(a)

Off-street automobile parking and loading spaces shall be provided as specified in this article for uses and structures hereafter established in any map district at the time of initial construction of any principal building unless otherwise exempted from this article. For developments phased in, timing, parking and loading requirements may also be phased in accordance with the requirements applying for each particular time phase of development.

(b)

Any building or use that is subsequently enlarged or converted to another use shall meet the off-street parking and loading space requirements of this article for the enlarged or new use.

(c)

Required parking and loading spaces shall be maintained and shall not be encroached upon by refuse containers, signs, or other structures unless an equal number of spaces are provided elsewhere in conformance with this chapter.

(d)

Required parking and loading spaces shall be provided with vehicular access to a public street or alley unless such access is prohibited by this chapter.

(e)

Off-street parking and loading facilities required shall be located on the same lot as the principal building or use. Fifty percent of the required number of parking spaces may be located off site but within 400 feet of the principal building or use. Proof of ownership or a valid lease agreement for use of such premises shall be provided to the administrative officer. Such distance shall be measured between the nearest point of the parking facility and the nearest point of entry to the principal building or use.

(Ord. of 12-21-2020)

(a)

The minimum number of required off-street parking spaces for each type of permitted use shall be as indicated below:

(b)

For uses not specifically listed, the off-street parking requirements shall be those of the most similar use as determined by the planning and development director. When the application of these parking requirements results in a fractional space requirement, the fractional space requirement shall be construed to mean one additional space.

(c)

For uses not specifically mentioned in this section, such as open air gatherings and temporary structures, the parking requirement shall be the same as for the use which most closely approximates the proposed use as determined by the planning and development director.

(d)

Parking for structures or uses in AG and LI-R districts shall have a driveway or other area that provides for off-street parking for at least two vehicles.

(e)

Automobiles, trucks, and agricultural equipment shall not be parked on county rights-of-way.

(Ord. of 12-21-2020)

In all land use districts, each parking area devoted to uses other than one-, two- or three-family residential structures shall provide handicapped parking spaces complying with the accessibility requirements of the State of Georgia adopted accessibility code. Required accessible spaces shall be counted as a part of the total parking required in accordance with the following scale:

(Ord. of 12-21-2020)

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

Such loading and unloading space, unless otherwise adequately provided for, shall be an area 12 feet by 60 feet with 14-foot height clearance and shall be provided according to the following schedule.

For the above described uses, one loading space shall be provided for the first 25,000 square feet of gross floor area or fractional part thereof. Uses in excess of 25,000 square feet shall provide loading spaces according to the following schedule:

All plans for off-street loading areas shall be subject to the approval of the planning and development director.

(Ord. of 12-21-2020)

(a)

Improvement of parking lots. All parking areas containing more than five spaces shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

They shall be graded to ensure proper drainage, surfaced with concrete or asphalt and maintained in good condition free of obstructions.

(2)

Parking areas shall not be used for the sale, repair, dismantling or servicing of any vehicle, equipment, materials or supplies.

(3)

Each parking space shall be clearly marked and directional arrows or signs shall be provided wherever necessary. Markers, directional arrows and signs shall be properly maintained at all times.

(4)

A parking lot pavement setback 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. Concrete or other suitable curb stops shall be installed so as to prevent vehicle encroachment onto setback areas.

(5)

Not less than ten percent of the total area devoted to parking shall be landscaped open space.

(6)

Any lighting facilities installed shall be so arranged to prevent the direct illumination of adjacent residential properties or public streets.

(7)

A site plan indicating property lines, parking areas, location of parking spaces, pavement setbacks, drainage facilities, paving materials, access and other features required to ensure compliance with this chapter shall be submitted to the planning and development director. A permit shall be required prior to the construction of new parking areas or for the expansion or alteration of existing parking areas.

(Ord. of 12-21-2020)

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 planning and development director.

(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 planning and development director. 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 planning and development director 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)

All driveways shall comply with Chapter 20—Driveway Construction of the Habersham County Code. If there is a conflict between Chapter 20—Driveway Construction and this section, the more restrictive shall apply.

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. of 12-21-2020)