§ 14-408. Off-Street Parking.

   In the area bounded by Sixth Street, Broad Street, Chestnut Street and Arch Street, the provisions of § 14-305(13) shall apply as if the underlying area was designated as 'C-5' Commercial, except that any such C-5 Commercial parking requirements in this area may be met by providing parking spaces in a lot or structure within one thousand (1,000) feet of the boundary of an area designated as a Commercial Entertainment District. In all other areas, the following provisions apply: 307

   (1)   Plans for all off-street parking areas must comply with the provisions set forth herein, and the prerequisite approvals contained herein: 308

      (a)   Number of Spaces. Within any Commercial Entertainment District, off-street parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:

         (.1)   Licensed gaming facilities. 309

            (.a)   Four (4) parking spaces for every five (5) slot machine or gaming positions shall be provided for patrons and guests on the same parcel as the slot machines or gaming positions; provided that, if the Commission, after consultation with the Department of Streets, approves a proposed location as compatible with the purpose of this Chapter:

               (A)   Some or all of the parking required by this subsection may be provided on immediately adjacent lots, regardless of the parcel's underlying zoning.

               (B)   During any period of time when any parking spaces required by this Section are rendered unavailable because of ongoing construction of a parking garage to meet the requirements of subsection (2)(a), replacement parking spaces may be provided within one (1) mile of the boundary of the Commercial Entertainment District in which the gaming facility is located, regardless of the parcel's underlying zoning, but only on a parcel or parcels immediately adjacent to and accessible from Delaware Avenue.

         (.2)   Hotels. One (1) parking space for every two (2) units. 310

   (2)   Off-street Parking Layout and Access Conditions. Parking provided in this district shall be adequately served by high capacity roads and/or driveways approved by the Department of Streets as being adequate to safely serve the ingress and egress of patrons and guests using the facility, further provided:

      (a)   Except for interim facilities with 1700 or fewer gaming positions and except for facilities with structured parking in which the deck of the highest parking floor is at a height not exceeding 90 feet above grade (parapet walls, stair and elevator towers and light fixtures may be above 90 feet), not more than 10% of all parking spaces in a Commercial Entertainment District may be provided in parking lots. This includes required handicapped spaces, bus parking, limousine parking, cabstands, loading spaces and delivery spaces; 311

      (b)   All areas used for surface parking and access to all parking facilities shall be paved;

      (c)   All entrances to parking areas and/or facilities shall be provided with adequate vehicle reservoir spaces approved by the Department of Streets;

      (d)   All proposed plans for off-street parking lots shall be approved by the Department of Streets;

      (e)   Each parking space in an off-street parking lot shall not be less than 8 1/2 feet wide nor 18 feet deep for standard parking spaces and not less than 8 feet wide nor 16 feet deep for compact parking spaces exclusive of access driveways or aisles; provided, that the size and layout of all parking spaces located in a garage structure shall be approved by the Department of Streets as provided herein;

      (f)   All off-street parking lots and facilities shall be permitted to provide compact parking spaces at a ratio of up to 30% of the required parking spaces, provided that such spaces are clearly marked as being limited to the parking of compact cars;

      (g)   Open-Air Parking Provisions. Where parking spaces are in an open-air area, the open-air parking area shall:

         (.1)   Be situated on ground that does not contain any grades in excess of 10%, namely, changes of grade of one foot for each 10 feet;

         (.2)   Be paved with a hard top surface of cement concrete, bituminous concrete, or pervious pavers, including all accessways and/or driveways from the street;

         (.3)   Where more than 3 motor vehicles are to be parked, comply with the applicable provisions of § 9-601 of The Philadelphia Code;

         (.4)   Be provided with adequate lighting facilities for use at night, which lights shall be focused so as to prevent glare on surrounding lots;

         (.5)   Contain permanent, substantial barriers around the area, for the protection of surrounding buildings and pedestrians, constructed of metal or masonry. If constructed of masonry, the wall shall be not less than 2 feet above the ground, and if constructed of metal or masonry posts, the posts shall be not less than 4 inches nor more than 6 inches in diameter, placed not more than 5 feet apart, nor less than 30 inches above the ground and connected by metal pipes, rods, fencing or chains; 312

      (h)   Driveways, Aisles, Walkways, Screening, Landscaping and Lighting.

