Elwood City Zoning Code
OFF-STREET PARKING
AND LOADING
§ 162.150 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
(A) For all uses established or placed into operation after the effective date hereof, there shall be constructed, provided, preserved and maintained the amount of off-street parking space hereinafter set forth.
(B) Whenever the intensity of use of any structure or premises shall be increased through the addition of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, additional employment or other unit of measurement, such additional parking as required herein to provide for the expanded use shall be provided.
(C) Parking in existence on the effective date hereof or that was provided voluntarily after the effective date, shall not hereafter be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not further be reduced below, the requirements of this chapter for a new use.
(D) No vehicle shall be parked in any front yard except upon a regularly constructed driveway.
(E) Prior to the issuance of a building or grading permit for a parking area, a site plan shall be submitted to the appropriate village authorities and other agencies for their consideration and recommendations. The site plan shall include, but not be limited to, the boundaries of the property, location of the adjacent houses, parking spaces, circulation patterns, drainage plan and construction plan for boundary walls and planting plan.
(F) All parking facilities shall have a bituminous or concrete surface except that outdoor storage areas and truck parking areas in any industrial district may have a stone or gravel surface if located in the rear yard.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.151 LOCATION.
Off-street parking space shall be located on the same lot as the use for which provided, except as otherwise specifically provided.
(A) In all residential districts, parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or lots with the building they are required to serve. The driveway shall not be wider than 40% of the width of the lot on which the driveway is located.
(B) In all commercial districts (except C-3, Central Business District):
(1) Parking facilities shall be located within 300 feet of the building they are required to serve;
(2) Parking facilities where permitted shall not be located within five feet of any property line except in the case of combined parking facilities; and
(3) No loading space or spaces shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless the space is completely enclosed by a building. No loading space shall be located within any area where parking is prohibited in this chapter.
(C) In the C-3, Central Business District, parking facilities shall be located within a reasonable distance of the building they are required to serve.
(D) In all industrial districts:
(1) Parking facilities shall be located within 600 feet of the building they are required to serve; and
(2) Parking facilities where permitted shall not be located within five feet of any property line except in the case of combined parking facilities.
(3) No loading space or spaces shall be closer than 50 feet to any property in a residential district unless the space is completely enclosed by a building. No loading space shall be located within any area where parking is prohibited in this chapter.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.152 LIGHTING.
To ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using any parking area, the following minimum lighting standards shall apply.
(A) For residential uses, lights shall be installed in all parking areas containing five or more parking spaces and shall be illuminated between dusk and dawn. For nonresidential uses, lights shall be installed in all parking areas containing five or more parking spaces and shall be illuminated between dusk and dawn whenever the premises are open for operation. OPEN FOR OPERATION shall be any time that a retail business is open for the sale of goods or services or a retail, office or industrial facility actually has employees working within or upon the premises, other than guards or watchpersons. Lights shall be not more than 15 feet in height in residential zoning districts, and not more than 30 feet in height in other zoning districts.
(B) Where lighted areas are required, lighting shall be provided as follows.
Minimum* | Maximum* | |
Residential zoning districts | 1.5 | 2.0 |
Commercial zoning districts | 2.0 | 5.0 |
Industrial zoning districts | 2.5 | 5.0 |
*Average-ground level foot-candles | ||
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.153 LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENTS.
(A) It is the purpose and intent of these regulations to provide adequate protection for contiguous property against the undesirable effects caused by the creation and operation of parking and loading areas, and to protect and preserve the appearance and character of the surrounding neighborhoods through the screening effects and aesthetic qualities of the landscaping.
(B) As such, all parking and loading areas, constructed after the date of this chapter, shall be properly screened and landscaped as hereinafter described.
(1) All yards and open spaces surrounding parking lots, access drives and streets shall be landscaped with trees and shrubs, and shall be maintained by the property owner.
(2) For parking lots adjacent to residentially zoned property, § 162.091, shall apply.
(3) All new landscaped areas shall be installed within six months after the occupancy or use of the building or premises. Dead plant materials shall be replaced in a timely fashion with living plant material and shall have the same quality and quantity of the initially approved landscaping.
(4) All landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy, neat, trimmed, clean and weed-free condition. Landscaped areas shall be covered with either grass and/or other types of ground cover located beneath and surrounding the trees and shrubs.
(5) Landscaped areas within and immediately adjacent to an off-street parking or loading area shall be protected from the encroachment of motor vehicles by placing, along the entire perimeter of the landscaped area, a six-inch concrete curb or other curbing material approved by the Village Engineer.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.154 OFF-STREET PARKING DIMENSIONS.
