Wyalusing City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VII
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 500-700 General parking regulations.
A.
Off-street parking facilities shall be provided to lessen congestion in the streets. The facilities required shall be available to patrons throughout the hours of operation of the particular business or use for which such facilities are provided. The term "parking space" includes either covered garage space or uncovered parking space located off the public right-of-way. Residential off-street parking space shall consist of a parking lot, driveway, garage or combination thereof and shall be located on the lot it is intended to serve;
B.
Outdoor parking spaces shall not be deemed to be part of the open space of the lot on which it is located, unless designated as overflow parking in accordance with this article;
C.
A garage or carport may be located wholly or partly inside the walls of the principal building or attached to the outside walls.
(1)
In the case of single-family residential uses, the garage may be separated from the principal building. The garage shall conform to all accessory building requirements; and
(2)
In the case of multifamily and nonresidential uses, freestanding parking garages, whether above or below ground, are encouraged, but must conform to all bulk and area requirements for the district in which it is located.
D.
Fractional space. When required parking computation results in fractions, any fraction less than 1/2 shall be disregarded and any fraction equal to or greater than 1/2 shall be construed to require a full space;
E.
Each off-street parking space shall consist of an area not less than an average of 162 square feet of usable area for each motor vehicle and the dimensions of off-street parking spaces shall not be less than nine feet wide and 18 feet long, exclusive of access drives or aisles;
F.
Changes in use. Whenever a building or use is changed or enlarged in floor area, number of employees, number of dwellings, seating capacity or otherwise to create a need for an increase of 10% or more in the number of existing parking spaces, the number of additional spaces to be provided shall be based upon the incremental change or enlargement; and
G.
Modification of parking requirements. The Zoning Hearing Board may authorize a modification, reduction, or waiver of the off-street parking requirements in exceptional cases of use, zone lot size or shape, or other unusual topographic situations.
§ 500-701 Off-street parking requirements.
The following off-street parking requirements shall be minimum standards:
Table 701.1 Residential Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Dwellings other than single family | 2 spaces per dwelling unit, plus 1 space per 5 dwelling units for guest parking |
Group quarters | 1 space per resident based on maximum occupancy, plus 1 space for guest parking for each 4 residents based on maximum occupancy |
Mobile home parks | 2 spaces for each mobile home lot, plus 1 space for every 3 mobile home lots in the park |
Personal care and nursing home | 1 space per 4 beds based on design capacity, plus 1 space for each employee on the largest shift |
Boarding homes | 1 space per bedroom or guest sleeping room, plus 2 spaces for permanent residents |
Single-family dwellings | 2 spaces per dwelling unit |
Table 701.2 Commercial/Office Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Adult-related uses | 1 space for each person of total facility capacity, plus 1 space for each employee on the largest shift |
Auto body shop, repair garage and service stations | 2 spaces for each service bay area, plus 1 additional space for each full-time employee on the largest shift, but in no event less than 1 space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area |
Automatic/manual car wash | 1 space for every 200 square feet of office and 2 spaces per washing bay |
Automotive new and used car, trailer and coach sales | 1 space per 15 vehicles or homes plus 1 space per employee |
Banks/financial institutions | 1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area |
Bar/tavern | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area plus 1 per full-time employee |
Carpeting, drapery, floor covering and wall covering sales | 1 space for 500 square feet of gross floor area |
Crematorium/funeral homes/mortuary | 1 space for each 4 seats provided for patron use by design capacity, plus 1 additional space for each full-time employee and each vehicle maintained on the premises |
Convenience stores (mini-mart) | 1 space for 75 square feet of retail floor area |
Day-care centers (adult and child) | 1 space for every employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space for every 6 students and off-street waiting spaces to accommodate at least 6 automobiles |
Drive-through and fast food restaurants | 1 space per 2 seats and 1 space for each 2 employees |
Farm/roadside stand | Minimum of 5 spaces |
Farmer's market and/or flea market | 1 space per each 200 square feet of retail sales area |
Fitness center | 1 space per 100 square feet of floor area plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift |
General retail (stores or shops) | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area of display area, plus 1 space per each employee on largest shift |
Home occupation | 2 spaces for the dwelling unit, plus 2 customer spaces |
Hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast homes and inns, and resorts | 1 space per guest room, plus 1 space for each employee on the largest shift; spaces associated with meeting rooms (1 space for 400 square feet of public meeting area), restaurants and related facilities shall be in addition to these requirements |
Kennels and veterinarians | 1 space for every 15 animals of capacity, plus 6 spaces per veterinarian |
Laundromat | 1 space per 3 washing machines, plus 1 space per employee |
Mini or self storage | 1 space per 25 storage units, plus 1 space per employee, plus 2 spaces for any resident manager |
Medical/dental offices, testing labs and outpatient clinics (includes mobile) | 5 spaces for each doctor or dentist plus 1 space per employee |
Offices, professional | 1 space for every 500 square feet of gross floor area |
Restaurants (other than drive-through and fast food) | 1 space for every 4 seats of design capacity or 1 space for every 50 square feet of gross floor area, whichever is larger; plus 1 space for every employee on the largest shift |
Roadside sales of farm products | Not less than 5 spaces |
Winery (tasting room and retail sale) | 1 space per employee and 1 space per 100 square feet of tasting room and retail sale floor area |
Table 701.3 Recreational Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Amusement arcade | 1 space per 80 square feet of gross floor area |
Billiard room | 2 spaces per table |
Bowling alley | 2 spaces for each alley, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift |
Club or lodge | 6 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift |
Dance halls, swimming pools, roller rinks, similar places and other commercial recreation buildings | 1 space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area or of water area in a swimming pool, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift |
Golf driving range and miniature golf | 1 space for each tee or hole |
Outdoor recreational facilities, sports arenas/stadiums, auditorium, movie theaters and assembly halls | 1 space for each 3 seats, plus 1 space per employee on the largest shift |
Picnic area | 1 space per picnic table |
Table 701.4 Manufacturing and Industrial Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Manufacturing plants, research or testing laboratories, or wholesale establishments | 1 space for each employee in largest shift |
Warehousing/distribution | 1 space for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 1 space for each employee on the largest shift, whichever is greater |
Table 701.5 Institutional Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Colleges, universities or business, technical and fine arts schools | 1 space for each full-time employee (regardless of shift), plus 3 spaces for every 4 on-campus students |
Elementary and middle schools | 1 space for 4 seats in an auditorium or 1 space for each 15 students, plus 1 space per teacher and staff member |
High schools | 1 space per 4 students, plus 1 space per teacher and staff member |
Hospitals | 1 space for each 2 beds, plus 1 space per each employee on the largest shift |
Place of worship | 1 space for every 4 seats |
Vocational training and adult education facilities | 1 space per 1.5 students enrolled |
Table 701.6 Public and Cultural Use Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Minimum Required Parking |
Community buildings and social halls | 1 space for 3 seats of total facility capacity |
Public libraries, art galleries and museums | 1 space for each 250 square feet of floor area open to the public, plus 1 space for each employee |
A.
When the parking requirements are not specified herein for a building or use for which an application for a permit has been filed or where the proposal contemplates a mix of uses and parking requirements and for all other uses not provided for herein, required parking spaces shall be determined by a study to be prepared by the developer or the applicant and approved by the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall make the determination of which parking requirement standards shall apply in order to ensure that adequate off-street parking spaces are provided to serve the needs of the proposed uses in conformance with the standards set forth herein and upon the consideration of all factors entering into the parking needs of each use. The developer and/or applicant's study shall include the following:
(1)
Type of use and estimated number of total trips generated during peak conditions (inbound and outbound);
(2)
Estimated parking duration per vehicle trip (turnover rate);
(3)
Based on estimated number of trips generated and average parking duration per trip, calculate number of spaces required; and
(4)
Estimated number of employees; one space to be provided for every two employees working maximum shift.
B.
For institutional, industrial, wholesale and warehousing establishments, the Zoning Hearing Board may authorize the reduction of the number and size of paved off-street parking spaces as a variance in cases where the applicant can justify a reduction and still provide adequate parking facilities to serve the proposed uses of the building and/or land and show reserved areas for expansion of the paved parking for future uses. In addition, the Zoning Hearing Board may consider unimproved overflow parking areas for Institutional uses, which would be set back at least 10 feet from adjoining lot lines. Unimproved overflow parking areas shall also provide a fence delineating such occasional parking facilities and preventing the parking and/or movement of vehicles across neighboring properties.
