(a)

Establish requirements for minimum off-street parking and loading areas in proportion to the need created by each use.

(b)

To reduce congestion in the streets and to ensure that uses and functions of public rights-of-way are not interrupted.

(c)

Establish certain maximum as well as minimum requirements for parking spaces to reduce development costs and ensure that excess impervious surfaces are not constructed, while providing for additional parking spaces additions when a demonstrated need exists.

(d)

To promote flexible approaches to the provision of off-street parking, including in some cases, as appropriate, use of on-street parking, shared parking arrangements, smaller spaces for compact cars, and unimproved overflow or spillover parking areas.

(e)

To encourage the provision of bicycle parking and park and ride facilities, where warranted.

(f)

To establish design and improvement specifications for the development of parking lots, access aisles, parking decks, and connections of parking lots and decks to public streets.

(g)

To ensure that parking areas will be compatible with abutting residential districts.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Except as set forth in division 9, this article shall apply to any new building constructed for new uses or conversions of existing, conforming buildings and for enlargements of existing structures. In addition, this Article shall apply to any development providing five or more off-street parking spaces. This article shall not be construed as to require additional parking spaces to be furnished for an existing building which is repaired, altered, maintained, or modernized where no significant structural alterations are made, and the size of the building is not increased; provided, however, that when the occupancy of any building is changed to another use, parking shall be provided to meet the requirements of this article for the new use.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

No existing facility used for off-street parking shall be reduced in capacity to less than the minimum required number of spaces, or altered in design or function to less than the minimum standards, unless specifically provided for in this article. Buildings, structures, and uses shall meet the following:

MINIMUM NUMBER OF OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES REQUIRED

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

(a)

Fractions. Where a fractional space results during the calculation of required parking, the required number of parking spaces shall be construed to be the next highest whole number.

(b)

Parking space requirement not specified. Where the parking requirement for a particular use is not described in this article, and where no similar use is listed, the Banks County Building Inspector shall determine the number of spaces to be provided based on requirements for similar uses, location of the proposed use, the number of employees on the largest shift, and the expected demand and traffic generated by the proposed use.

(c)

Required parking for multiple uses. When a building includes a combination of uses, the required number of parking spaces shall be the sum of the required parking for each use when the multiple uses operate simultaneously. For non-simultaneous use, the parking requirements for the use requiring the greater number of parking spaces will govern.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Off-site parking may be used in combination to meet minimum parking space requirements. A reduction of required off-street parking spaces on a given site may be permitted by the Banks County Building Inspector in cases where additional off-street, off-site, parking area of sufficient quantity and in conformity with this article compensates for the reduction, subject to the following:

(1)

The property is under one ownership, or a valid agreement exists between the two property owners for use of the parking area.

(2)

Off-site parking shall be located within 500 feet of the building or buildings in which it is leased to serve.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

The Banks County Building Inspector may authorize a reduction in the total number of required off-street parking spaces for two or more uses jointly providing parking facilities when their respective hours of need of maximum parking do not normally overlap, provided that the developer submits sufficient data to demonstrate that the hours of maximum demand for parking at the respective uses do not normally overlap.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

The Banks County Building Inspector may in individual cases administratively authorize a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces for projects that are directly served by public transit and for projects that provide bicycle parking, provided that it can be shown that such available alternative travel modes will reduce the overall need for parking on the site proportional to the requested reduction in parking spaces.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

The Banks County Building Inspector may in individual cases administratively authorize a reduction in the minimum number of parking spaces for projects that are directly served by on-street parking.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

To avoid excessive surpluses which increase development costs and impervious surfaces, parking shall not be provided in quantities greater than 25 percent above the required minimum; provided, however, the following:

(1)

The Banks County Building Inspector may allow parking at a rate in excess of 25 percent above the required number of spaces, on a case-by-case basis based upon the scale and impacts of the request for good cause shown. The applicant shall make said request in writing, which shall include documentation from an acceptable industry publication (e.g., Institute of Transportation Engineers, Urban Land Institute, American Planning Association, etc.) or by a study prepared by a traffic engineering firm that documents parking requirements.

(2)

The Banks County Building Inspector may allow a land area for parking that exceeds 25 percent above the required number of spaces to be designed and reserved for future parking use. In such a case, said reserved parking area shall not be developed except by written permission from the Banks County Building Inspector, upon demonstration by the applicant that existing parking spaces are occupied at a rate of 90 percent or higher for 25 percent or more of the regular business hours in which the business or use operates during a non-holiday week.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

(a)

Space size. An off-street parking space shall be a minimum of nine feet in width and 18 feet in length.

(b)

Compact parking. Compact auto parking spaces shall be not less than eight feet wide by 17 feet long and may be used in commercial parking uses when more than 20 parking spaces are required, provided the area is clearly marked and not more than 20 percent of the entire parking area is designated compact auto parking.

