Union Beach, NJ Zoning Ordinance

In all zones and in connection with every industrial, commercial, institutional, professional, recreational, residential or any other use, there shall be provided off-street parking spaces in accordance with the following requirements and parking lot standards:

Type of Parking Permitted. Each dead storage bay of an off-street parking space may be perpendicular with the aisle, parallel with the aisle, or at any angle between 60° and 90°. No angle parking layout shall be permitted with an angle less than 60°.

Stall Size.

Automobiles: Each perpendicular or angle off-street parking space shall occupy a rectangular area of not less than 10 feet in width and 20 feet in depth exclusive of access drives and aisles, except that parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be 12 feet wide.

Parallel parking spaces shall occupy a rectangular area 10 feet by 23 feet.

Other Vehicles:

(a)

Uses that own, rent or service motor vehicles larger than automobiles which must be parked and/or stored on the site shall indicate in the statement of operations submitted with the site plan, the size of such vehicles and the anticipated largest number of such vehicles to be stored and/or parked on the site at any single time and the site plan shall show a sufficient number of parking and/or storage stalls at an adequate size for the largest number of such vehicles to be parked and/or stored on the site at any one time. Aisles providing for access to such parking and/or storage stalls shall be of adequate width for the vehicles to be served.

(b)

Failure of an applicant to indicate, where applicable, in the statement of operations that vehicles larger than automobiles are to be parked and/or stored on the site and provide for such parking and/or storage on the site plan shall be a violation of this ordinance, and any building permit or certificate of occupancy that has been issued shall not be valid and may be revoked.

(c)

Any change of use to a use which requires parking and/or storage space for a greater number of vehicles larger than automobiles than the previous use shall be required to make application for site plan approval.

When off-street parking is provided in connection with a use which will assign or can control the utilization of parking areas (for example, employee only parking areas), the planning board may approve separate parking areas for subcompact vehicles having a length of less than 17 feet and width of six feet or less. Within such areas the planning board may approve the reduction of stall size to an eight and one-half foot width and a seventeen-foot length. Appropriate signing and marking shall be required. The number of parking stalls which may be designed for subcompact vehicles shall be determined by the planning board based upon documentation submitted by the applicant.

Aisle Widths.

Aisles from which cars directly enter or leave parking spaces shall not be less than 24 feet wide for perpendicular parking or for parking at any angle greater than 60°, and 20 feet wide for 60° angle parking, except that all two-way aisles shall be a minimum of 24 feet wide.

Only angle parking stalls or parallel parking stalls shall be used with one-way aisles.

Access Drives. (See Figures 5 and 6[1])

Entrance and exit drives shall have a minimum width of 18 feet for those designed for one-way traffic and 24 feet for those carrying two-way traffic.

Parking areas for 25 or more cars and access drives for all parking areas on arterial highways shall provide curbed return radii of not less than 15 feet for all right turn movements and left turn access from one-way streets and concrete aprons on entrance and exit drives.

Parking areas for less than 25 cars may utilize concrete aprons without curb returns at entrance and exit drives which are not located on a minor arterial or principal arterial highway.

[1]

Figures 5 and 6 are included as an attachment to this chapter.

Paint Striping. All parking areas shall provide paint striping to delineate parking stalls, barrier lines, lane lines, directional arrows, stop lines, fire lanes and other striping as may be required to insure safe and convenient traffic circulation. Such striping shall be in substantial conformance with the "Uniform Manual on Traffic Control Devices".

Traffic Signs. All parking areas shall provide traffic control signs and devices necessary to insure safe and convenient traffic circulation. Such devices shall be in substantial conformance with the "Uniform Manual on Traffic Control Devices".

Curbing. The perimeter of all parking areas and internal islands within all parking areas open to the general public shall have continuous cast in place concrete curbing (see Figure No. 3[2]) with a six inch face or such alternate curb types as may be approved by the planning board at the time of site plan approval.

The planning board may waive the requirement for curb in parking areas only to employees, service vehicles or for loading and unloading, provided that drainage, vehicle control and safety can be properly accommodated by alternate means.

