Pottstown City Zoning Code
PART 6
PARKING
§ 600 Off-Street Parking.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 600; as amended by Ord. 2133, 2/9/2015]
1.
Off-street parking and loading provisions as set forth in these Parts shall be required in all instances, except the remodeling of existing buildings as follows:
A.
In the event of a change of an existing use in an existing building, no additional off-street parking shall be required if the total floor space does not increase and if the new existing use does not require any more spaces under this Part than the use it replaces.
B.
On-street parking spaces shall not be used to satisfy the requirements of this Part unless the Zoning Officer determines, in writing, that sufficient on-street parking exists along the frontage of the property line/lines. No more than 10% of the required parking spaces shall be on-street parking.
2.
All off-street parking and loading areas, whether required by this Part or not, shall be developed, maintained, and used in accordance with the provisions set forth in these Sections.
§ 601 Off-Street Parking Standards.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 601; Ord. 2067, 12/14/2009; Ord. 2133, 2/9/2015; Ord. 2136, 5/11/2015; Ord. No. 2196, 4/13/2020; Ord. No. 2237, 12/9/2024]
1.
A parking space shall have a dimension of nine feet by 18 feet. Parking spaces in garages shall not be used to calculate the required off-street parking requirements. Parking lots with a minimum of 12 parking spaces may designate up to 10% of those spaces as compact spaces with a parking space dimension of eight feet by 15 feet.
2.
Parking lots shall comply with the Pottstown Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22].
3.
Interior aisles or maneuvering lanes shall have a minimum width as follows:
Angle of Parking Space | Parking Aisle Width in Feet |
|---|---|
90° to 60° | 22 |
60° to 45° | 19 |
Less than 45° | 17 |
Parallel | 12 |
4.
Number of Spaces.
A.
The number of parking spaces required is as follows:
Type of Use | Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
Single-family dwelling, detached or semidetached, 1 bedroom | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Single-family townhouse, 1 bedroom | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Single-family dwelling, detached or semidetached, more than 1 bedroom | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Single-family townhouse with more than 1 bedroom | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Multiple-family dwelling unit, studio apartment or 1 bedroom | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Multiple-family dwelling unit, 2 or more bedrooms | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Multiple-family dwelling units for ages 55 and older | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Commercial, office, and institutional | 3 spaces per 1,000 square feet |
Industrial | 1 space per 1,000 square feet |
Warehouse | 0.25 space per 1,000 square feet |
B.
In addition to being subject to the required off-street parking spaces provided above, the following uses shall also require additional off-street parking spaces as follows:
Type of Use | Parking Spaces Required |
|---|---|
Adult day care | 1 space per every 7 adults |
Boarding home | 1 space for owner-occupier; and 1 space per lodging room |
Bed-and-breakfast/tourist home | 1 space |
Child care facility - day care center | 1 space per every 4 children |
Child care facility - family day care | 1 space per every 4 children |
Child care facility - group day care home | 1 space per every 4 children |
Preschool and day care facility | 1 space per every 4 children |
Continuing care home | 2 spaces together with 1 space if residents total 59 or fewer, 2 spaces if residents total 60 to 500, 4 spaces if residents total 501 to 1,000, or 8 spaces if residents total more than 1,000, in order to accommodate minimum staffing; and 1 space per every 20 residents |
Group home | 1 space per every 2 residents; and 1 space for staff |
Personal care home | 1 space per every 5 beds; and 1 space per each staff member during maximum shift |
Rooming house | 1 additional space per room |
Treatment center | 1 space per each staff member during maximum shift |
C.
Uses permitted in the Downtown District pursuant to § 320, Downtown, of this chapter are exempted from the minimum parking requirements contained in Subsection 4A and B; provided that the habitable space of the residential portion of any mixed use does not increase more than 500 square feet beyond its footprint as of the effective date of this subsection by means of constructing either added stories or building additions. If the footprint of the habitable space within the residential portion of such a mixed use increases more than 500 square feet beyond its footprint as of the date of the effective date of this subsection, the entirety of the residential portion of the use shall then be subject to the regulations contained within this subsection.
5.
Every required parking space shall have direct access from or to a public street or alley without first requiring the movement of another motor vehicle.
6.
The layout of any parking area shall be designed to allow vehicles to move forward when exiting onto a public street, except for the following:
7.
Garages located along any street or alley shall have their exit points located at least 22 feet from the opposite cartway limit of the street or alley onto which vehicles are exiting.
§ 602 Off-Street Parking Surfaces.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 602]
1.
All off-street parking areas shall be properly graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulations within the area.
2.
No surface water from any parking or loading area shall be permitted to drain onto any adjoining property.
3.
Any parking area with access or egress directly onto a street 24 feet or wider in the Downtown District shall be surfaced with an asphaltic, bituminous, cement, brick, or other properly bound pavement so as to provide a durable and dustless surface. Other parking lots may be surfaced with pavement or gravel.
