West Cocalico Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 18
OFF-STREET VEHICLE PARKING AND LOADING
§ 27-1801 General Intent and Application.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1800]
It is the intent of these requirements that adequate parking and loading facilities be provided off the public and private roads of West Cocalico Township for each use of land within West Cocalico Township. These requirements are intended to be based on the demand created for each use. These requirements shall apply to all uses in all districts.
§ 27-1802 Design Requirements for Parking Facilities.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1801]
1.
Size. The size of a parking space for one vehicle shall not be less than 180 square feet. For purposes of computing the number of parking spaces available in a given area, the ratio of 180 square feet per space shall be used. For any uses other than single-family detached, single-family semi-detached, and single-family attached dwellings, only the area actually used for parking, not access or driving lanes, shall be considered.
2.
Access and Egress. Except for all single-family and two-family dwelling units, all parking facilities shall be designed so that each vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other vehicle.
3.
Drainage and Surfacing. All open parking areas shall be properly leveled, stabilized, and drained, and provided with an "all-weather" surface as required by the West Cocalico Township Subdivision, Land Development, and Stormwater Management Ordinance [Chapter 22], except for single-family and two-family dwelling units whose surface may include compacted or crushed stone.
4.
Joint Use. The required parking space for two or more uses may be provided in a common parking facility, provided that the number of spaces is not less than the sum of spaces required for each individual use. However, the Zoning Officer may allow a reduction in the number of spaces required for separate uses when the various activities or uses are conducted at substantially different times.
5.
Location. All parking spaces shall be provided on the premises, or in common parking facilities located adjacent to the premises except that after Zoning Hearing Board approval, all or part of the required number of spaces may be provided on a separate lot or lots within 500 feet walking distance from such premises. The Zoning Hearing Board shall not approve a requested special exception until it is satisfied that all parking spaces required shall be maintained throughout the existence of such use to which they are accessory, or until such acceptable substitute spaces are provided elsewhere. For residential uses, all off-street parking spaces shall be located behind the street right-of-way line. For all other uses, off-street parking spaces shall not be located within the area of required landscaping.
6.
Large Parking Areas. Parking areas designed for more than 10 spaces shall meet the dimensional and landscaping requirements of Part 21 of this chapter.
7.
Lots Divided by District Boundaries. The Zoning Hearing Board may by special exception, allow parking spaces on lots divided by zoning district boundaries to be located without regard to district lines, provided that no such parking spaces be located in any agricultural or residential district or within the OS-Woodland or Ecologically Sensitive Districts, and the use to which they are accessory is permitted in such district.
8.
Additional Regulations for Parking Spaces Adjacent to Lots in Any Residential District. Buffer planting shall be provided for parking areas and access drives which are adjacent to lots in residential districts, lots in existing residential use and public rights-of-way. Said buffer planting shall meet the requirements of Part 21 of this chapter.
9.
Additional Regulations for Parking Spaces in the Village Center District.
A.
Except for single-family and two-family dwelling units, all required off-street parking spaces in the Village Center District shall not be located closer to the front lot line than the face of the principal building. Off-street parking located in any side yard or in the building area to the side of the principal building shall be screened from the street in accordance with the screening requirements of Part 21.
B.
Open parking spaces and/or parking lots in the Village Center District shall not be located closer than three feet from any side or rear property line, except as follows:
(1)
No setback from a side or rear property line is required when said side or rear property line abuts a public alley.
(2)
The setback requirements from the side or rear yard property line may be waived where the landowner obtains a written agreement suitable for recording and acceptable to the Township solicitor, wherein any affected adjacent landowner expresses his consent to the location of a parking area adjacent to the applicable abutting property line. This agreement must be permanent in nature, except when the ownership of the nonconforming lot shall change, and/or the use of the property shall change, in which event the owner shall acknowledge that the property's setback shall revert to that imposed by this chapter.
§ 27-1803 Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1802]
1.
Residential Uses.
A.
Dwellings.
(1)
Single and Two-Family Dwelling Units. Two spaces for each dwelling unit.
(2)
Single-family Attached (Townhouse or Rowhouse), Multi-family (Multiple Family) and Apartment Developments and Mobile Home Parks. Three spaces for each dwelling unit, shall be provided upon each individual dwelling's lot, or common lot, provided that no such designated off-street parking space shall be greater than 300 feet measured in a straight line, from each dwelling unit. In addition, designated parking for visitors, including handicapped accessible spaces, and for storage of residents' boats, trailers, etc., shall be provided. The number of such additional parking spaces shall be not less than 20% of the number of off-street parking spaces otherwise required for the dwelling units in the development. Adequate provisions for ownership and maintenance of said common parking areas shall also be provided.
2.
Nonresidential Uses. Unless otherwise noted below, all nonresidential uses shall provide a minimum of one off-street parking space for every two employees, in addition to the specific requirements in the table below:
[Amended by Ord. No. 141, 5/21/2018]
Type of Use | Required Parking Spaces Per |
|---|---|
Hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast inn | 1 space for each rental unit |
Theater, auditorium, church, stadium, membership club, lodge hall, and funeral home | 1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area |
Restaurant, tavern, or nightclub | 1 space for every 4 seats of planned capacity |
Medical/dental clinics | 4 spaces for each doctor engaged at the clinic or office |
Retail sales, services, businesses, and professional offices other than those specifically specified in this section | 1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area other than warehouse or storage space |
Automobile/truck service and repair facilities | 1 space for every employee and 1 space for each service bay |
Short-term rental | 1 space per bedroom |
3.
