Independence Township Beaver County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Parking and Loading Requirements
§ 200-37 Procedure.
An application for a zoning permit for a new or enlarged building, structure, or use, shall include therewith a plot plan drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing off-street parking and loading facilities to be provided in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
§ 200-38 Extent of control.
A.
At the time of the erection of any main building or structure, or when any such building or structure is enlarged or increased in capacity, or when any private or public facility use permitted under this chapter is established, permanent off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided as specified herein.
B.
Required parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use for which it is provided. An adjacent lot that is guaranteed for the use of off-street parking during the life of the use for which the parking is provided may be permitted provided that guarantees in legal form are acceptable to the Township Supervisors on the advice of the Township Solicitor.
C.
Where more than one use occupies a given lot, building or structure, off-street parking equal to the sum of that required for each use shall be required.
D.
No parking area, space or lot shall be located within a public right-of-way or within 10 feet of the road cartway.
E.
Only parking facilities accessory to permitted agricultural or residential uses shall be located in any A-1 or R-1 District.
(1)
Off-street parking facilities accessory to permitted uses in any agricultural or residential district in accordance with the requirements of this article shall be used solely for the parking of vehicles of the occupants of the land or structures to which such facilities are accessory, or by guests, employees or clients of said occupants.
(2)
No land shall be used for commercial or industrial truck or equipment loading, storage or parking activities in any A-1 or R-1 District, except for:
(a)
Farm related activities in an A-1 District; and
(b)
Accessory off-street parking in an A-1 District in conjunction with a residential use for one commercial Class I vehicle (Any vehicle not in excess of 30,000 pounds or towing a trailer not in excess of 10,000 pounds). Said parking shall be utilized solely and exclusively for a vehicle operated on an ongoing basis by a current site resident. No disabled vehicle and no vehicle normally utilized and operated for business purposes less than bimonthly may be stored or parked under the terms of this chapter provision.
(3)
Accessory off-street parking on a residential lot for one currently state licensed and inspected commercial Class I vehicle, used off-site by a resident for commercial purposes, may be permitted in R-1 Districts when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board, subject to the following performance standards and requirements:
(a)
Said parking shall be utilized solely and exclusively for a vehicle operated on an on-going basis by a current site resident.
(b)
No major repair work, shall be conducted on the vehicle at the premises.
(c)
No portion of the off-street parking site shall be within a street right-of-way.
(d)
In addition to the foregoing requirements, such parking shall conform to any further requirements and conditions as may be prescribed by the Zoning Hearing Board for the protection of residential properties adjacent to, and in the vicinity of, the proposed parking area.
F.
Any off-street parking facility, other than for residential purposes, for more than five vehicles shall be graded for proper drainage, and surfaced to provide a durable and dust-free surface.
§ 200-39 Schedule of minimum requirements for off-street parking.
Off-street parking facilities shall be provided in the various zoning districts as specified herewith:
A.
For each dwelling unit there shall be provided a minimum of two parking spaces. This requirement shall apply to all housing categories including single, duplex, multi and conversion units.
(1)
Home occupations shall provide three off-street parking spaces. In no instance shall on-street parking be authorized in conjunction with a home occupation. Parking requirements for home occupations shall be in addition to the requirement specified above for dwelling units.
B.
Educational, religious and philanthropic uses shall provide off-street parking as follows:
(1)
Educational. Primary, elementary or middle school: 1.5 spaces for each classroom; High school, institution of higher learning or private school: one space for each five students, based on design capacity of the facility.
(2)
Stadium or similar places of assembly: one space for each four seats.
(3)
Churches: one off-street parking space for each four seats in the sanctuary or other main assembly area of the church, whichever is greater in size.
(4)
Philanthropic. Parking requirements for philanthropic uses shall be established by the Planning Commission on a case-by-case basis.
C.
Funeral homes shall provide parking at the rate of one parking space for each 80 square feet of gross floor area, plus one space for each employee at maximum work levels and one space for each vehicle utilized at the site for business purposes.
D.
Group residential facilities shall provide parking at the rate of one parking space for each two clients in addition to the requirements specified in Subsection A, above.
E.
Hospitals shall provide parking at the rate of one parking space for every three beds plus one space for every two employees.
F.
Manufacturing and industrial functions, shops for custom and repair work, building material sales, research and testing laboratories, contractors plant and supply yards, warehousing and storage, transportation terminals and related heavy commercial and industrial activities shall provide parking on the basis of one parking space for each employee. In computing the number of employees, those on maximum shift shall be counted. A mini-warehouse shall provide three spaces plus one space for each multiple of 10 storage cubicles.
