Easttown Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 455-73 Purpose; applicability.
B.
Applicability. Each building, structure or use constructed, established, erected, enlarged, modified or altered in any district shall provide and satisfactorily maintain off-street parking spaces and loading facilities in accordance with the requirements of this article, with the exception of more specific provisions established within Article V, Village of Berwyn Districts (VB, VT and VR), and § 455-33.1, DC-Devon Center Overlay District, that pertain specifically to those districts. Throughout this article, the terms "parking lot" and "parking area" are synonymous. The following regulations shall apply to all uses unless otherwise specified.
[Amended 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. 427-16]
§ 455-74 Off-street parking.
A.
General standards.
(1)
Required off-street parking facilities as accessory to uses listed herein shall be solely for the parking of motor vehicles of residents, patrons, occupants, and/or employees. No motor vehicle repair work of any kind, except emergency service, shall be permitted in parking lots.
(2)
In no case shall any portion of a public or private street be utilized in complying with the parking requirements of this article, unless as specified in Article V of this chapter.
(4)
Where the computation of required parking spaces results in a fractional number, the fraction of 1/4 or more shall be counted as one.
(5)
Whenever a structure is altered or extended or a use is changed, added, or extended, either within an existing structure or on a lot, which increases the parking requirements of Subsection I of this section, then the total parking required for all structures and uses on the lot shall be in accordance with the requirements of Subsection I of this section.
[Amended 1-15-2018 by Ord. No. 433-18]
(6)
Where a proposed building or use contains or includes more than one type of use, regardless of whether each use is listed in Subsection I of this section or is unlisted, the number of parking spaces required shall be the sum of the parking requirements for each separate use. If a related or accessory use, such as a restaurant or auditorium, is maintained or operated in connection with a principal use, the off-street parking requirements for the related use shall be in addition to those for the principal use.
(7)
No parking space shall be used for any use that interferes with its availability as a parking space, including but not limited to vehicle inventory storage, and in no event shall loading areas be placed or located within required parking spaces or parking aisles which provide access to such spaces.
[Amended 2-4-2019 by Ord. No. 437-19]
(8)
All required parking spaces and similar facilities shall be provided and maintained so long as the use exists which such parking spaces and facilities are designed to serve.
B.
Off-street parking location.
(1)
All accessory buildings or structures designed or intended to accommodate the parking of vehicles and all off-street parking spaces shall be erected, maintained, or permitted only on the lot on which the principal building and/or use is located. Where adjoining lots are held in the same ownership, and not in single and separate ownership, the owner of the lot on which the principal use is located may establish required off-street parking on the adjoining lot if:
(a)
No principal use exists on the adjoining lot.
(b)
The separate lots are consolidated by deed into a single lot under one metes and bounds description.
(c)
A final land development plan is approved consolidating the lots. Resubdivision shall be prohibited unless each proposed lot is capable of providing required parking without creating any nonconformity or the need for a variance.
(2)
Except for required spaces for single-family detached, two-family and semidetached dwellings, which may be located in the driveway of the lot on which the dwelling is constructed, parking spaces shall not be located within any front yard, except in the Planned Business – Office District (PBO), where parking in the front yard may be permitted as a conditional use.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 417-13]
(4)
Except in the VB, VT and VR Districts, and for common driveways, all parking spaces, parking facilities, and access driveways shall be separated and set back from any lot line by a minimum of 10 feet. In the VB, VT and VR Districts, parking spaces, parking facilities, and access driveways shall be separated and set back from any side and rear lot line by a minimum of five feet, except for common driveways where no setback is required.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 417-13]
(5)
Any number of the required parking spaces may be provided within an enclosed structure or garage where permitted by this chapter, which shall meet all the area and bulk building requirements of the district in which it is located.
(6)
Nothing herein shall preclude the location of required off-street parking spaces for multifamily dwelling units (townhouses, apartments, and similar housing types) in common parking areas designed and constructed for this purpose. Parking spaces shall be within 200 feet of the dwelling they serve.
