The purpose of this article is to ensure the provision of adequate pedestrian circulation and off-street parking and loading areas. It is further the intent to avoid urban congestion on public streets, to protect the level of service and capacity of existing streets, to avoid unnecessary conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles and to promote the general health, safety, and public welfare. These regulations shall apply to all parking and loading areas, including driveways for single-family and two-family dwellings, established within the town.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-140), 6-20-2012)

(a)

Off-street parking and loading areas should be designed to minimize breaks in the pedestrian environment along the public street and create safe and comfortable passage for pedestrians.

(b)

Off-street parking and loading is not permitted in front of the primary building facade except for single-family and two-family residential uses.

(c)

To the extent practicable, adjoining parking and loading areas serving nonresidential buildings shall be interconnected.

(d)

Off-street parking and loading areas shall be designed to facilitate adequate movement and access by sanitation, emergency, and other public service vehicles without posing a danger to pedestrians or impeding the function of the parking area.

(e)

Off-street parking and loading areas shall be designed so that parked vehicles do not encroach upon or extend onto public rights-of-way, sidewalks or strike against or damage any wall, vegetation, utility, or other structure.

(f)

Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be used solely for the parking of vehicles in operating condition by the patrons, occupants or employees of the use to which such facilities are accessory. No motor vehicle repair work, except emergency service, shall be permitted in association with off-street parking and loading facilities. The sale of vehicles shall be prohibited in a required off-street parking or loading area. The storage of commercial vehicles in off-street parking and loading facilities for more than 24 hours shall be located in the rear of the property.

(g)

In no event shall parking or loading areas be provided in a manner that requires vehicles to back out into the public rights-of-way, or that requires vehicles to enter or exit a site in a manner which would require them to make an unlawful maneuver within the public right-of-way. This requirement does not apply to areas consisting of driveways serving single-family detached or two-family dwellings, although direct access onto arterial roadways is discouraged.

(h)

Parking and loading facilities shall be maintained in a clean, orderly and litter-free condition at the expense of the owner or lessee. Parking and loading areas shall be resealed or repaved and pavement markings periodically repainted and on-site traffic control signs replaced, as necessary, to maintain a clear identification of individual parking and loading spaces and to facilitate the safe movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. For open grid pervious pavement parking and loading facilities vegetation in the open cells must be properly maintained.

(i)

Any plans for re-striping or modifying the number of parking or loading spaces shall require submittal of a parking lot plan which complies with this article, county or state regulations.

(j)

Access to each principal building shall be provided from rights-of-way and handicapped parking spaces by means of a hard-surfaced pathway leading to at least one entrance generally used by the public. Handicapped ramps shall be designed in accordance with the ramp requirements of the state building code, this article, county or state regulations.

(k)

Parking spaces required for the handicapped shall be counted as a parking space in determining compliance with the ratio of off-street parking requirements of this article.

(l)

Within nonresidential development, parking and loading shall be permitted only in designated parking and loading spaces.

(m)

All stormwater drainage systems shall be maintained as necessary in order to maintain storm drainage. Parking shall be prohibited on top of any drainage inlet or drainage manhole.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-141), 6-20-2012; Ord. No. 20-12, § 2, 9-16-2020)

(a)

Off-street parking facilities shall be provided for all development within the town unless otherwise specified by other regulations.

(b)

Large surface parking lots shall be visually and functionally segmented into several smaller lots.

(c)

For all uses except single-family and two-family dwellings, standard curb and gutter, with a minimum width of one foot six inches, shall be provided along the periphery of all driveways, parking and loading areas, except where deemed unnecessary by the director of public works.

(d)

Off-street parking and loading areas shall be paved or contain a similar type material, such as open grid pervious pavement, and approved by the public works director. Gravel or other stabilization material without a permanent wearing surface is not permitted.

(e)

Off street parking and loading areas in the NC-1 district only and abutting Old Cutler Road may provide up to a maximum of 50 percent of the required parking and loading area to be open grid pervious pavement.

(f)

When new or redeveloping properties reconstruct driveway ingress/egress along Old Cutler Road said properties shall provide for consistency with the Old Cutler Road roadway improvements.

(g)

Low impact stormwater control systems shall be installed. Curb and gutter may be used where deemed necessary by the public works director, in order to manage storm drainage, channelize traffic, protect buildings and landscaping areas, and separate pedestrian and vehicular areas.

