided, that the property occupied as parking is in the same possession, either by deed, by easement or by long term lease which has a term equal to or exceeding the projected life of the facility occupied by the principal use; and further provided, that the owner shall be bound by covenants filed on record in the office of the county clerk, requiring the owner and his or her heirs and assigns, as well as subsequent owners, heirs or assigns, to maintain the required number of off-street parking spaces during the existence of such principal use.

B.

Pedestrian access shall be available within a walking distance of not more than one hundred fifty (150) feet, measured from the nearest point of public access to the building to the nearest part of the accessory parking area.

C.

Such separated parking space shall be usable without causing unreasonable traffic congestion, detriment to any residential neighborhood or hazard to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.

(Prior code § 13-17.6)

Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses, or for mixed uses, may be provided and used collectively or jointly in any zoning district in which separate off-street parking facilities for each constituent use would be permitted, subject to the following provisions:

A.

A legally sufficient written easement assuring the perpetual joint usage of the common parking for the combination of uses or buildings is properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form and execution by the planning board and township attorney, and filed with and made part of the application for a building permit.

B.

Up to fifty (50) percent of the parking spaces required for a theatre or other place of evening entertainment, for a church, for multifamily dwelling units or for a school may be provided and used jointly by banks, offices, retail stores, repair shops, service establishments and similar uses not normally open, used or operated during evening hours, if specifically approved by the planning board; provided, however, that a written easement assuring the retention for such purpose should be properly drawn and executed by the parties and reviewed by the planning board and should be filed and made part of the application for a building permit. Such approval may be rescinded by the township and additional parking shall be obtained by the owners in the event that the board determines that such joint use is resulting in a public nuisance or otherwise adversely affecting the public health, safety or welfare.

(Prior code § 13-17.7)

(Ord. 01-2008)

The required number of off-street parking and loading spaces is set forth in Section 16.22.170 and Section 16.22.190.

(Prior code § 13-17.8)

The number of parking and loading spaces to be constructed may be less than the number of spaces required herein in the event that the following conditions are met to the satisfaction of the planning board:

A.

Evidence is submitted firmly documenting that the special nature of the proposed use, activity or building requires less parking area or spaces than required by Section 16.22.170.

B.

The site development plan submitted to and approved by the planning board indicates that the location and layout of that portion of the parking requirement deemed unnecessary can and will be constructed accordingly in the event that the planning board determines at any time that all or any portion of this parking is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare.

C.

In no event shall that portion of the required parking or loading which is so designated but not constructed, as provided herein, be counted as open space or other nonpaved area required by other provisions of these chapters.

(Prior code § 13-17.9)

Every parcel of land hereafter used as a public or private loading area or parking area for five or more cars, including a commercial parking lot, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:

A.

Screening and Landscaping. Off-street parking areas for five loading areas shall be screened on the side or sides which adjoin residential zones. (See also Section 16.22.210.)

B.

Minimum Distances and Setbacks. No off-street loading area or parking area, or part thereof, for five or more vehicles shall be closer than two feet from any lot line, ten feet from any dwelling, school, hospital or other institution for human care located on an adjoining lot.

C.

Lighting. (See also Section 16.22.200)

1.

Lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking or loading areas shall be arranged so as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises or the adjoining street.

2.

Off-street parking facilities for multifamily structures containing four or more families shall be adequately lighted.

D.

Drainage. Off-street parking area and off-street loading areas shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of all surface water without detriment to surrounding uses.

E.

Surfacing. Off-street parking areas shall be paved in accordance with subsection F of this section. All areas shall be marked so as to provide for the orderly and safe loading, parking and storage of self-propelled vehicles.

F.

Parking Lot, Driveway and Loading Area Design Standards. All paved areas shall be constructed to the following specifications:

1.

Two-inch FABC-1 surface course;

2.

Five-inch Stabilized base course;

3.

Six-inch Type I-5 subbase.

Paving thickness may be reduced based upon the certified results of soil testing and analysis conducted by the applicant to determine the bearing strength at the subgrade soil together with the projected use of the street or highway, with an adequate margin to cover all contingencies and extraordinary conditions. Where such pavement tests are conducted, the pavement design must be reviewed by and approved by the township engineer.

(Prior code § 13-17.10)

A.

Stall Orientation and Dimensions. Each dead storage bay of an off-street parking space may be perpendicular with the aisle, parallel with the aisle or at any angle between sixty (60) degrees and ninety (90) degrees.

The following are minimum stall and aisle dimensions:

B.

Minimum Area. No area shall be used for parking if it is not large enough to provide for at least three contiguous stalls, unless approval otherwise is obtained from the board.