[2]

Figure 3 can be found in §13-8.11a

Paving. All parking areas shall provide pavement in accordance with the requirements of local street set forth in subsection 18-8.23, except as follows:

Parking areas for less than 50 cars, which the planning board determines are not likely to be utilized by heavy truck traffic or drive-up window service, may be paved with two inches of pavement, Type FA-BC-1 over a six inch gravel base, all in accordance with the specifications contained in subsection 13-8.23.

In parking areas for 100 or more cars, access drives and aisles, which the planning board determines are likely to be utilized by heavy trucks or unusually high traffic volumes, shall provide paving in accordance with the requirements for streets other than local streets set forth in subsection 13-8.23.

Location of Parking.

Parking areas in residential zones for uses other than single family and two family dwellings may be located in any rear or side yard, but may not be located in any required front yard.

No area shall be used for parking unless it is large enough to provide for at least three contiguous stalls.

Where parking is permitted between the front building line and the street line, whether by this chapter variance, a safety island or raised median separating the public street from the parking area shall be provided in accordance with the following minimum requirements (see Figures 5 and 6[3]):

(a)

The width of the safety island shall be that width between the proposed curb line to a point eight feet inside the property line. When this width is less than 18 feet, the parking area shall be reduced to provide a minimum width for the safety island of 18 feet. All required tree and shrub plantings shall be placed on the on-site portion of the safety island.

(b)

When perpendicular or angled parking spaces abut the safety island, the stall depth shall be measured from a point two feet outside the face of the curb for perpendicular spaces or angled spaces greater than 60°, and three feet outside the face of curb for 60° angle spaces. Such parking spaces shall be separated from access drives by curbed islands with a minimum width of 10 feet.

(c)

Safety islands shall be landscaped, topsoiled, and seeded, except that they may, as an alternative to seeding, be provided with a cover or mulch of maintenance free materials which provide a clear and unmistakable distinction between the parking area and the safety island.

(d)

Notwithstanding the use of maintenance free materials, there shall be provided at least one deciduous tree two inches in diameter at breast height every 40 feet, or part thereof, on all safety islands. A greater distance will be allowed for plantings if necessary for traffic safety. The area between trees shall be planted with a minimum of three evergreen type shrubs. The portions of the safety island within 25 feet of any access drive or street intersection shall be planted with evergreen shrubs less than 30 inches in height. Alternate or additional plantings may be permitted by the planning board in accordance with an approved site plan.

(e)

No commercial signs, light standards or other above ground obstructions other than plantings shall be permitted within 10 feet of the street right-of-way.

[3]

Figures 5 and 6 are included as an attachment to this chapter.

All required parking spaces and facilities shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the structure or use it shall serve. In the case of non-residential uses, parking facilities may be provided on other lots or parcels within a radius of 300 feet from the boundary of the lot containing the use to which said parking spaces and facilities are accessory, provided that said lots are in the same ownership as the lot containing the principal use and subject to deed restrictions binding the owner and his heirs, successors and assigns to maintain the required number of spaces available and required facilities throughout the life of such use.

Required parking spaces for the physically handicapped should be located to provide convenient access to building entrances by way of depressed curbs and ramps in accordance with state regulations. Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width and the number of spaces to be provided shall be determined by the following table:

Total Parking Spaces in Parking Area	Minimum Number of Spaces to be Provided for Physically Handicapped
up to 25	1
26 to 50	2
51 to 75	3
76 to 100	4
Over 100	4 plus 1 for each 50 over 100 spaces

Small Parking Areas. Parking lots having 50 or less spaces shall be designed to provide the following minimum design requirements:

A safety island where parking is provided in the front yard area.

A five foot unbroken landscaping strip along side and rear property lines. The five foot landscaping strips shall have the same minimum planting requirements as safety islands, except that:

(a)

Where screening is required under this chapter, the screening requirements shall take precedence.

(b)

Where the property abuts a lot zoned for non-residential purposes, but utilized for residential purposes, the planning board may also require screening.

Not more than one two-way access drive or two one-way access drives shall be permitted on any street.

Where possible, access drives shall not be located closer than 100 feet from the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street.