(c)

Ninety-degree angled parking. For a single row of 90-degree head-in parking, the minimum depth for a parking space plus the width of the aisle shall be 42 feet. For two rows of 90-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum depth for parking spaces plus the width of the aisle shall be 60 feet.

(d)

Forty-five-degree angled parking. For a single row of 45-degree head-in parking the minimum width of parking space plus aisle shall be 31 feet. For two rows of 45-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum width for parking space plus aisle shall be 50 feet.

(e)

Thirty-degree angled parking. For a single row of 30-degree head-in parking the minimum width for a parking space plus aisle shall be 29 feet. For two rows of 30-degree head-in parking using the same aisle, the minimum width for parking spaces plus aisle shall be 45 feet.

(f)

Parallel parking. A single row of parking spaces may be provided parallel to an aisle, provided they are at least 22 feet in length and eight feet in width.

(g)

Driveway direction. Driveways less than 20 feet in width, if provided, shall be marked and limited to traffic flow in one direction only.

(h)

Barrier curbing. For all parking areas abutting a public or private sidewalk or landscaped area, barrier curbing shall be installed two feet, six inches from the sidewalk or landscaped area to prevent vehicles from overhanging the sidewalk or landscaped area.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

On the same lot with every building, structure or part thereof, erected or occupied for manufacturing storage, warehouse, track freight terminal, department store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, dry cleaning plant, retail business or other uses similarly involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained adequate space for the standing, loading and unloading of such materials to avoid undue interference with public use of streets and alleys.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Unless otherwise approved by the Banks County Building Inspector, loading spaces shall be a minimum of 14 feet wide, 60 feet long, with 14 feet of height clearance. Said loading area shall be located to the rear of the building unless site design precludes a rear location, in which case loading shall be to the side of a building.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

One off-street loading space shall be provided for the first 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for light industrial use and one off-street loading space for the first 5,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for retail or other non-industrial use for which a loading space is required. One additional space shall be required for each additional 25,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for light industrial use and for each additional 10,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof for retail or other non-industrial use.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

All off-street parking and off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the structure or use, except as otherwise specifically permitted by this article.

(1)

Interference with rights-of-way prohibited. Parking space and loading area arrangements that require vehicles to back out into the public road right-of-way are prohibited except in village activity centers where speeds are low and the arrangement is approved by the county engineer. Entrances to off-street parking for single-family detached dwellings and manufactured homes onto a local street shall be exempt from this requirement.

(2)

Connections. The Banks County Building Inspector may require that parking areas and loading zones connect to other parcels.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Parking facilities and loading areas shall be operated and maintained in accordance with the following:

(1)

Parking and loading areas shall not be used for the sale, storage, repair or dismantling of any equipment, materials or supplies, except that upon application the Banks County Building Inspector may approve temporary structures and uses such as tent sales.

(2)

Parking and loading areas shall not be used to store vehicles for sale, except in cases where the property owner owns the vehicle(s), and provided auto sales is a permitted use in the district in which the property is located. This provision shall not apply to the placing of a "for sale" sign on or in one licensed vehicle, boat, or other vehicle at the same time located in a private residential driveway or front yard and which licensed vehicle, boat, or other vehicle is owned by an occupant of said private residence.

(3)

An attendant's shelter building which does not contain more than 50 square feet of gross floor area and which is set a distance of not less than 20 feet from any boundary of the parking lot may be permitted.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

All parking shall have access to a public street. All loading areas shall have access to a public street or alley. A parking lot pavement set back of ten feet from any public street right-of-way and five feet from any exterior property line shall be provided except where access points and interconnections to other parcels have been approved. (See division 8 for additional requirements.)

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Parking and loading areas shall be properly graded for drainage, and they shall be drained so as to prevent damage to abutting properties or public streets. Curbing shall be installed as required by the county engineer when considered necessary for drainage.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Parking and loading areas shall be surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, asphalt, or other dust-free surface; provided, however, that porous pavement parking spaces may be substituted for standard dust free pavements subject to the approval of the county engineer according to standards that may be adopted by the county engineer.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

All parking and loading spaces must be striped with paint lines, lines with curbstones, or otherwise permanently marked to designate the space.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Adequate lighting shall be provided if the facilities are to be used at night or if necessary for security purposes. All lighting facilities shall be so arranged to prevent the direct illumination of adjacent properties or public streets.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Signs essential to the proper functioning of the parking lot and loading areas shall be installed. Such signs shall not be illuminated, shall not exceed four feet in area, or nine feet in height.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

For all parking lots, a ten-foot wide strip of land along the entire front perimeter of the site located between the front property line and any vehicular use area shall be landscaped.

