§ 244-197. Off-street parking: nonresidential development., Article XII. Design Standards and Improvement Specifications, Chapter 244. Land Use and Development Regulations, Part II. General Legislation, Code of Ordinances, Jackson

Type of parking permitted. Each dead storage bay of an off-street parking space may be perpendicular to the aisle, parallel to the aisle or at any angle between 60° and 90°. No angle parking layout shall be permitted with an angle of less than 60°.

Stall size.

(1)

Automobiles. Each perpendicular or angle off-street parking space shall occupy a rectangular area of not less than nine feet in width and 18 feet in depth exclusive of access drives and aisles, except that parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be 12 feet wide. The Planning Board may, at its sole discretion, require that all or a portion of required off-street parking spaces be a minimum of 10 feet in width. Where sidewalks occur in parking areas, parked vehicles shall not overhang or extend over the sidewalk unless an additional sidewalk width of two feet is provided in order to accommodate such overhang. Parallel parking spaces shall occupy a rectangular area of 10 feet by 23 feet.

(2)

Other vehicles.

(a)

Uses that own, rent or service motor vehicles larger than automobiles which must be parked and/or stored on the site shall indicate, in a statement of operations submitted with the site plan, the size of such vehicles and the anticipated largest number of such vehicles to be stored and/or parked on the site at any single time, and the site plan shall show a sufficient number of parking and/or storage stalls at an adequate size for the largest number of such vehicles to be parked and/or stored on the site at any one time. Aisles providing for access to such parking and/or storage stalls shall be of adequate width for the vehicles to be served.

(b)

Failure of an applicant to indicate, where applicable, in the statement of operations that vehicles larger than automobiles are to be parked and/or stored on the site and provide for such parking and/or storage on the site plan shall be a violation of this chapter, and any building permit or certificate of occupancy that has been issued shall not be valid and may be revoked.

(c)

Any change of use to a use which requires parking and/or storage space for a greater number of vehicles larger than automobiles than the previous use shall be required to make application for site plan approval.

Aisle widths.

(1)

Aisles from which cars directly enter or leave parking spaces shall not be less than 24 feet wide for perpendicular parking or for parking at any angle greater than 60° and 20 feet wide for sixty-degree-angle parking, except that all two-way aisles shall be a minimum of 24 feet wide.

(2)

Only angle parking stalls or parallel parking stalls shall be used with one-way aisles.

Access drives.

(1)

Entrance and exit drives shall have a minimum width of 18 feet for those designed for one-way traffic and 24 feet for those carrying two-way traffic.

(2)

Parking areas for 25 or more cars and access drives for all parking areas on major or minor arterials shall provide curbed return radii of not less than 15 feet for all right-turn movements and left-turn access from one-way streets and concrete aprons on entrance and exit drives.

Paint striping. All parking areas shall provide paint striping to delineate parking stalls, barrier lines, lane lines, directional arrows, stop lines, fire lanes and other striping as may be required to ensure safe and convenient traffic circulation. Such striping shall be in substantial conformance with the Uniform Manual on Traffic Control Devices.

Traffic signs. All parking areas shall provide traffic control signs and devices necessary to ensure safe and convenient traffic circulation. Such devices shall be in substantial conformance with the Uniform Manual on Traffic Control Devices.

Curbing. The perimeter of all parking areas and internal islands within all parking areas open to the general public shall have continuous cast-in-place concrete curbing (see Exhibit 109-1 at the end of this chapter) with a six-inch face or such alternate curb types as may be approved by the municipal agency at the time of site plan approval. The municipal agency may waive the requirement for curb areas open only to service vehicles or for loading and unloading, provided that drainage, vehicle control and safety are properly accommodated by alternate means.

Paving. All parking areas shall provide pavement in accordance with the requirements of local street and minor collector streets set forth in § 244-210, except as follows:

(1)

Parking areas for fewer than 25 cars, which the municipal agency determines are not likely to be utilized by heavy truck traffic or drive-up window service, may be paved with two inches of pavement, Type FABC-1, over a six-inch gravel base, all in accordance with the specifications contained in § 244-196 of this chapter.

