(a)

An area suitable for parking or storing automobiles in off-street locations in accordance with the regulations provided herein shall be required in townhouse and condominium zoning districts at the time of the initial construction of any principal building or when a structural alteration or change in use produces an increase in the parking required to serve that use. Such required parking shall be required to be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the use which it serves.

(b)

No land shall be used or occupied and no structure erected or used unless the off-street parking spaces required herein are provided. These regulations do not replace but act in concert with any other parking requirements under state or federal law, such as laws pertaining to providing parking for the handicapped.

(1)

These parking regulations do not apply to any structure or use existing at the time of enactment of these regulations. However, existing off-street parking spaces shall not be reduced in number or encroached upon so that the minimum requirements of this Article would not be met. A reduction below the existing parking provisions may occur only when a change in use allows a corresponding reduction in the associated parking.

(2)

If a building, structure, or use in existence at the time of enactment of these regulations is damaged or destroyed, and the building, structure, or use can otherwise be reestablished under the provisions of these regulations then any associated off-street parking or spaces which existed must be retained. If an enlargement or other change in use is proposed for an existing conforming use, which increases the number of parking spaces required for the use under the provisions of this section, all parking spaces required for enlargement or change shall be provided in accordance with this chapter. If the use is nonconforming at the time of the proposed enlargement, it shall be subject to the provisions for nonconforming uses.

(3)

Any time a use classification is changed except as provided in paragraph (2) herein or when a building or use is enlarged or increased, the parking and loading requirements for this article shall apply to the enlargement or increase. A certificate of occupancy for the new use or area of enlargement shall not be issued until all required parking and loading spaces have been provided.

(c)

No parking facilities accessory to residential structures shall be used for the storage of commercial vehicles prohibited by the regulations of the residential district in which the structure is located or for the parking of automobiles belonging to employees, owners, tenants, or customers of nearby nonresidential uses.

(d)

Any vehicle parking space shall be used for parking only. Any other use of such space, including use for open storage of goods, for the storage of vehicles for sale or rent, for storage of inoperable vehicles, for repair work or servicing of any kind other than in an emergency, or the requirement of any payment for the use of such space, shall be deemed to constitute a separate commercial use in violation of provisions of this chapter.

(e)

No building of any kind shall be erected in any off-street parking area, except a parking garage containing parking spaces conforming to the requirements set forth in this chapter, or a shelter house for a parking attendant, providing the number of spaces required is not reduced.

(f)

The required parking area on any lot, as set forth and designated in this chapter, shall not be reduced or encroached upon in any manner. No parking shall be allowed in designated front yard setback areas.

(g)

Truck parking in residential areas. No motor vehicle over two-ton capacity or bearing a commercial license, and no commercially licensed trailer or commercial type truck trailer shall be parked or stored in a townhouse or condominium district except when loading, unloading, or rendering a service. This provision shall not apply to vehicles operated, parked or stored on the site of a legally nonconforming use, to recreation vehicles and pickups, or to temporary use of rental vehicles for noncommercial purposes.

(h)

In each parking facility of 20 or more spaces, a portion of the total parking spaces should be specifically designed, located, and reserved for vehicles licensed by the state for use by the handicapped, according to the following schedule or the current state or federal requirements, whichever is greater.

(i)

(1)

[Design standards.] Design standards are established by this section to set basic minimum dimensions and guidelines for design, construction, and maintenance of parking.

(2)

[Basic dimensions.] The following basic dimensions shall be observed for parking spaces and loading spaces:

a.

Each standard parking space shall consist of a rectangular area not less than eight and one-half feet wide by 18.5 feet long. Each space shall have a vertical clearance of not less than seven and one-half feet. Each space shall be independently accessible.

b.

Each parking space designated for use by the handicapped shall consist of a rectangular area not less than 12.5 feet wide by 18.5 feet long, with a vertical clearance of seven and one-half feet, shall be located in an area not exceeding a two-percent slope, and shall be located near and convenient to a level or ramped entrance accessible to handicapped persons. Parking spaces for the handicapped shall be signed and restricted for use by the handicapped only.

c.

Off-street parking spaces shall have access from driveways on the development site and not directly from the public streets. Each parking space shall have adequate drives, aisles, and turning and maneuvering areas for access and usability, and shall at all times have adequate access to a public street. Such access to a public street shall not be less than 20 feet nor exceed 35 feet in width for two-way access or be less than 12 feet nor exceed 15 feet in width for a one-way access.

(3)

Parking facility design. Minimum parking facility design standards are illustrated in the following table. Additional supplemental guidelines and standards for parking facility design, internal layout, acceptable turning radii and pavement slope, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and other design features may be adopted by resolution of the planning commission.

(4)

Paving and drainage. The following basic standards shall be observed:

a.

