North Franklin Township Washington County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XI
Parking and Loading
§ 460-1101 General standards.
A.
Procedure. An applicant for a building permit for a new or an enlarged building, structure, or use, shall include a plot plan, certified by a professional licensed surveyor, engineer, or landscape architect, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any off-street parking or loading facilities to be provided in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
B.
Extent of control. The off-street parking and land requirements of this chapter apply as follows:
(1)
All buildings and structures erected, or added to, and all land uses initiated after the effective date of this chapter shall provide accessory off-street parking or loading facilities as required for the use therein.
(2)
Any building or structure erected or modified prior to or after the effective date of this chapter which results in a decrease in the number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, number of employee or other measurement specifically set forth for the required off-street parking or loading facilities, and when said decrease lessens the requirements for off-street parking or loading through the application of the provisions of this chapter, the number of off-street parking and loading facilities may be decreased in accordance with the provisions of this article. This includes surfacing requirements.
(3)
All parking areas established prior to the effective date of this chapter, but not in conformance with all provisions of this article, are allowed to continue as previously laid out. When there is a change or alteration to an existing parking area, the affected portion shall be altered in accordance with all provisions of this article. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in existence on the effective date of this chapter may not be reduced in number unless the remaining off-street parking equals or exceeds all provisions of this article for equivalent new construction of the current use and building size.
(4)
Any change in use or in size of an existing building that would require a greater number of off-street parking spaces than the previous use or size shall provide additional off-street parking in accordance with this article. If the number of additional required parking spaces results in more than a 25% increase in the total number of parking spaces currently provided on the lot, or requires the addition of at least three more spaces, whichever is greater, then all existing parking is also required to equal or exceed all provisions of this article, including surfacing.
(5)
Parking space requirements for the expansion of existing buildings or uses, or for an additional structure on a developed lot, shall be determined by combining the requirements for all existing uses and all new development using the parking space requirements set forth in Tables 460-1103A and 460-1103B of this chapter.
§ 460-1102 Design and maintenance.
An off-street parking space is an area to be used for the storage or parking of passenger automobiles or commercial vehicles, accessible from private driveways or aisles, laid out in accordance with the standards of this section. Parking areas in all zoning districts shall comply with the following standards:
A.
Size.
(1)
Each off-street parking space shall have an area of at least 162 square feet and shall be minimum of nine feet in width and 18 feet in length exclusive of driveways, aisles or ramps and shall be maintained free from obstruction. All multifamily and nonresidential parking areas shall be designed to provide sufficient turnaround areas so that vehicles are not required to back onto the cartway of any public street.
(2)
Off-street parking areas shall be designed in accordance with the following minimum standards:
Parking Angle (degrees) | Aisle Width (feet) |
|---|---|
45 | 12 |
60 | 18 |
90 | 22 (2-way) |
B.
Access.
(1)
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. Access to off-street parking areas shall be limited to the means of ingress and egress described by this section. In no case shall a parking lot have unrestricted access along the length of a street. Street frontage along the entire width of the lot or development shall be curbed to restrict access except for access driveways to the lot or development. The number of access drives from a single lot or development to any public street shall not exceed two for every 400 feet of street frontage.
(2)
Access drives entering state highways shall be subject to a highway occupancy permit issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Access drives entering county roads must obtain the required permits before a building permit can be issued. Access drives entering Township streets shall be subject to a Township driveway permit required by Ordinance No. _____ of the Township.[1] The developer shall submit evidence of the receipt of the necessary permits prior to obtaining a building permit.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
C.
Parking areas serving residential dwellings. Parking requirements for single-family, two-family and townhouse dwellings shall be met by providing the required spaces in an enclosed garage or on a private driveway on the lot. Parking for garden apartments shall be provided in a paved, striped and curbed off-street parking area. Visitors' parking areas shall be provided in all multifamily developments and shall be laid out in such fashion to provide convenient access to each dwelling unit.
D.
Driveways.
(1)
Parking facilities shall be designed according to the following requirements for vehicular access to a street or alley:
Type of Street Opening | Width Requirements (feet) |
|---|---|
2-way drives | 20 to 24 |
1-way drives | 10 to 12 |
Maximum | 35 |
(2)
There shall be at least 15 feet between driveways at the street line and at lease 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.
(3)
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 driveway's intersection with the street right-of-way line.
E.
Location of parking areas. Required parking spaces shall be located on the same lot with the principal use. 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 edge of the right-of-way.
F.
