Parkside City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Parking Regulations
§ 182-73 Purposes.
The purposes of this article are to adequately provide for the parking needs of all uses in the Borough while preventing the overbuilding of unused capacity, to reduce traffic congestion on public streets by getting parking off streets, and to allow faster emergency access. The secondary purposes include providing for special parking needs of handicapped drivers and providing flexibility in meeting the Borough's parking problems and needs by methods such as common parking arrangements.
§ 182-74 Applicability.
B.
Existing structures and uses. No building or use of land lawfully in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be subject to the following requirements so long as the kind or extent of use is not changed so as to require additional parking.
C.
The provision and retention of facilities. All required parking facilities shall be provided and maintained so long as the use exists which the facilities were designed to serve. Off-street parking facilities shall not be reduced in total extent except when such reduction is in conformity with this article.
D.
A change or extension of use. Except in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts, whenever a structure is altered or a use is changed or extended which increases the parking requirements, then the total additional parking required for the alteration, change or extension shall be provided in accordance with § 182-75.
E.
New construction and expansion of existing uses must provide the off-street parking spaces required in § 182-75. However, in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts, the required spaces may be provided in any one or any combination of the following types of facilities or arrangements:
(1)
Off-street/on-site.
(4)
Municipal parking lot or structure.
Proposals for uses that would utilize parking in any arrangement other than the standard off-street/on-site manner must be accompanied by a written agreement between the applicant and the owner of the parking facility indicating that such parking spaces will be provided to serve the proposed use or expansion of an existing use. Prior to the approval of any proposed use or expansion necessitating other than the standard off-street/on-site parking, the Zoning Officer must certify in writing that such parking arrangements have been executed and that all required spaces have thereby been provided.
§ 182-75 Required parking ratios.
Required parking ratios shall be as follows:
Residential Uses | Minimum Number of Spaces Required |
|---|---|
Single-family dwelling detached or semidetached, 1 bedroom | 2 spaces |
Single-family townhouse, 1 bedroom | 2 spaces |
Single-family dwelling, detached or semidetached, more than 1 bedroom | 2 spaces |
Single family townhouse, more than 1 bedroom | 2 spaces |
Multifamily dwelling unit, studio apartment or 1 bedroom | 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit |
Multifamily dwelling unit, 2 or more bedrooms | 2 for every 2 bedrooms |
Multifamily dwelling units for ages 55 and older | 1.5 spaces per 4 dwelling units |
Community residence facility | 1 space for every 2 bedrooms, plus 1 for each employee |
Assisted living facility | 1 space for every 4 residents, plus 1 for each full-time employee |
Professional home office | Maximum of 2 spaces for occupation and 2 spaces, maximum, for residents |
Retail Commercial or Other Business Uses | Minimum Number of Spaces Required | |
|---|---|---|
Retail store or shop | 1 for every 400 square feet of gross floor area | |
Furniture or appliance store | 1 for every 400 square feet of gross floor area | |
Convenience store | 1 for every 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Baker or confectioner or other similar use | 1 for every 250 square feet of gross floor area | |
Personal service business (barber, tailor, etc.) | 1 for every 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
General service and repair shops | 1 for every 400 square feet of gross floor area | |
Office (professional, business, medical, governmental, or nonprofit) | 1 for every 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Banks, credit unions, and savings and loans | 1 for every 200 square feet of gross floor area; 1 for every 125 for banks with drive-through facilities | |
Eating and drinking establishments | ||
Sit-down | 1 for every 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for every 2 employees on the shift of greatest employment | |
With drive-through service | 1 for every 100 square feet of floor area, plus 1 for every 2 employees on the shift of greatest employment | |
Funeral home | 1 for every 200 square feet of floor area in viewing rooms or parlors, plus 1 for each official funeral car and 1 for every 2 employees exclusive of the resident family members | |
Gas station | 1 stacking space per fueling aisle, plus 1 space per accessory use (air pump, vacuum); spaces for convenience stores/mini marts, repair shops, and car wash facilities shall comply with those specific requirements in this section | |
Car wash | ||
Standard car wash | 2 per bay for stacking, plus 2 between the exit of the facility and the street, plus 1 for each employee on the greatest shift | |
Self-service car wash | 2 per bay for stacking, plus 1 for standing between the exit of the facility and street | |
Laundromat | 1 for every 400 square feet of gross floor area | |
Tradesman's shops (electrician, carpenter, plumber, etc.) | 1 space for every 500 square feet of floor area | |
Automobile service and repair or sales and leasing | 2 spaces, either within or outside the structure, for every 300 square feet of gross floor area | |
Governmental, Educational or Institutional Uses | Number of Spaces Required | |
|---|---|---|
Churches, auditoriums and other spaces of public assembly | 1 for every 10 seats | |
Community center, library, or similar use | 1 for every 250 square feet of gross floor area | |
Continuing-care facility | 1 for every 2 dwelling units | |
Group day-care home | 1 for every 300 square feet of area devoted to day-care use | |
Day-care center | 1 for every 500 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for each adult attendant | |
Primary schools | 1 for each faculty member or other full-time employee, 2 for each classroom | |
Private commercial educational institution or establishment | 1 for every 2 faculty members and full-time employees, plus 1 for every 3 students | |
Recycling facility | ||
Small collection facility | 1 minimum for every facility | |
Public or Private Recreational Uses | Number of Spaces Required |
|---|---|
Private clubs or lodge halls | 1 space for every 10 members |
Indoor commercial recreation and/or amusement use, including private instructional studio or school | 1 for every 150 square feet of gross floor area |
§ 182-76 General parking regulations for off-street parking.