Loose aggregate surfacing may be permitted for up to eight spaces.

b.

Loose aggregate surfacing in excess of eight spaces will be permitted provided the driveways are surfaced with asphalt, concrete, or other permanent surfacing material.

i.

No base preparation will be allowed within the dripline of a tree.

ii.

Loose aggregate surfacing shall be contained by curbing. Curbing shall not sever roots two inches in diameter or greater or penetrate natural grade greater than three inches in depth within the dripline of a tree.

iii.

Dripline of trees to remain that are encroached upon by parking shall be depicted on the site plan.

c.

All parking and loading facilities shall be graded and provided with permanent storm drainage facilities, according to construction specifications approved by the town engineer pursuant to the Ordinances and Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Abita Springs. Surfacing, curbing, and drainage improvements shall be sufficient to precluded free flow of water onto adjacent properties or public streets or alleys, and to provide adequate drainage.

d.

Parking spaces.

e.

Safety features. Parking facilities shall meet the following standards:

i.

Safety barriers, protective bumpers or curbing, and directional markers shall be provided as needed to assure safety, prevent encroachment onto adjoining public or private property.

ii.

Visibility of and between pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists shall be assured when entering individual parking spaces, when circulating within a parking facility and when entering and exiting a parking facility.

A.

Sight triangle at street and accessway intersection. Where an accessway intersects a street there shall remain clear of obstruction to vision between the height of three feet and seven feet above the centerline grade of the street a sight triangle measuring 25 feet on the side adjacent to the street and 15 feet on the side adjacent to the accessway.

B.

Sight triangle at accessway intersection. Where an accessway intersects another accessway, there shall remain clear of obstruction to vision between the height of three feet and seven feet from the grade of the accessways a sight triangle measuring 15 feet along both of its sides adjacent to the intersecting accessways.

C.

The town engineer is authorized to prepare a diagram in conformity with this subsection, which shall be part of this ordinance [Ord. No. 272].

iii.

Internal circulation patterns, and the location and traffic direction of all access drives, shall be designed and maintained in accordance with accepted principles of traffic engineering and traffic safety.

f.

Parking lot lighting. Parking lot lighting shall meet the following standards:

i.

Parking lot lighting design shall provide for the reasonable safety, comfort, and convenience of the parking of patrons and use of pedestrians.

ii.

Parking lot lighting illumination design levels and visibility glare shall in general comply with the latest issue of IES Lighting Handbook section on parking facilities lighting.

iii.

Parking lot lighting shall be designed to minimize light spillover into adjoining streets and nearby residential areas and shall be directed downward and away from adjoining property and abutting streets by shielding the light source from visibility from adjoining properties or streets in such a way as not to create a nuisance. All exterior lighting shall be hooded or shielded so that the light source is not visible from adjacent more restrictive residential districts adjacent streets or highways.

g.

A parking facility in any townhouse or condominium district which has more than ten spaces and which adjoins or abuts other property in a residential district shall have a wall or fence or landscape screen not less than six feet in height located for the length of the common boundary or a green space with a natural buffer not less than 25 feet.

h.

Noise. Areas used for primary circulation or frequent idling of vehicle engines shall be designed and located to minimize impacts on adjoining properties, including provisions for screening or sound baffling.

i.

Maintenance. All parking facilities shall be maintained to assure desirability and usefulness of the facility. Such facilities shall be maintained free of refuse, debris, or other accumulated matter and shall at all times be available for the off-street parking use for which they are required or intended.

j.

Off-street parking facilities required herein shall be located as follows:

1.

Required parking spaces for multiple-family dwellings shall be located within 200 feet of the main entrance to the principal building served. Such spaces may be located on another lot(s) not contiguous to the lot on which the principal use is located as long as the spaces are within 200 feet of the main entrance to the principal building served.

2.

Where required off-street parking is located on a lot other than the lot occupied by the use requiring it, site plan approval for both lots shall be required.

3.

There shall be no off-street parking space within 15 feet of any street right-of-way except as specifically as provided by this Code or the Subdivision Regulations of the Town of Abita Springs.

4.

Access drives shall be no closer than five feet to interior property lines and 15 feet to side street property lines on local streets and shall minimally meet the requirements of the state department of transportation and development for collector and arterial streets.

k.

It shall be the joint and solitary responsibility of the operator and owner of the principal use, uses, and/or buildings to maintain, in a neat and serviceable manner, the parking spaces, accessways, landscaping, fences and buffering materials serving such use or building.

l.

Parking space requirements:

i.

Townhouse residential: 2.5 per dwelling unit.

ii.

Condominium residential: 1.5 per efficiency unit; 2.5 per 1-3 bedroom.

(Ord. No. 272, 5-18-04; Ord. No. 318, 3-26-07)