(h)

Parking spaces shall be a minimum of 18 feet long and nine feet wide. Parallel parking spaces shall be a minimum of 22 feet long and eight feet wide.

(i)

Nonresidential driveways shall be a maximum of 12 feet in width for one-way traffic and 24 feet in width for two-way traffic. In no case shall a driveway width exceed 24 feet, except as required by the state department of transportation or another applicable governmental jurisdiction.

(j)

Nonresidential off-street parking areas which are provided in excess of the requirements established in this article shall be located on grassed or sodded surface. Alternative materials may be substituted for grass or sod with the approval of the community development director.

(k)

Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the installation of a fully automatic parking facility in which the placement and removal of automobiles are accomplished wholly by machinery.

(l)

Required parking spaces for single-family and two-family dwellings may be permitted in any setback areas or yards, except for a three-foot landscape area required along the side property lines when adjacent to another single-family or two-family dwelling. Vehicles parked on-site shall not encroach into or over the public right-of-way.

(m)

Parking area aisle widths shall conform to the following table, which varies the width requirement according to the angle of parking.

(n)

The required minimum width for a standard residential driveway shall be ten feet and the maximum width is 20 feet. The required minimum width for a circular driveway is ten feet and the maximum width is 14 feet. Maximum impervious surface ratio provided for each residential district will be adhered to as part of the approval process.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-142), 6-20-2012; Ord. No. 20-12, § 3, 9-16-2020)

When off-street parking is located within a separate parking structure, the following conditions and restrictions shall apply:

(1)

All nonstructural portions of the exterior elevations, except for vehicular ingress and egress areas, shall, in addition to any required safety provisions, be screened by a material providing at least 75 percent opacity for the total area between deck levels.

(2)

When parking facilities are located on the roof of a structure, the maximum height of vehicles accommodated shall be visually screened from ground level. The height of the structure shall be measured to the top of the screening.

(3)

Parking structures shall have permitted uses wrapping 70 percent of the ground level along street edges. Access along other edges shall be screened with features such as grilles, trellises and vine-climbing frames.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-143), 6-20-2012)

Use
Parking Spaces Required

Residential

Single-family and two-family: 2.0 per home

Townhouses and multifamily: 2.0 per dwelling unit ¹²

Multifamily for older persons as defined by the Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3607: 1.0 per dwelling unit

Studio apartments and lofts: 1.5 per dwelling unit

Public Assembly

0.25 per seat or 1 per 250 square feet of meeting area, whichever is greater

Cultural, Social, Recreation, and Entertainment

Bowling alleys or karate/dance/health studios: 1 per 200 square feet

Libraries, art museums and other cultural facilities: 1 per 250 square feet

Open recreation: 1 per 250 square feet

Swimming, golf or tennis clubs: 1 per 500 square feet of floor area, plus 4 per court; 1 per 100 square feet pool area; 6 per hole of golf

Educational Facilities*

Public schools shall be subject to parking standards as established by state law

Private schools shall be governed by section 33-124(1), Miami-Dade County Code

Hospitals, Clinics, and Rehabilitation Centers

2 per bed

Homes for the Aged, Convalescent Centers

1 per bed

Restaurants, Take-Out and Nightclubs

Restaurant: 1 per 50 square feet of patron area

Take-out and nightclubs: 1 per 250 square feet of gross floor area

Lodging Establishments

1 per room, plus requirements for accessory and/or restaurant uses

Office, Professional, Including Medical and Dental

1 per 400 square feet

Commercial, Grocery, Drug Stores, Banks, Other Similar Uses

1 per 300 square feet

Membership Warehouse, Home Improvement Centers

1 per 250 square feet

Gas Stations and Mini Marts

1 per 200 square feet (minimum 3 spaces)

Plant Nursery

8 for first acre, or fraction thereof, and 1 for each two acres thereafter

Furniture Showrooms

1 per 1,000 square feet (minimum 5 spaces)

Automotive Sales Lot

1 per 500 square feet of building area

Open Lot Commercial Uses

1 per 1,000 square feet of lot area, or fraction thereof, for first 5,000 square feet and 1 per 500 square feet thereafter

Warehouse and Industrial Uses

1 per 4000 square feet plus 1 per 400 square feet of office (minimum 3 spaces)

Wholesale Showrooms

1 per 800 square feet

Self-Storage Facilities

1 per 2,500 square feet

Adult Use or Business

1 parking space per booth, plus 1 parking space for each 4 fixed seats in the main auditorium for adult motion picture theaters

1 parking space for each 40 square feet of customer service area, including waiting area, in conformance with the off-street parking requirements for adult dancing establishments

1 parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area for encounter studio/modeling studios, and any other regulated use not covered by the off-street parking requirements of article

NOTES:

(1)

A minimum three-foot side setback shall be required for off-street parking areas located in the residential uses above.

