At the time of erection of a new structure or at the time of enlargement or change in use of an existing structure within any district in the Town, off-street parking spaces shall be provided as required by this section, except that the Town Council may establish greater requirements for a conditional use if it is determined the off-street parking needs of a particular use due to its unique character will exceed the minimum requirements of this section. If parking space has been provided in connection with an existing use or is added to an existing use, the parking space shall not be eliminated of [if] elimination would result in less space than is required by Sections 5-101(A) through 5-101(E). Where square feet are specified, the area measured shall be the floor area primary to the functioning of the particular use of property and shall exclude stairwells; elevator shafts; hallways; ornamental balconies; space occupied by heating; air-conditioning or other utility equipment; and space devoted to off-street parking or loading. The number of employees of a new or expanding business shall be estimated in a manner approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the number of employees of an established business shall be determined from an examination of employment information presented by applicants.

For residential uses in the TC district, a minimum two spaces shall be provided per dwelling unit.

In the TC district, off street parking is not required. On-street parking shall be maximized (wherever possible) using parallel or diagonal parking (at 45 or 60 degrees) on one or both sides, according to the following standards:

Passengers. A driveway designed for continuous forward flow of passenger vehicles for the purpose of loading and unloading children shall be located on the site of any school having a capacity greater than fifteen (15) students.

Merchandise, materials, or supplies. Buildings or structures to be built or substantially altered which receive and distribute material or merchandise by truck shall provide and maintain off-street loading berths in sufficient numbers and size to adequately handle the needs of the particular use. If loading space has been provided in connection with an existing use or is added to an existing use, the loading space shall not be eliminated if elimination would result in less space than is required to adequately handle the needs of the particular use. Off-street parking areas used to fulfill the requirements of this ordinance shall not be used for loading and unloading operations except during periods of the day when not required to take care of parking needs.

Loading/Unloading in the TC district:

The provision and maintenance of off-street parking and loading spaces is a continuing obligation of the property owner. No building or other permit shall be issued until plans are presented that show property is and will remain available for exclusive use as off-street parking and loading space. The subsequent use of property for which the building permit is issued shall be conditional upon the unqualified continuance and availability of the amount of parking and loading space required by this ordinance. Should the owner or occupant of any lot or building change the use to which the lot or building is put, thereby increasing off-street parking or loading requirements, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this ordinance to begin or maintain such altered use until such time as the increased off-street parking or loading requirements are complied with.

Requirements for types of buildings and uses not specifically listed herein shall be determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission, based upon the requirements for comparable uses listed.

In the event several uses occupy a single structure or parcel of land, the total requirements for off-street parking shall be the sum of the requirements of the several uses computed separately.

Off-street parking spaces for dwellings shall be located on the same lot with the dwelling. Other required spaces shall be located no farther than three hundred (300) feet from the building or use they are required to serve, measured in a straight line from the building.

Required parking spaces shall be available for the parking of operable passenger vehicles or storage of materials or for the parking of trucks used in conducting the business or use.

Unless provided as stipulated in Section 5-101(A)(1), required parking and loading spaces shall not be located in a required front yard but may be located within a required side or rear yard.

A plan, drawn to scale, indicating how the off-street parking and loading requirements, excluding single dwelling unit areas, are to be fulfilled shall accompany an application for a building permit. The plans shall show all elements necessary to indicate that the requirement is being fulfilled, including the following:

Design requirements for parking lots.

Ninety (90) Degree Angle Parking: Each parking space shall be not less than nine feet wide or [nor] less than eighteen (18) feet in length. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than twenty-four (24) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line.

Sixty (60) Degree Angle Parking: Each parking space shall be not less than (9) feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle nor less than seventeen (17) feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than twenty (20) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line.

Forty-five (45) Degree Angle Parking: Each parking space shall be not less than nine (9) feet wide perpendicular to the parking angle nor less than sixteen (16) feet in length when measured at right angles to the building or parking line. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be not less than eighteen (18) feet perpendicular to the building or parking line.

Parallel Parking: Each parking space shall be not less than (10) feet wide nor less than twenty-four (24) feet in length. Parallel parking will not be considered except when it can be situated in such a manner that persons entering and exiting vehicles will be out of the flow of traffic.

When off-street parking facilities are located adjacent to a public alley, the width of said alley may be assumed to be a portion of the maneuvering space requirement. Where off-street parking facilities are provided in excess of the minimum amounts herein specified, or when off-street parking facilities are provided but not required by this ordinance, said off-street parking facilities shall comply with the minimum requirements for parking and maneuvering space herein specified.

