Whenever the off-street parking requirements in this Article require the building of an off-street parking facility, the off-street parking lots shall be laid out, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following regulations.

(a)

Setbacks. Off street parking lots shall be setback from lot lines where necessary to meet the greenbelt and buffer zone requirements of Section 17.02.

(b)

Location. Off-street parking facilities shall be located on the lot or within 300 feet of the building(s) they are intended to serve, as measured along lines of public access from the nearest point of the parking facility to the building(s) served. In the CBD1 Downtown District, parking facilities shall be located within 600 feet of the building to be served.

(c)

Access.

(1)

Adequate ingress and egress, meeting the requirements of Section 18.04 Driveway Access Management, shall be provided to the parking lot for all vehicles by means of clearly limited and defined drives.

(2)

All spaces shall be provided adequate access by means of maneuvering lanes.

(3)

Parking lots shall be designed to prevent vehicles from backing into the street or requiring use of the street for maneuvering between parking rows.

(4)

Where a parking lot is located in any district that does not permit single family dwellings, ingress or egress shall not be permitted to cross land zoned for single family residential use. However, in instances where access is provided by means of an alley that forms the boundary between a residential and non-residential district such access shall be permitted.

(5)

Emergency vehicle access shall be provided to all parking lots and storage areas.

(d)

Parking Dimensional Requirements. All parking lots shall be striped and maintained showing individual parking bays, in accordance with Table 18.02.

Table 18.02
Minimum Off-Street Parking Dimensional Requirements

(1)

Angled parking between these ranges shall be to the nearest degree.

(2)

Space length may be reduced by up to two feet if an unobstructed overhang of not less than two feet is provided, such as a landscaped area or sidewalk. A sidewalk shall have a minimum width of seven feet where abutting a parking space.

(3)

Stacking spaces for drive through uses shall be at least 20 feet long and ten feet wide. Required stacking spaces shall not block required off-street parking spaces.

(4)

Space-efficient parking lot designs are encouraged for a given parking area. Use of angled parking patterns with one-way drive aisles is encouraged when practical, to reducing the required area of impervious surface.

(5)

In commercial parking lots and parking lots for employee parking, up to 20 percent of parking spaces may be designed for compact cars with a minimum width of eight feet and a minimum length of 14 feet. Signage shall be provided limiting the spaces to compact vehicles.

(e)

Construction and Maintenance. The construction of any parking lot shall require approval of a site plan, in accordance with Section 23.03.

(1)

All parking lots and vehicle and equipment storage areas shall be paved with asphalt or concrete meeting the county or city engineering standards, as applicable. Alternative paving materials, such as permeable/grass pavers may be approved by the enforcement official, and may be preferred for areas receiving lower traffic volume, such as overflow parking. For storage areas, the enforcement official may approve a substitute for hard-surfaced pavement upon a determination that there are no adverse effects on adjoining properties.

(2)

Parking aisles may be graded towards sunken, vegetated buffer strips that are a minimum of eight feet wide and planted with trees and native herbaceous vegetation. An underdrain and soil amendment may be provided in the buffers if on-site soils are poorly drained. Surface water from parking areas shall be detained on site in accordance with Chapter 46, Article IX of the Michigan City, Indiana Code of Ordinances.

(3)

Off-street parking areas shall be landscaped in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.02.

(4)

Off-street parking areas shall be screened from adjacent residential uses and residential zoning districts in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.03.

(5)

Off-street parking areas shall be illuminated in accordance with the requirements of Section 17.04.

(6)

Fire lanes shall be designated on the site and posted with signage prior to occupancy. Vehicle circulation shall meet turning radius requirements set by the fire department.

(7)

All parking lots shall be maintained free of trash and debris. Surface, curbing, light fixtures and signage shall be maintained in good condition.

(f)

Walkway from Sidewalk to Entrance. The developer shall install walkways on private property to connect public sidewalks to building entrances, parking structures or areas, open spaces, and any other destinations warranting pedestrian access.

(Ord. No. 4500, § 5.33., 2-5-2019; Ord. No. 4770, § 2(Exh. B, A.12), 8-4-2025)