(7)
Nothing herein shall preclude the marking of a separate area for compact cars within a parking lot having more than 50 spaces of 1/10 of such parking area.
(8)
A garage may be located wholly or partly inside the walls of the principal building or may be attached to the outer walls. If separated from the principal building, the garage shall conform to all accessory building requirements.
C.
Off-street parking access.
(1)
Access to and from all off-street parking, loading, and vehicle service areas along any public right-of-way shall consist of well-defined separate or common entrances and exits.
(2)
Access drives or streets crossing the lot line along a public right-of-way shall be limited to two in number along the frontage of each right-of-way, and their center lines shall be placed at least 80 feet apart. On all corner properties, such accesses shall be spaced a minimum of 60 feet, measured at the curbline, between the center line of any such access and the right-of-way line parallel thereto. The separation distance shall not apply to single-family detached, semidetached, and two-family residential lots in a development.
(3)
The minimum width of an aisle providing access to parking spaces shall be as required by Subsection F(1) of this section and shall be provided with adequate radius to accommodate anticipated vehicle types.
(4)
The required sight distance for accessways and streets which open upon any public right-of-way shall comply with the following:
Posted or Regulated Speed (mph) | Required Sight Distance (feet) | |
|---|---|---|
20 | 210 | |
25 | 290 | |
30 | 360 | |
35 | 470 | |
40 | 570 | |
45 | 700 | |
50 | 840 | |
55 | 980 |
(5)
Parking lots shall be designed so that each and every motor vehicle may proceed to and from a parking space without requiring any other motor vehicle to be moved.
(6)
Parking spaces shall not be designed, constructed, or maintained to permit parked vehicles to be backed into a public or private accessway used or intended for traffic circulation in order to egress such space. In the case of multifamily dwelling developments exceeding 100 units, such off-street parking spaces shall be provided in paved parking compounds located within 200 feet of the dwellings they serve. Parking aisle widths shall be as required by Subsection F(1) of this section.
(7)
Parking shall not be permitted on any public or private streets or accessways which serve as the parking access to buildings or parking spaces, areas or compounds serving such buildings.
(8)
Every development of whatever type shall provide adequate access to all buildings, units, and accessory facilities for firefighting and other emergency equipment. No development accessway shall constitute adequate access if, by virtue of parking design or location, roadway design or width, limited access from public roads or building layout, the Supervisors determine that adequate access is lacking. Criteria to be considered shall be:
[Amended 6-2-2014 by Ord. No. 422-14]
(a)
Access for firefighting equipment and vehicles shall have a minimum unobstructed right-of-way width of 24 feet and a clear, unobstructed and defined paved cartway surface with a minimum width of 20 feet. The extension of fire lane easements shall begin from one or more existing and improved public streets contiguous to the development.
(b)
Access for firefighting equipment and vehicles which curves, turns or changes directions shall have a minimum center-line radius of 55 feet of pavement. Fire lane easements containing reverse curves shall have a minimum center-line tangent length of 100 feet between curves.
(c)
Access for firefighting equipment and vehicles which dead-ends shall be terminated with an unobstructed vehicular turnaround or cul-de-sac with a minimum right-of-way radius of 60 feet and shall have a minimum surface radius of 50 feet. Dead-end fire lane easements shall have a maximum length of 400 feet. The location of fire lane easements shall conform to plans for extension of street, sanitary sewers, water mains, storm sewers, and other drainage facilities and public utilities as required by this chapter and other ordinances of the Township and shall provide adequate access to buildings by firemen or other emergency services.
(9)
In the event development access as proposed by the landowner is inadequate for fire and other emergency equipment access in accordance with the criteria established in Subsection C(8) above, fire lanes shall be required in addition to the development streets and accessways proposed by the landowner.
D.