4.
Curbs, bumper guards, bollards or wheel stops shall be installed in parking and loading areas where there is a protective fence, wall or hedge to ensure that vehicles will not strike them or obstruct public rights-of-way.
§ 603 Overflow Parking Surfaces.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 603]
Off-street areas used for special event parking (to accommodate occasional overflow volumes) may be constructed of any dust-free compacted, pervious ground cover. The owner of the property shall be responsible for the maintenance of such parking in a clean and dust-free condition. Grass and mulch are examples of acceptable pervious ground cover.
§ 604 Lighting of Parking Areas.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 604]
All parking areas for more than 10 vehicles serving business uses and collective residential parking shall be adequately illuminated during the hours between sunset and sunrise when the use is in operation. Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area, whether required or not, shall be so arranged or shielded to protect any adjacent residential premises from the glare of the illumination.
Fixtures shall be equipped with or be capable of being back fitted with light directing devices such as shields, visors or hoods when necessary to redirect offending light distribution. Lights shall be installed or aimed so that they do not project their output into the window of a neighboring residence, an adjacent use, directly skyward, or onto a roadway.
§ 605 Access Driveways.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 605]
1.
Each separate use or group of buildings constructed and maintained on a lot as a unified development shall have no more than two accessways connecting a tract to any one street or highway for each 300 feet of frontage.
4.
The accessway shall be from eight to 20 feet wide in Conservation Districts and the Downtown Gateway District.
5.
In Conversation Districts and the Downtown Gateway District, the accessway shall be on a side street at the rear of the property, no less than 30 feet from the corner, unless this is physically not possible.
§ 606 Accessory Parking Lots.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 606]
1.
Parking lots as accessory uses to provide required parking spaces may be located on a land parcel separate from the building or use it serves. All required parking spaces shall be:
§ 607 Shared Parking Lots.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 607; as amended by Ord. 1985, 10/12/2004, § 3]
1.
Multiple buildings or uses may share parking lots to meet the required parking spaces of this Part, provided the lot is owned by one or more of the users.
2.
Before a parking lot may serve multiple users, a formal written agreement shall be signed by all the parties containing a site plan and the number of spaces to be allocated to each user. A copy of this agreement shall be kept on file by the Zoning Officer, who may revoke the zoning permits of the users if the agreement is not maintained.
3.
In order to encourage the maximum use of Pottstown's parking lots, the following rules will govern:
A.
If the applicants combine residential uses with nonresidential uses having normal business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., each space may be counted for both uses.
B.
If the applicants can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Borough that the peak business hours for each use are substantially different, such as an office having daytime hours combined with a restaurant having peak use in the evening, each space may be counted for both uses.
C.
If the applicants' business hours are substantially the same, or if the applicants are all residential uses, the total spaces required shall be the total of all proposed uses.
4.
Parking requirements to be satisfied by applicants who lease spaces from the Borough, either as on-street parking or on Borough parking lots, for use by residents from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. weekdays and Saturdays, and all day Sunday. In predominately residential areas, applicants may lease on-street parking spaces from the Borough for daytime use. Applicants may also lease spaces from private parking lot operators.
§ 608 Off-Street Loading Areas.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 608]
All uses requiring regular shipments and deliveries shall provide sufficient off-street areas for the standing, turning, loading and unloading of trucks so that the parking and maneuvering of trucks on public streets will be avoided.
§ 609 Parking Lots in Conservation, Gateway Districts.
[Ord. 1968, 9/8/2003, § 609]
Background: Pottstown's downtown and most of its traditional neighborhoods were constructed in the era before automobiles were invented or became widely used. Pottstown's development pattern of closely spaced buildings, often placed up against the street, give it the distinct neighborhood feel and identity it enjoys today. To retain that special feel in the automobile era, Pottstown needs to accommodate cars without demolishing buildings or otherwise destroying the character of its downtown and residential neighborhoods.
1.
Design guidelines: Where it is physically possible, parking lots shall be located behind buildings, such that buildings separate parking areas from the street. In cases where this is not possible, parking may be located to the side of a building, but in no case shall the parking area be wider than 50% of the lot frontage, and in no case shall parking be located in front of a building. Parking shall not be placed to the side of a building adjacent to a street unless there is no other feasible alternative. See drawing below: (On file at the Borough Office).
2.
Design guidelines: Whenever a parking lot abuts a street, it shall be screened by a four-foot tall fence constructed of wood, vinyl designed to look like wood, brick, stone, stucco over concrete block (capped with brick, slate or stone), or ornamental iron (or ornamental aluminum, steel or vinyl designed to look like iron).
Although hedges and other landscaping are encouraged, they may not substitute for a fence or wall. For landscaping requirements, see the Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22], Section 508. (Additional photos on file at Borough Office). |