(2)

Parking shall only be allowed in designated spots.

(3)

Gross floor area is used in calculating square feet.

(4)

For uses not referenced but similar to one of the above categories, the community development director shall determine the number of required parking spaces.

(5)

If more than one use is within one building or development, parking for said uses shall be calculated separately.

(6)

Loading areas in front of warehouse buildings will not be counted towards parking requirements.

;sz=9.5; (7)

The maximum number of spaces for any development cannot exceed the minimum for that use by more than ten percent. Reduction in the required parking may be considered based on the mix of uses and an approved shared parking management plan.

;sz=9.5; (8)

Reductions in parking may not exceed ten percent of the required number of spaces.

(9)

Educational facilities.

a.

Public schools shall be subject to parking standards as established by state law.

b.

Private schools shall be governed by section 33-124(l), Miami-Dade County Code.

c.

Day nurseries, kindergarten and elementary schools: Total parking spaces shall equal the combined total of personnel and transportation vehicles.

d.

Junior high schools: Total parking spaces shall equal one and one-quarter times the combined total of personnel and transportation vehicles.

e.

High schools, trade schools and colleges: One parking space per 200 square feet of classroom area, including laboratories, libraries and administrative areas. Housing facilities on college campuses must provide off-street parking for two spaces for each three sleeping rooms. Other such uses, such as restaurants, auditoriums, theaters, etc., shall provide parking as required in this section for such uses. In addition, in connection with the foregoing schools, one parking space shall be required for each four employees, excluding teachers.

(10)

In connection with the foregoing school use, parking required for church use may be credited toward parking requirements for school use, where the same ownership and on the same property.

(11)

The applicant shall submit information substantiating the personnel and vehicle figures used for computing the above parking requirements.

(12)

The minimum parking ratio for multifamily developments within the town center district may be 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit, provided enhanced facilities are available in the development to promote multi-modal transportation options, such as transit and bicycle usage, and pedestrian amenities. Such amenities may include, but are not limited to providing:

a.

Transit vehicle access (including, but not limited to, transit buses, special transit services vehicles, and Cutler Bay GoConnect) along public rights-of-way and/or within the development site, subject to the acceptance or approval by the town's public works department and Miami-Dade County transportation and public works department. Such transit vehicle access shall be memorialized by an agreement, approved by the town attorney;

b.

Fifty percent more bicycle parking than that which is required in subsection 3-72(a). Exchange provisions provided in subsection 3-72(b) shall not be applicable, if the development seeks a reduced minimum parking ratio, pursuant to this note;

c.

Fifty percent more shower facilities, for use of employees and/or customers traveling on bicycles, than that which is required in section 3-72(i); or

d.

Fifty percent more site amenities than that which is required in subsection 3-80(e).

(13)

Mixed-use and multi-family residential developments within the transit corridor (TRC) zoning district located west of US-1 may obtain a reduction in required parking if the development complies with the requirements of subsection 3-80(e) and is located:

a.

Within 750 feet of a mass transit stop serviced by bus rapid transit (BRT), metrorail, or a similar mass transit solution: 75 percent;

b.

Between 750 feet and 1,000 feet of a mass transit stop serviced by bus rapid transit (BRT), metrorail, or a similar mass transit solution : 50 percent; or

c.

Between 1,000 feet and 1,500 feet of a transit stop serviced by bus rapid transit (BRT), metrorail, or a similar mass transit solution: 25 percent.

d.

Greater than 1,500 feet from a transit stop serviced by bus rapid transit (BRT), metrorail, or a similar mass transit solution: 15 percent.

