The purpose of this article is to provide in all districts at the time of erection, enlargement or change in use of any principal building or structure, automobile off-street parking space with adequate access to all spaces. Off-street parking spaces, in conjunction with all land or building uses, shall be provided prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy as hereinafter prescribed.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

The off-street parking facilities required for one- and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot ground as the building they are intended to serve, and shall consist of a parking strip, parking apron, and/or garage.

(b)

The off-street parking facilities required for all other uses shall be located on the lot or within 500 feet of the permitted uses requiring such off-street parking, such distance to be measured along line of public access to the property between the nearest point of the parking facility to the building to be served.

(c)

Any area once designated as required off-street parking shall not be changed to any other use unless and until equal facilities meeting the standards of this section are provided elsewhere, or the parking requirements of the site change.

(d)

The use of required parking areas for the storage of material, refuse dumpsters, or display of vehicles and/or merchandise, or for vehicle or machinery repair or maintenance is expressly prohibited. The use of semitrailers for storage purposes on the premises for five or more consecutive days is prohibited.

(e)

Two or more buildings or uses may collectively provide the required off-street parking, in which case the required number of parking spaces for the uses calculated individually may be reduced by up to ten percent if a signed agreement is provided by the property owners, and the planning commission determines that the peak usage will occur at different periods of the day and there is potential for a parker to visit two or more uses.

(f)

Where two or more uses are present on the premises, parking requirements shall be calculated for each use, unless specifically provided otherwise herein.

(g)

Parking lot deferment. Where the property owner can demonstrate that the required amount of parking is excessive, the planning commission may approve a smaller parking area, provided that area of sufficient size to meet the parking space requirements of this article is retained as open space, and the owner agrees to construct the additional parking at the direction of the planning commission based on observed usage within six months of being informed of such request in writing by the building department. The site plan shall note the area where parking is being deferred, including dimensions and dotted parking lot layout.

(h)

During construction, off-street parking shall be provided on site for all construction vehicles and employees.

(i)

Carports and garages or multiple-family dwellings shall be calculated as parking spaces on a one to one basis. Carports and garages in multiple-family dwelling developments shall have a maximum height of 14 feet, measured from the grade to the peak of the structure. Carports shall be enclosed or obscured at least 25 percent along all sides visible from public streets, residential districts or vehicular drives within the site.

(j)

For uses not specifically listed, the requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be in accordance with a similar use or based on documentation regarding the specific parking needs for the particular use, as determined by the planning commission.

(k)

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to park or store any motor vehicle on any private property, without the expressed or implied consent, authorization, or ratification of the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent, or trustee of such property. Complaint for the violation of this section shall be made by the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent or trustee of such property.

(l)

Nonresidential uses are eligible for a ten percent reduction in required parking spaces if all spaces are located to the side or rear of the principle building.

(m)

Parking space reduction. During the site plan review procedure, a property owner may request a reduction of parking space requirements by up to 50 percent where the property owner can demonstrate, using trip generation rates recognized by the Institute of Transportation Engineers or a similar resource from a recognized professional organization in a related field, that the numerical requirements are excessive.

(1)

A parking space reduction may include a shared parking arrangement as defined in section 14.3-246 and section 14.2-36.

(2)

At the time of site plan submittal, the property owner must request a reduction, consistent with this subsection, or a deferment consistent with subsection (g) above from the planning commission. Both a deferment and a reduction shall not be granted for the same site.

(n)

During site plan review, a property owner may reduce the required number of parking spaces by replacing them with bicycle parking at a rate of one parking space per ten bicycle parking spaces. The reduction is limited to five percent of the required number of parking spaces or one space, whichever is greater. To qualify for the reduction, the bicycle parking spaces must comply with the following:

(1)

Spaces shall provide for secure storage of bicycles either for short-term parking with bike racks, or long-term storage through bike lockers or similar facilities. Bicycle racks shall be mounted to the ground and constructed from stainless steel, steel, plastic, or similar building materials. The style, materials, and installation of bicycle parking facilities shall be detailed in the site plan.

(2)

Bicycle parking facilities may be located in the parking lot or other clearly designated, well-lit, safe, and convenient location. If the facility is located in the parking lot of the property, precautions including barriers and setbacks from automobile parking spaces shall be taken to protect bicyclists and their bicycles.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

Where floor area is the unit for determining the required number of off-street parking and loading spaces, said unit shall mean the gross floor area (GFA), unless otherwise noted.

(b)

Where the floor area measurement is specified as gross leasable floor area (GLA), parking requirements shall apply to all internal building areas excluding the floor area used for incidental service, storage, mechanical equipment rooms, heating/cooling systems and similar uses, and other areas nor intended for use by the general public. Where these areas are not yet defined, leasable floor area shall be considered to be 85 percent of the gross floor area.

(c)

In calculating bench seating for places of assembly, each 24 inches of benches, pews or other such seating, shall be counted as one seat.

(d)

Where the number of spaces required is based on the number of employees, calculations shall be based upon the maximum number of employees likely to be on the premises during the peak shift.

(e)

When units of measurements determining the number of required parking or loading spaces result in a fractional space, any fraction shall be counted as one additional space.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

The minimum number of off-street parking spaces shall be determined by the type of use in accordance with the following schedule. For uses not specifically listed in this section, the required parking shall be in accordance with that of a similar use as determined by the building department, or determined by the planning commission based on documentation regarding the specific parking needs of the use. For uses with two or more activities, minimum parking shall be calculated separately and combined, unless noted specifically listed in this section or the additional uses are defined as "accessory uses" by the building department.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

Barrier free parking space requirements shall be in accordance with the state department of labor and economic growth, construction code commission, barrier free design division.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

Separate outdoor stacking spaces, which will not conflict with traffic accessing the use, shall be 15 feet in length and shall be provided for the following uses:

(b)

Stacking spaces which block access to parking spaces shall not be included in calculating the required number of spaces.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

On-premises space for standing, loading and unloading vehicles shall be provided for each use involving the receipt or distribution of goods.