(1)

Any parking area exceeding 25 spaces in any district shall provide a minimum of 12.5 percent of the total parking area as landscaped islands. Landscape strips along the perimeter of a parking area as otherwise required by this article shall not count toward meeting this requirement.

(2)

Each landscaped area shall contain grass, shrubbery, trees, or other landscape material in any combination. Interior planting areas shall be located to most effectively relieve the monotony of large expanses of paving and contribute to orderly circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

(a)

Number required. Regulations and dimensions for handicapped parking spaces shall be per requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (Public Law 101-136) and the applicable building code adopted by Banks County. The required number of handicapped accessible spaces, which must be provided on site or as provided under section 1713, shall be as follows:

HANDICAPPED PARKING REQUIREMENTS

(b)

Locations. Accessible parking spaces serving a particular building shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible entrance. In parking facilities that do not serve a particular building, or buildings with multiple entrances, accessible parking shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel to an accessible pedestrian entrance of the parking facility.

(c)

Dimensions. Accessible parking spaces shall be at least eight feet wide. Parking access aisles shall be part of an accessible route to the building or facility entrance. Two accessible parking spaces may share a common access aisle.

(d)

Signs. Accessible parking spaces shall be designated as reserved by a sign showing the symbol of accessibility. Such signs shall be located so that they cannot be obscured by a vehicle parked in that space.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Stacking spaces shall be provided for any use having a drive-through facility or areas having drop-off and pickup areas in accordance with the following: Financial institutions with drive-through windows, restaurants with drive-through facilities, carwashes (automated or staffed facilities), drive-through photo finishing booths, and drive-through coffee sales facilities, and any other uses with drive-through facilities shall provide three stacking spaces for each window or drive-through service facility. Stacking spaces shall begin at the window or communication/mechanical device (e.g., order board) first encountered by the vehicle user. The following general standards shall apply to all stacking spaces and drive-through facilities:

(1)

Stacking spaces and lanes for drive-through stations shall not impede on- and off-site traffic movements, shall not cross or pass through off street parking areas, and shall not create a potentially unsafe condition where crossed by pedestrian access to a public entrance of a building.

(2)

Drive-through lanes shall be separated from off-street parking areas. Individual lanes shall be striped, marked or otherwise distinctly delineated.

(3)

All drive-through facilities shall be provided with a by-pass lane with a minimum width of ten feet.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

For those uses which cater to the parking of semi-tractor trailers, designated off-street parking spaces shall be required in proportion to the use as determined by the Banks County Building Inspector. All parking spaces designated for semi-tractor trailer parking shall be at least 14 feet in width and 60 feet in length.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

Access from public streets to all parking areas for any permanent or temporary uses, buildings and/or structures, regardless of the number of parking spaces provided, shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

Curb cuts or access breaks for service drives, entrances and exits on public streets shall not be located within 50 feet of the intersections of two curb lines, street pavement lines or such lines extended or any street intersection nor within 40 feet of another curb cut or access break.

(2)

Curb cuts shall be no greater than 40 feet in width and no closer than 20 feet to any property line, unless common use of driveways for an abutting lot is required or approved by the administrative officer.

(3)

No more than two curb cuts or access breaks shall be permitted for any lot or parcel with a frontage of 200 feet or less on any one street.

(4)

All commercial driveways, as defined by the Georgia Department of Transportation onto public streets, shall require a permit from the administrative officer. If a driveway permit is required by the Georgia Department of Transportation, then proof of said approval by the department of transportation shall be submitted to the administrative officer prior to the issuance of such local permit. When a building permit is required, said driveway permit may be issued as a part of the building permit.

(5)

Curb cuts for driveways that serve high intensity use districts shall not be permitted to pass through low intensity use districts or to access alleys that abut a low intensity use district.

(6)

Where the side of an accessed public street or alley does not contain curbing, such curbing or other method of approved access control shall be provided.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

No permit shall be issued for any parking facility until the plans and specifications, including required entrances, exits, and aisles, landscaping, screening, surface materials and drainage, have been submitted for review and are in compliance with this article. Plans and specifications shall include proper drainage and retention, surface materials, curbing and screening as required. All parking areas shall be clearly marked and dimensioned with handicapped and loading or other special (i.e., compact, porous material) spaces designated. Before any building permit is issued, the parking lot layout must be found by the Banks County Building Inspector to be in compliance with all requirements.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)

The parking requirements in article XVII shall not be applicable to shopping centers in existence in Banks County on the effective date of this article [May 10, 2005] and shall not apply to the expansion of shopping centers in existence in Banks County on the effective date of this article.

(Ord. No. 2005-13, § 1(Exh. A), 5-10-2005)