The intent of this article is to provide vehicle parking space for a developed site that is adequate to serve the demand generated by the proposed use, while avoiding excessive impervious area. This article will serve to protect valuable natural, historic, and scenic resources within Fluvanna County; to provide safe and convenient internal and external movement of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians; to provide adequate fire and police protection and stormwater control; and otherwise to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Fluvanna County.

(Ord. 8-1-12)

(A)

There shall be provided at the time of erection of any building or at the time any main building is enlarged, or at the time of a change in use of a building or site, off-street parking and loading spaces as set forth in this section. No person, firm, or corporation shall build and occupy any structure or initiate the new use of any land without providing the off-street parking and loading spaces as set forth in this section. Parking requirements shall not automatically be considered sufficient for any other use of the property. When there is a change in use of the property, additional parking spaces may be required if necessary to meet the standards established by this section.

(B)

Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be maintained in a clean, litter-free, serviceable, and orderly condition, and shall continue as long as the main use of the site is continued. No owner or operator of any structure affected by this section shall discontinue, change, or dispense with the required parking and loading areas without prior approval by the Zoning Administrator.

(C)

No non-residential off-street parking space or loading space shall be used for the sale, repair, dismantling or servicing of any vehicle, equipment, materials, or supplies, or obstructed in any fashion.

(D)

When a use that is non-conforming as to the required off-street parking and loading space is enlarged, additional off-street parking and loading space shall be required only on the basis of the enlargement.

(E)

No Certificate of Occupancy for a new or changed use shall be granted unless the requirements of this section are met.

(Ord. 8-1-12)

(A)

The off-street parking facilities required by this section shall generally be located on the same lot or parcel of land that they are intended to serve.

(B)

When consistent with the intent of this article, the Zoning Administrator may approve off-street parking on property that is located within six hundred feet (600') of the development site. Before such approval is granted, a written agreement assuring the retention of property for parking use shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties, approved as to form by the County Attorney, recorded with the County Clerk, and filed with the Zoning Administrator.

(C)

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the joint use of off-street parking between two (2) or more buildings or developments, or uses by two (2) or more owners or operators. In that case, the total number of parking spaces when combined or used together shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the several individual uses computed separately, unless it can be demonstrated that by the nature of the several uses, the parking spaces will be in use at substantially different times of day. Before such approval is granted, a written agreement assuring the retention of property for parking use shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties, approved as to form by the County Attorney, recorded with the County Clerk, and filed with the Zoning Administrator.

(D)

Where a parking lot is owned by Fluvanna County or another public body, and its spaces are open for use by the general public, said spaces may be used to meet the on-site parking requirement, provided that said parking lot is within six hundred feet (600') of the development site.

(E)

With the approval of the Zoning Administrator, on-street parking spaces located within one hundred fifty feet (150') of the designated use may count towards the minimum off-street parking requirements. On-street parking spaces may be located on any private street or, with the approval of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), any public street. Each off-street parking space shall be on a paved area abutting the travelway.

(F)

To the greatest extent possible, parking areas shall not be located between the adjacent public right-of-way and the principal structure(s) on the site.

(Ord. 8-1-12)

(A)

Parking dimensional standards.

(1)

Parking spaces and adjacent aisles shall conform to the dimensions listed in Table 1:

(2)

The minimum stall depth requirements for perpendicular parking spaces may be reduced by up to two feet (2'), if the parking spaces are adjacent to planting strips or other landscaping features that allow for an unobstructed overhang equivalent to the reduction.

(3)

Parking areas containing thirty (30) or more spaces may designate up to twenty percent (20%) of the minimum required parking spaces as compact car spaces. Such spaces shall meet the following requirements:

(a)

All compact parking spaces shall conform to the dimensions listed in Table 1.

(b)

Compact car parking spaces shall be located in one (1) or more continuous areas and shall not be intermixed with spaces designed for full-size vehicles.

(c)

Compact car parking spaces shall be clearly designated by pavement markings and/or appropriate signage.

(4)

Vehicular access roads, when not adjacent to parking spaces, shall meet the following requirements:

(a)

The minimum travelway width for two-way access roads shall be twenty-four feet (24').

(b)

One-way access roads are permitted, provided that the circulation pattern is contained within the site or sites shown on the site plan and public roadways are not incorporated as part of the circulation pattern. The minimum travelway for one-way access roads shall be twelve feet (12').

(B)

Handicapped parking.

(1)

Handicapped parking spaces shall have a minimum width of eight feet (8'), with an adjacent five foot (5') access aisle to be provided on one side of the handicapped space.

