Meadville City Zoning Code

Size. Off-street parking spaces shall conform to the definition of "parking space" in this zoning code. No portion of a parking space shall include a portion of an access drive, sidewalk, travel lane, driveway, or public right-of-way of a street or alley. All parking lots or areas for uses other than single-family dwellings or two-family dwellings shall include a turnaround area so that vehicles are not required to back onto public streets.

Existing Parking. No use existing at the time of passage of this zoning code may reduce the number of parking spaces it currently provides except by special exception.

Residential Parking. Residential uses shall provide a minimum of one off-street parking space per dwelling unit or rooming unit, whichever is greater.

Commercial Parking. New developments of commercial uses are exempt from parking minimums.

Nonresidential, Noncommercial Parking. All noncommercial business, institutional, industrial, or other non-residential uses in all districts except for DPH and MU-3 must provide an adequate number of off-street parking spaces to serve at least the expected average number of employees, visitors, and patrons of that use as documented on the zoning application and confirmed by the approving authority. This provision may be satisfied by lot-sharing agreements with neighboring properties as well as or in place of providing parking spaces on the use's own lot. Uses in the DPH and MU-3 districts are exempt from this provision except for those uses where the number of employees, visitors, and patrons totaled together is expected to routinely exceed 30 persons at one time, in which case the use must provide an off-street parking space for each additional expected person beyond 30.

Access. Where an existing lot does not abut on a public or private street, alley or easement of access, there shall be provided an access drive leading to the parking or storage areas or loading spaces.

Conflict With Other Uses. No other use of the parking lot shall be permitted to interfere with the availability for the parking need it is required to serve.

Containment. Parking spaces shall be provided with bumper guards, wheel stops or curbing, when necessary for safety or protection, to prevent any part of a vehicle from entering into, onto or over a pedestrian walkway or sidewalk.

Pedestrian Walkway. In any development where a structure that is open to the public is set back from a public right-of-way or public sidewalk, or where a parking lot is located between a public right-of-way and a structure open to the public, there shall be provided a route clearly marked with paint, colored surface material or other differentiation acceptable to the zoning administrator, from the public rights-of-way or public sidewalks to the main entrance or pedestrian way closest to the building. The intent of this provision is to protect pedestrians as they walk through a parking lot or other area where they may come in close proximity with moving motor vehicles.

Location and Design.

The minimum dimensions for depth of space, access lane width and total aisle width shall be in accordance with the following table:

Screening and Landscaping. Off-street parking areas for six vehicles or more, and off-street loading areas, shall be effectively landscaped.

Minimum Distance and Setbacks. No off-street loading or parking area for six vehicles or more shall be closer than 10 feet to any abutting lot line containing a dwelling, or to any abutting lot line within the R zoning district. Setbacks shall comply with Subsection (L) planting strip requirements.

All fences, trees, shrubs and other landscaping materials shall be maintained substantially in the manner set forth in the approved plans. Trees and shrubs which have died shall be replaced within six months. Buffers and screening do not need to be retained if the abutting residential building is demolished and the residential use of the premises is abandoned or if the abutting zoning district is changed from residential to some nonresidential zoning district and no residential uses are maintained on abutting lots.

Parking lots containing more than 20,000 square feet of impervious parking surface, either initially or as a result of expansion, shall devote an additional eight percent of surface area (exclusive of required border planting strips) to interior planting strips or planting islands at locations and in designs approved by the zoning administrator. In exercising the approval authority granted by this subsection, the zoning administrator shall consider the nature of the use serviced by the parking facility, the nature, character and appearance of the neighborhood surrounding the parking facility, the land use and development plans and ordinances of the city and the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the city. The purpose of this requirement is to maximize stormwater infiltration and the design of the interior planting strips must serve that purpose by way of curb cuts to permit entry of stormwater into the interior planting strips or planting islands or similar methods. Landscaping plans for parking lots containing more than 20,000 square feet of impervious parking surface shall be designed by a registered landscape architect or registered professional engineer.

Surfacing and Drainage.

Lighting. Illumination of off-street loading and parking areas is permitted. If lighting is provided, it shall be arranged so as to reflect the light away from any adjoining premises and away from roads or highways.