Hampstead City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXI
Off-Street Parking
[Amended 3-20-1989 by Ord. No. 218; 8-14-2001 by Ord. No. 347; 7-8-2008 by Ord. No. 448]
§ 135-201 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to establish standards ensuring the availability and safe use of off-street parking areas. It is intended that any use of land involving the arrival, departure, or temporary storage of motor vehicles, and all structures and uses requiring the delivery or shipment of goods as part of their function, be designed and operated to:
A.
Promote traffic safety by assuring adequate places for storing of motor vehicles off the street, and for their orderly access and egress to and from the public street;
B.
Prevent the creation of surplus parking;
C.
Reduce hazards to pedestrians and increase pedestrian access between and within sites;
D.
Reduce impervious surface areas and resultant stormwater runoff;
E.
Protect adjoining lots and the general public from nuisances and hazards such as:
(1)
Noise, glare of headlights, dust and fumes resulting from the operation of motor vehicles;
(2)
Glare and heat from parking lots; and
(3)
Lack of visual relief from expanses of paving.
F.
Promote shared parking opportunities where available;
G.
Protect the environment by promoting sustainable development.
§ 135-202 Definitions.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANGLED PARKING
Any parking space that is not parallel or perpendicular to the curb or aisle.
FREE STANDING RETAIL
Single retail sales facility of up to 20,000 square feet in size that is situated independently on a building lot and for which associated parking serves exclusively that facility.
GROSS FLOOR AREA
The total floor area of all floors of a building.
IMPERVIOUS SURFACE
A ground cover such as cement, asphalt, or packed clay or rock through which water cannot penetrate.
INDUSTRIAL PLANT
Structure or complex of structures used for manufacturing, assembling, fabricating, warehousing, and related activities.
LARGE-SCALE ("BIG BOX") RETAIL
Single retail sales facility that has greater than 20,000 square feet of gross floor area and is contained in a single building.
OFF-STREET PARKING
Parking spaces provided outside of the right-of-way of a street or highway.
ON-STREET PARKING
Parking spaces provided within the right-of-way of a street or highway.
PARKING AREA
That portion of a lot set aside, marked, posted, or intended for parking. This includes circulation areas, loading and unloading areas, parking spaces and aisles, landscaped areas, bikeways, and walkways.
PARKING STALL OR SPACE
A space in which a single car may be parked.
PERSONAL SERVICES
Establishments primarily engaged in providing services involving the care of a person or a person's personal goods or apparel. This category includes uses such as barber shops, beauty salons, shoe repair shops, and dry cleaners.
PERVIOUS SURFACE
Ground cover through which water can penetrate at a rate comparable to that of water through undisturbed soils.
SHARED PARKING
When parking spaces are shared among different structures or uses, or among mixed uses, and can include properties with different owners.
SIGHT DISTANCE
The distance visible to a driver from his/her position to other objects or vehicles, when at a point of turning or when stopping a vehicle.
TRAVEL LANE
The driving portion of the parking area. The parking aisle provides access to each space.
WALKWAY
Any path or way which is specifically designated primarily for pedestrian travel.
§ 135-203 Applicability.
No building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued for the erection of a new building, the enlargement or increase in the net floor area of an existing building, the development of a use not located in a building, or the change from one type of use to another, unless off-street parking spaces and loading bays are provided in accordance with this article.
§ 135-204 General requirements.
A.
All off-street parking and loading facilities required by this article for any use shall be maintained throughout the operation of that use.
B.
Within the Main Street Revitalization Area as defined by the Hampstead Main Street Revitalization Plan, the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be empowered to determine the off-street parking requirements of any permitted use. In making this determination, the Commission shall consider the nature of the use, the number of employees, the anticipated traffic and the availability of shared parking opportunities. Within the Main Street Revitalization Area, parking areas should be located to the side or rear of structures where practicable or in a location consistent with contiguous developed properties.
C.
Outside the Main Street Revitalization Area, on-street parking within public or private streets shall not be used to satisfy the off-street parking or overflow requirements prescribed by this article.
§ 135-205 Minimum required parking spaces.
A.
The minimum number of parking spaces required for uses not specifically listed below shall be the same as that required for the most similar specified use as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
B.
For the following uses of buildings hereafter erected or uses established, changed or enlarged after the effective date of this article shall be provided per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area unless otherwise indicated:
(1)
Bank: three spaces.
(2)
Large-scale ("big box") retail: five spaces.
(3)
Freestanding retail: four spaces.
(4)
General office building: four spaces.
(5)
Industrial plant: two spaces.
(6)
Medical office: eight spaces.
(7)
Nursing home: three spaces.
(8)
Restaurant: 10 spaces.
(9)
Planned business and shopping centers: five spaces.
(10)
Bed-and-breakfast: one space per room.
(11)
Personal services: four spaces.
(12)
Day-care centers: one space per four children at maximum capacity.
(13)
Churches and places of worship: one space per three seats.
(14)
Museums and libraries: three spaces.
(15)
Social organizations: four spaces.
(16)
Public and private schools: one space per three classroom seats.
(17)
Single- and two-family residences: three spaces per dwelling unit.
(18)
Townhomes: two and one-half parking spaces per dwelling unit.
[Amended 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. 550]
(19)
Condominiums and Apartments: two parking spaces per dwelling unit.
[Added 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. 550[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also renumbered former Subsection B(19) through (23) as Subsection B(20) through (24), respectively.
(20)
Automotive service garage: three spaces per repair bay.
(21)
Tavern: 15 spaces.
(22)
Funeral home: 10 spaces.
(23)
Planned business center: five spaces.
(24)
Wholesale warehouse or distribution: one space.
