There shall be provided in all districts at the time of erection or enlargement of any main building or structure, or the establishment of any use, automobile off-street parking space with adequate access to all spaces, in conjunction with all land or building uses (including the principal use and all auxiliary uses) prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, as hereinafter prescribed in this Ordinance.

(a)

Required parking for other than residential uses shall be on the same lot or within three hundred (300) feet of the building it is intended to serve, measured from the nearest point of the building to the nearest point of the off-street parking lot, without crossing any major thoroughfare. Ownership, easements, or other dedications for use as parking by the applicant must be shown when an application for a building permit or a certificate of occupancy is filed. The existence of on-street parking along frontages of the building (or along other frontages within three hundred (300) feet and in excess of other proximate buildings' parking requirements) may be counted toward commercial and/or residential parking requirements.

(b)

Residential off-street parking spaces shall consist of a parking strip, parking bay, driveway, garage, parking lot, on-street parking within three hundred (300) feet, or a combination thereof. Such spaces shall be located on the premises they are intended to serve, on-street, or according to other dedications, and in appropriate cases also shall be subject to the provisions of Section 15.13, Accessory buildings, of this Ordinance. Single and two-family residential off-street parking is exempt from regulations of this article governing a parking lot.

Front lawn areas, other than designated improved parking areas (even if nonconforming), shall not be utilized for off-street parking, except as permitted for recreational vehicles in accordance with Section 4.04, Recreational vehicle parking in residential areas, of this Ordinance. Parking on the front lawn areas may be permitted for special events, not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours, subject to the approval of the Chief of Police.

It shall be unlawful to park or store any motor vehicle on vacant private property without expressed written consent of the owner or occupant of said private property. Where parking is allowed on land other than on the same lot as the principal building being served, no repair or service of any kind or sale or display shall be conducted on land where the parking is located.

A commercial vehicle exceeding one (1) ton load capacity and not primarily intended for private passenger use may not be parked or stored outdoors in a residentially zoned or used area. Provided, however, this provision shall not apply to commercial vehicles temporarily parked (less than eight (8) hours) in a residential area in conjunction with maintenance or service to a residential property.

(c)

Any area once designated as required off-street parking shall never be changed to any other use unless and until equal facilities are provided in a location which meets all requirements of this Ordinance.

(d)

Off-street parking existing at the effective date of this Ordinance in connection with the operation of an existing building or use shall not be reduced to an amount less than hereinafter required for a similar new building or new use.

(e)

Where the owners of two (2) buildings, or uses, whose operating hours do not overlap desire to utilize common off-street parking facilities, application shall be made to the Planning Commission. The Board may grant approval of such dual function off-street parking facilities, subject to a finding that the following conditions have been met:

(1)

The office hours of the two (2) buildings, or uses, in no way overlap, except for custodial personnel.

(2)

The common parking lot meets the off-street parking requirements of the larger building or use plus fifteen (15) percent.

(3)

The common parking lot meets all location requirements of this Ordinance with respect to each building or use.

(f)

Required off-street parking space shall be for the use of occupants, employees, visitors, customers, clients and patrons. Under no circumstances shall it be rented, used for other than parking purposes, or allowed to become unusable (except for temporary repairs). The storage of vehicles or merchandise, sale of motor vehicles, or the repair of vehicles on any off-street parking space is prohibited.

(g)

For those uses not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be interpreted by the Building Inspector from requirements for uses similar in type.

(h)

For the purpose of computing the number of parking spaces required in commercial and industrial uses, the definition of "floor area, usable," in Article II, Definitions, shall govern.

(i)

When units or measurements determining the number of required parking spaces result in the requirement of fractional space, any fraction up to and fractions over one-half (½) require one (1) parking space.

(j)

Flexibility in application. The City recognizes that, due to the specific requirements of any given development, inflexible application of the parking standards set forth in Section 13.01 may result in development with inadequate parking or parking far in excess of that which is needed. The former situation may lead to traffic congestion or unauthorized parking on adjacent streets or neighboring sites. The latter situation may result in excessive paving and storm water runoff and a waste of space, which could be left as open space.

The Planning Commission may permit deviations from the requirements of Section 13.01 and may require more or allow less parking whenever it finds that such deviations are more likely to provide a sufficient number of parking spaces to accommodate the specific characteristics of the use in question.

The Planning Commission shall attach conditions to the approval of a deviation from the requirement of Section 13.01 that bind such approval to the specific use in question. Where a deviation results in a reduction of parking, the Planning Commission may further impose conditions which ensure that adequate reserve area is set aside for future parking, as needed.

(k)

Any new structure and/or use shall provide the minimum number of off-street parking spaces based upon the following schedule.

(l)

When required. Any new structure and/or use shall provide the minimum number of off-street parking spaces based upon the following schedule, unless waived by Planning Commission.

(1)

Exempt. Projects that involve re-occupying existing units within a plaza or strip mall do not need to meet the off-street parking requirements.

(Ord. 344, 6/18/1998; Ord. No. 2023-02, § 1.02(Exh. A), 3-16-2023; Ord. No. 2024-07, pt. 3, 8-14-2024)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2024-07, pt. 3, adopted Aug. 14, 2024, set out provisions adding subsection (n). For purposes of alphabetization, and at the editor's discretion, said provisions have been included as subsection (l).

(a)

Residential.

(b)

Institutional.

(c)

Commercial.

(d)

Offices.

(e)

Industrial.

(Ord. 340, 4/16/1998; Ord. No. 2023-04, pt. 5, 11-16-2023)

Wherever the off-street parking requirements in Section 13.01 above require the provision of an off-street parking facility, off-street parking lots shall be laid out, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards and regulations.