(2)

In parking areas for over 100 cars, the municipal agency may require that access drives and aisles provide a minimum surface of not less than two inches of pavement, Type FABC-1, a minimum bituminous stabilized base course of not less than three inches and a dense graded aggregate base course of six inches in conformance with the standards of § 244-210. Alternate design specifications may be approved subject to approval by the Township Engineer.

Location of parking.

(1)

Parking areas in residential zones for uses other than single-family and two-family dwellings may be located in the rear or side yard but shall not be located in any required front yard setback.

(2)

No area shall be used for parking unless it is large enough to provide for at least three contiguous stalls.

(3)

Where parking is permitted between the front building line and the right-of-way line, whether by this chapter or variance, a safety island or raised median separating the public street from the parking area shall be provided in accordance with the following minimum requirements:

(a)

The width of the safety island shall be that width between the proposed curbline and a point eight feet inside the property line. When this width is less than 18 feet, the parking area shall be reduced to provide a minimum width for the safety island of 18 feet. All required tree and shrub plantings shall be placed on the on-site portion of the safety island.

(b)

When perpendicular or angled parking spaces abut the safety island, the stall depth may be measured from a point one foot outside the face of the curb for perpendicular spaces or angled spaces greater than 60° and two feet outside the face of curb for sixty-degree-angle spaces. Such parking spaces shall be separated from access drives by curbed islands with a minimum width of 10 feet.

(c)

Safety islands shall be landscaped, topsoiled and be provided with a cover or mulch of maintenance-free materials which provide a clear and unmistakable distinction between the parking area and the safety island.

(d)

Notwithstanding the use of maintenance-free materials, there shall be provided an average of at least one deciduous tree two inches in diameter at breast height every 40 feet, or part thereof, on all safety islands. For each tree provided, a minimum of three shrubs shall also be planted. The portions of the safety island within 25 feet of any access drive or street intersection shall be planted with shrubs less than 30 inches in height. The plantings provided need not be arbitrarily arranged in regular, geometric patterns. Continuous massing of plants of single species and plantings which visually relate and unify the design are preferable. Alternate or additional plantings may be permitted by the municipal agency in accordance with an approved site plan. All parking lot landscaping shall be of such quality as to improve and enhance the site and its surrounding areas. Appropriate places for landscaping include the raised walkways or sidewalk areas at the end of bays and in specific planting islands established throughout the lots. In narrow islands, low-spreading and low-maintenance plants shall be used. Where more space is available, taller shrubs shall be used.

(e)

No commercial signs, light standards or other aboveground obstructions other than plantings and traffic control devices and signs shall be permitted within 10 feet of the street right-of-way.

(4)

All required parking spaces and facilities shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the structure or use it shall serve. In the case of nonresidential uses, parking facilities may be provided on other lots or parcels within a radius of 300 feet from the boundary of the lot containing the use to which said parking spaces and facilities are accessory, provided that said lots are in the same ownership as the lot containing the principal use and subject to deed restrictions binding the owner and his heirs, successors and assigns to maintain the required number of spaces available and required facilities throughout the life of such use.

(5)

Required parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be located to provide convenient access to building entrances by way of depressed curbs and ramps in accordance with state regulations. Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width, and the number of spaces to be provided shall be determined by the following table:

	Total Parking Spaces in Parking Area	Minimum Number of Spaces to be Provided for Physically Handicapped
	Up to 50	1
	51 to 200	2
	Over 200	2, plus 1% of the number of spaces over 200 rounded to the next higher whole number

Number of parking lot spaces.

(1)

Parking lots having 50 or fewer spaces shall be designed to provide the following minimum design requirements:

(a)

A safety island in accordance with Subsection I above, where parking is provided in the front yard area.

(b)

An unbroken landscaping strip along side and rear property lines a minimum of 10 feet in width. These landscaping strips shall have the same minimum planting requirements as safety islands, except that:

[1]

Where screening is required under this chapter, the screening requirements shall take precedence.

[2]

Where the property abuts a lot zoned for nonresidential purposes, but utilized for residential purposes, the municipal agency may also require screening.

(c)

Not more than one two-way access drive or two one-way access drives shall be permitted on any street.

(d)

Where possible, access drives shall not be located closer than 100 feet to the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street.

(e)

No parking stall shall be located to require a vehicle to back into any portion of the right-of-way in order to enter or exit the parking stall.