Parking space size and design requirements. The standards of this subsection shall apply to all uses served by off-street parking areas:
(1)
Parking spaces shall be reasonably level, sloping not more than 5% in any direction. A rectangular block of the dimensions specified in Subsection D(2) below shall be provided for all off-street parking spaces, regardless of pull-in angle, and shall not be occupied nor intruded upon by light standards or their foundations, landscape elements, pedestrian walkways, driveways, passageways, or any other feature which results in a reduced area available for occupation by a vehicle.
(2)
Except as otherwise provided, perpendicular spaces shall have minimum dimensions of nine feet wide by 20 feet long. Parallel parking spaces shall have minimum dimensions of nine feet wide by 22 feet long.
[Amended 4-15-2024 by Ord. No. 462-24]
(a)
Except as otherwise provided, perpendicular spaces for compact cars shall have minimum dimensions of eight feet wide by 18 feet long. Parallel parking spaces for compact cars shall have minimum dimensions of eight feet wide by 22 feet long.
(3)
All parking spaces shall be marked by white durable painted lines at least four inches wide and extending the length of the space or by curbs or other means to indicate individual spaces. Signs or markers located on the surface within a parking lot shall be used as necessary to ensure efficient and safe traffic operation of the lot.
[Amended 12-15-2014 by Ord. No. 424-14]
(4)
Parking areas shall be constructed to comply with stormwater management requirements provided for in this chapter and § 400-55 of Chapter 400, Subdivision of Land Development. Concrete curbing shall be provided along the perimeter of all parking lots for any use except parking on single-family or two-family residential lots.
(5)
Parking areas shall be paved with an all-weather surface material, such as asphalt, bituminous concrete, concrete, brick or other similar unit paver, and shall be as approved by the Township Engineer.
(6)
A program of parking area maintenance, including regular sweeping operations, shall be conducted on all parking areas and facilities.
(7)
Except as otherwise provided, in residential garages, perpendicular spaces shall have minimum dimensions of 10 feet wide by 20 feet long. Parallel parking spaces shall have minimum dimensions of 10 feet wide by 24 feet long.
[Added 1-15-2018 by Ord. No. 433-18]
E.
Handicapped parking.
(1)
Accessible parking spaces and routes for use by handicapped drivers shall be provided in accordance with the requirements specified in Appendix I, "Handicapped Parking and Access Route Regulations Mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990."
(2)
Parking spaces for use by handicapped drivers shall be located to minimize the distance between such spaces and the buildings or a wheelchair-accessible entrance to the facility served. Curb ramps shall be provided to permit access from the parking lot to the sidewalk or building entrance.
(3)
Handicapped spaces shall be located so that users are not required to wheel or walk behind parked vehicles.
F.
Traffic lane and driveway dimensions.
(1)
Traffic aisles and other vehicular accessways designed for circulation of motor vehicles within parking lots shall have the following minimum widths:
[Amended 4-15-2024 by Ord. No. 462-24]
Accessway (aisle) Width | ||
|---|---|---|
Angle of Parking (degrees) | One-Way (feet) | Two-Way (feet) |
90° | 22 (20 in VB) | 24 (22 in VB) |
60° | 18 (16 in VB) | 24 (22 in VB) |
45° | 18 (16 in VB) | 24 (22 in VB) |
30° | 18 (16 in VB) | 24 (20 in VB) |
(2)
Accessways providing access to parking areas from a public or private street shall be of adequate length to accommodate off-street stacking of vehicles waiting to enter the parking area. The stacking area shall accommodate at least one vehicle, plus one vehicle for every 25 spaces provided in the parking area, up to 20 stacking spaces, and shall be designed and located so as not to block the free flow of vehicles in the parking area.
(3)
Traffic channelization shall be planned in such a way that a main driving aisle from which vehicles can flow into parking areas is remote from the primary building(s) to avoid traffic conflict in front of the primary building(s).
