Richland Township Cambria County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVIII
Parking
§ 240-105 General provisions.
A.
Requirement, As a general requirement, each use in the township shall provide sufficient off-street parking area to serve its users.
B.
Procedure. An application for a building permit for a new or enlarged building, structure or use shall include therewith a plot plan, 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.
C.
Extent of control. The off-street parking and loading requirements of this chapter apply as follows:
(1)
All buildings and structures erected and all land uses initiated after the effective date of this chapter shall provide accessory off-street parking or loading facilities as required hereinafter for the use thereof.
(2)
When a building or structure erected, altered or enlarged prior to or after the effective date of this chapter shall undergo a decrease in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, number of employees or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities and, further, when said decrease would result in a requirement for fewer total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of this chapter thereto, off-street parking and loading facilities are so decreased only when the facilities remaining would least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of this chapter to the entire building or structure as modified.
(3)
When a building or structure undergoes any increase in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities and, further, when said increase would result in a requirement for additional total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provision of this chapter, parking and loading facilities shall be increased so that the facilities will at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of this chapter to the entire building or structure as modified.
D.
Existing off-street parking and loading spaces. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in existence on the effective date of this chapter may not be reduced in number unless already exceeding the requirements of this article for equivalent new construction; in which event, said spaces shall not be reduced below the number required herein for such equivalent new construction.
§ 240-106 Design and maintenance.
B.
Fractional spaces. When determination of the number of required off-street parking spaces results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including one-half may be disregarded, and fractions over one-half shall be interpreted as one parking space.
C.
Access. Parking facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in such manner as will least interfere with the movement of traffic. No driveway or curb cut in any district shall exceed 25 feet in width for one-way movement or 35 feet in width for two-way movement unless otherwise deemed necessary by the Richland Township Planning Commission for uses requiring a site plan approval.
D.
Signs. No signs shall be displayed in any parking area within any residential district except such as may be necessary for the orderly use of the parking facilities. All signs in other parking areas shall conform to Article XIX herein.
E.
Striping. All parking spaces shall be properly marked and maintained by durable paint in stripes a minimum of four-inches wide and extending the length of the parking space.
F.
Required setbacks. No parking area shall occupy the first 10 feet of the front yard or side yard nearest the street or alley, which shall be landscaped and maintained as a buffer area.
G.
Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas, except those accessory to single-family and-two family dwellings, shall be surrounded by a raised concrete curb and improved with a bituminous or concrete material of adequate thickness to support the weight of fully loaded vehicles which customarily park or travel on it.
H.
Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from all adjoining properties and streets.
I.
Stormwater. Adequate stormwater drainage facilities shall be installed in order to ensure that stormwater does not flow onto abutting property or abutting sidewalks in such a way or quantity that pedestrians using the sidewalk would be detrimentally affected or inconvenienced. (See § 240-26.)
J.
Walls or planting strip. Whenever a parking lot abuts onto a public street, sidewalk or alley, a structurally sound wall or planting strip, with raised curb, approved by the Zoning Officer, shall be installed and maintained. Adequate retaining walls and other walls shall also be constructed and maintained along abutting property to provide proper solid retention and screening from abutting properties, subject to the approval of the Zoning Officer.
K.
Maintenance. Parking spaces shall be kept clean of debris, refuse and garbage and maintained so as to be free of potholes and other defects which might constitute danger to persons or property.
§ 240-107 Minimum standards.
Subject to the general requirement for off-street parking, off-street parking spaces, with proper access from a street, alley or driveway, shall be provided in all districts in the amounts indicated below. Such parking space shall be provided on any lot on which a dwelling is hereafter erected or converted or, in the case of any other use, on or near the lot on which any main building is hereafter erected or converted. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the collective provision of off-street parking facilities for two or more buildings or uses, provided that the total of such off-street parking facilities provided collectively shall be not less than the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses computed separately. In no case shall the number of parking spaces provided, or the area devoted to parking, be less than the minimum requirements of this section.
A.
One- and two-family dwellings: off street parking spaces for all vehicles.
B.