Signs. No signs shall be displayed in any parking area within any residential district, except for directional signs which are limited to two for each point of approved ingress and egress. All signs in other parking areas shall conform to Article XII of this chapter.
G.
Striping. All parking spaces in paved areas shall be properly marked by durable white or yellow paint in stripes a minimum of four inches wide and extending the length of the parking space. Striping must be maintained to keep parking lot designations identifiable.
H.
Required setbacks. Every parking space shall be designed so that vehicles cannot extend beyond the perimeter of the parking space onto adjacent properties or public right-of-ways. All parking spaces shall be designed so that vehicles do not extend over sidewalks or damage any wall, vegetation or other obstruction.
I.
Screening and landscaping. All off-street parking areas with more than 10 required parking spaces shall be landscaped with a minimum of one tree 2 1/2 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) for each five parking spaces. These trees shall be placed in such a fashion to provide shade and screening of the parking area. If landscaping is required by other provisions of this chapter in the yard area containing the parking area, then the trees required herein may be counted as part of the required landscaping for that yard.
J.
Planting strip. Wherever a parking lot abuts onto a public street, walkway or alley, a grass or landscaped planting strip measuring at least five feet in width shall be installed from the improved cart-way to the front property line. Retaining walls and any other walls to be built along abutting property may be constructed subject to the approval of the Borough Engineer. 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 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.
K.
Surfacing. With the exception of home occupations, single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings, all parking areas and access drives shall have a paved concrete or bituminous surface of adequate thickness to support the weight of fully loaded vehicles which customarily park or travel on it, and shall be graded with positive drainage to dispose of surface water.
L.
Lighting. All parking areas in commercial, business and industrial districts shall be suitably illuminated for night use. 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. Lighting standards shall be located not more than 80 feet apart and the lighting system shall furnish an average minimum of 2.0 footcandles during hours of operation.
M.
Stormwater management. All paved parking areas shall be designed so that stormwater runoff shall not adversely affect adjacent properties or flow onto walkways in such a way or quantity that would be detrimental to the other properties or walkways. The method of stormwater management and the design of the proposed facilities shall be subject to review and recommendation by the Township Engineer and approval by the Township Supervisors.
N.
Wheel stops. Wheel stops shall be provided along boundaries of adjoining properties, public rights-of-way or landscaped areas unless curbs are provided in that portion of the parking lot.
O.
Dead-end aisles. Dead-end aisles in off-street parking areas shall be designed according to the following minimum standards:
Dead-End Aisle, Turnaround Requirements | |
|---|---|
Dimension | Requirements (feet) |
Depth of turnaround area | 13 |
Width of turnaround area | 25 |
P.
Shopping cart returns. One shopping cart return is required for every 10,000 square feet of floor area in retail stores regularly using shopping carts. Shopping cart returns shall measure nine by 18 feet, provide fencing or similar containment on three sides, and be identified by an above-grade sign.
§ 460-1103 Schedule of off-street parking requirements.
A.
Minimum requirements for off-street parking spaces.
(1)
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. When the calculation of required parking spaces results in a requirement of a fractional parking space, any fraction equal to or greater than 1/2 shall be counted as one parking space. Where more than one use exists on a lot, parking requirements for each use shall be provided or, where applicable, the shared parking provisions of this section may be utilized.