§ 500-702 Location of off-street parking spaces.
A.
The required off-street parking spaces for any type of use shall be located on the same lot to the principal use to which it is accessory. The required off-street parking may be permitted on another lot subject to the following requirements:
(1)
The lot to be used for off-street parking and the lot on which the principal use is located shall be in the same zoning district;
(2)
The lot to be used for off-street parking and the lot on which the principal use is located shall be held under the same ownership; and
(3)
The lot to be used for off-street parking shall not be less than 400 feet to any lot line on which the principal structure is located.
§ 500-703 Joint parking facilities.
Joint parking facilities shall be allowed in the Business 2 District. The required parking shall be not less than the total required separately for each use with the following exceptions:
A.
It shall be demonstrated that the uses jointly utilizing the parking facility are utilizing the parking facility at different periods of the day or different days of the week. A reduction may be granted for the total number of parking spaces needed, requiring only the number of spaces needed based on the one use of the facility requiring the most spaces; and
B.
An agreement for the joint use of a parking facility shall be recorded as a deed restriction, irrevocable license, easement or other recordable document in a form satisfactory to the Wyalusing Borough Solicitor filed in the Bradford County Courthouse in the chain of title of the land to be burdened in perpetuity or for a period to extend throughout the life of the use requiring the maintenance of the required number of spaces.
§ 500-704 Parking lot design standards, screening and landscaping.
A.
The minimum dimensions of parking lots to be provided shall be as follows:
(1)
In all districts, except in the case of single-family dwellings, there shall be no less than six feet of open space between the edge of any parking lot and the outside wall of any building to allow for access by emergency vehicles;
(2)
Parking lot dimensions shall be no less than those listed in Table 704.1:
Table 704.1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parking Lot and Space Dimensions | ||||
Angle of Parking | Parking Bay Width (feet) | Length (feet) | Aisle Width | |
One-Way (feet) | Two-Way (feet) | |||
90° | 9 | 18 | 20 | 24 |
60° | 9.5 | 21 | 18 | 24 |
45° | 9.5 | 20 | 14 | 24 |
30° | 9 | 18 | 12 | 24 |
(3)
All dead-end parking lots shall be designed to provide sufficient backup area for the end stalls of the parking lot;
(4)
Except for residential uses, parking lots shall be designed so that each motor vehicle may proceed to and from the parking space provided for it without requiring the moving of any other motor vehicle;
(5)
Setback for parking lots shall be provided as follows:
(a)
All parking spaces and access drives shall be at least six feet from any multiple dwelling, commercial, or manufacturing building on the lot;
(b)
All parking spaces shall be behind the building setback line;
(c)
Parking lot circulation aisles and driveways shall be physically separated from the public and/or private streets in conformance with the applicable building setback requirements, excluding entrance and exit drives of parking lots; and
(d)
Except for single-family attached, single-family detached, single-family semidetached and two-family detached, in no case shall parking lots be designed to require or encourage cars to back into a public or private street in order to exit the parking lot, with the exception of alleyways.
B.
Screening and landscaping for side yards and rear yards. The side and rear yards areas of properties that contain off-street parking for 10 or more vehicles and/or any off-street loading areas shall be screened along such borders as provided herein:
(1)
A planting strip not less than five feet in depth, containing ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants and/or a similar vegetative cover that are a minimum of three feet in height at the time of planting; and
(2)
Such borders shall also be screened by a substantial, tight fence, six feet in height, or in lieu of a fence, an evergreen hedge not less than five feet in height at the time of planting with a spacing distance of not greater than four feet between each planting.
C.
Screening and landscaping for front yards. The front yards areas of properties that contain off-street parking for 10 or more vehicles and/or any off-street loading areas shall be screened along such borders as provided herein:
(1)
A planting strip not less than 10 feet in depth shall be provided between the parking areas and the abutting street right-of-way except for the location of access drives to the property. The planting strip shall contain ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants or a similar vegetative cover; and
(2)
The planting strip shall also contain one shade tree for each 40 linear feet of planting strip. Trees shall be not less than eight feet in height at the time of planting.
D.
