At the time of erection of a new structure or at the time of enlargement or change in use of an existing structure within any district in the city a parking lot permit is required and off-street parking spaces shall be as provided in this section unless greater requirements are otherwise established. If parking space has been provided in connection with an existing use or is added to an existing use, the parking space shall not be eliminated if elimination would result in less space than is required hereby. Where square feet are specified, the area measured shall be the floor area primary to the functioning of the particular use of property and shall exclude: stairwells; elevator shafts; hallways; ornamental balconies; space occupied by heating, air conditioning or other utility equipment; and space devoted to off-street parking or loading. The number of employees of a new or expanding business shall be estimated in a manner approved by the Board of Adjustment and the number of employees of an established business shall be determined from an examination of the payroll. The C-2 District shall be exempt from the parking requirements of this chapter.

 

(2005 Code, § 11-401)

   (A)   Passengers. A driveway designed for continuous forward flow of passenger vehicles for the purpose of loading and unloading children shall be located on the site of any school having a capacity greater than 25 students.

   (B)   Merchandise, materials or supplies. Buildings or structures to be built or substantially altered which receive and distribute material or merchandise by truck shall provide and maintain off-street loading berths in sufficient numbers and size to adequately handle the needs of the particular use. If loading space has been provided in connection with an existing use or is added to an existing use, the loading space shall not be eliminated if elimination would result in less space than is required to adequately handle the needs of the particular use. Off-street parking areas used to fulfill the requirements of this chapter shall not be used for loading and unloading operations, except during periods of the day when not required to take care of parking needs.

(2005 Code, § 11-402)

   (A)   The provision and maintenance of off-street parking and loading spaces is a continuing obligation of the property owner. No building or other permit shall be issued until plans are presented that show property that is and will remain available for exclusive use as off-street parking and loading space. The subsequent use of property for which the building permit is issued shall be conditional upon the unqualified continuance and availability of the amount of parking and loading space required by this chapter. Use of property in violation hereof shall be a violation of this chapter. Should the owner or occupant of any lot or building change the use to which the lot or building is put, thereby increasing off-street parking or loading requirements, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter to begin or maintain such altered use until such time as the increased off-street parking or loading requirements are complied with.

   (B)   Requirements for types of buildings and uses not specifically listed herein shall be determined by the Board of Adjustment, after a report and recommendation from the Planning Commission, based upon the requirements of comparable uses listed.

   (C)   In the event several uses occupy a single structure or parcel of land, the total requirements for off-street parking shall be the sum of the requirements of the several uses computed separately.

   (D)   Owners of two or more uses, structures, or parcels of land may agree to utilize jointly the same parking and loading spaces when the hours of operation do not overlap; provided that, satisfactory legal evidence is presented to the Building Inspector in the form of deeds, leases or contracts to establish the joint use.

   (E)   Off-street parking spaces for dwellings shall be located on the same lot with the dwelling. Other required parking spaces shall be located not farther than 300 feet from the building or use they are required to serve, measured in a straight line from the building.

   (F)   Required parking spaces shall be available for the parking of operable passenger automobiles of residents, customers, patrons and employees only, and shall not be used for storage of vehicles or materials or for the parking of trucks used in conducting the business or use.

   (G)   Unless otherwise provided, required parking and loading spaces shall not be located in a required front yard, but may be located within a required side or rear yard.

   (H)   A plan, drawn to scale, indicating how the off-street parking and loading requirements are to be fulfilled shall accompany an application for a building permit. The plan shall show all elements necessary to indicate that the requirement is being fulfilled, including the following:

      (1)   Delineation of individual parking and loading spaces;

      (2)   Circulation area necessary to serve spaces;

      (3)   Access to streets and property to be served;

      (4)   Curb cuts;

      (5)   Dimensions, continuity, and substance of screening;

      (6)   Grading, drainage, surfacing and subgrading details;

      (7)   Delineation of obstacles to parking and circulation in finished parking area;

      (8)   Specifications as to signs and bumper guards; and

      (9)   Other pertinent details.

   (I)   (1)   Areas used for standing and maneuvering of vehicles shall have durable and dustless surfaces maintained adequately for all weather use and so drained as to avoid flow of water across sidewalks.

      (2)   Except for parking to serve residential uses, parking and loading areas adjacent to or within residential districts or adjacent to residential uses shall be designed to minimize disturbance of residents by the erection between the uses of a sight-obscuring fence of not less than five feet, nor more than six feet, in height, except where vision clearance is required.

      (3)   Parking spaces along the outer boundaries of a parking lot shall be contained by a curb at least four inches high and set back a minimum of four feet from the property line or by a bumper rail.

      (4)   Artificial lighting which may be provided shall be so deflected as not to shine or create glare in any residential district or on any adjacent dwelling.

      (5)   Access aisles shall be of sufficient width for all vehicles turning and maneuvering.

      (6)   Except for dwellings, parking spaces shall be so located and served by a driveway that their use will require no backing movements or other maneuvering within a street right-of-way other than an alley.

      (7)   Service drives to off-street parking areas shall be designed and constructed to facilitate the flow of traffic, provide maximum safety of traffic access and egress and maximum safety for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the site. The number of service drives shall be limited to the minimum that will allow the property to accommodate the traffic to be anticipated. Service drives shall not be more than 36 feet in width and shall be clearly and permanently marked and defined through use of rails, fences, walls or other barriers or markers on frontage nor occupied by services drives. Service drives on the same lot frontage shall be separated by a minimum length of curb of 30 feet; provided that, for every foot by which the lot frontage exceeds 100 feet the minimum required length of curb shall be increased by one foot, up to a maximum requirement of 200 feet. In the case of a corner lot, service drives shall be located not closer than 30 feet to the intersecting street line. Service drives shall be located not closer than ten feet to a side lot line; except that, a common service drive to two adjacent properties with width not exceeding 36 feet may be provided at the common line.

      (8)   Service drives shall have a minimum vision clearance area formed by the intersection of the driveway centerline, the street right-of-way line and a straight line joining said lines through points 30 feet from their intersection.

   (J)   Required parking spaces shall be improved as required and made available for use before the final inspection is completed by the Building Inspector. An extension of time may be granted by the Building Inspector providing a performance bond, or its equivalent, is posted equaling the cost to complete the improvements as estimated by the Building Inspector; provided, the parking space is not required for immediate use. In the event the improvements are not completed within one year’s time, the bond or its equivalent shall be forfeited and the improvements thenceforth constructed under the direction of the city.

(2005 Code, § 11-403) (Ord. 2342, passed 11-15-2011)