(2)

Handicapped parking spaces shall have a minimum length of eighteen feet (18').

(3)

In any parking lot of more than five (5) spaces, there shall be at least two (2) designated and properly signed as a handicapped spaces.

(4)

In parking lots having more than five (5) spaces, at least one (1) per twenty-five (25) spaces shall be handicapped spaces in addition to the two (2) handicapped spaces already provided in 22-26-4(B)3.

(5)

Handicapped parking spaces shall be situated so as to provide direct, unobstructed access to buildings by the shortest practical routing.

(C)

Screening.

(1)

Parking lots consisting of five (5) or more spaces shall be screened from view of public roads, rights-of-way, and adjacent property, as specified in Article 24:* Landscaping and Tree Protection, of this ordinance.

(D)

Landscaping.

(1)

Parking lots consisting of five (5) or more spaces are required to be landscaped, as specified in Article 24:* Landscaping and Tree Protection of this ordinance.

*Editor's note—Conformed to numbering convention of this Code by editor. Appears as "Article 22-24" in the original.

(E)

Lighting.

(1)

Parking lots consisting of five (5) or more spaces are required to have outdoor lighting meeting County requirements, as specified in Article 25: Outdoor Light Control† of this ordinance.

†Editor's note—Conformed to numbering and title convention of this Code by editor. Appears as "Article 22-25 Outdoor Lighting Control" in the original.

(F)

Design objectives.

(1)

Parking areas and vehicular circulation areas shall be designed to achieve the following objectives:

(a)

To minimize on-site and off-site traffic hazards in order to provide safe and convenient access to the traveling public and to pedestrians,

(b)

To reduce or prevent congestion on public streets,

(c)

To facilitate unimpeded flow of on-site traffic in circulation patterns readily recognizable and predictable to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians,

(d)

To facilitate the provision of emergency services,

(e)

To minimize the negative impacts of stormwater runoff on local water quality, and

(f)

To minimize the disturbance of existing vegetation.

(G)

Signage.

(1)

Parking lots of five (5) or more vehicles are required to have signage, as specified in Article 15‡, Sign Regulations, of this ordinance.

‡Editor's note—Conformed to numbering convention of this Code by editor. Appears as "Article 22-15" in the original.

(H)

Interconnectivity.

(1)

When possible, parking facilities shall be designed to connect with other parking facilities on adjacent parcels, eliminating the need to use abutting streets for cross-movements.

(2)

Pedestrian facilities required by this section shall connect with existing sidewalks within or adjacent to the site, if topography and other environmental conditions allow.

(I)

Intersections.

(1)

Intersections of vehicular access aisles and public streets shall have an approach angle not exceeding four percent (4%) for a distance of not less than forty feet (40') measured from the edge of the travelway of the public road intersected.

(2)

Entrances to parking areas from public or private roadways shall be designed and constructed in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards.

(3)

The centerline of any access point shall be set back from the street line of any intersecting street at least fifty feet (50') or one-half the lot frontage, whichever is greater, except that no required setback shall exceed two-hundred feet (200').

(4)

The centerlines of any separate access points shall be spaced at least seventy-five feet (75') apart.

(J)

Grades.

(1)

Grades of access aisles not abutting parking spaces shall not exceed ten percent (10%).

(2)

Grades of parking spaces, loading spaces, and access aisles abutting parking or loading spaces shall not exceed seven percent (7%) and cross slope grades shall not exceed four percent (4%).

(K)

Drainage.

(1)

All off-street parking and loading facilities shall be drained to eliminate standing water and prevent damage to abutting property and/or public streets and alleys.

(2)

The use of low-impact development (LID) techniques to control stormwater runoff generated by parking areas is encouraged. Examples of LID techniques include, but are not limited to, the use of permeable paving materials, rain gardens, bioswales, infiltration trenches, and tree box filters designed to capture stormwater and facilitate on-site infiltration.

(L)

Pedestrian facilities.

(1)

Sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, and other pedestrian facilities shall be provided within all parking facilities for five (5) or more vehicles.

(2)

Sidewalks shall be located and aligned to directly and continuously connect points of pedestrian origin and destination, and shall not be located and aligned solely based on the outline of a parking lot configuration that does not provide such direct pedestrian access. Connecting walkways shall link building entrances with existing sidewalks along adjacent streets and with existing or proposed sidewalks on adjacent parcels.

(3)

Sidewalks shall comply with the most recent Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) specifications.

(4)

Sidewalks and other pedestrian facilities shall be separated from off-street parking, on-street parking, and loading and service areas by curbing or other protective devices.