A.
If the computation of the parking ratios listed in § 182-75 of this chapter results in a fraction, an additional parking space shall be required.
B.
All parking areas, loading areas and driveways shall be graded and paved with a bituminous or asphalt surface or other suitable materials to prevent dust and erosion. Such areas shall also be drained in conformance with municipal standards to prevent excessive water flow onto streets, adjoining properties or area streams.
C.
All nonresidential off-street parking areas and residential off-street parking for multifamily uses shall be clearly line-striped and maintained.
E.
All parking areas with five or more spaces shall be adequately lighted so as to assist in the safe maneuvering of motor vehicles and to provide security for users of the lot. All lighting shall be arranged to avoid glare on adjacent properties.
F.
No commercial motor vehicle with greater than two-wheel axles may be stored on a lot in a residential district, unless such vehicle is stored in a private garage.
G.
Parking or storage of disabled, partially dismantled, or junk cars, trucks, boats, or other disabled vehicles shall be permitted on a lot for a continuous period of not more than seven days.
H.
Off-street parking shall be prohibited in the front yard in residential districts if sufficient parking area is available behind the building line.
§ 182-77 Design regulations.
A.
The size of a standard parking space shall be nine feet wide and 20 feet long, an area of 180 square feet. The average size over the course of an entire parking area, lot or facility shall be a minimum of 9.5 feet wide.
B.
Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be eight feet wide by 18 feet long, an area of 144 square feet. Every handicapped accessible parking space shall have an adjacent access aisle to accommodate handicapped ramps and wheelchairs from vehicles that shall be five feet wide for standard parking spaces and eight feet wide for van parking spaces. Parking spaces for the handicapped must be located as close as possible to public entrances and ramps to buildings. Each space must be clearly marked with proper signage.
C.
Handicapped spaces shall be provided in the amounts required below:
Total Parking Spaces | Number of Required Handicapped Spaces | |
|---|---|---|
10 to 25 | 1 | |
26 to 50 | 2 | |
51 to 75 | 3 | |
76 to 100 | 4 |
D.
All off-street parking areas in nonresidential districts for three or more vehicles shall be designed so that vehicles need not back directly into a public street but can enter and leave the parking area in a forward motion.
E.
All parking shall be accessible from a street or driveway.
F.
All off-street parking areas, except driveways for single- and two-family homes, shall be separated from the street or highway by a raised curb, planting strip, wall, or other suitable barrier against unchannelized motor vehicle entrance or exit, except for necessary ingress and egress points.
G.
Drive-through establishments such as fast food, automatic bank teller and similar uses shall provide no fewer than five waiting spaces for each drive-through lane. This is in addition to the space for the car being serviced.
H.
Nonresidential and low- and mid-rise apartment building two-way driveways shall be a minimum of 22 feet wide and a maximum of 36 feet wide. One-way driveways shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide.
§ 182-78 Common parking and off-site parking.
A.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent collective provision of off-site parking facilities for two or more nonresidential buildings or uses, provided that the total of such off-site parking facilities provided collectively shall be not less than the sum of requirements for the various uses compiled separately. Such off-site parking area shall be adjacent to one of the buildings or uses and not farther than 600 feet from either building or use as measured from the edge of the parking facility to the building line of said structures or uses.
B.