Three-or-more-family dwellings: two parking spaces for each family dwelling unit, plus one visitor's parking space for every two (or fraction thereof) dwelling units.
C.
Clubhouses and meeting places of veterans, business, civic, fraternal, labor and similar organizations: one parking space for every 50 square feet of aggregate floor area in the auditorium, assembly hall and dining room of such building, plus one additional space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
D.
Bowling alley: one parking space for every two customers computed on the basis of maximum servicing capacity at any one time, plus one additional space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
E.
Dormitories, fraternity houses and sorority houses: one parking space for every three beds occupied at maximum capacity. This requirement is in addition to the parking space requirements for educational establishments set forth elsewhere herein.
F.
Drive-in facilities: five parking spaces per 100 square feet of floor space.
G.
Financial institutions: one space for each employee during peak shift and three spaces for each teller station in addition to the requirements for office areas.
H.
Funeral homes and undertaking establishments: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus one parking space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift and 30 parking spaces for each designated viewing room at full capacity.
I.
Hospital: one parking space for every four beds intended for patients, excluding bassinets, plus one per doctor, one per two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift and one per hospital vehicle.
J.
Indoor retail businesses: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus one parking space for every 250 square feet of total floor area.
K.
Industrial plants and facilities: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such industrial use, plus one parking space for every three persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
L.
Junior and senior high school: one parking space for every six seats available in the assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium during maximum capacity on the high school grounds or campus. If the school has no assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium, one parking space shall be provided for each person regularly employed at such school, plus two additional spaces for each classroom.
M.
Libraries, museums, post offices and similar establishments: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the operation of such establishment, plus one parking space for every 250 square feet of total floor area.
N.
Medical and dental clinics or facilities: three parking spaces for each doctor, plus one additional space for each assistant, one additional space for each employee, two additional spaces for each examination room and one additional space for every 100 feet of waiting room.
O.
Motels and hotels: one parking space for each sleeping room offered for tourist accommodation, plus one space for each dwelling unit on the premises and one additional space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
P.
Nursing homes: one parking space for every two beds occupied at maximum capacity. This requirement is in addition to the parking space requirements for hospitals set forth herein.
Q.
Offices: one parking space for every 200 square feet of office space.
R.
Public and private elementary schools: one parking space for each person regularly employed at such school, plus one additional space for each classroom.
S.
Public garages: indoor or outdoor parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus three parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises.
T.
Recreation centers, swimming pools, skating rinks, outdoor commercial recreation enterprises and other recreation and amusement facilities: one parking space for every 4 customers computed on the basis of maximum servicing capacity at any one time, plus one additional space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
U.
Repair shops, plumbing shops, electrical shops, roofing shops and other service establishments: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus two parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises.
V.
Restaurants, indoor and other eating and drinking establishments: one parking space for each table or booth, plus one parking space for every two stools at bar or counter and one parking space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
W.
Service stations: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus one parking space for each gas pump, three spaces for each grease rack or similar facility and one space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
X.
Theaters, auditoriums, churches, stadiums and other places of public assembly: one parking space for every six seats available at maximum capacity.
Y.
Transportation terminals: one parking space for every 100 square feet of waiting room space, plus one additional space for every two persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
Z.
Universities, colleges, academies and similar institutions of higher learning: one parking space for every six seats occupied in the assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium during maximum capacity on the campus.
(1)
Parking space shall be provided for each person regularly employed at such institution, plus five additional spaces for each classroom
AA.
Warehouses, freight terminals and trucking terminals: parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus two parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises during peak shift.
§ 240-108 Location of parking areas.
Off-street automobile parking facilities shall be located as hereinafter specified. Where distance is specified, such distance shall be walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking area to the nearest entrance of the building that said parking area is required to serve.
A.
One- and two-family dwellings: on the same lot with the building they are required to serve.
B.
Three- and four-family dwellings not over two stories in height and row dwellings not over one and one-half stories in height: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve. For the purpose of this requirement, a group of such uses constructed and maintained under a single ownership or management shall be assumed to be on a single lot or parcel of land.