(4)
Parking areas shall be designed so that a vehicle within the parking area will not have to enter a public street to move from one location to another location within the parking area.
G.
Minimum number of required off-street parking spaces per land use. All owners and developers shall provide, for each land use, as a minimum, sufficient off-street parking spaces to conform with Subsections H and I below. Proposed parking areas, which are greatly in excess of those required hereunder, shall be discouraged.
H.
Employee off-street parking. Except for office buildings and business services, one off-street parking space shall be provided for each employee. "Employee" includes principals, officers, executives, owners, staff members, and similar classifications. In the case of shifts, adequate allowance shall be made for overlapping of arrivals and departures.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 417-13]
(1)
In the VB District, the minimum employee off-street parking requirements for by-right uses that are specified in § 455-74I(2) shall be zero.
[Added 4-15-2024 by Ord. No. 462-24]
I.
Minimum off-street parking spaces. In addition to the number of spaces that must be provided for employees pursuant to Subsection H, additional spaces shall be provided by the application of the appropriate formula for each use as listed in this subsection. If a related or accessory use, such as a restaurant or auditorium, in connection with the principal use is open to the public, the off-street parking requirements for the related use shall be in addition to that for the principal use.
[Amended 8-19-2013 by Ord. No. 417-13; 1-15-2018 by Ord. No. 433-18; 11-21-2022 by Ord. No. 453-22; 4-15-2024 by Ord. No. 462-24]
(1)
Numeric parking requirements.
Type of Use | Number of Parking Spaces | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Residential Uses | |||
In the Village of Berwyn Districts: | |||
Single-family detached, single-family attached dwellings, semidetached dwellings and townhouses | 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit | ||
Multifamily dwellings (multifamily building, multifamily development, apartments) | 1.75 spaces per dwelling unit | ||
In all other districts: | |||
Single-family detached, single-family attached dwellings, semidetached dwellings, mobile homes used as permanent residences | 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit | ||
Multifamily dwellings (multifamily building, multifamily development, apartments) | 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit, plus 1.0 space per 5.0 units for visitor parking where 10.0 or more units are proposed | ||
Townhouses | 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit, plus 1.0 space per 5.0 dwelling units for visitor parking where 10.0 or more dwelling units are proposed | ||
Continued care retirement community | 1.0 space per 3.0 beds, or 1.0 space per dwelling unit, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift | ||
Office and Professional Uses | |||
Office buildings and business services | 4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Research and development facilities and laboratories | 3.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Commercial Uses and Services | |||
Automobile sales (in addition to service requirements, if applicable) | 1.0 space for each 400 square feet of gross usable floor area (Outdoor display areas for auto sales shall not be included in required parking spaces.) | ||
Bank or other financial institution | 4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Bed-and-breakfast | 1 space per guest room, plus 1 space per employee, plus 2 spaces for the resident owner(s) | ||
Car wash | 3.0 stacking spaces per bay, plus 2.0 drying spaces per bay | ||
Convenience store | 5.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Personal services (e.g., dry cleaners, beauty shop, shoe repair, photo shop, copy center) | 4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Funeral home | 20.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet occupied by viewing rooms or 1.0 space per 4.0 seats, whichever is greater | ||
Gas station (in addition to service station requirement and convenience store requirements, where applicable) | 1.0 space per pump, plus 2.0 stacking spaces for each pump island | ||
Home occupation, major | Minimum number required for residence, plus no more than 5.0 spaces for employees or visitors as specified in § 455-61 | ||
Hotel, motel | 1.0 space per rental unit, plus 6.0 spaces per 50 units, plus spaces for each accessory use | ||
Laundromat | 10.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Lumberyard | 3.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area in sales or display area, plus 1.0 space per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area of warehouse | ||
Veterinary clinic | 4.0 spaces per veterinarian | ||
Commercial nursery | 1.0 space per 200 square feet of sales area | ||
