Westmont City Zoning Code
ARTICLE X
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 225-46 General provisions.
A.
Procedure. An application for a building permit for a new, renovated or enlarged building, structure or use shall include therewith a plot plan, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any off-street parking or loading facilities to be provided in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
B.
Extent of control. The off-street parking and loading requirements of this chapter apply as follows:
(1)
All buildings and structures erected and all land uses initiated after the effective date of this chapter shall provide necessary off-street parking or loading facilities as required hereinafter for the use thereof.
(2)
When a building and structures erected, renovated or enlarged prior to and after the effective date of this chapter shall undergo a decrease in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, number of employees or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities, and together, when said decrease would result in a requirement for fewer total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of this chapter thereto, off-street parking and loading facilities may be decreased only when the facilities remaining would at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of this chapter to the entire building or structure as modified.
(3)
When a building or structure undergoes any increase in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities, and further, when said increase would result in a requirement for additional total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of this chapter, parking and loading facilities shall be increased so that the facilities will at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of this chapter to the entire building or structure as modified.
C.
Existing off-street parking and loading spaces. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in existence on the effective date of this chapter may not be reduced in number unless already exceeding the requirements of this Article for equivalent new construction, in which event said spaces shall not be reduced below the number required herein for such equivalent new construction.
§ 225-47 Design and maintenance of parking spaces.
A.
Parking space description. A required off-street parking space shall be an area of not less than 180 square feet nor less than nine feet wide by 20 feet long, measured perpendicularly to the sides of the parking space, exclusive of access drives or aisles, ramps, columns or office and work areas, accessible from streets or alleys or from private driveways or aisles leading to streets or alleys and to be used for the storage or parking of passenger automobiles or commercial vehicles under 1 1/2 tons' capacity. Aisles between vehicular parking spaces shall be not less than 12 feet in width when serving automobiles parked at a forty-five-degree angle in one direction; not less than 20 feet in width when serving automobiles parked perpendicularly for two-way aisle movement; and not less than 20 feet in width when serving automobiles parked perpendicularly for one-way aisle movement.
B.
Measurement of space. When determination of the number of required off-street parking spaces results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including 1/2 may be disregarded, and fractions over 1/2 shall be interpreted as one parking space.
C.
Access. Parking facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in such manner as will least interfere with the movement of traffic. No driveway or curb cut in any district shall exceed 25 feet in width for one-way movement or 32 feet in width for two-way movement.
D.
Signs. No signs shall be displayed in any parking area within any residential district, except such as may be necessary for the orderly use of the parking facilities. All signs in other parking areas shall conform to Article XI herein.
E.
Striping. All parking spaces shall be properly marked by durable paint in stripes a minimum of four inches wide and extending the length of the parking space.
F.
Required setbacks.
[Amended 9-14-2004 by Ord. No. 779]
(1)
In residential districts, off-street parking spaces located in a required front yard area shall be limited to a maximum of 25% of the front yard area. Residential off-street parking spaces located in required front yard areas shall be located not closer than 10 feet from the front lot line and not closer than the required side yard setback for main buildings for each zoning district. Off-street parking may also be located in rear and side yard areas of residential lots, except for the parking of accessory vehicles as regulated under § 225-42D. Improved driveways leading directly to, and not wider than, an enclosed garage or other structure approved for enclosed storage and/or parking of vehicles shall not be considered as off-street parking in front yard areas.
(2)
In C Commercial and S Conservancy Districts, off-street parking spaces may be installed and maintained in the required front yard, provided that such parking areas do not occupy street or alley rights-of-way, but in no case shall be closer than five feet to the paved cartway.
G.
Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas, except those accessory to single-family dwellings, shall be improved with a compacted base surfaced with all-weather dustless material of adequate thickness to support the weight of fully-loaded vehicles which customarily park or travel on it.
H.
Lighting. Any lighting area used to illuminate an off-street parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from all adjoining properties.
I.
Stormwater. Adequate stormwater drainage facilities shall be installed in order to ensure that stormwater does not flow onto abutting property or abutting sidewalks in such a way or quantity that pedestrians using the sidewalk would be detrimentally affected or inconvenienced. The Borough Engineer shall approve all such facilities.
J.
Walls or planting strip. Whenever a parking lot abuts onto a public street, sidewalk, or alley, a structurally sound wall or planting strip, approved by the Borough Engineer, shall be installed. Adequate retaining walls and other walls along abutting properties shall also be constructed, subject to the approval of the Borough Engineer.
§ 225-48 Schedule of Off-Street Parking Requirements.