(5)

Where sidewalks associated with a parking area cross a public or private roadway, a crosswalk shall be clearly marked in accordance with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards. The use of remedial treatments, such as raised pedestrian crossings, forecourts and landings, special paving, signs, lights, and bollards, at pedestrian crossings is encouraged.

(6)

Sidewalks may be paved using hard-surfaced pervious paving materials, such as porous asphalt, porous concrete, or block pavers, as a method of stormwater management, provided that the use of such materials does not compromise the safety of pedestrians.

(M)

Stacking lanes.

(1)

Spaces for stacking of vehicles waiting for access to drive-through windows, automatic teller machines (ATMs), fuel pumps, car washes, and similar uses shall be required.

(2)

Stacking lanes shall be designed so as not to impede on-site or off-site traffic movements, or movements into and out of parking spaces.

(3)

Stacking lanes shall be separated from other interior drives or aisles by a raised or painted median, and shall be marked so as to be easily identified from a vehicle.

(4)

No stacking lane shall be placed between any point of access and parking spaces.

(5)

All stacking spaces shall be at least ten feet (10') wide and eighteen feet (18') long.

(6)

Spaces in stacking lanes are required as follows:

(a)

Convenience store, filling stations: three (3) spaces per drive-in window and one (1) space per fuel pump;

(b)

Financial institutions with drive-in windows, including ATMs accessible from a vehicle: four (4) spaces per first window or ATM and two (2) spaces per each additional window or ATM;

(c)

Drive-in restaurants: eight (8) spaces for the first window and two (2) spaces for each additional window;

(d)

Carwashes, automatic or drive-through: three (3) spaces per bay;

(e)

All other uses with drive-through windows: three (3) spaces per window.

(Ord. 8-1-12; Ord. 12-16-15)

(A)

All access aisles, parking, and loading facilities for five (5) or more vehicles shall be surfaced in accordance with intensity of usage and such improvement shall not be less than six (6) inches of Virginia Department of Transportation #21 or #21A aggregate base together with prime and double seal or equivalent. The use of hard-surfaced pervious paving materials, such as porous asphalt, porous concrete, or block pavers, is permitted as a method of stormwater management.

(1)

The foregoing notwithstanding, the required improvement may be reduced to three inches (3") of gravel in the following cases: (1) for parking for places of worship and other assembly uses where evidence is presented to the Zoning Administrator that these spaces will not be used regularly on a daily basis or more than three (3) times a week; (2) for areas of display or storage of vehicles, mobile homes, machinery or other inventory requiring motor vehicle access for placement; provided, in no case, shall grassed or unimproved areas be devoted to inventory storage; or (3) single or two family dwelling units and uses adjacent or within that unit such as a small home industry, bed and breakfast, home occupation, etc.

(2)

Grass pavers may be used, with the approval of the Zoning Administrator, where it is demonstrated that the vegetation will survive the amount of expected vehicular traffic.

(3)

All guardrails in parking and loading facilities shall meet VDOT specifications.

(4)

All parking and loading facilities shall be marked by painted lines, curbs, wheelstops, bumper blocks, or similar means to indicate individual spaces.

(Ord. 8-1-12)

(A)

All off-street loading spaces shall be provided on the same lot with the use to which they are appurtenant.

(B)

All off-street loading spaces shall have a minimum width of twelve feet (12'), a minimum clearance height of 14 ½ feet, and a depth sufficient to accommodate the largest delivery truck serving the establishment, but in no case less than twenty-five feet (25').

(C)

Off-street loading spaces shall be provided in addition to and exclusive of parking spaces on the basis of:

(1)

One (1) space for each eight thousand (8,000) square feet of retail space gross feasible area;

(2)

One (1) space for each eight thousand (8,000) square feet of office space;

(3)

One (1) space for each ten thousand (10,000) square feet of industrial area.

(Ord. 8-1-12)

(A)

The off-street parking and loading requirements are in addition to space for the storage of trucks or other vehicles used in connection with any use.

(B)

The off-street parking and loading requirements do not limit special requirements that may be imposed in the case of planned unit developments, conditional uses, or special exceptions.

(C)

Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces and loading spaces required shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.

(D)

No inoperable vehicle shall be parked or stored on a lot in any zoning district unless the vehicle is shielded or screened from view from all public roads and adjoining properties. "Shielded or screened from view" means completely precluding visibility of the subject vehicle by someone standing at ground level from outside of the property on which the subject vehicle is located by (i) placing the vehicle within a fully enclosed building or structure, (ii) placing the vehicle within an area completely enclosed either by a solid, rigid, opaque fence composed of standard fencing materials or by a landscaped arrangement of nondeciduous trees, sufficient in height, spacing, density and circumference to eliminate visibility of the vehicle, or (iii) covering the vehicle with a fitted vehicle cover.