The number of spaces required in such a common parking area may be reduced below the sum of the total requirements if it can be demonstrated to the Zoning Officer that the hours or days of peak parking demand for the uses are so different that a lower overall total of parking spaces will adequately provide for the uses to be served. In such case, sufficient parking shall be provided to meet the minimum needs of the use that requires the greater parking area.
C.
Uses in the C-1 and C-2 Commercial Districts may provide the required parking spaces (as per § 182-75) in off-site parking facilities. Such facilities shall be located not more than 500 feet from the principal entrance of the use. This distance shall be measured along the shortest sidewalk route between the use and the off-site parking facility.
§ 182-79 Design of off-street loading facilities.
A.
In addition to the off-street parking spaces required in this article, any building erected and/or enlarged for any nonresidential use shall provide off-street areas for loading and unloading and commercial vehicle parking spaces.
B.
The minimum size loading space shall be 50 feet long and 12 feet wide, with an overhead clearance of 14 feet, exclusive of drives and maneuvering space. Such space shall be located entirely on the lot being served. Any overhead canopy should extend a minimum of four feet beyond a loading dock.
C.
All loading space shall have adequate access from a street or public right-of-way which does not block or interfere with required parking as specified in § 182-75. This required space shall be provided in addition to established requirements for patron and employee parking.
D.
In no case shall public rights-of-way be used for loading or unloading of materials. Furthermore, no loading dock or space shall be located or arranged in such a way that it is necessary to back any vehicle into or off any public right-of-way or require the use of any public right-of-way for maneuvering space.
E.
All accessory driveways and entranceways shall be graded, paved, and drained to comply with Borough ordinance standards to prevent nuisance of dust, erosion, or excessive water flow across streets and adjoining properties.
F.
All off-street loading berths shall be provided on either the side or rear of the lot. In no case shall off-street loading berths be provided in the front of the lot.
G.
Such facilities shall be designed and used so as to at no time constitute a nuisance, a hazard, or an impediment to traffic.
§ 182-80 Screening and landscaping requirements.
A.
Screening between any parking area and the street line shall be effective at the time of occupancy, subject to the following provisions:
(1)
Nonresidential off-street parking areas that abut residentially zoned properties shall be screened from such adjacent uses.
(2)
Effective screening may be accomplished through the use of plant materials, fencing, or walls and/or mounding using an earthen berm to form a continuous visual buffer in accordance with § 182-107.
(3)
The area for planting and fencing, walls, or earthen berms shall not extend beyond the street line.
(4)
When planted visual screens are employed, the following shall apply:
(a)
A buffer planting strip shall be provided. It shall be a minimum of seven feet in width unless specifically required otherwise in this chapter.
(b)
Planted visual screens shall be of sufficient height and density to constitute a continuous visual screen six feet in height at the time of planting except as provided below.
(5)
When fencing or walls are employed, the effective height of the continuous visual buffer shall be not less than five or more than six feet.
(6)
Whenever earthen berms are employed, the effective height of the continuous visual buffer shall be not less than five feet.
(7)
In the case of a parking lot which is the main use, such lot shall be enclosed, except for entrances and exits, by an ornamental fence or wall or by a compact evergreen ridge not less than four feet high, except when the boundary of such parking lot is an adjoining building.
B.
Landscaping within any parking area which provides 20 or more parking spaces shall be subject to the following provisions:
(1)
Off-street parking areas shall be landscaped to reduce wind and air turbulence, heat, noise and the glare of automobile lights; to reduce the level of carbon monoxide; to provide shade; to improve stormwater drainage problems; to replenish the groundwater table; and to provide for a more attractive setting.
(2)
The interior of each parking lot shall have at least one three-inch-caliper deciduous shade tree for every 15 parking spaces if there are no existing shade trees to satisfy this requirement. Shrubs and other plant materials are encouraged to be used to complement the trees but shall not be the sole contribution to the landscaping. These trees shall be in addition to those required as an effective screen. Trees selected for landscaping in parking areas shall be of a species proven to be salt- and dust-resistant.
(3)
Landscaped areas at least five feet wide shall be provided around the periphery of parking areas. Such areas shall, at a minimum, extend the full length for necessary accessways to prevent the encroachment of moving vehicles into parking areas.
(4)
Landscaped islands between every 20 parking spaces or at the end of each parking row, whichever is less, shall be provided and shall be the length and width of the parking spaces.
(5)
Existing plant material and trees with a caliper of six inches or more shall be preserved wherever possible during construction. Such existing plants may be credited toward the amount of required plantings.