(1)

The size of the loading area shall be sufficient to prevent undue interference with adjacent required parking spaces, maneuvering aisles, or traffic flow on public streets.

(2)

Where an alley exists at the rear of the building, the required loading area may be computed from the centerline of the alley.

(3)

Loading/unloading areas and docks shall not be provided in the front yard or on any building side facing and directly visible to a public street.

(4)

Loading docks and loading areas facing a residential district shall be adequately screened by a wall and/or landscaping.

(5)

Required loading areas shall not be included in calculations for off-street parking space requirements.

(6)

The size of all required loading/unloading spaces shall be at least ten feet by 50 feet or 500 square feet in area, with a clearance of at least 14 feet in height.

(7)

Loading dock approaches shall be constructed of an asphalt or Portland cement binder with a base sufficient to accommodate expected vehicle weight.

(8)

The minimum number of loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following schedule:

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

The construction of any parking lot shall be in accordance with the requirements of the state construction code and the provisions of this chapter and such construction shall be completed and approved by the building department before actual use of the property as a parking lot. Plans for the development of any parking lot must be submitted to the building department, prepared at a scale of not less than 50 feet equals one inch and indicating existing and proposed grades, drainage, water mains and sewers, surfacing and base materials to be used and the layout of the proposed parking lot. The plans are to be prepared in a presentable form by person or persons competent in such work.

(b)

All such parking lots shall be hard-surfaced with a pavement having an asphalt or concrete binder, and shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of surface water which might accumulate within or upon such area. No surface water from such parking area shall be permitted to drain onto adjoining private property.

(c)

All illumination for or on such parking lots shall be deflected away from adjacent residential areas and shall be installed in such manner as to allow the reduction of the amount of light in other than normal parking hours each day. The source of illumination in all parking lots abutting a residential area shall not be more than 20 feet above the parking lot surface.

(d)

Required parking lots shall be installed and completed within six months of receipt of a building permit and before issuance of an occupancy permit. The building department may grant a single extension for an additional six months in the event of adverse weather conditions or unusual delays beyond the control of the property owner.

(e)

The visibility of pavement markings delineating parking spaces and directional control shall be maintained.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

(a)

Where required, off-street parking facilities for uses other than singe family and duplex residences shall be designed, constructed and maintained according to the following standards and regulations:

(1)

Adequate ingress and egress to the parking facility shall be provided by clearly defined driveways. All driveways and parking lots shall have a concrete or asphalt surface. Off-street parking areas shall be drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulated in the parking area in such a way as to preclude drainage of water onto adjacent property or toward buildings.

(2)

All spaces shall be provided adequate access by means of maneuvering lanes. Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited.

(3)

All parking lot or display lighting shall be designed, located and/or shielded to prevent spillover onto adjacent properties, and shall be arranged to prohibit adverse effect on motorist visibility on adjacent public roadways. The maximum height of parking lot light fixtures shall be 20 feet for any lot within 150 feet of a residential district, and a maximum height of 40 feet in all other parking lots.

(4)

Curbing or bumper blocks shall be provided where parking spaces abut landscaping, property lines, sidewalks or required setback areas.

(5)

Parking lots shall be designed to prevent vehicles from backing into the access roads.

(6)

Parking lots shall be prohibited in the required front yard setback.

(7)

Required parking lot setback areas shall be landscaped according to the standards of article 5.

(8)

Dimensions of parking spaces and maneuvering aisles shall be in accordance with the following requirements:

(b)

Minor adjustments of the dimensions prescribed in this section may be authorized by the building department if consistent with generally recognized design standards for off-street parking facilities.

(c)

Parking lots are permitted to be built with permeable pavement or other built features that that improve the infiltration of stormwater into the substrate beneath the parking surface. However, any parking lots built with these specifications shall be consistent with chapter 5, buildings and building regulations, of this Code, and all other applicable standards.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)

Any continuous off-street parking area containing 100 or more parking spaces shall be constructed in conformance with the following provisions:

(1)

In off-street parking areas containing 100 or more parking spaces, an area equal to at least five percent of the total parking area shall be used for interior landscaping. Whenever possible, parking lot landscaping shall be arranged to improve the safety of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, guide traffic movement, and improve the appearance of the parking area, through the even distribution of the landscape effort across the total off-street parking area, rather than to concentrate all effort in one location.

(2)

Parking lot landscaping shall be not less than five feet in any single dimension and not less than 150 square feet in any single island area. Not more than two landscaped units of 150 square feet may be combined in plans designed to meet the minimum requirements.

(3)

The landscape plan shall designate the sizes, quantities, and types of plant material to be used in parking lot landscaping.

(4)

Required landscaping elsewhere on the parcel shall not be counted in meeting the parking lot landscaping requirements.

(5)

A minimum of one deciduous tree shall be planted in each landscaped area.

(6)

The number of parking spaces may be reduced by five percent if the property owner dedicates the same proportion of the spaces' land area to the development of bioretention areas or bioswales. Such a change shall be indicated on the property's site plan. Any proposed bioswale or bioretention area shall use native plant species and shall connect to the nearest stormwater inlet based on the most direct path that captured water will flow through.

(Ord. of 7-18-2022)