(A) The regulations of this section shall govern the dimensions of off-street parking facilities including those approved as planned unit developments and special uses.
(B) Except as otherwise provided for in this section, all uses except for single-family residential, shall comply with the following requirements.
(1) Standard dimensions.
(a) Subject to number one and two of this list, each parking space shall contain a rectangular area at least 19 feet long and nine feet wide.
(b) Lines demarcating parking spaces may be drawn at various angles in relation to curbs and aisles, so long as the parking spaces so created contain within them the rectangular area required by this section.
(2) Compact car provisions. In parking areas containing ten or more parking spaces, up to 20% of the parking spaces need contain a rectangular area of only seven and one-half feet in width by 15 feet in length. If the spaces are provided, they shall be conspicuously designated as reserved for small or compact cars only.
(3) Parallel parking. Wherever parking areas consist of spaces set aside for parallel parking, the dimensions of the parking spaces shall not be less than 22 feet by nine feet.
(4) Parking aisle widths. Parking aisle widths shall conform to the following table, which varies the width requirement according to the angle of parking:
Parking Angle | 0 | 30 | 45 | 60 | 90 |
One-way traffic (aisle width) | 13 feet | 11 feet | 13 feet | 18 feet | 24 feet |
Two-way traffic (aisle width) | 19 feet | 20 feet | 21 feet | 23 feet | 24 feet |
(5) Driveways. Driveways shall not be less than ten feet in width for one-way traffic and 18 feet in width for two-way traffic.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.155 SPACE REQUIRED.
At least the following numbers of usable off-street parking spaces, shall be provided; also adequate provision for ingress, egress and maneuvering shall be provided.
(A) Residential uses.
One-family dwellings and two-family dwellings | Two parking spaces for each dwelling unit |
Multiple-family dwelling | Two parking spaces for every dwelling unit |
Hotels, motels, inns and auto courts | One parking space for each guest or sleeping room or suite, plus one additional space for each employee |
Lodging, rooming and boarding houses | One parking space for each two lodging rooms, plus one space for the owner or manager |
(B) Commercial uses.
Automobile laundry | Stacking space shall be provided to accommodate waiting automobiles equal in number to five times the maximum capacity of the automobile laundry for each wash rack, plus one parking space for each two employees. Maximum capacity, in this instance, shall mean the greatest number of automobiles undergoing some phase of laundering at the same time |
Automobile service stations | Two parking spaces for each island of pumps and each service stall plus one parking space for each two employees |
Banks | One parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area. Drive-in establishments shall provide six stacking spaces per teller or customer service window |
Barber shop | Two parking spaces for each barber chair plus one per each employee |
Beauty parlor | One parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area |
Bowling alleys | Three parking spaces for each alley, plus additional spaces as may be required herein for affiliated users (bars, restaurants and the like) |
Furniture and appliance stores, household equipment or furniture repair shops | One parking space for each 600 square feet of floor area in excess of 1,000 square feet |
Motor vehicle sales and machinery sales | One parking space for each 800 square feet of floor area |
Restaurants or establishments dispensing food and/or beverages for consumption on the premises (not including drive-in establishments) | One parking space for each 100 square feet of floor area, or one space for each three seats, plus one parking space for each three employees, whichever is greater |
Restaurants (carry-out) | One parking space for each 50 square feet of floor area |
Restaurants (drive-in) and/or refreshment stand (where food and/or beverage is consumed in a vehicle) | One parking space for each 20 square feet of floor area, but not less than ten spaces |
Retail stores | One parking space for each 180 square feet of floor area |
Theaters (indoor) | One parking space for each four seats up to 400 seats, plus one for each six seats over 400 seats |
Theaters (outdoor) | Reservoir parking spaces at the entrance to the theater equal to 10% of the vehicle capacity of the theater |
Undertaking establishments, funeral parlors | Six parking spaces for each chapel or parlor, or one for each 50 square feet of floor area used for services, whichever is greater, plus one parking space for each funeral vehicle kept on the premises for each chapel or parlor |
(C) Office uses.
Business or professional offices | One parking space for each 250 square feet of floor area |
Medical or dental clinics | Two parking spaces for each office, examining room or treatment room, plus one for each employee |
(D) Industrial uses.