G.
Motels and related uses, including bed-and-breakfast, shall provide parking at the rate of one parking space for each separate sleeping unit and one off-street parking space for each employee. If the motel-hotel facility also has related uses, such as restaurants or public meeting facilities, at least one additional space shall be provided for each four seats provided in meeting facilities and one space for each three fixed seats in eating facilities.
H.
Offices.
(1)
Offices, banks and similar businesses shall provide parking at the rate of one space for every 250 square feet of net floor area.
(2)
Medical, dental and related personal care offices and clinics shall provide parking at the rate of one space for each two employees plus four spaces for each doctor or practitioner.
I.
Public, private, noncommercial and commercial recreation and all municipal facilities shall provide off-street parking on the basis of one parking space for each three occupants or clients as determined by the maximum lawful capacity of any such facility, or if not applicable, by the estimated maximum capacity of the facility.
J.
Public garages and automotive service stations and facilities shall provide parking at the rate of one space for each 200 square feet of floor or site area devoted to repair or service facilities in addition to area required for normal vehicle storage.
K.
Retail and service business, sales and similar commercial land uses shall provide parking at the rate of one space for each 100 square feet of net floor area plus one space for each employee.
M.
For any use not specified above, the Township Supervisors, after recommendation by the Planning Commission, shall determine the parking requirement for the proposed use, and the amount of parking thus determined shall be the off-street parking requirement.
§ 200-40 Schedule of requirements for off-street loading.
In any district, in connection with a building, or building group or part thereof, that is to be occupied by commercial, public, industrial or other uses that rely on delivery or distribution of materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such buildings, off-street loading berths in accordance with the following standards:
Uses | Floor Area (total square feet) | Minimum Required Off-Street Loading Berths |
|---|---|---|
Schools | -- | 1 |
Retail and service commercial | Under 3,500 | 0 |
Over 3,500 | 1 | |
Wholesale commercial | Under 10,000 | 1 |
Over 10,000 | 2 | |
Warehousing or storage | Under 10,000 | 1 |
For each additional 20,000 or fraction thereof | 1 additional |
§ 200-41 Standards for off-street parking and loading areas.
A.
General standards.
(1)
When determination of the required number of off-street spaces for parking or loading results in a fractional space, any fraction of 1/2 or more shall be interpreted as a whole space.
(2)
In no case shall the public right-of-way be used for loading or unloading of material or for meeting a required parking facility.
(3)
Loading and unloading facilities and parking lots shall be designed so that vehicles are not required to back onto the street right-of-way.
(4)
Nonresidential parking areas, parking accessways, driveways and loading areas shall be sited at a minimum distance of 10 feet from all property lines. Where commercial or industrial land uses abut residential districts, no such vehicular areas shall be closer than 25 feet to an adjacent residential parcel.
(5)
All lighting used to illuminate off-street loading and parking areas shall be designed so that light is reflected away from adjoining premises and public rights-of-way.
B.
Off-street parking standards.
(1)
A required off-street parking space for an individual auto shall be a minimum dimension of nine feet wide by 20 feet long. Maneuvering and cross aisles shall be 20 feet wide for 90º parking. Aisle width for angle parking may be decreased in proportion to the parking angle, but no aisle may be less than 12 feet in width.
(2)
Driveways may be included as meeting the requirement for parking spaces for single-family and two-family dwellings.
(3)
Whenever possible, parking areas and lots shall be level, except for necessary drainage purposes. If parking spaces are provided in areas which exceed 5% slope, all such spaces shall be parallel to the contour lines of the area.
(4)
All off-street parking areas shall be graded for proper drainage; and, except for single-family use, if for five vehicles or more, shall be surfaced with a bituminous, asphaltic or concrete pavement so as to provide a durable and dustless surface, and shall be so arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe parking in all seasons. Areas intended for less than five vehicles shall be covered with gravel, cinders, or other appropriate material in commercial and industrial districts.
(5)
Parking spaces for other than single-family use shall be clearly delineated by painted lines or markers for lots accommodating five or more spaces.
(6)
Stalls shall be provided with bumper guards or wheel stops when necessary for safety or protection to adjacent structures or landscaped areas.
(7)
Surface drainage shall be connected to the existing or proposed storm drainage system.