West Conshohocken City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XV
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 113-98 Required off-street parking facilities.
[Amended 10-14-1986 by Ord. No. 377, approved 10-14-1986]
Any building or other structure erected, altered or used and any lot used or occupied for any of the following purposes shall be provided with minimum off-street parking spaces as set forth below, together with adequate passageways or driveways or other means of circulation and access to and from a street which shall measure nine feet in width by 18 feet in length, except for parking garages wherein the minimum width shall be eight feet six inches and shall be surfaced so as to be usable for parking. Except in the case of one- and two-family dwellings, no parking area shall be established with less than three spaces.
A.
Residential uses.
(1)
For single-family detached dwellings: three exterior parking spaces per dwelling on the lot therewith.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(2)
For two-family dwellings: three exterior parking spaces per dwelling on the lot therewith.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(3)
For garden apartments and mid-rise apartments: five parking spaces per dwelling unit. At least three of the parking spaces required by this subsection must be exterior parking spaces.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-15, approved 9-7-2000; 2-8-2005 by Ord. No. 05-03, approved 2-8-2005; 10-11-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-05, approved 10-11-2016]
(4)
For rooming houses: three exterior parking spaces per dwelling unit.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(5)
Parking spaces as required herein for the LC Limited Commercial Zoning District may not be located in the required front yard, side yard or rear yard areas but must be located in other areas of the lot not occupied by buildings. Not more than 50% of a lot, exclusive of areas occupied by buildings and front, side and rear yard areas, shall be paved or used for parking spaces and driveways. However, in the LC Limited Commercial Zoning District, the required parking spaces may occupy the rear yard.
[Added 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 384, approved 8-11-1987]
(6)
Single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and three-family dwellings: All dwellings where the garage on the lot is converted into a recreation or other habitable room or rooms shall provide three exterior parking spaces for each family.
[Added 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 384, approved 8-11-1987; amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(7)
Apartment houses and condominiums: at least three exterior parking spaces for each apartment unit or condominium unit. A garage accessory to an apartment house or condominium shall provide only for the storage of vehicles of the owner, tenants and employees. No parking space or driveway shall be permitted closer than 20 feet to the side or rear property lines of apartment houses or condominiums. Conversion of apartments to condominium use shall conform to the foregoing minimum parking space requirements.
[Added 8-11-1987 by Ord. No. 384, approved 8-11-1987; amended 12-18-1991 by Ord. No. 419; 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(8)
Bed-and-breakfast: one parking space for each guest room, plus parking provided for the member of the owner's family residing in the dwelling in accordance with the parking regulations of the applicable district.
[Added 10-8-2013 by Ord. No. 2013-03, approved 10-8-2013]
B.
Nonresidential uses. Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, off-street parking spaces, with proper access from a street or alley, shall be provided in the amounts indicated below, on or near any lot on which the following types of uses are hereafter established. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent the establishment of joint parking facilities for two or more uses. For any of the following primary uses, the required parking spaces shall be all-weather and shall be paved, add such parking spaces shall be located on the same lot therewith, except as provided in § 113-99 following.
(1)
Church, school, public auditorium, assembly or meeting room or other similar place of public or private assembly: one parking space for every four seats provided for public assembly.
(2)
Convalescent home or sanatorium: one parking space for every four beds.
(3)
Institutional home: one parking space for every 10 occupants.
(4)
Retail store or shop: one parking space for every 150 square feet of store sales floor space.
(5)
Professional office: six spaces for each 1,000 feet of total floor area.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(6)
Restaurant, cafe, tearoom, social club, tavern or adult entertainment use: two parking spaces for every 50 square feet of total floor area, plus one space for each employee on the largest shift, plus the greater of either two additional spaces or an additional 10% of parking spaces.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
(7)
Laboratory, industrial establishment or other commercial building: one space for every 400 square feet of gross building area, plus an additional 10%, which additional amount shall not be less than two additional spaces.
(8)
Hotel, motel, or tourist home: two parking spaces for each rental unit, plus one space for each employee on the largest shift.
[Amended 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-14, approved 9-7-2000]
C.
Off-site residential parking. Up to 33 1/3% of the exterior parking spaces required pursuant to § 113-98A(3) may be located in parking facilities elsewhere than on the same lot as the residential unit as a special exception, subject to the following conditions:
[Added 9-6-2000 by Ord. No. 00-15, approved 9-7-2000]
(1)
The entrance to the additional parking facilities must lie within 100 feet of the residential units that they are designated to serve.
(2)
The maintenance of these parking spaces must be adequately and clearly provided for pursuant to a homeowners' association agreement or they may be offered to the Borough for dedication, in which case, the Borough shall maintain the spaces and they shall be open for use by the general public.
§ 113-99 Modification of nonresidential requirements.
The nonresidential parking spaces required herein may be located elsewhere than on the same lot when authorized as a special exception, subject to the following conditions:
A.