Restaurant or tavern | 1.0 space per 3 seats provided for patrons, customers, or guests (Where establishments have benches, 3 linear feet of bench shall equal 1 seat. In areas within establishments that have no fixed seats, 150 square feet of gross floor area shall equal 1 seat.) | ||
Retail use, perishable items | 3.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of sales area | ||
Retail use, nonperishable items | 4.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of sales area | ||
Service station, repair facility, auto body repair service (in addition to gas station requirements, if applicable) | 3.0 spaces per garage bay | ||
Supermarket/grocery store | 1.0 space per 150 square feet of sales area | ||
Industrial Uses | |||
Manufacturing/industrial uses less than 100,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Manufacturing/industrial uses equal to or greater than 100,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | 2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area for first 100,000 square feet of gross usable floor area and 2.0 spaces per each additional 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area above 100,000 | ||
Quarrying, mining | 1.0 space per employee | ||
Warehouse, wholesale sales, freight terminal | 1.0 space per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Institutional and Public Uses | |||
Community college or any college without on-campus housing | 10.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area in classroom buildings | ||
College or university with on-campus housing | 1.0 space per on-campus residential unit, plus 2.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area in classroom buildings | ||
Commercial, trade, professional, music or dance school | 1.0 space per instructor or employee, plus 1.0 space per student at capacity | ||
Community center, conference center | 12.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area in main assembly hall | ||
Day-care center | 3.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area, plus 1.0 unloading space per 10 children or persons the center is licensed to accommodate | ||
Elementary school and middle school | 1.0 space per employee, whether full- or part-time, plus 1.0 space per 20 students | ||
High school | 1.0 space per classroom, plus 1.0 space per 10 students in grades 11 and 12, plus 1.0 space per 10 fixed seats in the auditorium | ||
Hospital | 1.0 space per bed | ||
Library | 3.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Place of worship | 1.0 space per every 3 seats | ||
Public service/utility facility | 2.0 spaces per facility | ||
Public transit station | Varies based on facility and service area; required spaces to be determined by the Board of Supervisors | ||
Recreational Uses | |||
Bowling alley | 4.0 spaces per lane | ||
Theater | 1.0 space per 3 seats | ||
Country club/golf club | 5.0 spaces per tee, plus requirements for ancillary uses, if applicable | ||
Health club/spa | 5.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Indoor amusement arcade | 5.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area | ||
Public park | 1.0 space per 4 visitors estimated peak service | ||
Stadium, outdoor theater, gymnasium | 1.0 space per 3 seats | ||
Swim club, public pool | 10.0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of swimming pool floor | ||
(2)
Numeric parking requirements in VB District. In the VB District when the lot size is less than 20,000 square feet, the following numeric criteria apply for the uses specified herein. For all other uses and lot sizes in the VB District, § 455-74I(1) applies.
Type of Use | Number of Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
Convenience store (without sale of fuel or gas) | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet for gross usable floor area |
Personal service (e.g., dry cleaners, beauty shop, shoe repair, photo shop, copy center) | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area |
Laundromat | 0 space per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area |
Restaurant or tavern | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area (Where establishments have benches, 3 linear feet of bench shall equal 1 seat. In areas within the establishment that have no fixed seats, 150 square feet of gross floor area shall equal one seat.) |
Retail use, perishable items | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of sales area |
Retail use, nonperishable items | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of sales area |
Supermarket/grocery store | 0 spaces per 150 square feet of sales area |
Day-care center | 0 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross usable floor area, plus 1.0 unloading space per 10 children or person the center is licensed to accommodate |
Public park | 0 space per 4 visitors estimated peak service |
§ 455-75 Off-street loading.
A.
General regulations for nonresidential uses. Each building, structure or use constructed, established, erected, enlarged, modified or altered in any district shall provide and satisfactorily maintain off-street loading spaces in accordance with the requirements of this section.
(1)
Location.