(f)

All parking areas for 10 or more vehicles shall have artificial lighting that will provide a minimum lighting level of 0.5 horizontal footcandle throughout the parking area and access drives. For multifamily uses, such lights shall be operated from dusk to dawn and for all other uses when the site or structure is occupied. Freestanding light poles shall be no higher than the height of the highest principal building or 30 feet, whichever is less. Shielding shall be required where necessary to prevent light trespass glare upon adjacent properties or streets.

(2)

Large parking areas.

(a)

Parking lots which have a capacity for parking more than 50 vehicles shall incorporate the following minimum design standards:

[1]

All the minimum design standards for small parking areas.

[2]

Entrance and exit drives.

[a]

All entrance drives shall extend a minimum distance of 100 feet back from the street right-of-way or to a parking access aisle or major circulation drive.

[b]

All exit drives shall extend a minimum distance of 60 feet back from the street curb or to a parking access aisle or major circulation drive.

[c]

No parking stalls shall utilize the required entrance and exit drives or major circulation drives as parking access aisles.

[3]

Access drives.

[a]

Wherever feasible, access drives located along one-way streets or divided roadways shall be separated one-way drives. Said drives shall be located so that vehicles enter the parking area at the beginning of the property and exit at the far end of the property unless other considerations, such as a median opening, dictate otherwise.

[b]

Access drives shall not be located closer than 100 feet to the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street, except that for uses such as shopping centers which, in the opinion of the municipal agency, will generate large traffic volumes, access drives shall not be located closer than 200 feet to the nearest right-of-way line of an intersecting street.

[c]

No driveway shall be located less than 10 feet from the side property line or within 30 feet of an existing drive, whichever is greater.

[d]

Properties having a continuous frontage in excess of 500 feet on any one street shall be permitted two-way and one-way access drives providing for not more than two entrance and two exit movements on the street. Properties having a continuous frontage in excess of 1,000 feet on any one street may be permitted to have additional access drives subject to the approval of the municipal agency.

(b)

Where the municipal agency determines that the total number of off-street parking spaces required by this chapter may not be immediately required for a particular use, it may permit a staged development plan which requires that only a portion of the parking area, but not less than 65% of the required spaces, be completed initially, subject to the following regulations:

[1]

The site plan shall clearly indicate both that portion of the parking area to be initially paved and the total parking needed to provide the number of spaces required by this chapter.

[2]

The site plan shall provide for adequate drainage of both the partial and total parking areas.

[3]

The portion of the parking area not to be paved initially shall be landscaped in accordance with a plan approved by the municipal agency.

[4]

The applicant shall post separate performance guaranties, in addition to the performance guaranties required under Article V of this chapter, which shall reflect the cost of installing the additional parking facilities necessary to provide the total number of parking spaces required.

[5]

In lieu of a permanent certificate of occupancy, a temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued for a time period not to exceed two years. Prior to the expiration of the allotted time period, the applicant may either install the additional parking shown on the approved site plan and apply to the Construction Official for issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy or apply to the municipal agency after the use has been in operation a minimum of 18 months for a determination as to whether or not the initial parking area provided is adequate. If the municipal agency determines that the parking facility is adequate as originally constructed, the performance guaranties may be released and a permanent certificate of occupancy issued. If, however, the municipal agency determines that the partial off-street parking area is not adequate, the applicant shall be required to install the additional parking facilities in accordance with the terms of the performance guaranties prior to the issuance of a permanent certificate of occupancy.

[6]

Any change of use, on a lot or parcel for which the municipal agency may have approved a partial paving of off-street parking areas, to a use which requires more parking spaces than are provided on the site shall require submission of a new site plan for the entire lot or parcel.

Parking area landscaping. Landscape island areas should be provided at the end of parking rows where parking access aisles intersect circulation drives. In addition, large parking areas should provide landscaped dividing strips which separate the parking area into smaller areas containing 50 spaces or less. The plantings required within the parking area shall be considered exclusive from any other plantings that may be required for screening or safety island planting. All landscaping for end islands and dividing strips shall be shown as part of the detailed landscaping plan submission, where required. The following criteria shall apply for internal landscaped end islands and dividing strips:

(1)

They should have a minimum width of 10 feet.