For other uses which do not fit in one of the above categories, determination of the adequate off-street parking space requirement shall be made by the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall take into consideration the projected number of employees and the extent of anticipated public activity for the proposed land use. It is the intent of those requirements that adequate off-street parking and loading facilities be provided for each use of land.
4.
Handicapped Parking. Handicapped accessible parking shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, as may be amended from time to time.
A.
Said spaces shall be those which are most accessible and proximate to the building or buildings which the parking spaces shall serve.
B.
Each space or group of spaces shall be identified with a clearly visible sign displaying the international symbol of access.
C.
Each space shall be eight feet wide with an eight feet wide access aisle to allow room for persons in wheelchairs or on braces or crutches to get in and out of either side of an automobile onto level, paved surface suitable for wheeling and walking.
D.
Where possible, such spaces shall be located so that persons in wheelchairs or using braces or crutches are not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked cars.
E.
Where applicable, curb ramps shall be provided to permit handicapped people access from the parking lot to the sidewalk or building entrance.
F.
Parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following table:
Total Parking in Lot | Required Minimum Number of Accessible Spaces |
|---|---|
1 to 25 | 1 |
26 to 50 | 2 |
51 to 75 | 3 |
76 to 100 | 4 |
101 to 150 | 5 |
151 to 200 | 6 |
201 to 300 | 7 |
301 to 400 | 8 |
401 to 500 | 9 |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of total |
1,001 and over | 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 |
§ 27-1804 Off-Street Loading Requirements.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1803]
Adequate off-street loading and unloading space shall be provided on the same premises with every building or part thereof hereafter erected or occupied for any nonresidential (except multi-family) and non-agricultural use. This space shall be so placed and arranged as to not interfere with or obstruct the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians over a public or private road. Unobstructed access, at least 12 feet wide per direction of travel to and from a street shall be provided. Such access may be combined with access to a parking lot. All permitted or required loading berths shall be on the same lot as the use to which they are accessory. Where possible, no off-street loading berth shall be located in any front yard. Where possible, off-street loading space shall be located on the face of a building not facing any adjoining land in a residential district. Wherever possible, required off-street parking space shall not be utilized for loading space. Off-street loading spaces shall be provided according to the following schedule:
Schedule of Off-Street Loading Spaces Required | ||
|---|---|---|
Type of Use | Number of Spaces Per | Gross Floor Area/Number of Dwelling Units |
Hospital or other institution | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 10,000 square feet 10,000 to 100,000 square feet Each additional 100,000 square feet |
Hotel, motel, and similar facilities | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 10,000 square feet 10,000 to 100,000 square feet Each additional 40,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Industry or manufacturing | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 100 square feet 2,000 to 25,000 square feet Each additional 40,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Multi-family dwelling | None 1.0 +1.0 | Less than 100 dwelling units 100 to 300 dwelling units Each additional 200 dwelling units (or fraction) |
Office building including banks | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 10,000 square feet 10,000 to 100,000 square feet Each additional 100,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Retail sales and services, and restaurant, per store | None 1.0 2.0 +1.0 | First 2,000 square feet 2,000 to 10,000 square feet 10,000 to 40,000 square feet Each additional 100,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Shopping centers | 1.0 +1.0 | First 25,000 square feet Each additional 25,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Theater, auditorium, bowling alley, or other recreation establishment | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 10,000 square feet 10,000 to 100,000 square feet Each additional 100,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Undertaking establishment or funeral parlor | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 3,000 square feet 3,000 to 5,000 square feet Each additional 10,000 square feet (or fraction) |
Wholesale or warehousing (except mini-warehousing) | None 1.0 +1.0 | First 1,500 square feet 1,500 to 5,000 square feet Each additional 40,000 square feet (or fraction) |
§ 27-1805 Parking and Storage of Vehicles.
[Ord. 116, 9/7/2011, § 1804; Ord. No. 154, 4/18/2023]
1.
In any zoning district other than the I-C District, automotive vehicles or recreational vehicles of any kind or type without current registration and current inspection shall not be parked or stored other than in completely enclosed accessory buildings.
2.
In any zoning district, all off-street parking areas shall be reserved and used for vehicle parking only. No display or storage of merchandise, sales or other storage of any type shall be permitted. Dismantling or storage of any vehicle or materials is prohibited on residential dwelling lots, excluding routine daily maintenance of vehicles owned by the occupant of the dwelling.
3.
On a residential dwelling lot, the parking of:
A.
One commercial vehicle up to 19,500 pounds gross vehicle weight is permitted by an individual for his livelihood for a business not conducted on the premises. A commercial vehicle includes a trailer as that term is defined in the Vehicle Code.
B.
One recreational vehicle including boats are permitted for storage purposes only and is not to be used for sleeping, recreational, or living purposes at any time or in any way, shape, or form.
C.
Within the ES Ecologically Sensitive District, A-1 Agricultural District, A-2 Agricultural District, or OS Woodland District, one commercial vehicle up to 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight associated with an approved independent contractor truck driver accessory use meeting the requirements of § 27-2008.
D.
Any parking of commercial vehicles on a residential dwelling lot in excess of those specifically permitted shall be deemed to constitute a commercial use of the entire property and shall be subject to legal action as in the case of all other illegal uses.
4.
No boats, campers, recreational vehicles, trailers, and/or trucks with more than two axles (except personal pickup trucks) shall be stored within any front yard area of a residential dwelling lot. No boats, campers, recreational vehicles, trailers, and/or trucks with more than two axles shall be parked or stored on any grass area.