No parking stall shall be located to require a vehicle to back into any portion of the right-of-way in order to enter or exit the parking stall.

All parking areas for 10 or more vehicles shall have artificial lighting that will provide a minimum lighting level of 0.5 horizontal foot candles throughout the parking area and access drives. For multi-family uses, such lights shall be operated from dusk to dawn and for all other uses when the site or structure is occupied. Free standing light poles shall be no higher than the height of the highest principal building plus five feet. Shielding shall be required where necessary to prevent glare upon adjacent properties or streets.

Large Parking Areas. Parking lots which have a capacity for parking more than 50 vehicles shall incorporate the following minimum design standards:

All the minimum design standards for small parking areas.

All entrance drives shall extend a minimum distance of 100 feet back from the street curb line or to an access aisle.

All exit drives shall extend a minimum distance of 60 feet back from the street curb or to a major access aisle.

No parking stalls shall utilize the required entrance and exit drives or major circulation drives as access aisles.

Wherever feasible, access drives located along one-way streets or divided highways shall be separate one-way drives. Said drives shall be located so that vehicles enter the parking area at the beginning of the property and exit at the far end of the property unless other considerations, such as a median opening, dictate otherwise.

Access drives shall not be located closer than 100 feet from the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street, except that for uses such as shopping centers, which in the opinion of the planning board will generate large traffic volumes, access drives shall not be located closer than 200 feet from the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street.

No driveway shall be located less than 10 feet from the side property line or within 30 feet of an existing drive, whichever is greater.

Properties having a frontage in excess of 500 feet on any one street shall be permitted two-way and one-way access drives providing for not more than two entrance and two exit movements on the street. Properties having a frontage in excess of 1,000 feet on any one street may be permitted to have additional access drives subject to the approval of the planning board.

Where the planning board determines that the total number of off-street parking spaces required by this ordinance may not be immediately required for a particular use, it may permit a staged development plan, which requires that only a portion of the parking area, but not less than 65% of the required spaces, be completed initially, subject to the following regulations:

(a)

The site plan shall clearly indicate both that portion of the parking area to be initially paved and the total parking needed to provide the number of spaces required by this chapter.

(b)

The site plan shall provide for adequate drainage of both the partial and total parking areas.

(c)

The portion of the parking area not to be paved initially shall be landscaped in accordance with subsection 13-8.4.

(d)

The applicant shall post separate performance guarantees in addition to the performance guarantees required under section 13-7 of this chapter which shall reflect the cost of installing the additional parking facilities necessary to provide the total number of parking spaces required.

(e)

In lieu of a permanent certificate of occupancy, a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued for a period of two years. Prior to the expiration of the two-year period, the applicant may either (1) install the additional parking shown on the site plan and apply to the construction official for issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy or (2) apply to the planning board after the use has been in operation a minimum of 18 months for a determination as to whether or not the initial parking area provided is adequate. If the planning board determines that the parking facility is adequate as originally constructed, the performance guarantees may be released and a permanent certificate of occupancy issued. If, however, the planning board determines that the partial off-street parking area is not adequate, the applicant shall be required to install the additional parking facilities in accordance with the terms of the performance guarantees prior to issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy.

(f)

Any change of use on a site for which the planning board may have approved a partial paving of off-street parking areas, to a use which requires more parking spaces than are provided on the site, shall require submission of a new site plan.

Parking Area Landscaping. Every parking lot with more than 100 spaces shall be divided as nearly as possible into smaller lots of 50 spaces separated by landscaped dividing strips, excepting the area for access aisles. The plantings required within the parking area shall be considered exclusive from any other plantings that may be required for screening or safety island planting. All landscaping for dividing strips shall be shown as part of the detailed landscaping plan submission, where required. The following criteria shall apply for internal landscaped dividing strips:

They shall have a minimum width of 10 feet.

They shall be seeded and topsoiled. The use of maintenance free material other than seeding and topsoil may be permitted if the same provides a safe and attractive alternative.

Unless otherwise approved by the planning board, they shall be planted with deciduous trees of two inch diameter at breast height with a maximum distance between trees at ground level of 40 feet. All trees shall be planted in a dormant state and in accordance with the appropriate requirements of subsection 13-8.4. The area between trees shall be planted with a minimum of three evergreen type shrubs.