C.

Angle Parking—Access. When the parking area is designed for angle parking, the stalls on both sides shall be inclined so as to permit a driver approaching from either end of the aisle to have access to the stalls on one side.

D.

Large Areas—Restricted Main Access Drive. In lots having a capacity of more than one hundred (100) cars, a main access drive shall be provided from points of ingress and egress. No parking shall be permitted on the main access drive, nor shall it serve as an access aisle to adjacent parking spaces.

E.

Paving—Markings. All parking areas shall be paved in accordance with Section 16.22.100 (F), and shall include barrier lines, lane lines, directional arrows and stop lines.

F.

Entrances and Exits. Entrance and exit drives shall have a minimum width of sixteen (16) feet for those designed for one-way traffic and twenty-four (24) feet for those carrying two-way traffic.

G.

Minimum Turning Radius. All access drives shall provide a minimum turning radius of thirty (30) feet.

(Prior code § 13-17.11)

A.

Residential Zones. Off-street parking spaces for special uses in residential zones and office or professional uses shall not be located between the front building line and street line. On corner lots, this restriction shall also apply to the space between the side street line and the side building line.

B.

Front Yard Requirements. Where parking is permitted between the front building line and the street line, whether by ordinance or variance, a safety island or raised median separating the public street from the parking area shall be provided in accordance with the following minimum requirements:

1.

The width of the safety island shall be that width between the proposed street curbline to a point five feet inside the property line.

2.

Safety islands shall be raised a minimum of six inches above the adjacent parking area.

3.

Safety islands shall be topsoiled and seeded, or otherwise landscaped, to provide a clear and unmistakable distinction between the parking area and the safety island.

4.

Notwithstanding the use of maintenance free materials, there shall be provided at least one deciduous shade tree, two inches in diameter at breast height, every forty (40) feet, or part thereof, on all safety islands. A greater distance shall be allowed for plantings if necessary for traffic safety.

5.

No commercial signs shall be permitted in the safety islands.

6.

When parking areas abut the safety island, a continuous wheel stop shall be provided three feet from the normal edges of the island, and the minimum depth of stalls shall be increased by one foot. If cast-in-place curb is used for the wheel stop, it shall be placed as above stated and the stall depth measured from a point two feet outside the face of the curb.

(Prior code § 13-17.12)

Parking lots having fifty (50) or less spaces shall be designed to provide the following minimum design requirements:

A.

A safety island or raised median as herein described;

B.

A five-foot unbroken landscaped dividing strip along all side property lines from the street line to the rear lot line, unless otherwise specified herein;

C.

Not more than one two-way access drive or two one-way access drives on any one street, unless approval otherwise is obtained from the board;

D.

All safety islands and landscaped dividing strips planted with at least one deciduous tree with a trunk of two-inch diameter at breast height every forty (40) feet, or part thereof, and the area between trees planted with a minimum of three evergreen type shrubs;

E.

All entrance and exit drives shall be curbed on both sides from the street curb to a point at the beginning of the access drive or parking stalls.

(Prior code § 13-17.13)

Parking lots which have a capacity for parking more than fifty (50) vehicles shall incorporate the following minimum design standards:

A.

All entrance and exit drives shall be curbed on both sides a minimum distance of one hundred (100) feet back from the street curb or to a major collector aisle.

B.

No parking stalls which shall require the use of the entrance and exit drives as access aisles shall be permitted.

C.

All access drives located along one-way streets of divided highways shall be separate one-way drives. Such drives shall be located so that vehicles enter the parking area at the beginning of the property and exit at the far end of the property, unless other considerations, such as median opening, dictate otherwise.

D.

All directional (one-way) drives shall be marked by appropriate signs facing all peripheral service roads serving the property, as well as the parking area.

E.

On lots having a frontage of one hundred (100) feet or less, driveways, exits and entrances shall be located as far as practical from an intersection. On lots having a frontage in excess of one hundred (100) feet, driveways, exits and entrances shall be located as near the middle line as practical. However, on such lots the entrance or exit driveways need not be located more than five hundred (500) feet from the intersection, for the purpose of locating the driveways measurements shall be taken from the curbline of the intersection.

F.

No driveway shall be located less than ten (10) feet from the side property line or within thirty (30) feet of an existing drive, whichever is greater.

G.

No property having a frontage of less than one hundred (100) feet shall have more than one two-way driveway on one street. No property having less than one thousand (1,000) foot frontage shall have more than two driveways on one street. Any frontage greater than one thousand (1,000) feet may have more than two drives on one street; however, the number, location size and design shall be subject to approval of the board.

