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Elizabeth City Zoning Code

Chapter 17.40

OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REGULATIONS

17.40.010 - Off-street parking regulations.

Off-street parking shall be regulated as follows:

A.

General Requirements. In all districts, in connection with every manufacturing, business, institutional, recreational or other use, there shall be provided, at the time that any building or structure is erected or is enlarged or increased in capacity or changed in use, parking spaces, in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 17.40.040 of this chapter, except that residential uses shall conform to the requirements of the residential site improvement standards, N.J.A.C. 5:21 except N.J.A.C. 5:21(f) of the residential site improvement standards and parking in the C-3 and C-5 zones shall not be required for commercial uses less than two thousand two hundred (2,200) square feet.

B.

Proximity of Parking to Principal Use. All permitted and required accessory off-street parking spaces, open or enclosed, shall be located on the same lot as the use to which such spaces are accessory.

C.

Location of Exits and Entrances. No commercial parking area or garage for twenty-five (25) or more motor vehicles shall have an entrance or exit for vehicles within one thousand five hundred (1,500) feet along the same side of a street on which is located a school, public playground, church, hospital, public library or institution for dependents or for children, except where such property is in another block or on another street on which the zone lot does not abut. Such access shall not be closer to the intersections of any two streets than fifty (50) feet. No access drive or driveway shall be located in any R district to provide access to uses other than those permitted in such R district.

(Ord. No. 5743, § 1, 12-13-2022; Ord. 3809 § 1, 2006; prior code § 40-130)

17.40.020 - Off-street loading.

In any district, in connection with every building or building group or part thereof hereafter erected which is to be occupied by manufacturing or commercial uses or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained, on the same zone lot with such building, off-street loading berths not less than ten (10) feet in width and thirty-five (35) feet in length in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.40.040, Table II. Such berths shall have a minimum clearance of fourteen (14) feet and may occupy all or any part of any required yard.

(Prior code § 40-131)

17.40.030 - Parking and loading.

A.

No off-street parking or loading area shall be used for the sale, repair, dismantling or servicing of any vehicle, equipment, materials or supplies.

B.

Joint Facilities for Parking or Loading. Off-street parking and loading facilities for separate uses may be provided jointly if the total number of spaces so provided is not less than the sum of the separate requirements for each use and provided that all regulations governing the location of accessory spaces in relation to the use served are adhered to. Further, no accessory space or portion thereof shall serve as a required space for more than one use unless otherwise approved by the approving authority in accordance with the purposes and procedures set forth herein.

(Prior code § 40-132)

17.40.040 - Number of parking and loading spaces required.

A.

The number of off-street parking spaces required shall be as set forth in Table I below.

Table I

Uses Minimum Required Off-Street Parking Spaces
Automobile major repair shop 3 per each 300 square feet of floor area 1
Automobile minor repair shop 2 per each 300 square feet of floor area 1
Automobile service stations 1 for each employee 1
Bowling alleys 5 for each alley 1
Churches, synagogues, and houses of worship 1 for each 5 permanent seats. When individual seats are not provided, each 20 inches of bench shall be considered 1 seat. The number of required off-street parking spaces may be eliminated or reduced if there exists within 500 feet of the church, synagogue or house of worship, public or private parking lots containing a sufficient number of off-street parking spaces to satisfy the requirements. The church, synagogue or house of worship must provide the difference if the number of parking spaces in the private or public lots is below the number required. Any spaces provided in public or private lots must be shown to be available for worshipers on the day or days of greatest use. 1
Community buildings, country clubs, social halls, lodges, fraternal and accessory organizations, and similar uses 1 for each 200 square feet of floor area occupied by all principal structures. 1
Doctors in other than office buildings 3 for patients' use for each doctor's office. 1
Dentist in other than office buildings 2 for patients' use for each dentist's office. 1
Funeral homes and mortuaries 15 for visitors. 1
Hospitals, nursing, and convalescent homes 1 for each 3 beds. 1
Hotels, motels and rooming houses 1 for each rentable unit. 1
Industrial, manufacturing, warehousing, wholesale, distribution and selected commercial (use groups X-CC) 1 ground level space per each 1,400 square feet of site area. The number of spaces to be installed at any time is to be based on a current and valid parking management plan approved by the zoning administrator and a final site plan approved by the approving authority. 1
Offices 1 for every 400 square feet of rentable floor area. 1
Quick-service eating and drinking establishments 10 plus 1 for every 2 employees on the maximum shift, plus 1 for every 2 seats. 1
Residential All residential developments shall comply with the requirements of the Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS Table 4.4), except N.J.A.C. 5:21-4.14(f) within RSIS. Tandem parking may be permitted for dwelling structures containing no more than 2 units. No more than 2 parking spaces will be permitted to be in tandem configuration. Curbside parking shall be permitted to be credited toward the required parking at the discretion of the planning board, zoning board of adjustment or the administrative authority. Curbside parking which exists only along the frontage of the property in question may be counted. 1
No obstructions are permitted within proposed parking spaces. If the parking spaces are internally located within a structure no columns shall be permitted within the space. A clearance distance of 18 inches must be adhered to from all columns to all parking spaces. The column must also be protected from being contacted by vehicles via concrete curbing. 1
No parking lots or driveways for residential uses greater than 2 units are permitted within 25 feet of rear property line and 10 feet from side property line. 1
Restaurants without live entertainment, bars and nightclubs 1 for every 2 employees on the maximum shift, plus 1 for every 4 seats. 1
Retail shops, store groups, shops, etc. 1 for each 300 square feet of floor area where the floor area shall exceed 1,000 square feet. 1
Schools
Senior high schools 1 for every 10 classroom seats. 1
Elementary and junior high schools 1 for every 15 classroom seats. 1
1 All parking requirements for off-street parking are to be on the subject property. No on-street parking shall be credited for the required off-street parking for such use.

 

B.

The number of off-street loading spaces required shall be as set forth in Table II below:

Table II

Uses Square Feet of Total Floor Area Required Off-Street Loading Berths
Schools 15,000 or more 1
Hospitals (in addition to space for ambulances) From 10,000 to 30,000 1
For each additional 30,000 or major fraction thereof 1 additional
Undertakers and funeral parlors 5,000 1
For each additional 5,000 or major fraction thereof 1 additional
Offices, hotels retail, commercial, wholesale, manufacturing, storage and miscellaneous uses
From 10,000 to 25,000 1
From 25,000 to 40,000 2
From 40,000 to 60,000 3
From 60,000 to 100,000 4
For each additional 50,000 or major fraction thereof 1 additional

 

C.

In the case of any building, structure or premises which is not specifically mentioned herein, the approving authority shall determine the amount of off-street parking or loading required.

(Ord. No. 5743, § 2, 12-13-2022; Ord. No. 4647, § 1, 11-24-2015; prior code § 40-133)

17.40.050 - Lighting of off-street parking.

A.

Off-street parking areas with six or more spaces shall be adequately and properly lighted.

B.

All lighting shall be shielded so as not to affect adjacent properties.

C.

No lighting shall be installed which exceeds the maximum illumination levels pursuant to Chapter 17.32 of this title.

(Prior code § 40-134)