The depth of perpendicular or angled parking stalls, which abut a landscaped dividing strip, shall be measured from a point two feet outside the face of the curb for perpendicular spaces or angled spaces greater than 60° and three feet outside the face of the curb for 60° angled spaces.

Retaining Walls and Embankment Slopes.

In the event that parking is proposed on a lot or site having a slope greater than 10%, regardless of size, it shall be terraced, utilizing retaining walls or properly reinforced embankment slopes and providing for adequate safety, stability and drainage. At no time should an embankment slope that is not reinforced, or any other earthen material having a greater elevation than the adjacent parking area, have a slope exceeding a ratio of three to one (3:1).

When retaining walls, terraces, embankment slopes or similar types of earthen retaining devices are necessitated adjacent to or within the parking area, they shall be kept in good repair or otherwise maintained so as to keep the parking area free of debris and dirt.

Access to Adjoining Property. No unrestricted vehicular access shall be permitted between adjacent properties. Vehicular access, if agreed upon by the owners or possessors of adjacent properties, or if required by the planning board, shall normally be limited to one opening providing two lanes of traffic and shall be located in such a manner as to offer continuity of a similar access drive on the adjacent property. The opening shall occur at a point having the greatest distance from the street line which would facilitate the joining of properties. Access shall normally be denied across the remainder of the side lines by construction of a landscaped dividing strip, five feet in width on the property being developed. If and when the adjacent property is developed, there shall be a similar dividing strip at least five feet wide. All dividing strips shall be landscaped as provided in this section. The planning board may also require that provision be made for future connection to adjacent undeveloped properties.

Minimum Off-Street Parking Spaces Required.

Automotive Repair Garage or Body Shop: one parking space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area.

Automotive Sales and Service: one parking space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided for customer and employee parking. These areas shall be in addition to areas utilized for display and storage of vehicles. Site plans shall specify which parking spaces are designated for customers, employees, display and storage.

Automotive Service Station: five parking spaces for each service bay, exclusive of vehicle service area. In no instance shall there be less than five off-street parking spaces.

Banks, Savings and Loan Associations and Similar Financial Institutions: one parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area.

Bar, Cocktail Lounge, Nightclub, including Restaurants with Bars: one parking space for each 50 square feet of gross floor area.

Barber and Beauty Shop: three parking spaces for each chair (if known), but not less than one parking space per 200 square feet of gross floor area.

Bowling Alley: five parking spaces for each alley. Other commercial uses within the same building will be computed separately in accordance with this subsection.

Business Offices: one parking space for each 150 square feet of gross floor area.

Car Washes: five parking spaces for employees plus off-street storage (stacking) space equal to at least five times the number of cars that can be in the wash process at one time. For self-wash or self service car washes, the requirement for employee parking shall be eliminated.

10.

Church, Temple or Chapel: one parking space for each four seats in the main congregation seating area. Where no individual seats are provided, 20 inches of bench shall be considered as one seat. Where seats or benches are not provided or are provided only in a portion of the main congregation seating area, one parking space for each 50 square feet of floor area within the main congregation seating area.

11.

Community Center, Library, Museum, Art Gallery: one parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area.

12.

Community Club, Private Club, Lodge: one parking space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 1/2 spaces for each boat slip where applicable.

13.

Convalescent Home, Nursing Home, Rest Home: one parking space for each two beds based on its licensed bed capacity.

14.

Meeting Rooms, Assembly or Exhibition Hall: one parking space for each 50 square feet of gross floor area.

15.

Dwellings: One parking space for each single family dwelling. Two parking spaces for each unit in multiple-family dwellings and two-family dwellings.

16.

Dental or Medical Offices: one parking space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area, except that if located within a building housing three or more separate unassociated practitioners the requirement shall be one parking space for each 150 square feet of gross floor area.

17.

Drive-In Restaurant: one parking space for each 35 square feet of gross floor area.

18.

Driving Range, Miniature Golf: one parking space for each tee or hole.

19.

Farmers Market, Auction Market: one parking space for each 1,000 square feet of land area in the site.

