South Plainfield City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VI
Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities
§ 540-28 Scope of provisions.
Off-street parking, unloading and service requirements of this article shall apply and govern in all present and future zoning districts within the Borough of South Plainfield. No land shall be used or occupied, no structure shall be designed, created, altered, used or occupied, and no use shall be operated unless off-street parking and loading facilities are provided in at least the amount, and maintained in the manner, required by this article; provided, however, that any use in operation on the effective date of these regulations is not affected by the provisions of this article until such time as the existing gross floor area is increased or a site plan is required.
§ 540-29 Construction and design standards.
A.
Required area for each parking space. Each automobile parking space shall not be less than nine feet wide nor less than 18 feet deep (162 square feet), exclusive of passageways, and shall have the following minimum aisle widths:
[Amended 12-16-1993 by Ord. No. 1339]
Parking Angle (degrees) | Minimum Aisle Width (feet) | |
|---|---|---|
45° | 15 | |
60° | 18 for 1-way/25 for 2-way | |
75° | 22 | |
90° | 25 for 2-way traffic |
B.
Provision for proper drainage and maintenance. All off-street parking, off-street loading and service facilities shall be so drained as to prevent damage to abutting properties and/or public streets and shall be constructed of materials which will assure a surface resistant to erosion. Such drainage and materials shall be installed as required by the Borough Engineer. All such areas shall be at all times maintained at the expense of the owners thereof in a clean, orderly and dust-free condition.
C.
Separation from walkways and streets. All off-street parking, off-street loading, and service areas shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks, streets or alleys by curbing or other protective device approved by the Borough Engineer or as shown on an approved site plan.
D.
Private walks adjacent to business buildings. A private walk, if provided, adjacent to a business building shall not be less than four feet in width and shall be in addition to the other requirements of this section.
E.
Buffer required when adjoining property is residential. Where off-street parking, loading or service areas are proposed to be located closer than 50 feet to a lot in any residential zoning district or to any lot upon which there exists a dwelling as a permitted use under these regulations, and where such parking, loading or service areas are not entirely screened visually from such lot by an intervening building or structure, there shall be provided along the lot line a continuous buffer strip of suitable plantings. No such buffer shall extend nearer to a street right-of-way than the established building line of the adjoining residential lot.
F.
Interior driveways. Interior driveways shall be at least 24 feet wide where used with 90° angle parking; at least 20 feet wide where used with 60° angle parking; and at least 15 feet wide where used with 45° angle parking. Where used with parallel parking or where there is no parking, interior driveways shall be at least 12 feet wide for one-way traffic movement and at least 24 feet wide for two-way traffic movement.
G.
Connection to a public right-of-way. Each off-street parking, loading or service area shall be connected to a public street right-of-way by means of a driveway constructed in accordance with at least the minimum standards required by the Borough Engineer or as shown on an approved site plan.
H.
Size of driveways. A driveway exclusive of curb return radii shall be not less than 12 feet in width. A curb return radius for a driveway at its entrance to a public street shall not exceed 10 feet unless required. The maximum width of a driveway exclusive of curb return radii shall not exceed 36 feet except for unusual circumstances.
I.
Off-street parking space within buildings. Garage space or space within buildings, in basements, or on the roofs of buildings may be used to meet the off-street parking requirements of this chapter, provided that such space is designated to serve as off-street parking space.
J.
Pavement markings and signs. Each off-street parking space shall be clearly marked, and pavement directional arrows or signs shall be provided wherever necessary. Markers, directional arrows and signs shall be properly maintained so as to ensure their maximum efficiency.
K.
Lighting for night use. Adequate lighting shall be provided if the off-street parking facilities are used at night. If said parking facilities abut residential land, the lighting shall be arranged and installed so as not to reflect or cause glare on the abutting residential land.
L.
Required off-street parking area shall not be reduced. No off-street parking area shall be reduced in size or encroached upon by buildings, vehicle storage, loading or unloading, or any other use where such reduction or encroachment will reduce the off-street parking and loading spaces below that required by these regulations.