         (.1)   Parking facilities shall comply with the following requirements:

            (.a)   Driveways and Aisles. An additional area of the off-street parking lot or parking garage equal to not less than 25% of the total area of the lot or garage shall be provided for access driveways and aisles;

            (.b)   Walkways. Where an off-street parking lot containing over 25 spaces or a portion of an off- street parking lot where such portion contains over 25 spaces is located between a building and a public street, a pedestrian walkway of at least 5 feet in width shall be provided in accordance with the following requirements:

               (.i)   The walkway shall be located within or along the edge of the parking lot;

               (.ii)   The walkway shall connect the street and the building;

               (.iii)   One such pedestrian walkway shall be provided for each 300 feet of street frontage along a street; and

               (.iv)   Where a walkway crosses a driveway or aisle, the driveway and/or aisle shall be clearly marked and signed so as to indicate the location of the walkway and to require vehicles to stop for individuals using the walkway;

            (.c)   Screening Along Residential Lot Lines. Where an off-street parking lot, parking garage, driveway or aisle is located between a building and a residential district, or is located so that there is not a building or portion of a building between the parking lot, parking garage, driveway or aisle and a residential district, a planted buffer at least 6 feet wide and 6 feet high shall be installed and maintained between the parking lot, parking garage, driveway or aisle and the residential district in accordance with the following requirements:

               (.i)   The planted buffer shall be installed along the entire edge of the lot line where it abuts the lot line of the residential district;

               (.ii)   Where an off-street parking lot, parking garage, driveway or aisle is located between a building and a residential district along 2 or more lot lines, a planted buffer shall be installed along the entire edge of each lot line which abuts the lot line of a residential district;

               (.iii)   The planting material shall be installed at a size and number to ensure adequate screening from the time the material is installed;

               (.iv)   The type of plant material shall be selected from a list of types, sizes of species of plants, and numbers of plants that are appropriate for the location of the parking facility as such list is maintained by the Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission; 313

               (.v)   The planted buffer may be located within the required side and rear yards;

               (.vi)   The required screening shall be maintained in a manner to ensure its survival. In the event that any landscaping dies, it shall be replaced at the required ratio;

            (.d)   Screening Along Street Frontage. Along the street line of all public streets whether or not a set-back is required, a landscaped area at least 4 feet wide and 2 feet high, shall be installed along the outward edge of the parking lot in accordance with the following requirements:

               (.i)   The landscaped area shall be installed along the entire street frontage of all streets, except where walkways and driveways connect to the public street;

               (.ii)   The planting material shall be installed at a size and number to ensure adequate screening from the time the material is installed;

               (.iii)   The type of plant material shall be selected from a list of types, sizes of species of plants, and numbers of plants that are appropriate to achieve adequate screening and appropriate for the location of the parking facility as such list is maintained by the Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission; 314

               (.iv)   The landscaped area may be located within any required set-back;

               (.v)   The required landscaped area shall be maintained in a manner to ensure its survival. In the event that any landscaping dies, it shall be replaced at the required ratio;

            (.e)   Landscaping. All off-street parking lots shall include landscaped areas in accordance with the following requirements:

               (.i)   In any required set-back, a landscaped area at least equal to the required set-back, but in no case less than 4 feet wide, shall be installed along the outward edge of the parking lot, subject to the requirements of sub-paragraph (.4) above;

               (.ii)   Within the parking lot, an additional area shall be provided for the installation and maintenance of landscaping. The total landscaping shall not be less than 10% of the area of the parking lot, including all spaces, aisles and driveways, but excluding all walkways and screening required elsewhere herein;

               (.iii)   The planting material shall be installed at a size and number to ensure adequate screening from the time the material is installed;

               (.iv)   The type of plant material shall be selected from a list of types, sizes, species and numbers of plants that are appropriate to the environment in which they are to be installed and appropriate for the location of the parking facility as such list is maintained by the Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission; 315

               (.v)   The required landscaping may be located anywhere within or along the parking lot; provided, it shall be maintained in a manner to insure its survival. In the event that any landscaping dies, it shall be replaced at the required ratio;

            (.f)   Lighting. All parking lots shall include lighting in accordance with the following requirements:

               (.i)   The lighting shall illuminate the entire parking lot and walkways with an overall minimum average level of illumination of not less than 2 horizontal foot-candles;

               (.ii)   The illumination shall be maintained throughout the hours of darkness;

               (.iii)   The illumination shall be focused upon the lot so as to prevent glare upon the surrounding areas.

         (.2)   The Plan of Development shall include a plan that addresses the long-term maintenance of all facilities and improvements required by this subsection 14-408(2)(h). 316

 

Notes

307	Added, Bill No. 080742 (approved November 16, 2008).
308	Amended by deleting subsection (b), Bill No. 060631 (approved November 29, 2006).
309	Subsection (.1)(.a) amended and subsection (.1)(.b) deleted, Bill No. 090354 (approved June 17, 2009).
310	Amended and subsection (.2)(.a) deleted, Bill No. 090354 (approved June 17, 2009).
311	Amended, Bill No. 090354 (approved June 17, 2009); amended, Bill No. 110717 (approved December 14, 2011).
312	Amended, Bill No. 090354 (approved June 17, 2009).
313	Amended, Bill No. 060631 (approved November 29, 2006).
314	Amended, Bill No. 060631 (approved November 29, 2006).
315	Amended, Bill No. 060631 (approved November 29, 2006). Enrolled bill read "...parking facility. as such...."
316	Added, Bill No. 060631 (approved November 29, 2006).