Bethany Beach City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XV
Off-Street Parking and Loading
§ 425-86 Size of spaces.
[Amended 8-16-1985 by Ord. No. 157; 5-23-2014 by Ord. No. 504]
A.
An automobile parking space shall have a minimum width of eight feet and a minimum length of 18 feet. A loading space shall be in the rear of the structure and have a minimum width of 10 feet, a minimum length of 40 feet and a minimum of 14 feet of vertical clearance.
B.
In the Commercial Lodging Zoning District (CL-1) are permitted compact automobile parking spaces that shall have a minimum width of eight feet and a minimum length of 16 feet. The total number of compact automobile parking spaces is limited to a maximum of 15% of the total number of required parking spaces in the CL-1 Zoning District.
§ 425-87 Requirements.
No new construction or enlargement in dimensions or use of any existing building or structure shall be permitted unless the following off-street parking and loading requirements have been met:
A.
"Off-street parking" shall mean a designated area used solely for parking of motor vehicles, that shall not include the use of public or approved private streets and areas that are required for driveways, vehicle maneuvering, ramps, support columns, walks, or similar purposes.
[Amended 11-15-2013 by Ord. No. 500; 5-23-2014 by Ord. No. 504]
(1)
Residential parking requirements. Every dwelling unit in a residential structure, whether a detached single-family dwelling unit or one of several dwelling units in a multifamily residential or mixed-use structure, in each zoning district shall require a minimum of off-street parking spaces based on the following requirements:
(a)
Two off-street parking spaces for up to three bedrooms.
(b)
Four off-street parking spaces for up to five bedrooms.
(c)
Six off-street parking spaces for up to seven bedrooms.
(d)
Seven off-street parking spaces for up to eight bedrooms.
(e)
Eight off-street parking spaces for nine or more bedrooms.
(2)
One-bedroom apartments: one space per rental unit, plus normal residential requirements.
(3)
Offices, banks, retail and service stores and restaurants, including grills, cafes, lunch counters, diners and all similar establishments, except when located within the C-1 Zone: one parking space for every 250 square feet of gross floor area.
(4)
Home occupations in residential areas: two parking spaces, plus residential requirements.
(5)
Commercial lodging rooms: minimum of one space per standard guest room.
[Amended 12-19-2014 by Ord. No. 508]
(6)
All other standard dwelling units (DUS): two spaces per unit.
B.
Off-street loading:
(1)
Number of required spaces.
Type of Use | Gross Floor Area (square feet) | Number of Required Spaces | |
|---|---|---|---|
All commercial uses (except commercial lodging rooms) | 1,000 to 19,999 | 1 | |
20,000 to 40,000 | 2 |
(2)
Properties that are less than 5,000 square feet in the C-1 Downtown Commercial Zoning District are exempt from off-street loading requirements.
[Added 4-21-2017 by Ord. No. 532]
§ 425-88 Submission of plans and specifications.
Plans and specifications for the required off-street parking and loading areas must be approved by the Building Inspector before a building permit is issued.
§ 425-89 Connections to streets or alleys.
Each required parking space or loading space shall be connected directly with a street or alley or by a driveway no less than 10 feet in width in commercial zones and seven feet in residential zones providing adequate ingress and egress for vehicles. No access from a lot or plot to a public street for the purpose of meeting the off-street parking requirements shall exceed 20 feet in width at the street line.
§ 425-90 Variances.
[Amended 4-21-2017 by Ord. No. 533]
Where the Board of Adjustment determines that the provision of off-street parking on the same lot as the principal use is impractical, a variance may be granted permitting the required off-street parking space to be provided within 400 feet of the principal use lot boundaries, but not within a residential zone.
§ 425-91 Joint use of off-street parking areas.
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the combined use of off-street parking and loading areas, so long as it is properly covenanted in the deeds, by two or more buildings or uses, provided that the total number of spaces is not less than the requirements for each use computed separately in accordance with § 425-87 of the Code. In no case shall off-street loading space be considered as meeting the off-street parking space requirements.
§ 425-92 Maintenance of spaces.
Off-street parking and loading space required by this chapter shall be maintained for the duration of the particular use for which the building permit has been issued and for any subsequent use that requires off-street parking or loading space, in accordance with § 425-87 of this chapter. Presently existing off-street parking and loading facilities may not be reduced below the requirements of this chapter.