M.
Joint parking facilities. The off-street parking requirements for two or more neighboring uses of the same or different types may be satisfied by the allocation of the required number of spaces for each use in a common parking facility, provided that the number of off-street parking spaces is not less than the sum of individual requirements, and provided further that there is compliance with all other provisions of these regulations.
N.
Parking provided on same lot as main building. Off-street parking spaces for one-family and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot as the main building to be served. Off-street parking spaces for multifamily dwellings shall be located on the same lot as the main building to be served or not more than 300 feet distant, as measured along the nearest pedestrian walkway. Off-street parking spaces for all other uses shall be provided on the same lot as the main building to be served or not more than 500 feet distant, as measured along the nearest pedestrian walkway.
O.
Requirements for combined uses. The number of off-street parking spaces required by land or buildings used for two or more purposes shall be the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses.
P.
Sharing of parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required facilities for any other use.
Q.
Computing number of employees. For the purposes of this article, the number of employees shall be computed on the basis of the average number of persons to be employed, taking into consideration day, night and seasonable variations.
R.
Fractional spaces required. When units of measurement determining the number of required off-street parking and off-street loading spaces result in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including 1/2 shall be disregarded and fractions over 1/2 shall require one off-street parking or off-street loading space.
S.
Other use of off-street parking spaces prohibited. No off-street parking or loading area shall be used for the sale, repair, dismantling or servicing of any vehicles, equipment, materials or supplies.
T.
Size of loading berth. A loading berth shall be at least 10 feet wide with at least 15 feet overhead clearance. The Planning Board or Board of Adjustment shall determine the sufficiency of the off-street loading and maneuvering space based upon the kind and amount of loading and unloading operations required by the given use, but in no case shall the use of such space hinder the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians over a street, sidewalk or alley.[1]
U.
Area. Wherever the words "floor area," "floor space" and "area" are used they shall mean gross floor area.
§ 540-30 Minimum space requirements for off-street parking areas.
A.
Automobile sales establishment; flower or plant nursery; landscape gardener's business. At least one space for every 1,000 square feet of the areas used for such purposes.
B.
Bowling establishment. At least four spaces for each bowling lane. If additional facilities such as bar or restaurant are provided, additional parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the requirements for similar uses set forth in this section.
C.
Church, synagogue or other place of worship. At least one space for each four seats or equivalent accommodation provided.
D.
Commercial or personal service establishment. At least one space for each 200 square feet of floor area.
E.
Educational institution, public or private. At least one space for each two employees, including teachers and administrators. Sufficient off-street parking space for the safe and convenient loading and unloading of students. Additional facilities for student parking, taking into consideration the total number of students driving automobiles. The requirements for stadium, gymnasium and auditorium use shall be in addition to these requirements.
F.
Eleemosynary or philanthropic institution. At least one space for each two employees, plus such additional facilities for residents and visitors as shall be deemed necessary in accordance with the provisions of § 540-32.
G.
Hospital. At least one space for each two patient beds, excluding bassinets, plus one additional space for each medical staff member or visiting doctor, based on the average number of such persons serving the hospital, plus one additional space for each four employees, including nurses.
H.
Hotel. At least one space for each three guests or one space for each sleeping room, whichever is greater. Such a facility shall also provide one space for each employee.
I.
Industrial or manufacturing establishment. At least one space for each 400 square feet of floor area exclusive of storage space or one space for each 1.5 employees on the maximum shift, whichever is greater. Such a facility shall also provide one space for each 1,500 square feet of storage space.
J.
Medical or dental practitioners' offices. Each office shall provide at least five spaces for each professional person occupying or using each office, plus an additional space for each employee.
K.
Mortuary or funeral home. At least one parking space for each eight seats in the chapel, one additional space for each resident family and one additional space for each funeral vehicle.
L.