(a)
All required loading areas shall be located on the same lot as the use to be served, and no portion of the vehicle shall project into any traffic lane. No loading area for vehicles of more than two tons' capacity shall be located less than 100 feet from any residential use or district, unless expressly permitted by the Supervisors for a commercial use in the VB District. No permitted or required loading area shall be located within the accessory structure setback.
(b)
Loading areas shall not occupy parking spaces, traffic aisles within a parking lot, driveways, accessways, or any public or private cartway.
(c)
Loading areas shall be located in rear or side yard areas. No loading facilities shall be constructed between the building setback line and a street right-of-way line or within any required yard setback areas.
(2)
Access. Each required off-street loading area shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to an interior drive in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movements and shall be subject to the approval of the Township Engineer.
(3)
Repair and service. No storage of any kind nor motor vehicle repair work of any kind, except emergency work, shall be permitted within any required loading area.
(5)
Interior circulation. Interior accessways shall be designed so as to prevent blockage of vehicles entering or leaving the site. Areas designed for loading and unloading, refuse collection, fuel delivery, and other service vehicles shall be so arranged as to prevent blocking or interfering with accessways, the use of vehicular parking facilities or pedestrianways and to prevent backing out into a street.
(6)
Paving. All loading areas and access to loading areas shall have a dust-free surface over the entire area customarily used by delivery vehicles for parking and maneuvering. The surface may be asphalt, concrete, nonpolluting oil-sealed gravel, compacted gravel, or any other dust-free surfacing material which meets the approval of the Board of Supervisors.
(7)
Failure to utilize the authorized off-street loading spaces and areas which results in blocking or interfering with any public traffic lane, public street or right-of-way is strictly prohibited. Two or more instances of such blocking or interference in any trailing twelve-month period shall be considered a continuing violation subject to zoning enforcement.
[Added 11-6-2017 by Ord. No. 431-17]
B.
Required minimum number and dimensions of off-street loading berths. Requirements of this subsection shall apply to all business, personal service, industrial and commercial uses and to all uses that include business, personal service, industrial and commercial uses and other nonresidential uses as herein specified and to all expansions of such existing uses resulting in a gross floor area gain of 10% or more.
(1)
Size. Loading berths shall be sized according to the type of facility served, as indicated below:
(a)
Large loading berth:
(b)
Small loading berth:
[1]
Required for all uses not specified in Subsection B(1)(a)[1] above.
[2]
Minimum of 12 feet by 30 feet with 15 feet of overhead clearance.
(2)
Loading berths calculated on gross floor area shall be provided as follows:
Aggregate Gross Floor Area Devoted to Each Use (square feet) | Minimum Required Number of Berths | |
|---|---|---|
6,000 to 19,000 | 1 | |
20,000 to 39,999 | 2 | |
40,000 to 79,999 | 3 | |
80,000 to 139,999 | 4 | |
For each additional 80,000 | 1 additional berth |
C.
General regulations for residential uses. The requirements of this subsection shall apply to all residential uses of more than five units, except single-family detached, two-family, and semidetached dwellings.
(1)
Each building, structure, or use constructed, established, erected, enlarged, modified, or altered in any district shall provide and satisfactorily maintain off-street space for loading and unloading.
(2)
The minimum size of a loading space shall be 50 feet in length and 12 feet in width, with an overhead clearance of 15 feet, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space, and shall be located entirely on the lot being served.
(3)
For each 24 dwelling units or fraction thereof, one loading space shall be provided, which shall be located not more than 100 feet from the building or unit being served.
(4)
No loading space shall be located within a street, whether public or private, or in an accessway, driveway, or in any required parking aisle or spaces. All loading spaces shall be line-striped with white or yellow paint and clearly marked and maintained with the words "Loading/Unloading Only."
(5)
All loading spaces shall be served by streets, public or private, or accessways of the same specifications applicable to parking spaces.