C.
In cases where it is a mixed-use property, the combined required number of parking spaces for each use must be met.
[Added 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. 550[2]]
[2]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection C as Subsection D.
D.
Where shared or cooperative parking opportunities exist within 300 feet of the principal use, the Planning and Zoning Commission may reduce the required number of parking spaces by up to 15%. Such approval may be subject to specific terms and conditions.
§ 135-206 Design standards.
In providing required parking facilities, the minimum standard shall be:
A.
Size. Each parking space shall be at nine feet wide by 20 feet long and rectangular in shape. The length may be reduced to 18 feet where the width of the parking space abuts a landscaped area to allow vehicle overhang.
B.
Markings. All parking spaces shall be delineated by appropriate fixed curbing, painted lines (a minimum of four inches wide), or other fixed markers. All off-street parking areas shall be arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe loading, unloading, parking and storage of vehicles. Individual parking spaces shall be clearly defined. Directional arrows and traffic signs shall be provided for safe and convenient traffic flow. Each space or area for the handicapped or other special parking shall be clearly marked to indicate the intended use, and shall be so located as to facilitate its use. All markings and traffic signs shall be maintained through the duration of the use.
C.
Surface. All parking lots should be constructed of concrete or asphalt and have concrete curbs on the perimeter. The Commission may approve paving blocks or a similar porous surface determined to be durable and dust-free by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Any such surface must allow for durable surface markings such as paint.
D.
Angle. The preferred parking angle is 90°. Angled parking (60° or 45°) is permitted when one-way circulation is required or on narrow lots that will not accommodate ninety-degree parking.
E.
Public rights-of-way. No parking space shall force vehicles to back into a public right-of-way.
F.
Ingress and egress. All parking spaces shall allow for reasonable and convenient ingress and egress. All required parking spaces shall be available and accessible at all times for vehicular parking purposes. With the exception of residential driveways, no parking spaces shall be located so as to require the moving of any vehicle on the premises in order to enter or leave any other space.
G.
Parking aisles. The parking aisle width shall be 15 feet for one-way traffic using angle parking or parallel parking. The parking aisle width shall be 25 feet for two-way traffic and for traffic using ninety-degree (perpendicular) parking. All circulation lanes, private roads and parking aisles shall have minimum turning radii of 20 feet. Parking aisles may not be obstructed except by emergency or public utility vehicles in the performance of official duties.
H.
Access road. An access road connecting roads and/or parking areas shall be 15 feet for one-way traffic and 20 feet for two-way traffic. Access roads may not be obstructed except by emergency or public utility vehicles in the performance of official duties.
I.
Parking area setbacks. Parking spaces, aisles and access drives which are generally parallel to abutting roads shall be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any public street right-of-way line.
J.
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed where required by Town or Carroll County Code or where required as a condition of approval. For those parking facilities where landscaping is not required, the developer is encouraged to install landscaping to improve the appearance of his premises and of the general neighborhood. Landscaping shall be perpetually maintained.
K.
Lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided for all parking facilities and access roads and the light source shall be shaded or shielded to direct the light, including glare or reflection, away from adjoining or facing properties premises and from public streets.
L.
Handicapped spaces. Parking spaces for the physically handicapped shall be provided in accordance with any applicable codes pertaining thereto.
M.
Pedestrian access. Parking lots shall be designed to allow pedestrians to safely move from their vehicles to the building. On small lots, this may be achieved by providing a sidewalk at the perimeter of the lot. On larger lots, corridors within the parking area should channel pedestrians from the car to the perimeter of the lot or to the building. These corridors may be delineated by a paving material which differs from that of vehicular areas and planted to provide shade. Small posts or bollards may be included.
N.
Non-parking uses. Off-street parking areas may not be used for non-parking activities. This includes but is not limited to the display, storage or sale of goods or the long-term (greater than 24 hours) storage of vehicles, including trailers.
O.
Calculations. When measurements of the number of required spaces result in fractions, the space requirements shall be rounded upward to the next highest whole number.
§ 135-207 Off-street loading.
In all districts, uses that involve deliveries, shipments or removal of goods, materials, supplies or waste by truck shall provide adequate off-street loading and unloading facilities. For every building having a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or more, to be used for manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display, retail store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital or other similar use, there shall be provided and maintained at least one off-street loading space, plus one additional loading space for each 20,000 square feet or major fraction thereof of gross floor area so used in excess of the first 10,000 square feet. Each loading space shall not be less than 12 feet in width, 45 feet in length and 14 feet in clear height. Such space may occupy all or any part of any required yard except a front yard. No such space shall be located closer than 30 feet to any lot located in any R district, unless the loading space is within a completely enclosed building.
§ 135-208 Off-street stacking and lanes for drive-through facilities.
All businesses which provide drive-through facilities for serving customers within their automobile shall provide adequate off-street stacking spaces and lanes which meet the following requirements.
A.
Each stacking space shall be computed on the basis of nine feet in width and 20 feet in length. Each stacking lane shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width.
B.
Clear identification and delineation between the drive-through facility and parking lot shall be provided. Drive-through facilities shall be designed in a manner which promotes pedestrian and vehicular safety.
C.
All drive-through facilities shall provide an escape lane which allows other vehicles to pass those waiting to be serviced.
D.
The number of stacking spaces per service lane shall be provided as follows:
(1)
Bank: three spaces.
(2)
Coffee or doughnut shop: six spaces.
(3)
Fast-food restaurant: eight spaces.
(4)
Pharmacy or drug store: four spaces.
(5)
Car wash (automatic): entry six spaces/exit two spaces.
(6)
Car wash (self service): entry three spaces/exit one space.