Interior landscaping. Off-street parking lots that contain 20 or more parking spaces, in addition to the compliance with regulations contained under Subsections B and C of this section, shall provide interior landscaping within the parking lot. Landscaping shall be not less than 5% of the total area that is paved and utilized for parking and or loading. Interior landscaped areas shall contain ornamental grass, shrubbery, plants or a similar vegetative cover and a minimum of one shade tree not less than eight feet in height at the time of planting.
§ 500-705 Provisions for handicapped parking spaces.
A.
Handicapped car parking spaces shall be provided in Table 705.1 as follows:
Table 705.1 | |
|---|---|
Handicapped Parking Space Requirements | |
Total Parking Spaces | Required Accessible Car 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 |
* | Americans with Disabilities Act, Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (§ 4.1.2 Accessible Sites and Exterior Facilities: New Construction) |
** | NOTE: In addition to the required accessible car spaces, at least one handicapped-accessible van space must also be provided to serve any building. Accordingly, at least one additional handicapped-accessible van space must be provided to serve any building for each five required handicapped accessible car spaces provided. |
(1)
Handicapped car spaces shall be 10 feet by 20 feet in size. Handicapped van spaces shall be 13 feet by 20 feet in size. Handicapped van spaces shall be permitted to be 10 feet by 20 feet in size when the adjacent access aisle provided is 10 feet by 20 feet in size as well. All handicapped car and van parking spaces shall be appropriately marked;
(2)
Any handicapped car or handicapped van parking spaces shall have an access aisle located adjacent to it. Access aisles shall adjoin an accessible route. Two parking spaces shall be permitted to share a common access aisle. Access aisles shall not overlap with a vehicular way. Parking spaces shall be permitted to have access aisles placed on either side of the car or van parking space. Access aisles shall be at least seven feet in width. Access aisles shall extend the full length of the largest parking space that they serve. Access aisles shall be marked so to discourage parking of vehicles within them. Where access aisles are marked with lines, the width measurements of access aisles and adjacent parking spaces shall be made from the center line of the markings. Where parking spaces or access aisles are not adjacent to another parking space or access aisle, measurements shall be permitted to include the full width of the line defining the parking space or access aisle;
(3)
Handicapped-accessible car and van parking spaces shall be identified as such by five-foot-high freestanding signs placed at the head of the space facing the space. Such signs shall depict the International Symbol of Accessibility, and the designation "Handicapped Accessible Car Space" or "Handicapped Accessible Van Space"; and
(4)
All handicapped spaces shall be the spaces in a parking lot placed closest to the building served. All handicapped spaces and adjacent access aisles shall have access to nearby wheelchair-accessible concrete ramps where they lead to raised curbs and/or walkways surrounding the building served.
§ 500-706 Access driveway standards.
A.
Residential access driveway standards. All single-family and two-family dwelling driveways shall conform to the following:
(1)
The number of driveways may not exceed two per lot on a street frontage;
(2)
Driveways may not exceed 24 feet at the right-of-way line, excluding driveway radii;
(3)
Driveways must be located in safe relationship to sight distance and barriers to vision. The drive may not exceed a slope of 4% within 50 feet of the street right-of-way line. Where a drive enters a bank through a cut, the shoulders of the cut may not exceed 50% in slope within 25 feet of the point the drive intersects the right-of-way;
(4)
A clear sight triangle in conformance with this chapter shall be provided for driveways;
(5)
Driveways shall be set back three feet from each side lot line; and
(6)
Common-use driveways for single-family, semidetached and single-family attached units shall be permitted with no setback required at the common interior lot line but shall be required at the exterior side lot line.
B.
Multifamily residential and nonresidential access drive standards.
(1)
Number per lot. Except as specified elsewhere, the number of access drives intersecting with each street shall not exceed two per lot or street frontage;
(2)
Setbacks. All access drives shall be set back at least:
(a)
Fifty feet from any other access drive or driveway located upon the same lot;
(b)
Ten feet from any side and/or rear property or lot lines; however, this setback shall be excluded along the property or lot line when a joint parking lot is shared by adjoining uses; and
(c)
Fifty feet from any street intersection.