(a)

No parking lot shall be constructed unless and until a permit therefore is issued by the Building Inspector. Application for a permit shall be submitted to the Building Inspector in such form and number as he may determine.

(b)

Plans for the layout of off-street parking lots shall show a parking space width of nine (9) feet, and a total dimension acquiring two (2) tiers of parking spaces plus a maneuvering lane of at least one (1) of the following for the several patterns described:

(1)

A ninety-degree pattern. Total dimension of sixty (60) feet, with two (2) tiers of parking space plus one (1) maneuvering lane of at least twenty (20) feet in width. Such maneuvering lane shall permit two-way traffic.

(2)

A sixty-degree pattern (without overlap). Total dimension of fifty-eight (58) feet, with two (2) tiers of parking space plus one (1) maneuvering lane of at least fifteen (15) feet in width. Such maneuvering lane shall permit one-way traffic.

(3)

A forty-five-degree pattern (without overlap). Total dimension of fifty-two (52) feet, with two (2) tiers of parking space plus one (1) maneuvering lane of at least twelve (12) feet in width. Such maneuvering lane shall permit one-way traffic.

(4)

A zero-degree pattern (parallel parking). Total dimension of thirty-eight (38) feet, with two (2) tiers of parking space, plus one (1) maneuvering lane of at least twenty (20) feet in width. Such maneuvering lane shall permit two-way traffic. Each stall shall be twenty-six (26) feet in length and eight (8) feet in width.

All spaces shall be provided with direct access by means of maneuvering lanes. Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited. General engineering specifications for off-street parking lots shall be those of the Oakland County Road Commission.

(c)

Adequate ingress and egress to the parking lot by means of clearly limited and defined drives shall be provided for all vehicles. Ingress and egress to a parking lot lying in an area zoned for other than one-family residential use shall not under any circumstances be across land zoned for one-family residential use.

(d)

Each entrance and exit to and from any off-street parking lot located in an area zoned for other than one-family residential use shall be at least twenty (20) feet distant from any adjacent property located in any one-family residential district.

(e)

Off-street parking areas for all uses except one-family and two-family dwelling units, shall be provided with a continuous and obscuring wall separating it from abutting residential development (except as otherwise provided in Section 15.04(a), not less than six (6) feet in height measured from the surface of the parking area.

When a front yard setback is required, all land between said wall and the front property line or street right-of-way line shall be kept free from refuse and debris and shall be adequately landscaped with shrubs, evergreen material and ornamental trees.

(f)

The entire parking area, including parking spaces and maneuvering lanes, required under this section, shall be provided with asphaltic or concrete surfacing in accordance with specifications of the Oakland County Road Commission. The parking area shall be surfaced prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the building or buildings which it serves, or a bond or deposit in an amount of the estimated cost of the work given to the City. Off-street parking areas shall be drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulated in the parking area in such a way as to preclude drainage of water onto adjacent property or toward buildings.

(g)

All parking areas, driveways, and walkways shall be sufficiently illuminated to ensure the security of property and safety of persons using such parking or common areas. Lighting shall be placed and shielded so as to direct the light onto the site and away from adjoining properties. Lighting shall be shielded so that it does not cause glare for motorists.

(h)

Off-street parking reserved for the disabled shall be provided in accordance with the following table and identified by signs bearing the international symbol for the disabled as being reserved for physically disabled persons. A maximum of two (2) spaces may be designated by a single sign when the sign displays arrows specifically delineating each space. Signs shall be installed approximately seven (7) feet above grade. Each reserved parking space shall not be less than twelve (12) feet in width. Where a curb exists between a parking lot surface and a sidewalk surface, an inclined approach or a curb cut with a gradient of not more than one (1) foot in twelve (12) feet and a width of not less than four (4) feet shall be provided for wheelchair access. Parking spaces for the physically disabled shall be located as close as possible to walkways and entrances. Signs shall be provided when necessary indicating the direction of travel to an accessible entrance.

On the same premises with every building, structure or part thereof, erected and occupied for commercial, office, manufacturing, storage, warehousing, retail or wholesale sales, dry cleaning, laundry or other service purpose or as a hotel, motel, restaurant, hospital, mortuary or any other use involving the receipt or distribution of merchandise materials, foodstuffs or equipment, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for loading, unloading or standing in order to avoid interference with public use of the streets or alleys. Such space shall be provided as follows:

(a)

Commercial uses. Off-street loading and unloading facilities shall be provided for all commercial uses in accordance with the following minimum requirements, except that the Planning Commission may modify or waive the requirements upon finding that the proposed use will require infrequent deliveries and/or deliveries will usually be made by automobile, van, or small truck.

(1)

Establishments containing less than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area shall be provided with adequate loading and unloading facilities, accessible by motor vehicle off any adjacent alley, service drive, or designated delivery area on the premises, subject to Planning Commission review and approval.

(2)

Commercial uses containing ten thousand (10,000) square feet of gross floor area or more shall be provided with adequate and accessible loading and unloading facilities, consisting of at least one (1) off-street loading/unloading space laid out with minimum dimensions of ten (10) feet by forty (40) feet or four hundred (400) square feet, with a minimum height clearance of fourteen (14) feet.

(3)

Notwithstanding the above requirements, in the event that loading and unloading standards are specified for particular uses in each district, then such uses shall comply fully with the specified loading and unloading requirements.

(b)

For industrial and related uses authorized in the M-1 District, spaces shall be laid out with minimum dimensions of ten (10)feet by fifty (50) feet, or five hundred (500) square feet in area, with a minimum height clearance of fourteen (14) feet. Such spaces shall be provided as specified in the following table:

(c)

Table for off-street loading.

The loading, unloading and standing area in all zones shall be surfaced, drained, and otherwise developed in accordance with the provisions applicable to off-street parking areas, described in Section 13.02 of this Ordinance.