Completion time for parking lots. Required parking spaces shall be improved as required and made available for use before the final inspection is completed by the Building Inspector. An extension of time may be granted by the Building Inspector providing a performance bond, or its equivalent, is posted equaling one and one-half (1.5) times the cost to complete the improvements as estimated by the Building Inspector provided the parking space is not required for immediate use. In the event the improvements are not completed within one year’s time, the bond or its equivalent shall be forfeited and the improvements thenceforth constructed under the direction of the Town.

Every building or part thereof erected or occupied for retail business, service, storage, mortuary, or any other use similarly involving the receipt or distribution by vehicles or [of] materials or merchandise, shall provide and maintain on the same premises loading and parking space.

For all retail and service developments, one (1) loading space for the first five thousand (5,000) to fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet of floor area in the building and one additional loading space for each fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet, or fraction thereof, of floor area in excess of fifteen thousand (15,000) square feet.

Each required loading space shall have a minimum size as described herein. A space within the main building or on the same lot therewith, providing for the standing, loading, or unloading of trucks, and having minimum dimensions of twelve (12) by forty (40) feet for commercial and institutional uses with a vertical clearance of at least fourteen (14) feet.

Access and maneuvering areas shall be provided on the same building lot as the principal use for which the loading and parking is intended. Maneuvering space shall be in addition to parking space and shall be of sufficient area to inscribe a circle with a diameter of not less than one hundred (1200) [sic] feet for industrial and warehouse uses or a circle with a diameter of fifty (50) feet for commercial and institutional uses. The intended use of the building shall be considered and these requirements may be increased if in the opinion of the Town of Copper Canyon the requirements stated above does not accomplish the intent of this section.

Number of Spaces Required for TC district.

General Provisions: Handicapped parking spaces and/or loading zones shall be provided by the building or facility owner, agent, or occupants. The number of spaces, location, specifications, and signage shall comply with this subsection and the Americans with Disability Act.

An approved number of parking spaces should be based on the location and function of the building or facilities the parking is to serve but shall never be less than the number specified below:

Location: Accessible parking spaces and accessible passenger loading zones that serve a particular building shall be located on an accessible circulation route and as near as reasonably possible to the accessible primary entries of the facility. In separate parking structures, lots, or basement garages, parking spaces shall be located on the shortest possible circulation route.

Parking Space Specifications: An accessible parking space is one that is open on at least one side and which allows room for individuals in wheelchairs, crutches, or braces to safely get in and out of a vehicle onto a level surface suitable for wheeling and walking. Accessible parking spaces should not be located in such a place that would cause persons to wheel or walk behind parked cars.

Head in or diagonal spaces shall be at least ninety-six inches (244 cm) wide with an adjacent aisle or clear space of at least sixty (60) inches (152 cm) wide. A common aisle between two (2) 96-inch-wide spaces may be shared. In order to better accommodate handicapped persons using vans with side lifts, an aisle of seventy-two inches (183 cm) is preferred.

Parallel parking is discouraged except when it can be situated in such a manner that persons entering and exiting vehicles will be out of the flow of traffic. If parallel parking is located on a street, driveway, or any other area where vehicular traffic exists, the space shall be designed and placed in such a manner that persons are out of the flow of traffic. See Figure 33 for an example of a well-designed parallel space.

Editor’s note–Figure 33, referred to above, is not printed herein.

Parked vehicle overhangs shall not intrude into or reduce the clearance of accessible routes. Parking surfaces and accessible aisles shall not have a slope in any direction in excess of 1:50 (2.0%).

Each parking space reserved for the handicapped shall be identified with a non-moveable sign that:

Separate Parking Structures and Off-Site Lots: In instances where parking garages, basements, or off-site lots are used to serve a particular building or facility, parking spaces and conditions shall conform to the following criteria in addition to the other specifications contained in this subsection.

Parking spaces shall be located adjacent to, or in proximity of, the accessible point of egress by an accessible route including elevators. There shall be an accessible route from the point of egress to the nearest accessible primary entry into the building or facility.

Passenger Loading Zones: If passenger loading zones are provided, there shall be an access aisle of at least forty-four (44) inches (112 cm) wide and twenty (20) feet (6 m) long and adjacent to the vehicle pull-up space. Curb ramps are required when curbs exist between the access aisle and the vehicle pull-up space.