§ 123-37. Parking and loading areas., Article IV. Design Standards, Part 1. Subdivision Regulations, Chapter 123. Subdivision and Development of Land, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Lower Providence

Off-street automobile parking facilities shall be provided for all uses of land, structures and buildings, as well as for any expansion of such uses or increase in the intensity of use in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 143, Zoning, and this Part 1.

Angled or perpendicular parking shall not be permitted along public or private streets, except where specifically permitted by this Part 1 or other ordinances. No parking areas shall be located within a public street right-of-way. Parked vehicles in off-street parking spaces shall be prevented from intruding on travel lanes, walkways, public streets or adjacent properties by means of walls, curbs, wheel stops or other appropriate means.

No more than 18 parking spaces may be located in an uninterrupted row. If more than 18 parking spaces are located in a row, a raised and curbed planted area with a minimum size of nine feet by 18 feet shall be located at appropriate intervals to provide shading and visual interest. Each planted island or required planted area shall contain a shade tree of at least a caliper of 2 1/2 inches. Curbed parking islands must be provided at the ends of rows of parking. All parking islands must be a minimum of 10 feet in width.

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384; 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

Parking shall not be permitted along driveways which serve as the main entrances or exit(s) to parking areas with a capacity of 100 cars or more.

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

Parking areas shall not be located closer than 20 feet from any property boundary line nor less than 20 feet from any ultimate right-of-way line nor less than 10 feet from three sides of any building, unless greater setbacks are prescribed by the Township's Zoning Ordinance. The areas not abutting a building shall be landscaped according to the requirements of Subsection L, and the areas where the setback is required from the buildings shall be used for walkways and foundation planting.

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384; 7-15-1999 by Ord. No. 434]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 143, Zoning.

Where the edge of a parking area is located close to a street, driveway or other parking area and the provisions of Subsection E above do not apply, a minimum separation of 10 feet shall be provided between these features, unless a greater setback is prescribed by the Township's Zoning Ordinance. This spacing shall consist of a raised landscaped area, preferably curbed, with planting in conformance with Subsection L.

[Amended 7-15-1999 by Ord. No. 434]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 143, Zoning.

Parking spaces shall be a minimum of nine feet by 18 feet, except that a minimum of 8 1/2 by 18 feet by 18 feet may be used for controlled (valet parking, directed parking) or for long-term parking areas for multifamily residential, office, industrial and institutional uses. In addition, up to 20% of the parking area for more than 100 vehicles may be reduced to eight feet by 17 feet for compact cars, provided that the smaller spaces are clearly designated as compact car space.

Parking spaces shall be paved according to the Lower Providence Engineering Standards. Impervious coverage shall be reduced to the maximum extent possible by the use of the following methods:

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

(1)

Parking reserve areas. Where appropriate, portions of the required parking area shall remain as open space until needed, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 143, Zoning.

(2)

Reduced parking stall length. The parking stall length may be reduced 15%, provided that the additional length is added to the adjacent green area and tire bumpers are used to control the location of parked vehicles.

(3)

Porous paved material. Porous paving materials may be used, such as in overflow or temporary parking areas, when approved by the Board of Supervisors, upon the recommendation of the Township Engineer.

Editor's Note: See , included at the end of this chapter.

In any residential parking area where rows of parking spaces are parallel to one another and not separated by a driveway, a raised and/or curbed planting strip shall be provided between the rows. Said strip shall have a minimum width of at least 10 feet, planted in accordance with Subsection L and § 123-50.

In any residential parking area where a single row of parking spaces is located between two driveways, a raised and/or curbed planting strip shall be provided between the row of parking spaces and one driveway. Said strip shall have a minimum width of 10 feet, planted in accordance with Subsection L and § 123-50.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

Dead-ended parking areas shall be discouraged when the required parking capacity can be accommodated in a layout that permits more convenient vehicular movements. However, extraneous through traffic flow should be avoided.

(1)

Up to 50 parking spaces may also be located in a dead-ended parking area if there is no more desirable alternative feasible and sufficient backup area is provided for the end stalls.

(2)

More than 50 parking spaces may be located in a dead-ended parking area only if a turnaround area is provided at the closed end, suitable for passenger car turning. The turnaround area may be circular, T- or Y-shaped or other configuration acceptable to the Board of Supervisors.

Parking lot landscaping.

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

(1)

Parking areas shall be landscaped for the purposes below:

(a)

To add visual character and improve the appearance of large parking areas by reducing massive expanses of uninterrupted pavement.