(3)
Clear sight triangle. Access drives shall be located and constructed so that a clear sight triangle a minimum of 150 feet as measured along the street center line and along the driveway center line is maintained. No permanent obstructions and/or plant materials over 30 inches high shall be placed within this area;
(4)
Access drive width. Access drives shall provide a twelve-foot-wide cartway for each lane of travel. However, in no case shall any access drive cartway be less than 18 feet wide. See Table 706.1 below:
 |
Table 706.1 | ||
|---|---|---|
Access Drive Width | ||
Number of Lanes | Direction of Travel | Required Access Drive Width (feet) |
1 | One-way | 12 |
2 | One-way | 24 |
3 or more | One-way | 12 |
(5)
PennDOT permit. Any access drive intersecting a state-owned road shall require the possession of a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Highway Occupancy Permit as set forth in the Pennsylvania Code, Title 67, Transportation, Chapter 441, Access to and Occupancy of Highways by Driveways and Local Roads, as amended.
§ 500-707 Drainage, surfacing and maintenance standards.
§ 500-708 Lighting.
A.
Parking lots shall be illuminated as necessary to protect the public safety;
B.
Such illumination shall be designed, directed or shielded to effectively eliminate direct glare on adjacent property or roadways. Lighting shall not be required for residential dwellings that are permitted by right, for parking lots with less than five spaces or for those uses that do not have nighttime operating hours; and
C.
Prior to the time any exterior lighting is installed or substantially modified, an exterior lighting plan shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer in order to determine that adjoining properties shall not be adversely impacted by the proposed illumination.
§ 500-709 Loading and unloading space.
A.
An off-street loading space shall be an 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;
B.
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;
C.
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, sidewalk, alley, designated fire access lane, or adjoining property;
D.
Off-street loading and unloading spaces shall not be located so that vehicles entering or leaving the spaces would conflict with parking spaces and require backing maneuvers in areas of customer or public circulation; and
E.
The following off-street loading and unloading space requirements for specific uses shall be provided as listed below in Table 709.1:
Table 709.1 Off-Street Loading and Unloading Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
Type of Use | Number of Spaces Per | Gross Floor Area/Dwelling Unit |
Hospital or other institution | None | First 10,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 10,000 to 100,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 100,000 feet2 | |
Hotel, motel and similar lodging facilities | None | First 10,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 10,000 to 100,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 100,000 feet2 | |
Manufacturing and industrial | None | First 2,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 2,000 to 25,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 40,000 feet2 | |
Multifamily dwelling | None | First 2,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 2,000 to 25,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 40,000 feet2 | |
Office buildings and banks | None | First 10,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 10,000 to 100,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 100,000 feet2 | |
Retail sales | None | First 2,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 2,000 to 10,000 feet2 | |
2.0 | 10,000 to 40,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 100,000 feet2 | |
Theater, auditorium, bowling alley or other recreational establishment | None | First 10,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 10,000 to 100,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 100,000 feet2 | |
Undertaking establishment or funeral parlor | None | First 3,000 feet2 |
1.0 | 3,000 to 5,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 10,000 feet2 | |
Wholesale or warehousing | None | First 1,500 feet2 |
1.0 | 1,500 to 10,000 feet2 | |
+1.0 | Each additional 40,000 feet2 | |
F.
When determination of the number of required off-street loading and unloading 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 off-street loading and unloading space. Any fractured spaces shall be rounded up;
G.
The off-street loading and unloading space shall not be less than 10 feet wide, and 35 feet in length, and 14 feet in height, when covered. For warehouse buildings or buildings accommodating tractor trailers, the minimum off-street loading and unloading space size shall be increased to 12 feet wide and 70 feet long;
H.
No off-street loading and unloading spaces shall be within any building setback and/or buffer area;
I.
When the off-street loading and unloading space abuts a residential use or zone, a five-foot buffer area shall be provided contiguous to the property or line of the residential use or zone in addition to the required setback; and
J.
Surfacing. All open off-street loading and unloading spaces shall be improved with a compacted base, surfaced with bituminous concrete or cement concrete pavement of adequate thickness to support the weight of a fully loaded vehicle.
§ 500-710 Fire lanes.
Fire lanes shall be provided where required by state or federal regulations or other local ordinances. The specific locations of these lanes are subject to review by the Wyalusing Valley Volunteer Fire Department.