That the owners of two or more establishments shall submit, with their application for special exception, a site plan showing joint use and location of a common off-street parking area.
B.
That some portion of the common off-street parking area lies within 200 feet of an entrance, regularly used by patrons, into the buildings served thereby.
C.
That the Zoning Hearing Board may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of required parking space upon determination that greater efficiency is effected by joint use of a common parking area, but in no case shall the number of off-street parking spaces be reduced by more than 20% of the required number of spaces.
§ 113-100 Design requirements for nonresidential parking lots.
All nonresidential parking lots shall be operated and maintained in accordance with all of the following conditions:
A.
They shall not be used for the sale, repair or dismantling of any vehicles, equipment, materials or supplies, except where such uses are incidental to a permitted nonresidential use as specified in this chapter.
B.
They shall be properly graded for drainage, surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, asphalt or any dust-free surfacing approved by the Borough Engineer, and maintained in good condition, free from weeds, dust, trash or debris.
C.
They shall be provided with entrances and exits so located to minimize traffic congestion and the effect of headlight glare.
D.
They shall be provided with wheel or bumper guards so located and arranged that no part of any parked vehicles will extend beyond the boundaries of the parking lot.
E.
Lighting facilities shall be so arranged that they neither unreasonably nor unnecessarily disturb occupants of adjacent residential properties nor interfere with traffic by either location or glare.
F.
Screening and landscaping of parking lots shall be provided according to the requirements of Chapter 102, Subdivision and Land Development.
[Amended 11-14-1995 by Ord. No. 95-436, approved 11-14-1995]
G.
There shall be no more than one attendant shelter building containing not more than 50 feet of gross floor area and set back a distance of not less than 20 feet from any boundary of the parking lot which abuts a residential district.
§ 113-101 Reduction of facilities.
Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this chapter or off-street parking facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this chapter, except in accordance with the requirements of § 113-99 herein.
§ 113-102 Mixed or multiple uses.
In the case of mixed or multiple uses within a single structure or building or in the use of land, the amount of off-street parking required shall be determined by the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately in accordance with § 113-98A and B herein, except where the applicant(s) qualifies under § 113-99 herein.
§ 113-103 Required off-street loading spaces.
In any district, off-street loading berths shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building in accordance with the following schedule:
A.
Off-street loading requirements for any use permitted in the industrial districts:
(1)
One loading berth for the first 10,000 square feet of gross floor area. One additional loading berth for each additional 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or major fraction thereof.
(2)
Each loading space shall not be less than 12 feet wide, 56 feet long and 14 feet high and may occupy all or any part of any required side or rear yard, except that portion which is required to be used for buffer area.
B.
Off-street loading requirements in the Limited Commercial District. For any building or premises used for commercial purposes, adequate off-street space for the loading and unloading of goods and materials shall be provided, taking into consideration the size and proposed use of the building. The adequacy of such loading and unloading spaces shall be determined by the governing body taking the following factors into consideration:
(1)
Ingress and egress to an adjacent street, alley, lane or driveway.
(2)
Location in relation to vehicular circulation in adjacent areas.
(3)
The nature of the establishment and its required schedule of loading and unloading. Two or more establishments may be permitted to use a common loading and unloading facility, provided that the Borough Council deems it necessary or advisable.
§ 113-104 Parking reserve areas.
The total number of parking spaces required by § 113-98 and as described in § 113-98A and B shall be clearly set forth and labeled as such on the development, subdivision or other plan required to be filed by the landowner or developer with the Borough before the issuance of a building and/or use and occupancy permit. However, the number of spaces required to be constructed by this chapter may be reduced and the land area equal to the reduction shall be denoted "parking reserve area." Said reduction may be accomplished only upon full compliance with each of the following conditions:
A.
The landowner or developer shall certify that the parking needs for the use to which the lot or property is to be devoted are less than those required by the terms of this chapter.
B.
The Borough Engineer shall concur with and approve the certification that a lesser number of parking spaces is sufficient.
C.
The parking reserve area created by such reduction shall be clearly set forth and labeled as such on the development, subdivision or other plan required to be filed with the Borough.
D.
The parking reserve area so created shall be utilized as green area. "Green area" shall be defined as that area set aside for the growing of vegetation, including trees, bushes, grass, flowers and plants. Green area may include walkways for nonvehicular traffic only. The green area so created shall not constitute a portion of the green areas otherwise required by this chapter or any other ordinance or regulation of the Borough.
E.
The parking reserve area shall be converted to parking area at such time when the landowner or developer further certifies that the need to use such reserve area for parking has arisen or when the Borough Engineer, upon review and inspection of the premises in question, certifies to such fact. Such reserved area shall be paved, pursuant to the applicable ordinance and regulations, immediately after such certification and shall be completed within the time set forth by the Borough.