Motel, auto court, motor lodge or tourist court. At least one space for each guest or sleeping room plus one space for each employee.
M.
Office building, professional building or similar use. At least one space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area.
N.
One- or two-family dwelling. At least two spaces per dwelling unit.
O.
Private club or union hall. At least one space for each 100 square feet of gross floor space.
P.
Railroad or bus station. At least one space for each 100 square feet of waiting room space, including concession and dining areas.
Q.
Recreation establishment, commercial, other than a theater, bowling establishment, auditorium or stadium. At least one space for each 100 square feet of nonstorage floor area.
R.
Restaurant or similar place dispensing food, drink or refreshments. At least one space for each 50 square feet of floor area devoted to patron use.
S.
Shopping center. At least five parking spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross leasable area.
T.
Townhouse. At least 1.5 spaces per one-bedroom unit and two spaces per two-bedroom unit and above.
U.
Multifamily. At least one space per efficiency and 1.5 per one-bedroom unit and two spaces per two-bedroom unit and above.
V.
Apartments. At least one space per efficiency and 1.5 spaces per one-bedroom unit and two spaces per two-bedroom unit and above.
W.
Senior citizens community. At least 0.5 space per unit.
X.
Visitor parking. In all multifamily zones, including SC-1, SC-2, PRD-1 and MUD-1 Zone Districts, on-site visitor parking shall be required in addition to the minimum parking requirements provided in this section. The minimum amount of additional parking for visitors shall be 10% of the total required parking for the development. For purposes of convenience and safety, visitor parking shall be distributed throughout the development.[1]
Y.
Movie theater. At least one parking space for each 4.5 seats.
[Added 12-16-1993 by Ord. No. 1339]
§ 540-31 Minimum requirements for off-street loading spaces.
A.
Industrial and wholesale operations with a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or over:[1]
Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Required Number of Loading Spaces | |
|---|---|---|
10,000 to 40,000 | 1 | |
Over 40,000 to 100,000 | 2 | |
Over 100,000 to 160,000 | 3 | |
Over 160,000 to 240,000 | 4 | |
Over 240,000 to 320,000 | 5 | |
Over 320,000 to 400,000 | 6 | |
Each 90,000 above 400,000 | 1 |
B.
Office building or hotel with a gross usable floor area of 100,000 square feet or more devoted to such purposes: one loading berth for every 100,000 square feet of floor area.
C.
Retail operation and all first-floor nonresidential uses with a gross floor area of more than 3,000 square feet and less than 20,000 square feet and all wholesale and light industrial operations with a gross floor area of less than 10,000 square feet: one loading space in accordance with provisions of § 540-29T.
D.
Retail operation, including restaurant and dining facilities within hotels and office buildings, with a gross usable floor area of 20,000 square feet or more devoted to such purpose: one loading berth for every 20,000 square feet of floor area.
§ 540-32 Minimum space requirements for other uses.
Each public or private building or land use not covered by the requirements listed above shall provide such parking space for residents, visitors or patrons as the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment shall deem necessary. In making such a determination, the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment shall be guided by the number of persons to be employed in said building or by said use; the number of persons expected to reside in, visit or patronize said building or use; the anticipated percentage of residents, visitors or patrons driving automobiles; and the need for safe and convenient loading space for visitors or patrons and goods arriving by motor transport.
§ 540-33 Continuing character of obligation.
The requirements in these regulations for off-street parking space shall be a continuing obligation. It shall be unlawful for any owner of any land or building affected by these regulations to discontinue, change or dispense with said off-street parking and/or loading facilities without establishing alternate off-street parking and/or loading facilities which comply with the requirements of these regulations.
§ 540-34 Parking commercial vehicles in residential zones overnight.
[Amended 9-9-1993 by Ord. No. 1331]
In any residential zone within the Borough of South Plainfield, no commercial vehicle weighing more than 8,000 pounds or containing livery registration plates shall be permitted to be parked overnight.