Number of Spaces. Each use that is newly developed, enlarged, significantly changed in type of use, or increased in number of establishments shall provide and maintain off-street parking spaces in accordance with Table 6-1 and the regulations of this Part.

Uses Not Listed. Uses not specifically listed in Table 6-1 shall comply with the requirements for the most similar use listed in Table 6-1, unless the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Officer that an alternative standard should be used for that use.

Multiple Uses. Where a proposed lot contains or includes more than one type of use, the number of parking spaces required shall be the sum of the parking requirements for each separate use.

Parking Landscaping. See §§ 803 and 804 of this chapter.

Any parking spaces serving such preexisting structures or uses at the time of adoption of this chapter shall not in the future be reduced in number below the number required by this chapter.

If a new principal nonresidential building is constructed on a lot, then any existing parking on such lot that serves such building shall be reconfigured to comply with this chapter, including, but not limited to, requirements for channelization of traffic from adjacent streets, channelization of traffic within the lot, minimum aisle widths, paving and landscaping.

If an existing lawful use includes less parking than would be required if the use were newly developed, then that deficit of parking shall be grandfathered for reuses of an existing building. For example, an existing store might include three parking spaces and would have been required to provide seven spaces if it was newly developed. Therefore, there is an existing nonconforming deficit of four spaces. Then, if that store is converted to an office that would need 10 spaces, the office would need to provide a total of six spaces (10 spaces minus the preexisting deficit of four equals six).

If a nonresidential use expands by an aggregate total maximum of 5% in the applicable measurement (such as total floor area) beyond what existed at the time of adoption of this chapter, then no additional parking is required. For example, if an existing building included 3,000 square feet, and a single minor addition of 150 square feet was proposed, then additional parking would not be required. This addition without providing new parking shall only be allowed one time per lot.

Required off-street parking spaces shall be on the same lot or abutting lot with the principal use served, unless an application for a variance is approved whereas the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that a method of providing the spaces is guaranteed to be available during all of the years the use is in operation within 300 feet walking distance from the entrance of the principal use being served. Such distance may be increased to 500 feet for employee parking of a nonresidential use. A written and signed lease shall be provided, if applicable.

Purposes. To minimize the amount of land covered by paving, while making sure adequate parking is provided. To recognize that unique circumstances may justify a reduction in parking.

As a variance, the Zoning Hearing Board may authorize a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required to be provided for a use if the applicant proves to the satisfaction of the Zoning Hearing Board that a lesser number of spaces would be sufficient.

The overnight outdoor parking of commercial trucks or the trailer from a tractor-trailer combination on a principal residential lot in a residential district is prohibited, except that one of the following shall be permitted if such vehicle(s) is used by residents of the dwelling to travel to and from work:

Backing onto a Street. No parking area shall be designed to require or encourage parked vehicles to back into a public street in order to leave a parking space, except for a single-family or two-family dwelling with its access onto a local street or parking court. Parking spaces may back onto an alley.

Every required parking space shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the movement of any other vehicle, unless specifically permitted otherwise.

Parking areas shall not be within a required buffer yard or street right-of-way.

Separation from Street. Except for parking spaces immediately in front of individual dwellings, all areas for off-street parking, off-street loading and unloading and the storage or movement of motor vehicles shall be physically separated from the street by a continuous grass or landscaped planting strip, except for necessary and approved vehicle entrances and exits to the lot.

Stacking and Obstructions. Each lot shall provide adequate area upon the lot to prevent back-up of vehicles on a public street while awaiting entry to the lot, or while waiting for service at a drive-through facility.

Each parking space shall be a rectangle with a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of 18 feet, except the minimum sized rectangle shall be eight feet by 22 feet for parallel parking.

For handicapped spaces, see Subsection 7 below.

All spaces shall be marked to indicate their location, except those of a one- or two-family dwelling.

Each aisle providing for one-way traffic to access parking stalls shall have the following minimum width:

Each aisle providing access to stalls for two-way traffic shall be a minimum of 22 feet in width, except a width of 20 feet may be allowed for parking areas with spaces that are parallel or involve an angle of parking of 45° or less.

Width of Driveways and Accessways.

Drainage. Adequate provisions shall be made to maintain uninterrupted parallel drainage along a public street at the point of driveway entry. The Township may require an applicant to install an appropriate type and size of pipe at a driveway crossing.

Parking and loading facilities and including driveways shall be graded and adequately drained to prevent erosion or excessive water flow across streets or adjoining properties.

Except for landscaped areas, all portions of required parking, loading facilities and driveways shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, paving block, or other low-dust materials pre-approved by the Township.

Number of Spaces. Any lot including four or more off-street parking spaces shall include a minimum of one handicapped space. The following number of handicapped spaces shall be provided, unless a different number of spaces is officially required under the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act:

Location. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located where they would result in the shortest reasonable accessible distance to a handicapped accessible building entrance. Curb cuts shall be provided as needed to provide access from the handicapped spaces.

Minimum Size. Each required handicapped parking space shall be eight feet by 18 feet. In addition, each space shall be adjacent to a five feet wide access aisle. Such access aisle may be shared by two handicapped spaces by being placed between them. However, one out of every eight required handicapped parking spaces shall have an adjacent access aisle of eight feet width instead of five feet.

Slope. Handicapped parking spaces shall be located in areas of less than 2% slope in any direction.

Marking. All required handicapped spaces shall be well-marked by clearly visible signs and by pavement markings. Such signs and markings shall be maintained over time. Blue paint is recommended. The amount of the fine for violations shall be noted on signs that are visible to persons parking in the space.

Paving. Handicapped parking spaces and adjacent areas needed to access them with a wheelchair shall be covered with a smooth surface that is usable with a wheelchair.

Intent. To ensure that parked or moving vehicles within a lot do not obstruct sight distance or interfere with pedestrian traffic, to aid in stormwater management along streets and to prevent vehicles from entering or exiting a lot other than at approved driveways.

Any new or expanded paved area serving a principal nonresidential use shall be separated from a public street by a planting strip. The planting strip shall have a minimum width of 15 feet and be maintained in grass or other attractive vegetative groundcover. At least 10 feet of the planting strip shall be outside of the existing street right-of-way. This 15 feet width shall be increased to 20 feet for a lot including 100 to 250 parking spaces, and to 25 feet for a lot including more than 250 parking spaces.

See landscaping requirements in §§ 27-803 and 27-804.