(2)

They shall be topsoiled, and turf grass or other vegetative ground cover shall be provided. The use of maintenance-free material other than seeding and topsoil may be permitted if the same provides a safe and attractive alternative.

(3)

Unless otherwise approved by the municipal agency, they shall be planted with deciduous trees of two-inch diameter at breast height with an average distance between trees at ground level of 40 feet. All trees shall be planted in a dormant state and in accordance with the appropriate requirements of § 244-193. The area between trees shall be planted with an average of three shrubs. The plantings provided need not be arbitrarily arranged in regular geometric patterns. Continuous massing of plants of single species, and plantings which visually relate and unify the design are preferable.

(4)

The depth of perpendicular or angled parking stalls which abut a landscaped dividing strip may be measured from a point one foot outside the face of the curb for perpendicular spaces or angled spaces greater than 60° and two feet outside the face of the curb for sixty-degree-angle spaces.

Retaining walls and embankment slopes.

(1)

In the event that parking is proposed on a lot or site having a slope greater than 10%, regardless of size, it shall be terraced, utilizing retaining walls or properly reinforced embankment slopes and providing for adequate safety, stability and drainage. At no time should an embankment slope that is not reinforced, or any other earthen material having a greater elevation than the adjacent parking area, have a slope exceeding a ratio of 3:1.

(2)

When retaining walls, terraces, embankment slopes or similar types of earthen retaining devices are necessitated adjacent to or within the parking area, they shall be kept in good repair or otherwise maintained so as to keep the parking area free of debris and dirt.

Access to adjoining property. No unrestricted vehicular access shall be permitted between adjacent properties. Vehicular access, if agreed upon by the owners or possessors of adjacent properties, or if required by the municipal agency, shall normally be limited to one opening with a minimum aisle width of 24 feet, providing two lanes of traffic, and shall be located in such a manner as to offer continuity of a similar access drive on the adjacent property. The opening shall occur at a point having the greatest distance from the street line which would facilitate the joining of properties. Access shall normally be denied across the remainder of the side lines by construction of a landscaped dividing strip, 10 feet in width, on the property being developed. If and when the adjacent property is developed, there shall be a similar dividing strip at least 10 feet wide. All dividing strips shall be landscaped as provided in this section. The municipal agency may also require that provision be made for future connection to adjacent undeveloped properties.

Required parking spaces.

(1)

Minimum off-street parking spaces required.