C.
Clubs, hospitals, sanitariums, orphanages, homes for the aged, convalescent homes and other similar uses: on the same lot or parcel of land as the main building or buildings being served or upon properties contiguous to the zoning lot upon which is located the building or buildings they are intended to serve.
D.
Multiple-family dwellings containing more than four dwelling units and all other uses: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to service or on a separate lot or parcel of land not more than 300 feet from the nearest entrance to the main use being served, provided that the lot or parcel of land selected for the parking facilities is located in an R-4, C, or L-1 District.
§ 240-109 Special regulations relating to access and highway frontage.
In order to minimize traffic congestion and hazard, control street access in the interest of public safety and encourage the appropriate development of street or highway frontage, the following shall apply:
A.
No parking lot or area for off-street parking or for the storage or movement of motor vehicles shall abut directly a public street or highway unless separated from the street or highway at least 10 feet by a raised curb, barrier planting strip, wall or other effective barrier against traffic, except for necessary accessways, and each parking lot shall have not more than two accessways to any one public street or highway for each 500 feet of frontage. Where practicable, access to parking areas shall be provided by a common service driveway or minor street in order to avoid direct access on a major street or highway. No such accessway shall be more than 35 feet in width.
(1)
All parking, loading or service areas used by motor vehicles shall be located entirely within the lot lines of the property.
(2)
All buildings shall front upon a marginal street, service road, common parking lot or similar area and not directly upon a public street or highway.
(3)
For all multifamily, commercial, industrial or institutional uses, driveways shall not cross the street right-of-way line within 100 feet of the street right-of-way of an intersecting street located on the same side of the roadway.
(4)
All streets and accessways shall be designed in a manner conducive to safe exit and entrance and shall conform to the highway specifications and subdivision requirements of the township.
(5)
No two of said driveways serving single- or two-family residences shall be closer to each other than three feet, and no driveway shall be closer to an internal side or rear property line than three feet. Residential driveways shall not cross the street right-of-way line within 40 feet of the street right-of-way line of an intersecting street.
(6)
Each driveway shall be properly established and shall be not more than 35 feet in width, measured at right angles to the center line of driveway, except as increased by permissible curb return radii. The entire flare of any return radius shall fall within the right-of-way.
B.
All driveways, aisles, maneuvering spaces, vehicular service areas or spaces between or about buildings, other than those relating to a dwelling, shall be adequately illuminated.
C.
All outside lighting, including sign lighting, shall be directed in such a way as not to create a nuisance in an agricultural, institutional or residential district, and in every district all such lighting shall be arranged so as to protect the street or highway and adjoining property from direct glare or hazardous interference of any kind. Any luminary shall be equipped with some type of glare-shielding device approved by the Zoning Officer. The height of any luminary shall not exceed 25 feet.
§ 240-110 Additional regulations for parking.
A.
Use of off-street facilities. Except for vehicles used in the operation of a working farm, off-street parking facilities accessory to residential use and developed in any residential district, in accordance with the requirements of this article, shall not be used for the parking of commercial and service vehicles of more than three tons gross vehicle weight (GVW). Commercial and/or service vehicles exceeding three tons that are owned or operated by occupants of dwelling structures or by guests of said occupants may be parked within a completely enclosed garage or other building.
B.
Joint parking facilities.
(1)
Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses or for mixed uses may be provided collectively in any zoning district in which separate off-street parking facilities for each constituent use are permitted, provided that the total number of spaces so located together are not less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use of which normal hours of operation coincide and not more than 300 feet from and contiguous to the lot on which the main building is located.
(2)
In any case where the required parking spaces are not located on the same lot with the building or use served, or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a written agreement thereto, assuring their retention for such purposes, shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form and execution by the Solicitor and filed with the application for a building permit.
(3)
Not more than 50% of the parking spaces required for (a) theaters and places of amusement and up to 100% of the parking spaces required for a church or school, may be provided and used jointly by (b) banks, offices, retail stores, repair shops, service establishments and similar uses not normally open, used or operated during the same hours as those listed in (a), provided that written agreement assuring the retention for such purposes is approved as to form and execution by the Township Solicitor and filed with the application for a building permit.