Manufacturing uses or any establishments engaged in production, processing, cleaning, servicing, testing or repair of materials, goods or products | One parking space for each employee on maximum shift, plus one parking space for each vehicle used in the conduct of the enterprise |
Truck terminals | One parking space for each two employees, plus one for each truck |
Warehouses and storage buildings | One parking space for each two employees, plus one space for each vehicle used in the conduct of the enterprise |
Wholesale establishments (but not including warehouses and storage buildings other than accessory) | One parking space for each 600 square feet of floor area in excess of 4,000 square feet; plus, one spot per employee per shift |
(E) Schools, institutions and places of assembly.
Athletic fields | 20 spaces for every diamond or athletic field or one space for every four seats, whichever is greater (one space equals two feet bench length) |
Auditoriums, gymnasiums, convention halls and all places of assembly | One parking space for each five seats or parking spaces equal to one-fifth the capacity of the facility in persons |
Churches | One parking space for each four seats in main auditorium |
Colleges, universities, trade schools | One parking space for each five students (based on the maximum number of students that the facility is designed to handle at any one time), plus one for each two employees |
Elementary school | Two parking spaces for each classroom. However, if a place of assembly is provided in the school and the parking spaces provided for the place of assembly is equal to or in excess of the requirement for the classrooms, the classroom requirement need not be provided |
Golf courses | Four spaces per hole plus one space for every two employees on the maximum shift |
Hospitals | One parking space for each two beds, plus one for each staff doctor or visiting doctor, plus one for each two employees |
Junior high and high school | One parking space for each eight students (based on the maximum number of students that the facility is designed to handle at any one time), plus one for each two employees |
Nursery school | One parking space for each employee |
Nursing home, convalescent home and similar type establishments | One parking space for each three beds, plus one for each two employees |
Library | One parking space for each 1,000 square feet of floor area, plus one parking space for each four employees |
Private clubs and lodges | Parking spaces equal to one-fifth the capacity of the facility in persons |
(F) Other uses. For uses not listed heretofore in this schedule of parking requirements, parking spaces shall be provided on the same basis as required for the most similar listed uses, or as determined by the Plan Commissioner.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.156 OFF-STREET LOADING.
(A) When required. Off-street loading space shall be required and maintained in connection with any building or part thereof, hereafter erected or altered which is to be occupied by uses requiring the receipt or distribution of materials or merchandise.
(B) Location. Off-street loading space shall be located on the same lot as the structure for which provided.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.157 DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE.
Every parcel of land hereafter used for off-street loading space shall be designed, developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:
(A) Shall be graded for proper drainage and provided with an all-weather surfacing maintained at all times in such a manner as to prevent the release of dust and to be free of dust, trash and debris;
(B) Off-street loading spaces that adjoin or are across the street from property zoned for any residential use, shall have a dense evergreen planting, fence, masonry wall or such other screening, as may be determined by the Plan Commission. The Plan Commission shall also determine the height, location and density of screening used to provide adequate protection to adjoining property;
(C) Shall be provided with entrances and exits not less than 12 feet or more than 35 feet in width and so located as to minimize traffic congestion;
(D) No portion of a vehicle shall project into a street or alley while being loaded or unloaded;
(E) Each off-street loading space shall be not less than ten feet in width, 25 feet in length, and 12
feet in height, exclusive of access drives. When more than three spaces are required, the spaces other than the first three shall be 12 feet in width, 65 feet in length, and 15 feet in height; and
(F) Off-street loading space may occupy all or any part of any required yard space, unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.158 AMOUNT OF SPACE REQUIRED.
At least the following amounts of off-street loading space shall be provided, plus an area or means adequate for maneuvering, ingress and egress:
Required Square Feet of Gross Floor Area | Number of Spaces |
Up to 20,000 square feet | One |
20,001 to 40,000 square feet | Two |
40,001 to 70,000 square feet | Three |
70,001 to 120,000 square feet | Four |
120,001 to 200,000 square feet | Five |
For each additional 100,000 square feet | One additional |
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)
§ 162.159 ALLEYS; POLICY GOVERNING ALLEYS.
(A) The regulations of this policy are intended to govern the use of alleys, whether complete or partially finished.
(B) The regulations set forth are designed to provide for the safety and method of development of alleys within the village.
(1) The village reserves the rights to dictate the uses on these alleys.
(2) Partially finished alleys without gravel are considered incomplete and shall not be used as a thoroughfare.
(3) The village will post signs as necessary to stop traffic on partially finished alleys.
(4) These alleys will be finished as the need arises and funds become available.
(5) Individuals desiring to extend or improve an alley shall fund an extension and or improvement on their own.
(6) A permit shall be required from the village along with the approval of the Street and Alley Commissioner to extend or improve any alley.
(Ord. 656, passed 7-2-2001)