(b)

To provide shade for parked cars.

(c)

To reduce random vehicular flow across parking areas.

(d)

To reduce runoff by reducing impervious surface areas.

(2)

To achieve the purposes above, parking lot landscaping shall be required in accordance with the following standards for all parking areas for between 50 and 150 vehicles:

(a)

Facing rows of parking stalls shall be separated by a planting strip a minimum of eight feet in width for the entire length of the parking rows.

(b)

Parking areas shall be separated from internal collector drives by a landscaped area at least 10 feet in width.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

(c)

The minimum size of planting strips within parking areas shall be 200 square feet with a minimum horizontal dimension of 10 feet.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

(d)

Impervious coverage shall be reduced to the maximum extent possible by the use of the following:

[1]

Parking reserve areas. Where appropriate, portions of the required parking area shall remain as open space until needed, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 143, Zoning.

[2]

Reduced parking stall length. The parking stall length may be reduced by 15%, provided that the additional length is added to the adjacent green area and tire bumpers are used to control the location of parked vehicles.

[3]

Porous paving material. Porous paving materials may be used, such as in overflow or temporary parking areas, when approved by the Board of Supervisors, upon the recommendation of the Township Engineer.

(3)

Parking areas for over 150 cars for nonresidential purposes shall be divided into sections by landscaped planting strips a minimum of 10 feet wide, in compliance with the following:

(a)

These planting strips shall be located as follows:

[1]

To separate main access (entrance-exit driveways) from rows of parking spaces.

[2]

To separate other major driveways from rows of parking spaces (service drives, general internal circulation).

[3]

To separate large parking areas into smaller units at intervals of four rows of parking stalls with each unit capacity not greater than 100 cars.

(b)

These planting strips shall be raised islands, curbed, in order to provide a more suitable planting environment.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

(c)

A pedestrian crossover of paving blocks must be provided for all planting strips within a parking lot of at least five feet in width. All outdoor cart corrals must be covered and clearly marked in the parking lot, and an indoor cart storage must be installed in front of the retail establishment if carts are provided by the retailer. A minimum of four outdoor cart corrals must be provided for retail uses in which carts are utilized. Parking shall be prohibited on all parking islands.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

(d)

For parking areas with an ultimate capacity greater than 500 cars, the requirements of Subsection L(3)(c), above may be modified to provide separation into units at intervals of six rows or parking stalls, with each unit capacity not greater than 150 cars.

(4)

Landscaping design standards. The following standards apply to all parking lot landscaping:

(a)

The primary plant materials shall be shade or canopy trees, drawn from the list in . The applicant may select alternative trees, chosen for their ability to tolerate the adverse environment of parking lots, their appearance and shade-providing qualities, and low maintenance characteristics. Any alternative plant materials must be approved by the Township Landscape Architect or Township Zoning Officer.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

[1]

These trees shall be planted in the planting strips a minimum of 30 feet and a maximum of 40 feet apart. Each landscaped island shall contain at least one canopy tree.

[2]

The minimum size of trees when planted shall be between five feet to eight feet in height and a caliper of 2 1/2 inches for shade trees and eight feet in height for evergreens.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

Editor's Note: is included at the end of this chapter.

(5)

Additional planting is encouraged and may include a variety of ornamental trees, shrubs and ground covers, provided that:

(a)

At the ends of planting strips at driveway intersections, drivers' visibility shall be maintained by limited planting for the end 35 feet.

(b)

At the ends of planting strips between rows of parking spaces, visibility shall be maintained by limited planting for the end 20 feet.

(c)

Limited planting shall mean:

[1]

Not more than one shade or canopy tree within the area.

[2]

No shrubs or ground cover plants exceeding two feet in height.

[3]

No evergreen trees.

(d)

Any parking lot plantings may be used to satisfy the requirements of § 123-50A herein.

The following requirements apply to driveways within sites proposed for developments:

(1)

A smooth transition shall be provided between the driveway section required for access to a public street and the driveway(s) required for interval site circulation.

(2)

Main access driveways (entrance-exit), shall be classified as follows:

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

(a)

Low-volume driveways are those that carry less than 750 vehicles per day (for example, an office building or an elementary school). Minimum width shall be 24 feet for a two-way driveway.

(b)

Medium-volume driveways carry from 750 to 1,500 vehicles per day (for example, a motel, fast-food restaurant or small shopping center). Minimum width shall be 28 feet or 14 feet per lane.

