11.1.1.

Purpose. It is the intent and purpose of off-street parking regulations to provide adequate off-street parking in both residential and non-residential areas to ensure the safety and ease of movement of all motorists and pedestrians within the community. Except on specifically designed streets, automobiles parked on the roadway can obstruct clear visibility at intersections and driveways, and may pose an obstruction to large emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and utility repair vehicles. Additionally, commercial areas require ample parking in order to maintain a healthy business climate and clientele.

11.1.2.

Off-street parking required before occupancy or use. Any and all off-street parking facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the zoning administrator, city engineer and city planner prior to occupancy or use or lot improvements or clearing or grading. A site plan, location map, lighting plan, grading plan, landscape plan, stormwater drainage plan, and sedimentation control plan shall be submitted to the administrator no less than 30 days prior to the requested date of project implementation. For off-street parking lots storing ten or more vehicles, the aforementioned maps and plans shall be prepared by an engineer licensed by the State of South Carolina.

No land or building, or any part thereof, shall be occupied or used in any manner, nor shall any building permit be issued for the construction, alteration, or conversion of any building or structure, nor shall any certificate of zoning compliance or occupancy be issued, unless and until appropriate and legally sufficient off-street parking (or motor vehicle storage) has been identified, set apart, and constructed on each lot or tract of land in an amount equal to at least the minimum requirements set forth in the off-street parking standards matrix, except as modified below:

(A)

Parking requirements for multiple uses. The required parking spaces for separate uses may be combined in one parking lot, but the required space assigned to one use may not be assigned to another use during the same hours of operation.

Where more than one use is included within any one building, or on any lot, the parking requirements shall be the sum total of the requirements of the various uses set forth in the off-street parking standards matrix, except as permitted under shopping centers.

(B)

Parking for additions to existing structures and uses. Additional parking spaces will be required for any addition to a building, structure, or use, which increases in any of the units of measure (i.e., dwelling units, square footage, seating capacity, or number of employees) used to determine how much parking is required. Use the off-street parking standards matrix to find the minimum number of required spaces for the addition.

(C)

20 percent rule. When a use has more than 20 percent of its floor area in a distinct function (i.e. office, warehouse, or retail), the required parking is calculated separately for each function. (An example would be a 20,000 square foot use with a 4,000 square foot office area, and a 16,000 square foot warehouse. The required parking would be computed separately for the office and warehouse functions.)

(D)

Joint use and off-site facilities. When the required parking spaces are not located on the same lot with the building or use served, or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a recorded covenant or agreement is required. This covenant shall be valid for the total period that parking is needed for the use or uses. A certificate of recording of the covenant or agreement shall be furnished to the zoning administrator.

11.1.3.

Design standards. All required off-street parking shall be surfaced, marked, sized, arranged, oriented and landscaped in accordance with this ordinance. All off-street parking provided but not required by this ordinance shall also be surfaced, marked, sized, arranged and landscaped in accordance with this ordinance.

(A)

Parking surfaces. All off-street parking which is constructed after adoption of this ordinance shall be constructed of permanent, non-erodible surface treatment limited to masonry, concrete, or asphalt, with the following two exceptions:

(1)

Parking facilities for outdoor athletic facilities or outdoor theaters with 1,500 or more permanent seats or design capacity may use grass as the parking surface.

(2)

Alternative surfaces which allow greater water infiltration in floodplain areas.

(B)

Arrangement, size, and orientation. All off-street parking shall be arranged so that vehicle ingress and egress to parking areas is by forward motion of the vehicle, except for drives (parking bays) serving single-family detached units, duplex units, and mobile home spaces and lots. Additionally, all off-street parking shall be arranged and sized in accordance with the parking area design standards on the following page [section 11.1.4].

(C)

Parking in front yards. Off-street parking spaces may be located in not more than half of the required minimum front yard—measured from the building line. Driveway space for access to parking areas or drive-in service facilities may be located in a required front yard.

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Parking Dimension Factors—Minimum Parking Space and Aisle Dimensions

*Note: A reduction in the aisle width for parking decks and structures if there is a compensating increase in stall width. The parking space dimensional criteria shall not apply when parking is performed by paid employee attendants provided such physical arrangements are first approved by the zoning administrator.

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(D)

Maintenance, markings, and use. Required parking spaces shall be properly maintained and shall not be converted to other uses. Each required parking space shall be clearly delineated by painted lines at least four inches wide and at least as long as the stall depth. Alternate means of delineation may be approved by the zoning administrator.

(E)

Landscape requirements.

(1)

In addition to other landscape requirements, all surface parking areas with more than ten spaces, but less than 75 spaces, shall provide the following interior landscaping (parking structures are exempt):

a.

One shade tree per 2,225 square feet of parking surface or portion thereof; and

b.

One shrub per 600 square feet of parking surface or portion thereof; and

c.

Additional trees as necessary to ensure that each parking space (stall) shall be not more than 60 feet from the trunk [of] a shade tree.

(2)

In addition to other landscape requirements, all surface parking areas with 75 spaces or more, must provide the following interior landscaping (parking structures are exempt):

a.

One shade tree per 2,000 square feet of parking surface or portion thereof.

b.

One shrub per 500 square feet of parking surface or portion thereof.

c.

Additional trees as necessary to ensure that each parking space (stall) shall be not more than 50 feet from the trunk [of] a shade tree.

(3)

Interior landscaped planting areas are to be located within or adjacent to the parking area as tree islands, at the end of parking bays, inside six-foot wide or wider medians, or between rows of cars. The number, size and shape of landscaped planting areas shall be at the discretion of the owner.

(4)

Trees and shrubs must be fully protected from potential damage by vehicles. Interior landscaping must be dispersed throughout the parking area. Some trees may be grouped, but the groups must be dispersed.

[(5)]

(3)Other required landscaping along the perimeter of a lot may not substitute for interior landscaping. However, interior landscaping may join perimeter landscaping.

[(6)]

(4)Parking areas that are too narrow in width (less than 30 ft.) to locate interior landscaping, may locate their interior landscaping around the edges of the parking area. Interior landscaping placed along an edge is in addition to any required perimeter landscaping.

(F)

Compact car spaces.

1.

Compact car spaces are only allowed in parking garages and public parking areas.

2.

No more than 15 percent of total parking spaces may be designated as "compact car" spaces.

3.

Compact car spaces may be 90 degree spaces only.

4.

Compact car spaces must be a minimum of eight feet in width and 16 feet in length.

5.

Spaces must be clearly marked with a sign or with pavement parkings as compact car spaces.

(Ord. No. 08-25, § 1, 10-27-2008)

11.1.4.

Minimum off-street parking standards. The following table establishes the minimum number of required spaces by use:

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Minimum Off-Street Parking Standards

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11.2.1.

Purpose. It is the intent and purpose of off street loading regulations to provide adequate off-street loading for loading and unloading operations, and to prevent roadway blockage in commercial and industrial areas from loading and unloading operations.

11.2.2.

Off-street loading standards. An off-street loading space shall not be located within the required parking area or public right-of-way, and shall have a minimum area of 540 square feet, a minimum width of 12 feet, a minimum depth of 40 feet, and a vertical clearance of not less than 14.5 feet.

The location and design of entrances and exits, to and from any public roadway shall be in accordance with applicable requirements of [the] City of Anderson and [the] S.C. Department of Transportation.

Except as otherwise provided in this ordinance, when any building or structure is hereafter occupied, erected, constructed, or structurally altered to the extent of increasing the floor area by 25 percent or more, the following required off-street parking shall be provided:

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Off-Street Loading Standards

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