20.

Furniture. Appliance Stores or Similar Types of Uses Requiring Large Amounts of Storage: one parking space for each 400 square feet up to 4,000 square feet, plus one parking space for each 800 square feet of gross floor area above 4,000 square feet.

21.

Government Office: to be determined by the planning board, except that governmental offices within privately owned buildings shall provide a minimum of one parking space for each 150 square feet of gross floor area.

22.

Hardware, Auto Supply Stores: one parking space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area.

23.

Hospital (General, Mental, Sanitarium): one parking space for each two beds based on its licensed capacity.

24.

Hotel, Motel: one parking space for each rental unit. Each commercial use within the building shall be computed separately according to the requirements for such use set forth herein. The planning board may allow up to 50% of the required parking for commercial uses in the hotel or motel to be satisfied by guest room parking.

25.

Laundromats or Similar Coin-operated Cleaning: one parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area.

26.

Manufacturing or Industrial Establishment, Research or Testing Laboratory, Bottling Plant or Similar Uses: One space per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

27.

Marina, Boat Yard, Boat Sales: 1 1/2 parking spaces for each boat slip. Where no boat slips exist, one space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area.

28.

Mortuary, Funeral Home: one parking space for every 100 square feet of gross floor area.

29.

Nursery School, Day Camp or Similar Uses: one parking space for each 500 square feet of gross floor area.

30.

Professional Offices: One space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.

31.

Public and Private Utilities, Electrical Substation, Gas Regulator, Water Works, Pumping Station and Similar Facilities: to be determined by the planning board based on the specific need of the use.

32.

Restaurant, Cafe, Diner: one parking space for each 50 square feet of gross floor area.

33.

Recreation Facilities: those not specifically mentioned herein shall be determined by the planning board.

34.

Retail Stores, Except Otherwise Specified: one parking space for each 150 feet of gross floor area.

35.

Studio: art, music, dance, gymnastics and similar for the purpose of giving instruction rather than shows or exhibitions: one parking space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area.

36.

Schools:

(a)

Elementary: one parking space for each eight students based on design capacity.

(b)

Middle or Junior High School: one space for each five students based on design capacity.

(c)

High School: one space for each three students based on design capacity.

(d)

College or University: one space for each 1 1/2 students based on design capacity.

37.

Shopping Centers: six parking spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

If more than 5% of the enclosed gross floor area of any shopping center is occupied by malls, lobbies, corridors, heating plants or other space not utilized for direct commercial purposes, which in the opinion of the planning board will not generate a need for parking, the planning board shall allow the parking required to be based on the "gross leasable area" of the shopping center at the above rate. The "gross leasable area," for the purposes of this chapter, shall be defined as the total floor area designed for tenant occupancy and exclusive use, including basements, mezzanines and upper floors.

38.

Theater: one parking space for each 35 square feet of gross floor area.

39.

Veterinary Clinics or Hospitals or Animal Care Facilities: one parking space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area.

40.

Warehouse, Wholesale, Machinery or Large Equipment Sales: one parking space for each 1,500 square feet of gross floor area, plus one parking space for each vehicle used in connection with the business.

Criteria for Determining Required Parking Spaces. In computing the number of the above required parking spaces, the following rules shall govern:

Where fractional spaces result, the required number shall be construed to be the nearest whole number.

The parking space requirements for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as required for a use of similar nature as determined by the planning board based upon that use enumerated herein which is most similar to the proposed use. If there is no use enumerated having sufficient similarity to the use proposed to enable the planning board to establish rational parking requirements, the planning board may, in its discretion, direct the applicant to furnish the planning board with such data as may be necessary to enable the planning board to establish rational parking requirements.

Nothing in the above requirements shall be construed to prevent the joint use of off-street parking facilities by two or more uses on the same site, provided the total of such spaces shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for various individual uses computed separately by the above requirements.

No part of off-street parking required by a structure or use shall be included as part of an off-street parking requirement of another use unless substantial proof and assurances are presented and it is determined by the planning board that the use of this parking will not be simultaneous.

Union Beach City Zoning Code

§ 13-8.20