(c)

High-volume driveways carry more than 1,500 vehicles per day and usually require a signalized intersection (for example, a large shopping center or office park). Minimum width shall be according to the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (Title 67 of the Pennsylvania Code, as amended).

(3)

Access driveways which are clearly secondary in importance may be reduced to 24 feet in paved width.

(4)

All internal circulation driveways shall be a minimum of 22 feet wide with two-way traffic flow for convenience and efficiency and shall be signed for no parking.

(5)

(Reserved)

Editor's Note: Former Subsection M(5) was deleted 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384.

(6)

One-way driveways and/or parking at less than right angles may be permitted only when:

(a)

Right-angled parking and two-way driveways are not feasible because of site characteristics; or

(b)

Proven by the applicant to be superior for the particular development proposal.

(7)

Wherever feasible, internal circulation driveways shall extend from access drives in locations which permit and encourage entering traffic to turn and enter the parking aisles without first traveling along a building-front driveway. This feature is intended to reduce the volume of vehicular traffic along building-front drives to make it safer for pedestrian traffic.

No less than a five-foot radius of curvature shall be permitted for all curblines in all parking areas.

Parking lot dimensions shall be no less than those listed in the following table. All parking spaces shall be marked with all-weather paint with double parallel lines to be a minimum of six inches apart to separate each space.

	Parking Stall
Angle of Parking (degrees)	Depth (feet)	Width (feet)	Aisle Width One-Way (feet)	Two-Way (feet)
90	18*	9*	22	22
60	21	10	18	20
45	19	10	18	18

NOTES:

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

Off-street loading areas. In addition to off-street parking areas, off-street loading areas shall be provided for all retail businesses and wholesale and industrial uses requiring the regular delivering or shipping of goods, merchandise or equipment to the site by semitrailer truck. All loading space shall be located on the same lot as the principal use(s) it serves. Off-street loading areas shall comply with the following:

(1)

Required loading space shall be available for the loading and unloading of vehicles and shall not be used for the storage of vehicles or materials or to meet off-street parking requirements or in conducting the use.

(2)

The location and size of loading areas shall be adequate for the safe parking of trucks, and maneuvering space shall be provided so that ingress and egress can be accomplished on the lot without backing into a public street.

(3)

The loading spaces shall be compatible with vehicular circulation in adjacent areas based upon its location and the schedule of its use.

(4)

Two or more establishments may use a common loading and unloading facility, upon approval of the Board of Supervisors and upon the recommendation of the Township Engineer and/or Planning Commission.

(5)

In the case of shopping centers and other large scale uses having frequent truck deliveries or pickups, the circulation pattern for service vehicles shall be physically separated from automobile parking areas and parking access driveways.

Handicapped parking.

(1)

All multifamily, commercial, office, public and industrial uses shall provide parking spaces for the physically handicapped. The minimum number of handicapped spaces, as part of their parking requirements, shall be as follows:

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

	Total Parking Spaces	Handicapped Parking Spaces
	1 to 10	*
	11 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 and up	2% of total spaces

NOTE:

*For parking lots of 10 spaces or less, one oversized space shall be provided, as per Subsection B, and a ramp shall be provided, as per Subsection C. However, the oversized space need not be marked as a handicapped space and may be used by the general public.

(2)

Required off-street parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide by 18 feet long and shall be paved with an impervious gravel-free surface. Side-by-side spaces are encouraged to be marked as 1 1/2 times the standard width.

[Amended 8-10-1992 by Ord. No. 384]

(3)

Parking spaces for the physically handicapped should generally be located on the shortest possible route to an accessible entrance to the building. The first parking space in rows of parking near such entrances may be reserved for handicapped parking. Ramps shall be provided for convenient access from parking spaces to accessible entrances and to sidewalks. Such spaces shall be placed to permit severely handicapped persons to get into and out of a vehicle from either side.

(4)

The pavement shall be marked with the international symbol of accessibility. An aboveground sign shall be clearly visible from the driveway to designate each physically handicapped parking space with the appropriate signage indicating the penalty for violation according to Pennsylvania standards.

[Amended 9-21-2006 by Ord. No. 555]

Flexibility. The Board of Supervisors, upon the recommendation of the Township Planning Commission and Engineer, may approve alternative designs or layouts for parking areas and/or loading areas that are inconsistent with the requirements of this section, provided that:

(1)

The alternative design will not reduce the overall area for planting strips or the landscaping requirements.

(2)

The layout reduces the random flow of vehicles across parking areas more than the provisions of this section.

(3)

The proposed design separates the major driveways from rows of parking spaces, as required above.