(Ord. 8-1-12; Ord. of 01-22-2025(1), § 1)

(A)

The off-street parking requirements for various uses are stated on Table 2.

(B)

The off-street parking requirements for a use not specifically listed in Table 2* shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator based on the characteristics of the proposed uses, the number of residents or visitors, the minimum requirements for similar uses, and any other relevant characteristics. In making the determination, the Zoning Administrator may consider the recommendations of relevant parking studies as well as traffic generation figures, including information provided by the Institute of Traffic Engineers, peak parking demands, and other information.

*Editor's note—"Table 1" in original; clerical error corrected by editor.

(C)

The number of parking spaces in a parking area may not exceed the number of spaces required by this section by more than forty percent (40%) unless approved by the Planning Commission. To mitigate the environmental and visual impacts of additional impervious cover on the surrounding community, at least one (1) of the following features shall be incorporated into the design upon approval of the excess parking:

(1)

Additional spaces approved by the Planning Commission will be surfaced using pervious paving material, including, but not limited to, porous asphalt, porous concrete, or block pavers; or

(2)

For every two (2) additional spaces approved by the Planning Commission, one (1) tree and three (3) shrubs will be planted on-site, in addition to the requirements specified in Article 24, Landscaping and Tree Protection,† of this ordinance.

†Editor's note—Conformed to numbering and title convention of this Code by editor. Appears as "Article 22-24: Tree Protection" in the original.

(D)

A reduction in the number of required parking spaces may, at the written request of the applicant, be granted with the approval of the Zoning Administrator as follows:

(1)

A reduction in the number of required parking spaces may be granted in any one (1) of the following instances:

(a)

For projects that include fifty (50) or more parking spaces on-site and are located within a designated growth area, the minimum number of parking spaces may be reduced by up to five percent (5%) if the project is located within three-hundred feet (300') of a transit stop and is connected to the transit stop by a sidewalk.

(b)

For projects that include fifty (50) or more parking spaces on-site and are located within a designated growth area, the minimum number of required parking spaces may be reduced by one parking space for every one (1) bicycle space provided on a permanently-constructed bicycle rack, provided that the minimum parking required is not reduced by more than five percent (5%).

(c)

The minimum number of required parking spaces may be reduced by up to ten percent (10%), provided that one (1) tree and three (3) shrubs are planted for every two (2) spaces reduced, in addition to the requirements set forth in Article 24, Landscaping and Tree Protection,‡ of this ordinance.

‡Editor's note—Conformed to numbering and title convention of this Code by editor. Appears as "Article 22-24: Tree Protection" in the original.

(d)

The Zoning Administrator may allow the number of required spaces to be reduced up to ten percent (10%) for projects within a designated growth area that meet new urban/neo-traditional planning principles and further the goals set forth in the Comprehensive Plan. Factors that may be considered when allowing a reduction include the density of the surrounding community; the range of land uses located within convenient walking distance; accessibility to mass transit; and the provision of facilities for bicyclists.

(e)

The Zoning Administrator may allow the number of required spaces to be reduced up to twenty-five percent (25%), provided that a professionally-prepared parking study or similar documentation indicates that a reduction in the minimum parking requirements for a specific building or use would provide adequate parking facilities on-site.

(2)

A site may not receive credit for more than one (1) strategy listed above. The possible reductions in the number of required parking spaces are not cumulative.

(3)

When a reduction in the number of required parking spaces is permitted, the Zoning Administrator may, at his discretion, require the applicant to reserve space on-site that would accommodate the construction of additional parking in the future. The parking reserve area shall be designated on the site plan, and may not be converted to any other use without amendment of the site plan and the approval of the Zoning Administrator. The parking reserve area shall be sited to allow adequate pedestrian, bicycle, and automobile access, and shall be sized to accommodate a number of parking spaces equal to the amount of the parking reduction awarded. The intent of the parking reserve is to allow expansion of the parking area should the use or parking needs change.

(E)

The provisions of this article for the application of individual parking standards for Planned Unit Developments located within the Zion Crossroads Urban Development Area may be modified at the discretion of the Planning Commission, provided that the Applicant submits a parking impact study that fully justifies the modification of the standards based on the mix of uses, the phasing of development, and other factors, including relationship of parking location to individual land uses within the project.

(Ord. 8-1-12)