§ 14-1403. Parking in Commercial Districts.

   (1)   Dwelling Units, Non-Residential Uses Permitted in Certain Residential Districts and Commercial Uses That Require Parking in Commercial Districts. 422

      (a)   Parking spaces for any newly-erected dwellings in Commercial Districts or any newly erected non- residential uses permitted in certain Residential Districts, which are erected in Commercial Districts after the effective date of this ordinance shall be in accordance with the requirements of § 14-1402.

      (b)   Accessory parking spacers required or provided in any commercial district or by Section 14-312 or Section 14-313 shall meet the requirements of that district or those Sections as well as the requirements contained in this Section. 423

   (2)   Types of Parking. Parking spaces provided in a Commercial District may be in:

      (a)   A garage, which shall be considered as part of the occupied area of the lot; and/or

      (b)   An open-air area which shall not be considered as part of the occupied area of the lot.

      (c)   Provided, that nothing in this Section shall be interpreted as allowing the construction of an above ground garage or a parking lot in the "C-4" or "C-5" Commercial Districts in areas of the City where a Special Use Permit is required or in areas of the City where such uses are prohibited. 424

   (3)   Area of Parking Space. 425

      (a)   The minimum dimensions of each individual parking space in any Commercial District shall be not less than eight and one-half (8 1/2) feet by eighteen (18) feet; provided

         (.1)   For parking facilities which contain twenty-five (25) or more parking spaces, no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the parking spaces may be not less than eight feet by sixteen feet; provided, that such spaces are each clearly designated to be limited to use by compact and/or subcompact automobiles. 426

   (4)   Open-Air Parking Provisions. Where the parking spaces in any Commercial District are in an open-air area, the open-air parking area shall: 427

      (a)   In the case of all parking areas:

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

      (b)   In cases where three (3) or more parking spaces are required or provided:

         (.1)   Comply with the provisions of subparagraph (a) above;

         (.2)   Comply with the applicable provisions of Section 9-601 of The Philadelphia Code, and a Certificate of Approval issued by the Department of Streets, said Certificate to become part of the zoning application;

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

         (.4)   Open-air parking shall comply with the screening requirements set forth in § 14-1403(6).

      (c)   In cases where ten (10) or more parking spaces are required or provided:

         (.1)   Comply with the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above;

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

         (.3)   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 two feet above the ground, and if constructed of metal or masonry posts, the posts shall be not less than four inches nor more than six inches in diameter, placed not more than five feet apart, nor less than 30 inches above the ground and connected by metal pipes, rods, fencing or chains;

         (.4)   Comply with the requirements for aisles, driveways, pedestrian walkways, landscaping, screening, and lighting set forth in § 14-1403(6).

   (5)   Location of Parking. Parking structures which are attached to the building in any Commercial District shall be governed by the same provisions as the building itself. Open-air parking and parking in detached garage structures shall be governed by the provisions set forth below: 428

      (a)   When open-air parking or parking in a detached garage is provided:

         (.1)   To the rear of the building, it shall be located between the building and the required rear yard;

         (.2)   To the side of the building, it shall be located between the building and the required side yard;

         (.3)   In the front of the building, all parking spaces and aisles shall be located behind the required building set-back line;

         (.4)   Landscaping and screening as required in § 14-1403(6) may be placed in the required rear and side yards; further provided, that when the minimum side or rear yard required is of a dimension which is less than the required dimensions in § 14-1403(6), the requirements of § 14-1403(6) shall be met.

   (6)   Driveways, Aisles, Walkways, Screening, Landscaping and Lighting. 429

      (a)   Parking facilities accessory to multi-family buildings, permitted non-residential uses, and commercial buildings shall comply with the following requirements:

         (.1)   Driveways and Aisles. An additional area of the parking lot or parking garage equal to not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total area of the lot or garage shall be provided for access driveways and aisles, except that this requirement shall not apply in connection with a mechanical-access parking garage, as defined in Section 406.3.2 of The Philadelphia Building Code. 430

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

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

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

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

            (.d)   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.

         (.3)   Screening Along Residential Lot Lines. Where a 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, a planted buffer at least six feet wide and six 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:

            (.a)   The planted buffer shall be installed along the entire edge of the lot line where it abuts the lot line of the Residential District;

            (.b)   Where a parking lot, parking garage, driveway or aisle, is located between a building and a Residential District along two (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;

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

            (.d)   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. This list shall be prepared and maintained by the City Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission;

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

            (.f)   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; and

            (.g)   Where any individual district contains screening requirements which exceed the requirements contained herein, the requirements of the individual district shall take precedent.

         (.4)   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 four feet wide and two feet high, shall be installed along the outward edge of the parking lot in accordance with the following requirements:

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

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

            (.c)   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. This list shall be prepared and maintained by the City Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission;

            (.d)   The landscaped area may be located within the required set-back;

            (.e)   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; and

            (.f)   Where any individual district contains screening requirements which exceed the requirements contained herein, the requirements of the individual district shall take precedent.

         (.5)   Landscaping. All parking lots shall include landscaped areas in accordance with the following requirements:

            (.a)   In the required set-back, or along the street line of a public street where a set-back is not required, a landscaped area at least equal to the required set-back, but in no case less than four feet wide, shall be installed along the outward edge of the parking lot, subject to the requirements of subparagraph (.4) above;

            (.b)   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 ten percent (10%) of the area of the parking lot, including all spaces, aisles and driveways, but excluding all walkways and screening required elsewhere herein;

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

            (.d)   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. This list shall be prepared and maintained by the City Planning Commission, in conjunction with the Fairmount Park Commission;

            (.e)   The required landscaping may be located anywhere within or along the parking lot; provided, it 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; and

            (.f)   Where any individual district contains landscaping requirements which exceed the requirements contained herein, the requirements of the individual district shall take precedent.

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

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

            (.b)   The illumination shall be maintained throughout non-business hours with an overall minimum average level of illumination of not less than three-tenths (0.3) horizontal foot candles;

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

            (.d)   Where any individual district contain lighting requirements which exceed the requirements contained herein, the requirements of the individual district shall take precedent.

 

Notes

422	Amended and subsection added, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1234.
423	Amended, 1994 Ordinances, p. 1028.
424	Added, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1185.
425	Amended, subsections added and deleted, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1234.
426	Former subsection (.2) and (.3) deleted, Bill No. 1062 (approved July 25, 1995), 1995 Ordinances, p. 1148.
427	Amended and subsections added, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1234.
428	Added, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1234.
429	Added, 1991 Ordinances, p. 1234.
430	Amended, Bill No. 060637 (approved January 23, 2007).