Reductions of the minimum parking ratio based on the foregoing standards shall be determined by the community development director. Any person aggrieved by a determination of the director may appeal the decision to the town council within 30 days of the decision. Such appeal shall be filed on a form provided by the department, and shall include the applicable fee.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-144), 6-20-2012; Ord. No. 19-03, § 5, 3-20-2019; Ord. No. 21-09, § 2, 7-21-2021; Ord. No. 22-03, § 2, 4-20-2022)

(a)

A reduction in the total number of required parking spaces for two or more uses jointly providing off-street parking may be approved by the community development director when the respective hours of need of maximum parking do not normally overlap. Reduction of parking requirements because of joint use shall be approved if the following conditions are met:

(1)

The developer submits sufficient data to demonstrate that hours of maximum demand for parking at the respective uses do not normally overlap.

(2)

The developer submits a legal agreement approved by the town attorney guaranteeing the joint use of the off-street parking spaces as long as the uses requiring parking are in existence or until required parking is provided elsewhere in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(b)

The community development director may approve the utilization of off-site parking areas for uses within nonresidential districts. The owner of a site utilizing an off-site parking area shall provide evidence of the owner's right to use the off-site parking area either by license, deed, easement, or by long-term lease. Pedestrian access shall be available within a walking distance of 500 feet, measured from the nearest point of the building lot to an entrance to the parking area. Such separated parking areas shall be usable without causing unreasonable traffic congestion, detriment to any residential neighborhood, or hazard to pedestrians.

(c)

The community development director may review and approve shared parking arrangements, in a form acceptable by the town attorney, between residential and non-residential uses in the same mixed use developments within the town center district, provided that the applicant provides sufficient data to demonstrate the respective hours of need do not normally overlap. However, shared parking may not result in a reduction of residential parking below one space per dwelling unit.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-145), 6-20-2012; Ord. No. 21-09, § 2, 7-21-2021)

Designated parking and loading spaces, as well as fire lanes, shall be marked on the surface of the parking space with paint or permanent marking materials and maintained in clearly visible condition. Signs or signs combined with color-coded stall lines shall be used to distinguish handicapped spaces from standard size car spaces. In parking facilities, all aisles, approach lanes, and maneuvering areas shall be clearly marked with directional arrows and lines to expedite traffic movement.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-146), 6-20-2012)

Every building, building group, or part thereof, which is to be occupied by multifamily, business, commercial, institutional or other uses, receives materials or merchandise and contains 10,000 square feet or more of floor area will provide the following number of berths:

(1)

Shared spaces. Loading spaces may be provided cooperatively for two or more uses, subject to the approval by the community development director of appropriate legal instruments to ensure the permanent availability of off-street loading for all such uses. The overall number of loading spaces provided may be reduced by the department in those instances where it is demonstrated that adjacent land uses can be adequately served by a shared loading facility. The department is also authorized to require restrictions on the use and hours of operation of any uses that share loading spaces.

(2)

Size. The loading berths required in each instance shall be at least 12 feet in width, 30 feet in length, and 14 feet in height. The length of one or more of the loading spaces may be increased up to 70 feet if full-length tractor-trailers must be accommodated. Berths may not be within the required front yard setback.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-147), 6-20-2012)

Stacking spaces shall be a minimum of ten feet in width exclusive of gutter pans and 18 feet in length. All stacking areas must be separate from other circulation aisles and parking spaces.

(1)

Food restaurants. A minimum of six stacking spaces for fast food restaurants with drive-up windows. The distance shall be measured from the drive-up window.

(2)

Financial institution drive-up windows. A minimum of four stacking spaces per drive through lane.

(3)

Car wash. A minimum of three stacking spaces per automatic or self service car wash bay.

(4)

Day care facilities. A minimum of one stacking space for each ten persons accommodated.

(5)

Other uses. For other uses not specifically provided for herein, the community development director shall make a determination regarding the number of stacking spaces required.

(6)

Conflicts. Lanes shall be located and designed to minimize turning movements in relation to the driveway access to streets and intersections. The lanes shall be located and designed to minimize or avoid conflicts between vehicular traffic, parking and pedestrian areas such as sidewalks, crosswalks, or other pedestrian accessways.

(7)

Bypass lane. Where stacking lanes are used a bypass lane shall be provided and have a minimum width of ten feet. Where turns are required in the exit lane, the minimum distance from any drive-up station to the beginning point of the curve shall be 34 feet. The minimum inside turning radius shall be 25 feet.

(Ord. No. 12-03, § 2(3-148), 6-20-2012)