Middlesex Township Butler County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIII
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 175-156 Off-street parking.
Off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the specifications in this article in any district whenever any new use is established or existing use is enlarged.
A.
Off-street parking design. Parking areas in all zoning districts shall comply with the following standards.
(1)
Size. Each off-street parking space shall have an area of not less than 162 square feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles, shall have minimum dimensions of nine feet in width and 18 feet in length and shall be maintained free from obstruction. Parking areas shall be designed to provide sufficient turnaround area so that vehicles are not required to back onto the cartway of any public street.
(2)
Access. Access to parking areas shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:
(a)
Where an existing lot does not adjoin a public or private street, alley, or easement of access, an access drive shall be provided leading to the parking areas.
(b)
Access to off-street parking areas shall be limited to well-defined locations, and in no case shall there be unrestricted access along the length of a street. The street frontage shall be curbed to restrict access to the lot, except where access drives are proposed.
(c)
In any zoning district, the number of access drives from a single lot or development to any public street shall not exceed two, except that for lots with more the 400 feet of frontage on a public street, an additional two access drives for every 400 feet of street frontage may be allowed. Access drives shall be no more than 40 feet nor less than 25 feet in width, with a radius of at least 10 feet provided at the point of intersection of the public street paving and the access drive.
(d)
Except on corner lots, access drives shall be located at least 200 feet from the intersection of any two street right-of-way lines. Where a site has frontage on more than one street, access shall be provided from the street with the lower traffic volume, if physically practical.
(e)
Access drives entering state highways shall be subject to a highway occupancy permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).
(f)
Access drives entering Township streets shall be subject to a Township driveway permit.
(g)
Each parking space shall have access directly to a driveway. Interior circulation of traffic shall be designed so that no driveway providing access to parking spaces shall be used as a through street. Interior traffic circulation shall be designed to ensure safety and access by emergency vehicles.
(h)
Access lanes serving parking spaces shall be at least 22 feet wide where parking is at right angles to the lane and at least 15 feet wide where parking is at a forty-five-degree angle to the lane.
(3)
Safety requirements. The Board of Supervisors shall consider whether safety requirements are warranted to reduce traffic hazards which endanger public safety. The developer shall be responsible for construction of any required islands, acceleration, deceleration or turning lanes and shall bear the cost of installing any required traffic control devices, signs or pavement markings.
(4)
Marking. All parking spaces shall be clearly delineated by painted lines or markers. Parking spaces shall be provided with bumper guards or wheel stops, where necessary, for safety or protection of adjacent structures or landscaped areas. All vehicular entrances and exits to parking areas shall be clearly marked for all conditions. Short-term visitor parking spaces shall be differentiated from long-term employee spaces by suitable markings. Handicapped parking shall be appropriately marked.
(5)
Parking areas serving residential dwellings.
(a)
Parking requirements for single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings shall be met by providing the required spaces in an enclosed garage or in a private driveway on the lot. Parking provided in driveways for a particular dwelling unit shall not block access to parking for any other dwelling unit, whether located in a driveway or in an enclosed garage.
(b)
Parking for garden apartments shall be provided in a paved, striped and curbed off-street parking area. Parking for garden apartments and any parking serving townhouses which is not located in a private driveway serving the dwelling unit shall be surfaced with a permanent, all-weather surface placed over at least six inches of crushed aggregate base course.
(c)
Parking designed to serve multifamily dwellings or groups of mobile homes shall be located so that no required space is more than 100 feet from the building it is designed to serve.
(6)
Parking areas serving uses other than residential dwellings.
(a)
Parking requirements for all uses other than residential dwellings shall be met by providing a paved, striped and curbed off-street parking area. All paved areas designed for vehicular use shall be constructed of at least eight inches of compacted aggregate base material under at least 2 1/2 inches of asphalt wearing course or at least four inches of reinforced concrete on at least four inches of compacted base.
(b)
Parking designed to serve commercial or industrial uses shall be located so that no required parking space is more than 500 feet from the building or use such space is designed to serve.
(7)
Driveways serving nonresidential uses.
(a)
Single-lane driveways which provide access to lots and parking areas shall be a minimum of 10 feet wide and a maximum of 12 feet wide; two-lane driveways shall be a minimum of 22 feet wide and a maximum of 24 feet wide.
