(a)

Parking in general, specifically for non-residential purposes unless otherwise noted.

(1)

Minimum required off-street parking spaces shall not be replaced by any other use unless and until equal facilities are provided elsewhere, in compliance with the chapter. However, up to ten percent of the minimum required off-street parking spaces may be used for seasonal markets, if approved by the zoning inspector.

(2)

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

(3)

The planning commission may defer construction of the required number of parking spaces if the following conditions are met:

a.

Areas proposed for deferred parking shall be shown on the site plan, and shall be sufficient for construction of the required number of parking spaces in accordance with the standards of this chapter for parking area design and other site development requirements.

b.

Alterations to the deferred parking area may be initiated by the owner or required by the zoning inspector, but in any event the alterations shall be subject to the requirements of this chapter.

c.

All or a portion of such deferred parking shall be constructed if required by the zoning inspector upon a finding that such additional parking is needed.

(4)

Shared parking areas.

a.

The zoning inspector may approve a shared parking arrangement for two or more uses to utilize the same off-street parking facility where the operating hours of the uses do not significantly overlap.

b.

Required parking shall be calculated from the use that requires the greatest number of spaces.

c.

Should any use involved in the shared parking arrangement change to another use, or an expanded use, the zoning inspector may revoke this approval and require separate parking facilities as required by this chapter.

(b)

Off-street parking lot construction and design requirements.

(1)

Parking spaces shall be a minimum of ten feet by 19 feet.

(2)

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

(3)

Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited.

(4)

Parking lot access.

a.

Adequate ingress and egress to and from the parking lot by means of clearly limited and defined drives shall be provided for all vehicles.

b.

Ingress and egress to and from a parking lot located in a non-residential district shall not be across land zoned in a residential district or land used for residential purposes.

c.

Access drives and maneuvering lanes shall be a minimum of 12 feet in width for one-way traffic and 24 feet in width for two-way traffic.

(5)

Construction requirements.

a.

The entire parking area, including parking spaces and maneuvering lanes, shall be provided with asphalt or concrete surfacing in accordance with approved specifications. However, solid but porous material or porous pavement may be used for the entire parking area; or grass or gravel may be used for portions of the parking area; subject to the approval of the planning commission, based upon consideration of the particular land use involved, the amount of traffic and parking involved, the drainage of the area, and other factors deemed relevant by the planning commission.

b.

Surfacing of the parking area shall be completed prior to occupancy unless seasonal restrictions apply, in which case a performance guarantee which ensures that surfacing occurs by a specified time the following season shall be required.

c.

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.

d.

All parking spaces shall be striped with paint or other approved material, at least four inches in width. The striping shall be maintained and clearly visible.

(6)

Lighting requirements.

a.

Off-street parking lots shall be adequately lit to ensure security and safety. However, during non-use hours, only security lighting shall be maintained.

b.

Light fixtures shall be provided with light cut-off fixtures that direct light downward. Lighting shall not be attached to buildings or other structures that permit light to be directed horizontally.

c.

Lighting shall illuminate only the parking lot or other areas approved for illumination by the planning commission.

d.

Site lighting fixtures shall be limited to 35 feet in height.

(7)

Landscaping requirements. These requirements shall be established by the Highway Commercial District and Mixed Use District Guidelines, as amended in accordance with Public Act No. 110 of 2006.

(8)

Snow storage. For parking lots having more than 100 spaces, where the planning commission determines that snow removal and storage may pose a problem to traffic circulation or reduce the amount of required parking, the site plan shall designate snow storage areas.

(c)

Off-street parking requirements.

(1)

Parking space requirements for specific uses are found in subsection (f) below.

(2)

When units or measurements determining the number of required parking spaces or loading spaces result in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including one-half shall be disregarded, and fractions over one-half shall require one parking space.

(3)

For those uses not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be in accord with a use that is similar in type. If there is no requirement that is reasonably applicable to the use, the zoning inspector shall determine the number of parking spaces that must be provided.

(4)

The outdoor storage of merchandise; motor vehicles for sale; trucks or equipment; and wrecked, junked or unlicensed vehicles, and the repair of vehicles in areas designated for parking, including the maneuvering lane, are prohibited.

(d)

Stacking spaces.

(1)

Certain uses are greatly reliant on vehicle access and possess characteristics that create the need for additional area devoted to stacking of vehicles. This subsection addresses these individual uses and outlines requirements for stacking spaces.

(2)

Each stacking space shall be shown on a site plan.

(3)

Each stacking space shall have a minimum dimension shown of 22 feet in length by nine feet in width. The lane containing the stacking spaces shall be separate and distinct from other access drives and maneuvering lanes for parking spaces.

(4)

The location of stacking spaces shall be placed to avoid undue interference with on-site parking and to prevent unnecessary hazards to pedestrians.

(5)

Regardless of the number of stacking spaces required or provided, in no instance shall the operator permit vehicles to stack into any adjacent street.

