This section establishes standards for vehicle parking facilities and freight loading areas. The purpose of these parking and loading standards is to promote public health, safety, and welfare by reducing street congestion, traffic hazards, requiring safe and convenient access to businesses, public services, and places of public assembly, and ensuring compatibility with surrounding land uses. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-3.20.010 Applicability.

The requirements in this section shall apply to all new structures and uses and to changes in land uses or structures that require a permit pursuant to Articles 44-1 and 44-2. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-3.20.020 On-Site Parking Requirements.

(a) Number of Spaces. All land uses shall provide on-site parking as required in Table 44-3.20-1.

(b) Unlisted and Unidentified Uses.

(1) The Zoning Administrator shall determine on-site parking requirements for uses not listed in Table 44-3.20-1 or for non-residential “shell” structures with no identified uses or tenants.

(2) On-site parking requirements for unlisted uses shall be based on the parking requirements of similar or anticipated uses in Table 44-3.20-1.

(3) The Zoning Administrator may require the preparation of a parking demand study to determine the parking requirements for unlisted uses.

(c) Multiple Uses. When more than one land use is conducted on a parcel, the required number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the number of parking spaces required for each individual use.

(d) Fractional Spaces. If the number of required parking spaces does not result in a whole number, the number shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(e) Replaced Uses. A new use that replaces an existing use shall provide parking only for the additional parking required for the new use beyond that which was required by the existing use.

(f) Availability and Use of Spaces.

(1) Required parking spaces shall be permanently available and maintained for parking purposes for the use they are intended to serve.

(2) Owners, lessees, tenants, or persons having control of the operations of a use for which parking spaces are required shall not prevent or restrict authorized persons from using these spaces.

(3) Required parking spaces shall be used exclusively for the temporary parking of vehicles and shall not be used for the sale, lease, display, repair, or storage of vehicles, trailers, boats, campers, mobile homes, merchandise, or equipments, or for any other use not authorized by the zoning code. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part); Ord. No. 788 § 12)

44-3.20.030 Adjustments and Special Parking Requirements.

(a) Compact Car Spaces.

(1) Parking requirements for non-residential uses requiring ten or more parking spaces may include compact car spaces for up to 25 percent of the number of required parking spaces.

(2) Compact parking spaces shall be a minimum of 8 feet in width and 16 feet in length.

(3) All parking spaces for compact cars shall be clearly marked with the word “Compact” either on the wheel stop or curb, or on the pavement at the opening of the space.

(4) Compact parking stalls shall be reasonably dispersed throughout the parking area.

(b) Parking for Persons with Disabilities.

(1) Parking facilities shall be properly designed, constructed, and maintained to provide for access by the physically disabled from designated disabled parking spaces to the public right-of-way and into structures on the parcel.

(2) The number of parking spaces for the disabled shall be as required by the Uniform Building Code, the Federal Accessibility Guidelines, and the California Code of Regulations (Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 2-71).

(3) Parking spaces required for the disabled shall count toward compliance with the number of parking spaces required by Table 44-3.20-1.

C. Shared Parking. Where two or more non-residential uses on a single site are developed as a recognized shopping or professional center, and have distinct and differing hours of use and peak traffic period (e.g., a movie theater and a bank), the required parking may be adjusted by the approving authority, provided that the reduction does not exceed fifty percent of the amount of spaces required by the most intensive of the two or more uses sharing the parking. Such reductions shall apply only to those spaces within 300 feet of the affected use.

D. Off-Site Parking. Required parking may be located off-site when all of the following requirements are met:

1. Off-site parking for commercial or industrial uses is located on a site where parking is otherwise allowed and is located within 500 feet of the site which it is intended to serve.

2. There shall be no hazardous traffic safety conditions for pedestrians utilizing off-site parking facilities.

3. A parking covenant subject to approval of County Counsel is recorded between all concerned parties ensuring the continued availability of the of-site parking facilities for the life of the use it is intended to serve.

E. Downtown Arbuckle and Downtown Maxwell. Within the Downtown Arbuckle and Downtown Maxwell areas (see Figure 44-3.50-4), the following special parking standards shall apply: Owners or lessees with existing structures within the Downtown areas who construct new floor area, expand by converting existing floor area, and/or intensify the occupancy load (as defined by the California Building Code) of an existing building, and whose location limits the development of on-site parking as required by this section may be permitted to obtain a development permit, and not be required to provide the required on-site parking spaces, unless there is adequate on-site area available for parking lot expansion or development. A deviation of parking application must be considered and approved by the approving authority in such cases.

F. Increases and Decreases in Parking Requirements.

1. Increases. The number of parking spaces required by this section may be increased by the approving authority as a condition of a use permit or other applicable zoning permit where it is determined that the proposed use would have a parking demand in excess of the requirements of this section.

2. Decreases. Administrative relief from strict compliance with the provisions for non-residential uses may be granted by the approving authority on the relevant zoning permit for a project where the approving authority finds all of the following:

a. The intent of the parking standards in this section is preserved.

b. The parking provided is sufficient to serve the use for which it is intended.

c. The modification will not be detrimental to the public health or safety.

