Whitpain Township City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXVII
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 160-192 Required off-street parking facilities.
Any building or 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, either within a structure or in the open, as set forth below, together with adequate passageways or driveways or other means of circulation with proper and safe access from a street or way:
A.
Dwellings in residential and nonresidential districts.
[Amended 4-20-1992 by Ord. No. 4-130]
(1)
Each dwelling unit shall be provided with not fewer than two off-street all-weather parking spaces.
(2)
Private garages shall not be counted toward the minimum required number of parking spaces.
(3)
Developments containing more than five multifamily dwellings shall be provided with additional parking spaces to accommodate visitors and overflow needs at the ratio of 1/2 parking space per multifamily dwelling. These spaces shall be accessible to all residents and visitors within the development.
B.
P-R Park and Recreation Districts, IN Institutional Districts and all nonresidential districts shall be subject to the following standards:
[Amended 7-5-1988 by Ord. No. 4-108]
(1)
Standards. All parking lots and spaces in these districts shall be constructed and operated in accordance with the following conditions:
(a)
Parking lots and spaces shall be all-weather, properly graded for drainage, surfaced with concrete or asphalt.
(b)
All accessways to any public street or highway shall be located at least 200 feet from the intersection of any street lines and shall be designed in a manner conducive to safe ingress and egress. The developer shall be responsible for the construction of any necessary traffic control devices or additional acceleration lanes required by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
(d)
Interior drives shall be designed so as to prevent blockage of vehicles entering or leaving the site.
(e)
Areas provided for loading and unloading of delivery trucks and other vehicles and for the servicing of shops by refuse collection, fuel and other service vehicles shall be adequate in size and shall be so arranged that they may be used without blockage or interference with accessways or automobile parking facilities.
(f)
The developer may set aside up to 25% of the required parking spaces, which shall be planted, landscaped and reserved for future parking needs. The reserve parking shall be constructed at the sole expense of the landowner or tenant, in total or in part, at the election of the landowner or if so ordered by the Township Board of Supervisors. Such reserve parking shall be fully engineered, and areas shall not be counted as any open space otherwise required, and the location and design must conform to all other applicable standards.
(h)
Wheel or bumper guards or curbs shall be installed to protect trees and to contain vehicles along the perimeter of the parking lot as well as along designated entrance and exit drives.
(i)
For parking lots in excess of 2,000 square feet, landscaped islands equal in size to not less than one parking space shall be provided along both sides at the end of each parking aisle and adjacent to each entrance and exit.
(j)
Drive-through facilities shall be provided with a separate lane no less than 12 feet in width and capable of containing at least eight vehicles without interference with other required parking spaces or parking aisles.
(2)
Parking space formula. One off-street parking space shall be provided in these districts for each employee. In computing the number of employees, only full-time employees working day shifts shall be counted. For any of the following uses, additional parking spaces shall be provided as follows:
(a)
Church, school, public auditorium, meeting room or similar place of public or private assembly: one parking space for every four seats.
(b)
Hospital: one parking space for every four beds.
(c)
Community center, library or museum: one parking space for every 800 square feet of floor area in public use.
(d)
Club: one parking space for every four members.
(e)
Retail store or other shop: one parking space for every 150 square feet of total floor area.
(f)
Department store or supermarket: one parking space for every 150 square feet of total floor area.
(g)
Indoor theater: one parking space for every three seats.
(h)
Hotel, tourist home, motel or auto court: one parking space for each rental unit.
(i)
Office building: one parking space for every 250 square feet of total floor area, regardless of the number of employees likely to utilize the building.
[Amended 8-3-2004 by Ord. No. 4-201]
(j)
Restaurant, cafe or other eating or drinking establishment: one parking space for every 75 square feet of total floor area, including outdoor eating areas, which shall be inclusive of employee parking.
[Amended 1-6-1997 by Ord. No. 4-142-1]
(k)
Medical and dental office, clinic or similar place: five parking spaces per professional practitioner, plus one space per each employee on the largest shift, or one parking space for every 250 square feet of total floor area, whichever is greater.