(6)

The following minimum stacking spaces shall be provided for the uses noted (stacking spaces for non-designated uses shall be based upon a comparison to the most analogous use listed below, evidence submitted to the planning commission by the applicant, and such other relevant factors determined by the planning commission):

(e)

Loading requirements.

(1)

Adequate space for standing, loading and unloading, that avoids undue interference with public use of dedicated rights-of-way, shall be provided and maintained on the same premises with every building or structure involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles or materials or merchandise.

(2)

Loading, unloading or parking of delivery vehicles and trailers in a non-residential district shall take place only in approved areas. Under no circumstances shall a delivery vehicle or trailer be allowed to park in a designated loading/unloading zone for longer than 48 hours.

(f)

Minimum parking spaces.

(1)

For the C-1, C-2, C-3, MU and I-1 zoning districts, and for any use which requires a site plan review by the planning commission, each applicant for a zoning permit from the township shall submit a parking plan, which plan shall describe the proposed parking spaces, the justification for the number of proposed parking spaces, and the location of the proposed parking spaces. The planning commission shall determine the number of parking spaces to be provided by the applicant, based on the material submitted by the applicant, the type of land use proposed, the size of the proposed land use and the size of any building on the lot, and the number of any employees working on the lot.

(2)

For all zoning districts and uses which do not require site plan review by the planning commission, following is the minimum parking spaces table:

(3)

In the case of mixed uses on the same lot, the amount of parking space for each use shall be provided.

(Ord. No. 166, § 12, 1-11-2012; Ord. No. 204, § 20, 9-8-2021)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 166, § 12, adopted January 11, 2012, amended section 38-674 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Formerly, section 38-674 pertained to off-street parking spaces and derived from Ord. No. 16, § 16.01, adopted March 4, 1981.

Provision of common parking facilities for several uses in the same vicinity are encouraged. In such cases, the total space requirement is the sum of the maximum individual requirements.

(Ord. No. 16, § 16.02, 3-4-1981)

Off-street parking facilities shall be located as hereafter specified; when a distance is specified, it shall be the walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking facility to nearest normal entrance to the building or use that such facility is required to serve.

(1)

For all residential buildings and for all nonresidential buildings and uses in residential zoning districts, required parking shall be provided on the lot with the building or use it is required to serve.

(2)

For commercial and all nonresidential buildings and uses in commercial and industrial zoning districts, required parking shall be provided within 300 feet.

(3)

For commercial and industrial zoning districts, no parking shall be allowed in the first 25 feet of the front yard (i.e., the portion closest to the front lot line).

(Ord. No. 16, § 16.03, 3-4-1981; Ord. No. 183, § 2, 1-11-2017)

Each off-street parking space shall have an area of not less than 200 square feet (exclusive of access drives or aisles) and shall be a minimum of ten feet in width.

(Ord. No. 16, § 16.04, 3-4-1981)

Every parcel of land hereafter established as an off-street public or private parking area for more than five vehicles, including a municipal parking lot, commercial parking lot, automotive service lot, and accessory parking areas for multiple dwellings, businesses, public assembly, and institutions, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:

(1)

The parking lot and its driveways shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins or faces premises situated in any residential or agricultural zoning district by a greenbelt ten feet in width landscaped with lawn and low shrubbery clumps backed up by a solid planting of evergreen trees at least five feet in height and five feet wide after one growing season or other suitable screening device.

(2)

The parking lot and its driveways shall be:

a.

Designed to provide adequate drainage;

b.

Surfaced with concrete or asphalt pavement, or other suitable material; and

c.

Maintained in good condition, free of dust, trash, and debris.

(3)

The parking lot and its driveways shall not be used for repair, dismantling, or servicing of any vehicles.

(4)

The parking lot shall be provided with entrances and exists so located as to minimize traffic congestions.

(5)

Lighting facilities shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining properties.

(6)

No part of any public or private parking area regardless of the number of spaces provided shall be closer than ten feet to the street right-of-way.

(Ord. No. 16, § 16.05, 3-4-1981)

For every building or addition to an existing building hereafter erected to be occupied by uses requiring the receipt or distribution in vehicles of materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building or addition an area or means adequate for maneuvering and ingress and egress for delivery vehicles. Off-street loading spaces shall be required in relation to floor areas as follows:

(1)

Up to 20,000 square feet, one space;

(2)

20,000 or more but less than 50,000 square feet, two spaces; and

(3)

One additional space for each additional 50,000 square feet or fraction thereof.

Each such loading space shall be at least 10 feet in width, 50 feet in length and 14 feet in height. No such space shall be located closer than 50 feet to any lot in any residential zoning district. No such space may be located in the front yard. No such space may be located in the side yard unless the planning commission determines it is adequately screened from adjoining properties and passers-by.

(Ord. No. 16, § 16.06, 3-4-1981; Ord. No. 166, § 13, 1-11-2012)