In considering requests for reduction in the number of parking spaces, the approving authority shall consider:

i. Size and type of use or activity;

ii. Composition and number of tenants;

iii. Peak traffic and parking loads;

iv. Rate of turnover; and

v. Availability of public or alternative transportation, including bus stops, carpools or employer-provided transportation. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-3.20.040 Parking Design Standards.

The following parking design standards shall apply in all zones.

A. Dimensions.

1. Standard parking spaces shall be 9 feet wide by 19 feet long.

2. Angles and parallel parking spaces and parking lot aisles shall comply with the dimensions in Table 44-3.20-2 (Minimum Angled and Parallel Parking Stall Dimensions) and Figure 44-3.20-1 (Parking Dimension Standards).

Notes: 1) indicates minimum aisle width for one-way travel aisle.

FIGURE 44-3.20-1: PARKING DIMENSION STANDARDS

B. Access.

1. Every parking and loading stall shall be individually accessible from the drive aisle without displacement of other vehicles.

2. Except for one- and two-family dwellings, parking stalls shall be designed so as to prohibit the backing of vehicles directly into any public right-of-way in order to exit any parking space.

C. Surfacing and Drainage.

1. All parking areas shall either be paved with asphalt, concrete, or other all-weather surface, or shall be treated with dust-minimizing measures.

2. Permeable paving materials such as porous concrete/asphalt, open-jointed pavers, and turf/gravel grids are a permitted surface material.

3. The use of light colored materials to help reduce surface temperatures is encouraged.

4. All parking areas shall be graded to provide adequate drainage for all surface areas, and shall drain into a street, alley, or other improved stormwater drainage infrastructure.

5. The gradient of all parking surfaces and aisles shall not exceed six percent.

D. Lighting. All employee and visitor parking areas shall include lighting capable of provide adequate illumination for security and safety. All outdoor lighting used to illuminate parking areas shall comply with the requirements of Section 44-3.30.

E. Passenger Loading Areas. Passenger loading areas shall be provided for any building or building complex that will generate 50 or more employees at maximum occupancy. Such areas shall be located convenient to the primary employee entrances, and shall be designated either by signs or painted pavement. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-3.20.050 Parking Lot Landscaping.

Parking areas with 10 or more parking spaces shall comply with the following landscaping standards.

A. Screening.

1. When a parking lot is located adjacent to a public street, a 6-foot landscaped buffer strip shall be provided between the parking area and the public street.

2. Within commercial zones, industrial zones, and agricultural zones containing industrial-type uses (such as agricultural processing facilities), parking areas that abut residentially zoned property shall be screened by a row of densely planted evergreen trees, tall shrubs, or similar landscaping.

B. Interior Landscaping.

1. Where a parking lot contains 20 or more parking spaces, interior landscaping equivalent to 5 percent of the gross area used for parking and access purposes should be devoted to landscaping. Interior landscaping excludes landscaping buffer strips along the property line.

2. At least one tree having a minimum size of 15 gallons or equivalent shall be provided for each 10 parking spaces, exclusive of the landscape buffers.

3. All plant materials shall be nonpoisonous and shall be maintained free from weeds, debris, and undesirable materials. Plant materials showing damage from insects or disease shall be replaced in accordance with the approved landscape plan.

4. Landscaped areas shall emphasize the use of living plant material. However, the use of bark, decorative rock, water, and similar materials or features may be utilized, providing such materials do not exceed 30 percent of the required landscape area.

C. Maintenance. All landscaped areas should be kept free of debris, trash, weeds, and other unsightly material. Landscape material requiring pruning or mowing should be maintained on a periodic basis to avoid overgrowth and visual deterioration. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))

44-3.20.060 Off-Street Loading.

A. General Requirements.

1. Off-street freight and equipment loading spaces shall be provided for all commercial, office, and industrial land uses meeting the minimum gross floor area sizes shown in Table 44-3.20-3 (Required Loading Spaces).

2. The minimum numbers of loading spaces are shown are shown in Table 44-3.20-3.

3. Industrial developments with two or more dock-high loading spaces shall provide one trailer parking/waiting space, a minimum of 12 feet wide by 45 feet long, for each two loading spaces.

4. All designated loading areas shall be striped and clearly identified as for loading purposes only.

B. Dimensions.

1. Each loading space shall have minimum dimensions of 12 feet wide, 40 feet long, and 14 feet vertical clearance.

2. Deviations from the minimum dimension standards may be approved by the Zoning Administrator if the spatial needs are less than the minimum required due to the truck size and type that will be utilized in the operation of a specific business.

C. Location.

1. Loading areas shall be designed to ensure that loading and unloading takes place on-site and in no case within adjacent public rights-of-way.

2. Loading and maneuvering areas shall not encroach into required employee or visitor parking areas or other areas on-site required for vehicle circulation.

3. Loading and maneuvering areas shall not encroach into required front yard setback areas. (Ord. No. 765 § 2 (Exh. A) (part))