Type of Establishment		Number of Spaces
Automobile repair shop		1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area
Automobile sales establishment		1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided for customer and employee parking. These areas shall be in addition to areas utilized for display and storage of vehicles. Site plans shall specify which parking spaces are designated for customers, employees, display and storage.
Automobile service station		5 for each service bay, exclusive of vehicle service area. In no instance shall there be fewer than 5 off-street parking spaces.
Banks, savings and loan associations and similar financial institutions		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Bar, cocktail lounge, nightclub, including restaurants with bars		1 for each 50 square feet of gross floor area
Barber and beauty shop		3 for each chair (if known), but not less than 1 per 200 square of gross floor area
Boat sales		1 1/2 for each 1,000 square feet of land area in the site
Bowling alley		5 for each alley. Other commercial uses within the same building will be computed separately in accordance with this section.
Business offices [Amended 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 50-02]		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Car washes		5 for employees, plus off-street storage (stacking) space equal to at least 5 times the number of cars that can be in the wash process at 1 time
Churches and places of worship		1 for each 4 seats in the main congregation seating area. Where no individual seats are provided, 20 inches of bench shall be considered as 1 seat. Where seats or benches are not provided or are provided only in a portion of the main congregation seating area, there shall be 1 parking space for each 50 square feet of floor area within the main congregation seating area.
Community center, library, museum, art gallery		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Community club, private club, lodge		1 for each 100 square feet of gross floor area
Convalescent home, nursing home, rest home		1 for each 2 beds, based on its licensed bed capacity
Convention or conference center, meeting rooms, assembly or exhibition hall		1 for each 50 square feet of gross floor area
Dwellings		2 for each dwelling unit in single-family homes, 2-family homes, attached dwellings or multifamily dwellings
Dental or medical offices [Amended 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 50-02]		1 for each 150 square feet of gross floor area, except that if located within a building housing 3 or more separate, unassociated practitioners, the requirement shall be 1 parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area
Drive-in restaurant		1 for each 35 square feet of gross floor area
Driving range, miniature golf		1 for each tee or hole
Farmers' market		1 for each 1,000 square feet of land area in the site
Furniture and appliance stores or similar types of uses requiring large amounts of storage		1 for each 400 square feet up to 4,000 square feet, plus 1 parking space for each 800 square feet of gross floor area above 4,000 square feet
Government office		To be determined by the municipal agency, except that governmental offices within privately owned buildings shall provide a minimum of 1 parking space for each 150 square feet of gross floor area
Hardware and auto supply stores		1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area
Hospital (general, mental, sanatorium)		1 for each 2 beds based on its licensed capacity
Hotel, motel		1 for each guest unit, plus 10 for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area devoted to other commercial uses
Laundromat or similar coin-operated cleaning establishment		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Manufacturing or industrial establishment, research or testing laboratory, bottling plant or similar uses		1 for each 500 square feet of gross floor area
Mortuary, funeral home		1 for every 100 square feet of gross floor area
Nursery school, child-care center, day camp or similar use		1 for each 500 square feet of gross floor area
Professional office [Amended 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 50-02]		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Public and private utilities, electrical substation, gas regulator, waterworks, pumping station and similar facilities		To be determined by the municipal agency based on the specific need of the use
Restaurant, cafe, diner, luncheonette		1 for each 50 square feet of gross floor area
Recreation facilities		Those not specifically mentioned shall be determined by the municipal agency
Retail stores, except otherwise specified [Amended 12-23-2002 by Ord. No. 50-02]		1 for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Studio (art, music, dance, gymnastics and similar for the purpose of giving instruction rather than shows or exhibitions)		1 for each 100 square feet of gross floor area
Schools
	Elementary	1 for each 8 students based on design capacity
	Middle or junior high school	1 for each 5 students based on design capacity
	High school	1 for each 3 students based on design capacity
	College or university	1 for each 1 1/2 students based on design capacity
Shopping centers		6 for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area for centers having less than 500,000 square feet. Shopping centers having 500,000 square feet or more shall provide parking at the rate of 5.5 spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area, except that if the use of said formula shall produce 2,500 parking spaces or more, then parking shall be provided at the rate of 5 spaces for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area. If more than 5% of the enclosed gross floor area of any shopping center is occupied by malls, lobbies, corridors, heating plants or other space not utilized for direct commercial purposes which, in the opinion of the municipal agency, will not generate a need for parking, the municipal agency may allow the parking required to be based on the gross leasable area of the shopping center at the above rate. The "gross leasable area," for the purpose of this chapter, shall be defined as the total floor area designed for tenant occupancy and exclusive use, including basements, mezzanines and upper floors.
Stadium		1 for every 2 1/2 seats, plus an area designed and designated to accommodate buses at a rate of 1 bus for every 500 seats
Theater		1 for each 35 square feet of gross floor area
Veterinary clinics or hospitals or animal care facilities		1 for each 400 square feet of gross floor area
Warehouse, wholesale, machinery or large equipment sales		1 for each 1,500 square feet of gross floor area, plus 1 for each vehicle used in connection with the business

(2)

Criteria for determining required parking spaces.

(a)

In computing the number of the above required parking spaces, the following rules shall govern:

[1]

Where fractional spaces result, the required number shall be construed to be the nearest whole number.

[2]

The parking space requirements for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as required for a use of similar nature as determined by the municipal agency based upon that use enumerated herein which is most similar to the proposed use. If there is no use enumerated herein having sufficient similarity to the use proposed to enable the municipal agency to establish rational parking requirements, the municipal agency may, in its discretion, direct the applicant to furnish the municipal agency with such data as may be necessary to enable the municipal agency to establish rational parking requirements.

(b)

Nothing in the above requirements shall be construed to prevent the joint use of off-street parking facilities by two or more uses on the same site, provided that the total of such spaces shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for various individual uses computed separately by the above requirements.

(c)

No part of off-street parking required by a structure or use shall be included as part of an off-street parking requirement of another use.