C.
Control of off-site facilities When required accessory off-street parking facilities are provided other than on the lot on which the principal use is located, they shall be in the same possession, either by deed or long-term lease, as the property occupied by such principal use, and the owner shall be bound by covenants of record filed in the office of the Township Secretary requiring the owner and his or her heirs and assigns to maintain the required number of off-street parking spaces during the existence of said principal use. Use of such off-site facilities is subject to approval by Richland Township.
D.
Nonresidential parking in residential districts. Accessory off-street parking facilities serving nonresidential uses of property may be permitted in any R District when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board after review and study by the Planning Commission, subject to the following requirements in addition to all other relevant requirements of this article:
(1)
The parking lot shall be accessory to and for use in connection with one or more nonresidential establishments located in adjoining districts or in connection with one or more existing professional or institutional office buildings or institutions and within 300 feet of the nonresidential use which it is to serve.
(2)
Said parking lot shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles.
(3)
No commercial repair work or service of any kind shall be conducted on said parking lot.
(4)
No sign of any kind other than signs designating entrances, exits and conditions of use shall be maintained on said parking lot and shall not exceed eight square feet in area.
(5)
The parking lot may be open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and shall be closed at all other times; however, when supervised by one or more full-time attendants, the parking lot may be kept open until 12:00 midnight.
(6)
Each entrance to and from said parking lot shall be a distance of at least 35 feet from any adjacent property located in any residential district except where ingress or egress to the parking lot is provided from a public alley or public way separating the residential areas from the proposed parking lot. A buffer area of 15 feet minimum width shall be provided and maintained along all lot lines, which are not street lines, abutting residential uses.
(7)
In addition to the foregoing requirements, such parking lots shall conform to any further requirements and conditions as may be prescribed by the Township Supervisors for the protection of properties adjacent to and in the vicinity of the proposed parking lot.
§ 240-111 Design, maintenance and schedule of off-street loading space.
A.
Design.
(1)
Loading space description. An off-street 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 required loading space shall be not less than 10 feet in width, 14 feet in height and of adequate length to suit the specific use exclusive of access aisles and maneuvering space except as otherwise specifically dimensioned herein.
(2)
Location. No permitted or required loading space shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless completely enclosed by building walls or an ornamental fence or wall, or any 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.
(3)
Measurement of spaces. When determination of the number of required off-street loading spaces results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including one-half may be disregarded, and any fraction over one-half shall be interpreted as one loading space.
(4)
Surfacing. All open off-street loading spaces shall be improved with a compacted base and surfaced with a bituminous or concrete material of adequate thickness to support the weight of fully loaded vehicles which customarily use said spaces.
B.
Schedule of required loading and unloading space. Every building or structure used for business trade or industry shall provide space as herein indicated for the loading a unloading of vehicles off the street or public alley. Such space shall have access to a public alley or, if there is no alley, to a street. Off-street loading and unloading space shall be in addition to the requirements for off-street parking space listed herein. Off-street loading and unloading space shall not be designed, intended, constructed or used in a manner such as to obstruct or interfere with the free use of any street, alley or adjoining property. The specific use requirements for off-street loading and unloading spaces are provided for as follows:
(1)
Multistory multiple-family dwellings: one off-street loading and unloading space at least 10 feet wide for every 5,000 square feet of total floor area.
(2)
Industrial plants: one off-street loading and unloading space at least 12 feet by 50 feet for every 10,000 square feet of total area.
(3)
Warehouses and wholesale storage facilities: one off-street loading and unloading space at least 12 feet by 50 feet for every 7,500 square feet of total floor area.
(4)
Freight terminals and trucking terminals: one off-street loading and unloading space at lease 12 feet by 50 feet for every 5,000 square feet of total floor area.
(5)
Commercial uses: one off-street loading and unloading space for each commercial occupancy or as otherwise determined and approved by the Richland Township Planning Commission during the site plan review process.