(b)
If parking spaces are aligned at less than 90º, driveways shall be restricted to one-way traffic and head-in parking only.
(c)
There shall be at least 15 feet between driveways at the street line and at least five feet between a driveway and a fire hydrant, catch basin or property line. There shall be at least 40 feet between a driveway and the right-of-way line of an intersecting street.
(d)
Adequate sight distance shall be provided, subject to review and approval by the Township Engineer. Driveways shall not exceed a slope of 10% within 12 feet of the street right-of-way line.
(8)
Location of parking areas.
(a)
Required parking spaces shall be located on the same lot with the principal use.
(b)
No parking area containing more than five parking spaces shall be located closer than 10 feet to any adjoining property line and parking authorized in front yards shall be located at least 10 feet from the street right-of-way line.
(9)
Screening and landscaping.
(a)
Parking areas containing more than five parking spaces shall be effectively screened by a Buffer Yard C, as defined by § 175-140B of this chapter, along any property line which adjoins a residential use or residential zoning district classification.
(b)
In addition, a planting strip at least five feet wide shall be provided between the edge of the right-of-way and any parking area authorized in any yard which fronts on a street.
(c)
Planting strips between the right-of-way and the parking area shall be suitably landscaped and maintained in grass, ground cover or other landscaping material not in excess of three feet in height which shall not obstruct visibility for traffic entering or leaving the lot or traveling on the public street.
(10)
Drainage. All parking areas shall be sloped at least 0.5% and not more than 6% toward storm drainage inlets connected to a collection system emptying to a recognized drainageways.
(11)
Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be designed to reflect the light away from the adjoining premises of any residential zoning district or residential use and away from any streets or highways. Where more than 20 parking spaces are provided in a common parking area, the area shall be lighted to produce an intensity of at least one footcandle measured three feet above the pavement throughout the parking area.
B.
Off-street parking requirements. Any new use or change of use in any zoning district shall comply with the following minimum requirements for the provision of off-street parking spaces.
(1)
When the calculation of required parking spaces results in a requirement of a fractional parking space, any fraction shall be counted as one parking space.
(2)
Where more than one use exists on a lot, parking requirements for each use shall be provided.
(3)
Existing uses which do not conform to the requirements of this section are not required to comply with the parking requirements stipulated in the Table of Parking Requirements, except when such use is enlarged or changed, the additional parking required to serve the enlargement or change of use shall be provided in accordance with these requirements.
(4)
Any existing structure or building which does not comply with the parking requirements stipulated in the Table of Parking Requirements and is proposed to be enlarged to the extent of 50% or more in the gross floor area or total number of dwelling units shall be required to meet the specified requirements for the entire structure in order to permit the enlargement.
(5)
Table of Parking Requirements.
[Amended 7-29-2015 by Ord. No. 128; 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 133; 12-20-2023 by Ord. No. 138]
Table 3: Off-Street Parking Requirements | |
|---|---|
Use | Number of Parking Spaces Required |
Single-family and two-family dwellings | 2 per dwelling unit |
Garden apartments and townhouses | 2 per dwelling unit plus 0.5 per dwelling unit for visitors located within 100 feet of the units they are intended to serve |
Place of worship/place of assembly | 1 per 4 seats or 80 linear inches of pew or 1 for each 40 square feet of gross floor area used for assembly (no fixed seats) |
Day-care center, nursery school | 1 for each teacher and employee on largest shift plus 1 space per 6 students |
Public utility buildings | 1 per employee on peak shift plus 1 for each service vehicle stored on lot |
Schools, elementary, junior high | 1 for each employee and faculty member |
Schools, secondary and post-secondary | 1 for each employee and faculty member plus 1 for each 10 students plus 1 for each 2 residents in a dormitory |
Group care facility, personal care boarding home or transitional dwelling | 1 for each employee on peak shift plus 1 for each resident authorized to drive plus 1 for each 6 beds |