[Amended 10-13-1992 by Ord. No. 698; 7-8-2025 by Ord. No. 864]
The Schedule of Off-Street Parking Requirements shall be as follows:
Type of Use | Number of Spaces Required |
|---|---|
1- or 2-family dwellings | 2 for each family dwelling unit |
3-or-more-family dwellings plus visitor's parking space for every dwelling unit or fraction thereof | 1 for each family dwelling unit, |
Bowling alleys, recreation centers, swimming pools, skating rinks, outdoor commercial recreation enterprise and other recreation and amusement facilities | 1 for every 4 customers computed on the basis of maximum servicing capacity at any one time, plus 1 additional for every 2 persons regularly employed during peak shift on the premises |
Club houses and meeting places of veterans, business, civic, fraternal, labor and similar organizations for every 2 persons regularly employed during peak shift on the premises | 1 for every 50 square feet of aggregate floor area in the auditorium, assembly hall and dining room of such building, plus 1 additional |
Drive-in facilities | 5 per 100 square feet of floor space |
Funeral homes and undertaking establishments | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus 1 parking space for every 2 persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift and 1 for every 6 seats in the establishment |
Home occupations | Adequate off-street parking shall be provided for patrons of all home occupations. At a minimum, 1 parking space for each chair provided in the waiting room or examination room must be provided. These parking requirements are in addition to those required for the residential dwelling |
Hospitals (inpatient) | 1 for every 4 beds intended for patients, excluding bassinets, plus 1 per doctor, plus 1 per 2 employees on peak shift, plus 1 per hospital vehicle |
Indoor retail businesses | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus 1 parking space for each 250 square feet of total floor area |
Junior and senior high schools | 1 for every 6 seats available at maximum capacity in the assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium of greatest capacity on the school grounds or campus. If the school has no assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium, 1 parking space shall be provided for each person regularly employed at such school, plus 2 additional for each classroom |
Libraries, museums, post offices and similar establishments | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the operation of such establishment, plus 1 parking space for each 250 square feet of total floor area |
Medical and dental clinics (outpatient) | 3 for each doctor, plus 1 additional for every 2 regular employees |
Motels and hotels | 1 for each sleeping room offered for tourist accommodation, plus 1 for each dwelling unit on the premises, plus 1 additional for every 2 persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift |
Multi-use buildings | Parking space for buildings of mixed uses shall be calculated proportionally according to its uses |
Nursing homes | 1 for every 2 beds occupied at maximum capacity. This requirement is in addition to the parking space requirement for hospitals set forth herein |
Offices Outdoor retail businesses | 1 for every 500 square feet of office space Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus 2 parking spaces for each person employed on the premises based on maximum seasonal employment, plus 1 for every 500 feet of lot area used for business purposes |
Public and private elementary schools | 1 for each person regularly employed at such school, plus 1 additional for each classroom |
Public garages | Indoor or outdoor parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus 3 parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises |
Repair shops, plumbing shops, electrical shops, roofing shops and other service establishments | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of the business, plus 2 parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises |
Restaurants, indoor, and other eating and drinking establishments | 1 for each table or booth, plus 1 parking space for every 2 stools at bar or counter, plus 1 parking space for every 2 persons on peak shift |
Service stations | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of the business, plus 1 parking space for each gas pump, 3 for each grease rack or similar facility and 1 for every 2 persons employed on the premises at maximum employment on a single shift |
Short-term rental (bed-and-breakfast) | 1 space for each sleeping room/unit that is offered for accommodation, plus 2 spaces for the resident/operators of the bed-and-breakfast or short-term rental. |
Theaters, auditoriums, churches, stadiums and other places of public assembly | 1 for every 6 seats available at maximum capacity |
Transportation terminals | 1 for every 100 square feet of waiting room space, plus 1 additional for every 2 persons regularly employed on the premises during peak shift |
Universities, colleges, academies and similar institutions of higher learning | 1 for every 6 seats occupied at maximum capacity in the assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium of greatest capacity on the campus. If the institution has no assembly hall, auditorium, stadium or gymnasium, 1 parking space shall be provided for each person regularly employed at such institution, plus 5 additional for each classroom |
Warehouses, freight terminals and trucking terminals | Parking or storage space for all vehicles used directly in the conduct of such business, plus 2 parking spaces for each person regularly employed on the premises during peak shift |
§ 225-49 Location of parking areas.
A.
Off-street automobile parking facilities shall be located as hereinafter specified; where a distance is specified, such distance shall be walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking area to the nearest entrance of the building that said parking area is required to serve.