(2)
The following table of parking requirements specifies the number of spaces required for various categories of uses in any zoning district:
Table 460-1103A, Required Parking Spaces for Residential Uses | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Off-Street Parking Spaces | |||||
Housing Type | 1-BR | 2-BR | 3-BR | 4-BR | 5-BR or more |
Single-family | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Townhouse* | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
Garden apartment* | 1.5 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
Mobile home parks | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
* | Also include one space for every two dwelling units for visitor parking. Visitor parking shall be located within a minimum of 300 feet from the units they are intended to serve. Visitor parking areas shall be distributed throughout the development. |
Table 460-1102B, Required Parking Spaces for Business, Commercial, Home Occupation Uses | |
|---|---|
Auto service stations | 3 for each bay plus 1 for each 2 employees |
Auto sales and service, factory authorized equipment sales | 1 for each 500 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 per employee |
Banks and offices | 1 for each 250 square feet of net leasable floor area |
Bowling alleys | 4 per alley |
Cemeteries | 1 for each 3 seats in a chapel or other place of public assembly |
Churches | 1 for each 4 seats |
Community building, social hall, dance hall, club or lodge | 1 for each 50 square feet of public floor area |
Day-care center | 1 for each staff member plus 4 visitors |
Food stores and supermarkets | 1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area |
Funeral homes and mortuaries | 25 for the first parlor plus 10 for each additional parlor |
Furniture stores | 1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area |
Group homes | 5 per group home |
Home occupation and day care home | 2 spaces in addition to the spaces required for the dwelling |
Hospitals | 1 for each bed plus 1 per employee and staff on peak shift |
Hotels and motels | 1 for each guest room plus 1 for each 80 square feet of floor area accessible to the public, including corridors, lobbies, shops, restaurants, and the like |
Industrial and manufacturing establishments, warehouses, wholesale establishments | 1 per employee on 2 largest shifts combined |
Light manufacturing; light manufacturing (high-technology industries) [Added 4-14-2020 by Ord. No. 4-2020] | See "industrial and manufacturing establishments, warehouses, wholesale establishments" |
Medical and dental offices and clinics | 5 for each doctor and each professional staff who perform patient services independent from the doctor, such as hygienists, X-ray technicians, therapists and similar staff |
Nursing homes | 1 for each 3 beds |
Personal care boarding home | 1 for each full-time staff plus 1 for every 3 residents |
Quasi-public or commercial golf courses | 4 per hole plus 1 per employee |
Restaurants, fast-service and full-service | 1 for each 50 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 for each employee on peak shift |
Retail stores | 1 for each 200 square feet of net leasable floor areas |
Roadside farm stands | A minimum of 3 spaces or 1 space for each 50 square feet of sales and display area, whichever is greater |
Roller rinks | 1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area |
Schools, elementary and middle high school | 1 for each teacher and staff plus 1 for each four classroom plus 1 for each 4 high school students |
Self-storage and mini warehouses | 6 spaces at the leasing office or caretaker's quarters |
Sports arena, stadium, theater, assembly hall | 1 for each 3 seats |
Swimming pools, public | 1 for each 50 square feet of surface water area |
Taverns and nightclubs | 1 for each patron seat |
All other uses | 1 or each 300 square feet of floor area or 1 for each 2 proposed patrons or occupants, at maximum permitted occupancy, whichever is greater |
B.
Shared parking. In order to accommodate the usage of the same parking spaces for two or more different land uses the required number of parking spaces may be reduced subject to the requirements of this section as recommended by the Planning Commissions and approved by the Board of Supervisors. Subsequent changes in land uses within the mixed-use development shall require a new occupancy permit and proof that sufficient parking will be available.
(1)
The number of required parking spaces for mixed uses shall be computed as follows:
(a)
Determine the minimum amount of parking required for each land use as though it were a separate use.
(b)
Using the table below, determine the number of spaces required by each use according to the various time periods by multiplying each use by the corresponding percentage of use for that time period.
(c)
Calculate the total number of spaces needed for each time period.
(d)
The time period with the highest number of parking spaces required for the sum of the uses is the number of parking spaces required.
Table 460-1102C, Parking Requirements for Mixed Use Developments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Weekday | Weekend | |||
Type of Uses | Daytime | Evening | Daytime | Evening |
Office/industrial | 100% | 10% | 10% | 5% |
Retail | 60% | 90% | 100% | 70% |
Hotel | 75% | 100% | 75% | 100% |
Restaurant | 75% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Entertainment/recreational | 40% | 100% | 80% | 100% |
(2)
To apply for shared parking, a table must be submitted for approval showing usage and gross floor area according to the above five use categories. The amount of required parking must then be tabulated by use and time period. The time period requiring the highest number of parking must then be indicated.
(3)
Uses that do not fit into any of the categories shown in the above table cannot utilize shared parking.
§ 460-1104 Accessible parking requirements.
Accessible parking spaces for the physical challenged shall be provided for multiple-family and nonresidential uses according to the requirements of this section.
A.
Minimum number of spaces. The minimum number of accessible parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with Table 460-1104.
Table 460-1104, Accessible Parking Requirements | |
|---|---|
Total Parking Spaces in Lot | Minimum Accessible Spaces |
1 to 25 | 1 |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 9 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of Total |
Over 1,000 | 20, plus 1 per 100 over 1,000 |
B.
Van accessible parking spaces. A minimum of 25% of the required accessible parking spaces shall be van accessible with at least one van accessible space in each multifamily and nonresidential parking lot.
C.
Design. Design of accessible spaces shall be completed in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Architectural Guidelines and include the following:
(1)
Accessible parking spaces serving a particular building shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from the parking spaces to the structure. In parking facilities not serving a particular structure, accessible parking shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility.