(l)
Funeral home: three parking spaces for every 150 square feet of total floor area used or intended to be used by visitors or guests, plus one parking space per employee.
(m)
Day-care homes, day-care centers, nursery schools or similar places: one parking space for each employee, plus one safe dropoff space for each 10 children that the facility is licensed to accommodate. Each dropoff space shall conform to the dimensional standards for parking spaces.
[Added 11-1-1993 by Ord. No. 4-141]
[1]
The dropoff area shall be located immediately adjacent to the facility. The dropoff area should be designed in such a way that pedestrians do not cross vehicular traffic lanes in any parking area or driveway. The dropoff area may be designed either as a part of the on-site parking area or as a part of the driveway providing direct access to the day-care facility.
[2]
When the dropoff area is incorporated into the on-site parking area, the parking spaces nearest to the facility shall be designated as dropoff spaces. When the dropoff area is incorporated into a driveway, the dropoff spaces shall be located within a vehicle turnout area 12 feet in width, exclusive of the driveway through traffic lane(s).
(n)
Recreational establishment, stadium or similar place of assembly or use: one parking space for every four seats or one parking space for each 60 square feet of total floor area space devoted to patron use.
(o)
When a shopping center as defined herein includes uses set forth in Subsection B(2)(e) or (f), each with no limitation as to size, or Subsection B(2)(j), with a size limitation for each such establishment of 4,500 square feet, overall parking calculated for their uses may be provided at a ratio not less than five spaces per every 1,000 square feet of total area, which shall be inclusive of employee parking.
[Amended 11-15-1993 by Ord. No. 4-142; 7-10-1995 by Ord. No. 4-149; 1-6-1997 by Ord. No. 4-142-1]
[1]
When a shopping center, as defined herein, shall have a total of more than 15,000 square feet but less than 40,000 square feet of building space, and which shall be further subject to the criteria of Subsection B(2)(o) above, then the overall parking calculated for the uses may be provided at a ratio of not less than six spaces for each 1,000 square feet of total floor area, inclusive of employee parking.
[Added 8-15-2006 by Ord. No. 4-220]
(p)
Personal service uses: one parking space for every 150 square feet of total floor area, plus one parking space per each employee.
[Added 7-1-2003 by Ord. No. 4-186; amended 10-19-2004 by Ord. No. 4-195]
(q)
Convenience store and gasoline service station mini-markets: one parking space for every 100 square feet of total floor area for the first 3,000 square feet, thence at a rate of one space for every 150 square feet of total floor area for that portion which may be in excess of 3,000 square feet.
[Added 7-1-2003 by Ord. No. 4-186]
(r)
Bank, savings and loan association, credit union or other financial institution use: one parking space for every 150 square feet of total building area, plus one parking space for each employee.
[Added 4-18-2006 by Ord. No. 4-217]
C.
General regulations. The following regulations shall be applicable to the design and regulation of parking areas in all districts where more than two parking spaces are required.
[Added 10-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4-260]
(1)
Design requirements.
Parking angle (degrees) | Stall width* (feet) | Stall depth** (feet) | Stall line length (feet) | Minimum aisle width for one-way traffic (feet) | Minimum aisle width for two-way traffic (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
90 | 9.5 | 19 | 19 | 25 | 25 |
60 | 9.5 | 19 | 22 | 16 | Not permitted |
45 | 9.5 | 17 | 24 | 14 | Not permitted |
Parallel | 8 | 22 | 8 | 14 | 25 |
Notes: | |
* | Stall width is measured from the center line of the double lines required by § 160-192C(2) and perpendicular to the stall lines. |
** | Stall depth is measured perpendicular to the front edge of the stall. |
(2)
Parking space striping. Parking spaces shall be clearly delineated with four-inch-wide double paint lines, spaced one-foot clear between lines.
(3)
Special use parking spaces. Special use spaces such as short-term visitor parking, handicapped parking and pick-up/drop-off zones shall be differentiated from long-term parking by appropriate signage and markings.