Hospitals and nursing homes | 1 per 3 beds and 1 for each employee on the peak working shift |
Medical and dental clinics | 1 per 50 square feet of gross floor |
Other professional and business offices, business services | 1 for every 250 square feet of net leasable floor area |
Banks and financial institutions | 1 per 200 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 per employee on peak shift plus 5 off-street waiting spaces per drive-in window |
Hotel/motel | 1 per employee on peak shift plus 1 per sleeping unit |
Theater | 1 per 4 seats |
Fast-food establishments | 1 per 75 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 per employee on peak shift |
Other restaurants | 1 for each 65 square feet of gross floor area |
Retail businesses, personal service establishments | 1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area |
Greenhouse or tree nursery | 1 for each 500 square feet of display area or growing area accessible to the public |
Bowling alleys | 5 for each alley |
Tennis, racquetball and handball courts | 1 per employee plus 4 for each court |
Golf courses | 8 for each hole plus 1 for each employee |
Swimming pools, public or commercial | 1 for each 50 square feet of surface water area |
Funeral homes | 25 for the first parlor plus 10 for each additional parlor |
Indoor places of assembly | 1 for each 75 square feet of net floor area |
Libraries/museums | 1 for each 250 square feet of gross floor area |
Service stations/vehicle repair garages | 4 for each bay plus 1 for each employee on peak shift plus 1 for each business vehicle plus 3 waiting spaces at each side of each pump island |
Manufacturing warehousing, freight terminals, wholesaling | 1 for each 1,500 square feet of gross floor area or 1 for each employee on the peak working shift, whichever is greater, plus 1 for each 20 employees designated as visitor parking plus 1 for each company vehicle ordinarily parked on the site |
Breweries and distilleries | Based on a parking needs assessment |
Microbreweries, microdistilleries, taverns/bars, and brewpubs | Based on a parking needs assessment |
Wineries | Based on a parking needs assessment |
Tasting rooms (stand-alone) | Based on a parking needs assessment |
Agritourism | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area dedicated to the agritourism use Additional consideration should be given to event/overflow parking as part of the event circulation plan (§ 175-96.1) |
Catering/event venue | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area dedicated to the catering/event venue use Additional consideration should be given to event/overflow parking as part of the event circulation plan (§ 175-99.1) |
Solar energy production facility, large | 1 per employee on peak shift plus 1 for each service vehicle stored on lot |
Wind energy production facility, large | 1 per employee on peak shift plus 1 for each service vehicle stored on lot |
Short-term rentals | 1 off-street space for every 2 rental occupants, in addition to the spaces required for the primary use |
Accessory dwelling units | 1 off-street space, in addition to the spaces required for the primary dwelling unit |
All other uses | 1 for each 3 occupants at maximum permitted occupancy or 1 for each 300 square feet of gross floor area, whichever is greater |
C.
Shared parking.
[Added 7-29-2015 by Ord. No. 128; Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 133]
(1)
For all proposed uses located within the C-2, C-3, and TC District, the applicant shall provide a shared parking analysis as well as provide a certified parking study that indicates the adequacy of the proposed shared parking, or provide parking in compliance with § 175-156B(5), Table of Parking Requirements, on the lot. The shared parking analysis alternative may be used only if there are in fact multiple uses and structures within the same development under submission which have common or connected parking areas.
(2)
The shared parking analysis shall assess the amount of development square footage and the calculated number of parking spaces based on the typical hourly demands for all land uses situated within the proposed land development simultaneously. The shared parking analysis shall utilize the Shared Parking Matrix as identified within this section.
(3)
The applicant shall obtain an electronic copy of the Shared Parking Matrix from the Middlesex Township Zoning Officer. The applicant shall determine the proposed development's total nonresidential square footage and/or total number of dwelling units (garden apartments only, if applicable) and/or number of hotel rooms and insert the appropriate numbers into the Shared Parking Matrix.