(2)
Accessible parking spaces shall be at least eight feet wide.
(3)
One parking access aisle of no less than five feet in width shall be provided for each accessible parking space. A parking access aisle may be shared between two accessible parking spaces. Access aisles shall be clearly designated and identifiable by line painting, curbing, and other similar means. The access aisles shall be a part of the accessible route to the building or facility entrance. The accessible route shall measure at lease three feet in width.
(4)
Van accessible parking spaces shall be at least eight feet wide with an access aisle of no less than eight feet in width.
(5)
Parking spaces and access aisles shall be level with surface slopes not exceeding 2% in all directions.
(6)
Accessible parking spaces shall be designated as reserved by a sign showing the symbol of accessibility. Such signs shall be located so as not to be obscured by a vehicle parked in the space.
§ 460-1105 Off-street loading design.
An off-street loading space shall be a hard-surfaced area of land, open or enclosed, other than a street or public way, used principally for the standing, loading or unloading of motor trucks, tractors and trailers so as to avoid undue interference with the public use of streets and alleys. A loading space shall be of adequate size to suit the specific use, exclusive of access aisles and maneuvering space.
A.
Size. Each loading berth shall be at least 50 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.
B.
Access. Loading berths shall be designed to provide sufficient turnaround area so that vehicles are not required to back onto collector or arterial roads and the design shall be subject to review and approval by the Township Engineer. Loading berths shall be direct access to a driveway and shall be maintained free from obstruction.
C.
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. No permitted or required loading space shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless completely enclosed by a building walls or an ornamental fence or wall or by combination thereof not less than six feet in height. No permitted or required loading space shall be located within 25 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets. Loading space open to the sky may be located in any required yards.
D.
Screening. Loading berths shall be screened by a six-foot hedge, wall or opaque fence on all sides which face residential use or a residential zoning district.
E.
Surfacing. All loading areas shall have a paved concrete a bituminous surface, graded with positive drainage to dispose of surface water.
F.
Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate loading areas shall be designed to reflect away from any property adjoining residential use or residential district classification and away from any street or highway.
§ 460-1106 Off-street loading requirements.
In all zoning districts, every use which requires the receipt or distribution of material or merchandise by vehicle shall provide off-street loading berths in accordance with the following requirements per square feet of gross floor area of building listed below.
Table 460-1106, Off-Street Loading Berth Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
Use | 1st Berth | 2nd Berth |
Industrial | ||
Manufacturing | 5,000 | 40,000 |
Warehouse | 5,000 | 40,000 |
Storage | 10,000 | 25,000 |
Commercial | ||
Wholesale | 10,000 | 40,000 |
Retail | 10,000 | 20,000 |
Service | 20,000 | 40,000 |
Amusement | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Restaurant | 10,000 | 25,000 |
Funeral homes | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Residential | ||
Apartment | 25,000 | 100,000 |
Institutional | ||
Schools | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Hospitals | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Public buildings | ||
Auditoriums | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Arenas | 10,000 | 100,000 |
§ 460-1107 Off-duty/personal use commercial vehicles in residential zoning districts (R-1, R-2 and R-3).
A.
All residential districts.
(1)
Two off-duty/personal use commercial vehicles per property or one regular length school bus.
(2)
No additional commercial vehicles are permitted in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zones unless located within a completely enclosed building.
(3)
No hazardous/explosive materials may be stored and/or contained within the commercial vehicle when vehicle is off duty/personal use.
B.
Exceptions.
(1)
This section shall not be construed as to prevent the temporary parking of emergency vehicles, delivery trucks, moving vans and similar vehicles used for delivery of goods and services nor the parking of commercial vehicles at an active job site or staging area with the appropriate permits and/or documentation.
(2)
All businesses with proper approval to operate within residential districts must also have approval for the location of additional commercial vehicles on the property.
(3)
This section shall not apply for the temporary parking/moving of commercial vehicles from a building/garage and/or driveway.
(4)
Temporary placement is allowed and shall refer to placement for less than 10 days within the calendar year of a commercial vehicle beyond the amount allowable by Township Code. Temporary parking in excess of 10 days shall be permitted in residential zones upon application and registration with the Zoning Officer for a temporary parking permit which may be issued for a period not to exceed an additional 20 days total within a calendar year. Said permit shall be specific to said commercial vehicle. No property shall be entitled to more than two temporary parking permits in a calendar year. Additional parking shall require conditional use approval.