(4)
Accessible parking spaces. Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be in conformance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Pennsylvania Act 45 of the Uniform Construction Code. Each parking space reserved for the physically handicapped shall be identified by signs complying with § 3354 of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code.
(5)
Parking space construction. Parking spaces shall be constructed of an all-weather surface, providing safe and convenient access in all seasons.
(6)
Wheel stops. Concrete wheel stops shall be provided at the end of each parking stall (except parallel parking stalls) and shall be aligned to be perpendicular to the side parking stall lines.
(7)
Reserved tenant parking. Parking reserved for the exclusive use of a tenant shall only be permitted where such reserved parking spaces are provided in addition to the minimum number of parking spaces required for the use.
(8)
Electric vehicle charging stations.
(a)
Minimum parking. Electrical vehicle charging stations shall only be permitted where parking spaces designated for electrical vehicle charging are provided in addition to the minimum number of parking spaces required for the use.
(b)
Size. An electric vehicle charging station shall meet the minimum design requirements above.
(c)
Layout. Charging equipment mounted on pedestals, bollards or other devices shall be a minimum of 24 inches clear from the face of the curb.
(d)
Equipment. Charging equipment shall be no lower than 36 inches and no higher than 48 inches from the top of the surface upon which the equipment is mounted and shall include a retraction device and/or place to hang permanent cords and connectors sufficiently above the ground or pavement surface.
(e)
Maintenance. Charging equipment shall be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of charging equipment. A phone number or contact information shall be provided on the charging equipment for reporting when the equipment is not functioning.
(f)
Fees. The property owner or operator is not restricted from collecting a reasonable service fee for the use of electric vehicle charging stations made available.
(g)
Signage. Appropriate signage may be provided in accordance with this chapter, provided no advertising shall be included on the equipment except for identification of the property owner or operator.
§ 160-193 Parking facilities for two or more establishments.
The parking spaces required in § 160-192 herein may be located elsewhere than on the lot they are intended to serve 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 building served thereby.
§ 160-194 Reduction of facilities.
Off-street parking facilities existing at the effective date of this article shall not subsequently be reduced to an amount less than required hereunder for a similar new building or new use. Off-street parking facilities provided to comply with the provisions of this article shall not subsequently be reduced below the requirements of this article.
§ 160-195 Permitted entrances and exits per lot.
There shall be no more than one entrance and one exit per street from each lot opening into a street or highway.
§ 160-196 Parking on pedestrian areas not permitted.
No parking space shall utilize pedestrian sidewalks or block area devoted to pedestrian use.
§ 160-197 Parking setback from ultimate right-of-way.
[Amended 6-4-1984 by Ord. No. 4-75]
No parking space shall be within five feet of the ultimate right-of-way line of any street. The area behind the ultimate right-of-way shall be designated permanent green area and landscaped.
§ 160-198 Green areas within parking and loading areas.
[Added 6-4-1984 by Ord. No. 4-75]
Green areas and landscaping shall be provided within off-street parking and loading areas as designated in § 160-214.
§ 160-199 Reduction in length of parking spaces.
[Added 9-21-1992 by Ord. No. 4-135; amended 10-6-1997 by Ord. No. 4-157]
The length of parking spaces provided pursuant to this article may be reduced to 17 feet so long as the perimeter two feet are preserved in relatively level pervious green area and a tire stop or curb is installed at the edge of the paved surface. When provided, the green area shall be credited toward the minimum green areas required in § 160-214 of this chapter.
§ 160-200 Reduction in width of parking spaces in A-R, A-R-1, R-E and I Districts.
[Added 4-5-2005 by Ord. No. 4-205; amended 10-18-2022 by Ord. No. 4-260]
In A-R, A-R-1, R-E and I Districts, the width of parking spaces provided pursuant to this article may be reduced to nine feet in width so long as an area of 15 square feet for each parking space having a width of nine feet shall be devoted to green area in addition to the minimum green areas required by § 160-214. Reduced-width spaces shall be provided with double-striped side lines as required by § 160-192C(2). This reduction shall not be allowed for uses listed in § 160-142E, Medical facilities, and § 160-142F, Banking facilities.