H.

There shall be provided landscaped safety islands as set forth in Section 16.22.120(B).

I.

Any parking area providing spaces for more than two hundred (200) cars shall, in addition, provide concrete sidewalks within the parking area for pedestrian movement. Sidewalks shall be at least four feet wide and shall be located in such a manner as will prevent them from being blocked by overhanging cars. A portion of any landscaped dividing strip may be used for sidewalk construction.

(Prior code § 13-17.14)

Every parking lot with one hundred (100) or more spaces shall be divided as nearly as possible into smaller lots of fifty (50) spaces, separated by landscaped dividing strips, excepting the area for access aisles. The plantings required within the parking area shall be considered exclusive from any other plantings that may be required for screening or foundation planting. The following criteria shall apply for internal landscaped dividing strips:

A.

They shall have a minimum width of seven feet.

B.

They shall be topsoiled, seeded or mulched.

C.

They shall be planted with deciduous trees of two-inch diameter at breast height having a maximum distance between trunks at ground level of forty (40) feet.

D.

The area between trees shall be planted with an appropriate mix of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and ground cover.

(Prior code § 13-17.15)

A.

In the event that parking is proposed on a lot or site having a slope greater than ten (10) percent, regardless of size, it shall be terraced, utilizing retaining walls or properly reinforced landbanks, and provide for adequate safety, stability and drainage. At no time should a landbank that is not reinforced, or any other earthen material having greater elevation than the adjacent parking areas, have a slope exceeding two to one (2:1).

B.

When retaining walls, landbanks or similar types of earthen materials are necessary adjacent to or within parking area, they shall be kept in good repair or otherwise maintained so as to keep the parking area free of debris and dirt.

(Prior code § 13-17.6)

No building or structure shall be erected, nor shall any major reconstruction or change in use be made to an existing building or structure, unless there already is existing upon the lot, or unless provisions are made for, off-street parking facilities providing adequate parking spaces on the basis of the following minimum requirements:

(Prior code § 13-17.17)

In computing the number of the above required parking spaces, the following rules shall govern:

A.

Where fractional spaces result, the required number shall be construed to be the nearest whole number.

B.

The parking space required for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as required for a use of similar nature as determined by the board.

C.

Alternate Parking Standards. Alternate parking standards shall include the provision of [an] additional one-half space per dwelling in multi-family residential developments.

(Prior code § 13-17.18)

(Ord. No. 5-2022, 4-12-2022)

A.

Required. In some zones, in connection with buildings occupied by industrial, commercial and certain institutional uses, there shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building, off-street loading berths in accordance with the requirements of the table following:

B.

Size and Location. Each loading space shall be not less than twelve (12) feet in width, thirty-five (35) feet in length and have a minimum vertical clearance of fourteen (14) feet, and may occupy all or any part of the required yard.

C.

Required Number.

D.

Design Standards. Loading areas will be designed in accordance with the provisions of this title.

(Prior code § 13-17.19)

Lighting shall be provided to illuminate any off-street parking or loading spaces to be used at night, in accordance with Chapter 16.34. If provided, lighting shall be maintained and arranged and installed to deflect, shade and focus lights away from adjacent properties. The height, type, spacing and degree of cut off of a light standard may be further regulated by the planning board in relation to specific site conditions or types of development.

(Prior code § 13-17.20)

All parking and loading areas shall be properly screened and landscaped. It is the purpose and intent of this section to require adequate protection for contiguous property against undesirable effects from the creation and operation of parking or loading areas and to protect and preserve the appearance and character of the surrounding neighborhoods and of the township through the screening effects and aesthetic qualities of such landscaping.

(Prior code § 13-17.21)

Any person operating or owning a parking lot shall keep it free, as may be practical, of dust and loose particles and shall promptly remove the snow and ice from the surface of the parking lot. Such person shall also keep all adjacent sidewalks free from dirt, ice, sleet and snow and shall keep the sidewalks in a safe condition for use by pedestrians. All signs, markers or any other methods used to indicate direction of traffic movement and location of parking spaces shall be maintained in a neat and legible condition. Likewise any walls, landscaping, including trees and shrubbery, as well as surfacing and curbing of the parking lot, shall be maintained in good condition throughout its use for parking purposes. The board shall have the authority to prohibit the use of the area for parking purposes unless and until proper maintenance, repair or rehabilitation is completed, including the replacement of any landscaping material which may die from time to time, or the failure of the landscape irrigation or surface drainage system within the parking area.

(Prior code § 13-17.22)