A. All parking areas shall be: adequately graded; properly drained; permanently surfaced with concrete, macadam or paving block, or other paving material approved by the City Engineer (such as porous concrete or porous asphalt); and maintained adequately. Stone, dirt and similar loose materials are not permitted, except that the City Engineer may approve crushed stone parking in specific areas of occasional and/or seasonal use and/or in public recreational areas. A lawful existing stone driveway and/or parking spaces for a single-family detached dwelling is not required to be paved, provided it is maintained in stone.
B. Where a rear or side alley exists or can be feasibly extended, vehicle parking shall be accessed from the alley, as opposed to creating a new driveway entrance onto a public street, except where required otherwise by PennDOT along a state road or where approved otherwise by the City Planning Commission. This provision shall only apply to alleys with a minimum width of 10 feet. For dwellings in the R-1 District, a minimum of 15 feet of depth of open rear yard or recreational patio space shall be maintained, such as between the dwelling and any parking space along the alley. See also limitations on the amount of front yard parking in § 600-803 for the R-2 District and in § 600-804 for the R-3 District. [Amended 2-14-2011 by Ord. No. 8-2011]
C. Parking areas shall be designed so that a vehicle may proceed to and from it without requiring the movement of any other vehicle, except for parking for a one-family dwelling.
D. Nonparallel off-street parking space stalls shall include a rectangular area with a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of 18 feet. If a lot or structure includes 40 or more off-street spaces, a maximum of 20% of the spaces may include a minimum rectangular area of 8.5 feet by 16 feet, if such spaces are marked "compact cars only" and are distributed so that they are not the most convenient spaces on the lot or structure.
E. All off-street parallel parking spaces shall be at least 20 feet long and eight feet wide. Uses attracting large vehicles shall provide proportionately larger spaces.
F. The minimum width of aisles providing access to parking spaces shall be:
Angle of Parking (degrees) | Minimum Aisle Width For One-Way Traffic (feet) | Minimum Aisle Width For Two-Way Traffic (feet) |
Parallel | 12 | 20 |
1° to 34° | 12 | 20 |
35° to 54° | 16 | 22 |
55° to 89° | 18 | 22 |
90° | 22 | 22 |
Within a parking structure of two or more levels or underground parking, the above aisle widths may each be reduced by two feet.
G. All parking spaces shall be clearly defined by painted lines or wheel blocks.
H. The space between any parking area and the property line of the premises shall be landscaped with vegetative ground cover. Plant screening may also be required under § 600-1402.
J. Curbing, guardrails, a landscaped strip or anchored wheel blocks shall be installed adjacent to all public rights-of-way.
K. Curbing may be required to control stormwater runoff as determined by the Department of Public Works.
L. No part of any surface parking area for more than five vehicles shall be closer than 10 feet to any dwelling, primary or secondary school, hospital or other institution for human care. This distance may be reduced to six feet on the condition that appropriate screening is provided according to § 600-1402.
M. All parking areas of five spaces or more shall be adequately illuminated for security purposes between the hours of sunset and sunrise. Lighting shall not spill onto adjacent properties and shall not shine into the eyes of motorists.
N. All off-street parking areas for 10 or more vehicles shall be planted with shade trees, which shall be located to maximize the visibility of the trees and the amount of paving that is shaded in a quantity equal to not less than one shade tree for every 10 parking spaces. The species of such trees shall be approved by the City and such trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of two inches. The trees shall be protected from damage by vehicles by a setback from paving, curb stops, curbing or similar methods.
O. See screening requirements along a street in §§ 600-1401 and 600-1402. All off-street truck loading docks shall be effectively screened on any side facing a public right-of-way, and shall be screened on each side which adjoins or faces premises situated in any residential zone or premises used for residential, hospital or institutional purposes in any zone by a fence of acceptable design, wall or compact hedge. Such fence, wall or hedge shall be not less than four feet and no solid portion shall be more than six feet in height and shall be maintained in good condition and shall provide year-round screening. The City may also approve an architectural wall to serve as a screen, if the exterior design of such wall is approved in advance.
P. No parking area of more than five spaces shall exceed a slope of 5% grade.
Q. All parking areas of more than five spaces shall need approval by the Department of Public Works after a site plan is submitted.
R. All parking areas of more than 10 spaces shall be approved by the Department of Public Works and the City Planning Commission.
S. All areas between a sidewalk and the curb of a street shall be maintained in vegetation, except at approved driveway crossings. Tree grates may be used.
T. See also restrictions in the C-C and C-R District regulations regarding parking open to the general public and certain other parking. See also § 600-1008 regarding parking in the R-3 and C-R Districts.