(1)
For one- and two-family dwellings: on the same lot with the building they are required to serve.
(2)
For three- and four-family dwellings not over three stories in height, and townhouse dwellings not over three stories in height: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve. For the purpose of this requirement, a group of such uses constructed and maintained under a single ownership or management shall be assumed to be on a single lot or parcel of land.
(3)
For clubs, hospitals, sanitariums, orphanages, homes for the aged, convalescent homes and for other similar uses: on the same lot or parcel of land as the main building or buildings being served, or upon properties contiguous to the lot upon which is located the building or buildings they are intended to serve.
(4)
For multiple-family dwellings containing more than four dwelling units and all other uses: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to service, or on a separate lot or parcel of land not more than 300 feet from the nearest entrance to the main use being served.
§ 225-50 Additional parking regulations.
A.
Use of off-street parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities accessory to residential use and developed in any residential district in accordance with the requirements of this Article shall be used solely for the parking of passenger automobiles, commercial vehicles of not more than one ton gross vehicle weight (GVW) owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which such facilities are accessory, service vehicles or by guests of said occupants.
B.
Joint parking facilities.
(1)
Off-street parking facilities for different buildings, structures or uses or for mixed uses may be provided collectively in any zoning district in which separate off-street parking facilities for each constituent use together are not less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use of which normal hours of operation coincide, and not more than 300 feet from and contiguous to the lot on which the main building is located.
(2)
In any case, where the required parking spaces are not on the same lot with the building or use served or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a written agreement thereto assuring their retention for such purposes shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form and execution by the Borough Solicitor and shall be filed with the application for a building permit.
(3)
Not more than 50% of the parking spaces required for theaters and places of amusement and up to 100% of the parking spaces required for a church or school may be provided and used jointly by banks, offices, retail stores, repair shops, service establishments and similar uses not normally open, used or operated during the same hours as theaters, places of amusement, churches or schools; provided, however, that written agreement assuring the retention for such purposes is properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form and execution by the Borough Solicitor, and is filed with the application for a building permit.[1]
C.
Control of off-site facilities. When required accessory off-street parking facilities are provided elsewhere than on the lot on which the principal use is located, they shall be in the same possession, either by deed or long-term lease, as the property occupied by such principal use, and the owner shall be bound by covenants of record filed in the office of the Borough Secretary requiring the owner and his or her heirs and assigns to maintain the required number of off-street parking spaces during the existence of said principal use.
D.
No nonresidential parking in residential districts. No nonresidential parking in residential areas shall be permitted.
§ 225-51 Design and maintenance of loading space.
A.
Design.
(1)
Loading space description. An off-street loading space shall be a hard-surfaced area of land, open or enclosed, other than a street or public way, used principally for the standing, loading or unloading of motor trucks, tractors and trailers so as to avoid undue interference with the public use of streets and alleys. A required loading space shall be not less than 10 feet in width, 14 feet in height and of adequate length to suit the specific use, exclusive of access aisles and maneuvering space, except as otherwise specifically dimensioned herein.
(2)
Location. No permitted or required loading space shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless completely enclosed by building walls. No permitted or required loading space shall be located within 25 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets. Loading space open to the sky may be located in any required yards.
(3)
Measurement of spaces. When determination of the number of required off-street loading spaces results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including 1/2 may be disregarded, and fractions over 1/2 shall be interpreted as one loading space.
(4)
Surfacing. All open off-street loading berths shall be improved with a compacted base, surfaced with all-weather dustless material of adequate thickness to support the weight of a fully loaded vehicle.
B.
Additional requirements. Every building or structure used for business or trade shall provide space as herein indicated for the loading and unloading of vehicles off the street or public alley. Such space shall have access to a public alley or, if there is no alley, to a street. Off-street loading and unloading space shall be in addition to and not considered as meeting a part of the requirements for off-street parking space. Off-street loading and unloading space shall not be used or designed, intended or constructed to be used in a manner to obstruct or interfere with the free use of any street, alley or adjoining property. The following off-street loading and unloading space requirements for specific uses shall be provided:
(1)
Multistory multiple-family dwelling: one off-street loading and unloading space of at least 10 feet wide for every 3,000 square feet of total floor area.
(2)
Warehouses and wholesale storage facilities: one off-street loading and unloading space at least 12 feet by 50 feet for every 7,500 square feet of total floor area.
(3)
Freight terminals and trucking terminals: one off-street loading and unloading space at least 12 feet by 50 feet for every 5,000 square feet of total floor area.