(4)
The following Shared Parking Matrix shall be utilized to determine parking requirements if the applicant proceeds under this section:
Table 4: Shared Parking Matrix | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Office Square Footage | Apartment | Retail Square Footage | Restaurant Square Footage | ||||||||
Proposed Develop- ment | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
Required Parking Ratio | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Based on § 175-156B(5) | ||||||
Gross Parking Spaces Required by Use (before sharing) | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Total Parking Spaces Requir- ed by Use (before sharing) | ||||
Office | Apartment | Retail | Restaurant | ||||||||
Time Period | Percent- age of Peak Parking Ratio | Total Number of Active Office Spaces | Percent- age of Peak Parking Ratio | Total Number of Active Resid- ential Spaces | Percent- age of Peak Parking Ratio | Total Number of Active Retail Spaces | Percent- age of Peak Parking Ratio | Total Number of Active Rest- aurant Spaces | Shared Requir- ed Spaces | Time Period | |
8:00 | 70% | 0 | 90% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 8:00 | |
9:00 | 80% | 0 | 50% | 0 | 5% | 0 | 5% | 0 | 0 | 9:00 | |
10:00 | 90% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 15% | 0 | 15% | 0 | 0 | 10:00 | |
11:00 | 90% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 11:00 | |
Noon | 85% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 30% | 0 | 40% | 0 | 0 | Noon | |
1:00 | 85% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 35% | 0 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 1:00 | |
2:00 | 82% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 25% | 0 | 35% | 0 | 0 | 2:00 | |
3:00 | 75% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 3:00 | |
4:00 | 65% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 15% | 0 | 0 | 4:00 | |
5:00 | 50% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 0 | 20% | 0 | 5:00 | |
6:00 | 35% | 0 | 45% | 0 | 40% | 0 | 40% | 0 | 0 | 6:00 | |
7:00 | 15% | 0 | 70% | 0 | 60% | 0 | 60% | 0 | 0 | 7:00 | |
8:00 | 10% | 0 | 95% | 0 | 40% | 0 | 70% | 0 | 0 | 8:00 | |
9:00 | 5% | 0 | 98% | 0 | 20% | 0 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 9:00 | |
10:00 | 0% | 0 | 99% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 30% | 0 | 0 | 10:00 | |
11:00 | 0% | 0 | 100% | 0 | 5% | 0 | 10% | 0 | 0 | 11:00 | |
Peak Hour Requir- ed Parking Spaces (after sharing) | 0 | ||||||||||
§ 175-157 Off-street loading.
In all zoning districts, whenever a new use is established or an existing use is structurally altered, converted or enlarged, off-street loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of this section.
A.
Off-street loading design:
(1)
Size. Each loading berth shall be at least 65 feet in length and 12 feet in width with an overhead clearance of 14 feet. The area used for loading berths shall not be used to satisfy parking area requirements.
(2)
Access. Loading berths shall be designed to provide sufficient turnaround area so that vehicles are not required to back onto public streets and the design shall be subject to review and approval by the Township Engineer. Loading berths shall have direct access to a driveway and shall be maintained free from obstruction.
(3)
Location. All loading berths shall be located on the same lot with the principal use they are intended to serve. No loading berth shall be located in a required front yard. Loading berths shall be located at least 30 feet from the nearest point of intersection of any two streets.
(4)
Screening. Loading berths shall be screened by a six-foot hedge, wall or opaque fence on all sides which face residential use or zoning district classification.
(5)
Surfacing. All loading berths shall have a paved concrete or bituminous surface, graded with positive drainage to dispose of surface water.
(6)
Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminated loading berths shall be designed to reflect from any adjoining residential use or zoning classification and away from any street or highway.
B.
Off-street loading requirements. In all zoning districts, every use which requires the receipt or distribution, by vehicle, of material or merchandise, shall provide off-street loading berths in accordance with the following requirements:
[Amended 3-20-2019 by Ord. No. 133]
(1)
For department stores, freight terminals, industrial or manufacturing establishments, retail or wholesale stores, personal or business service establishments, storage warehouses or any similar uses which receive deliveries:
Table 5 | |
|---|---|
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Number of Berths Required |
Under 10,000 | None |
10,000 to 19,999 | 1 |
20,000 to 39,999 | 2 |
40,000 to 65,000 | 3 |
For each additional 20,000 | 1 additional |
(2)
For auditoriums, convention or exhibit halls, sports arenas, hotels, office buildings, restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals, schools, apartment buildings, public buildings and similar uses which receive deliveries:
Table 6 | |
|---|---|
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Number of Berths Required |
Under 40,000 | None |
40,000 to 59,999 | 1 |
60,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
100,000 to 160,000 | 3 |
Over 160,000 | 4 |
§ 175-158 Storage requirements.
In addition to required off-street parking and loading facilities, adequate storage areas for vehicles awaiting loading and unloading shall be provided. Under no circumstances shall vehicles be stored on or block access to a public right-of-way.