Lancaster City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1143

Parking, Loading Spaces, Access and Vehicular and Pedestrian Connectivity

1143.01 PURPOSE.

Parking lot areas shall be designed and constructed to minimize the visual impact of the parking area, minimize production of excess heat, and prohibit any adverse effects on drainage. Appropriately sized landscaped areas shall be provided within each parking lot area allowing for a variety of shade trees to be planted. In order to accomplish these goals, all off-street parking lot areas shall be designed and constructed using the "Parking Bay" concept, which consists of parking spaces grouped together, with each Parking Bay separated by landscaped tree islands.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.02 APPLICABILITY OF REQUIREMENTS.

Unless otherwise noted, these parking standards apply to all uses in all Districts. The off-street parking and off-street loading facilities whether they are principal uses, accessory uses, or a change of use, shall meet the requirements of this Chapter as follows, unless modified by Section 1143.10 and Section 1157.05 .

(a) For all buildings and structures erected and all uses of land established after the effective date of this Code, parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required by the applicable use unit.

(b) When the intensity of use of any building, structure, or premises shall be increased through the addition of dwelling units, floor area, seating capacity, or other units of measurement specified herein for required parking or loading facilities, parking, and loading facilities as required herein shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.

(c) Except as noted herein, whenever the existing use of a building or structure shall hereafter be changed to a new use, parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required for such new use. However, if the existing use is non-conforming as to parking requirements, then parking requirements for the change in use shall be established by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

(d) Accessory off-street parking and loading facilities in existence on the effective date of this Code and located on the same lot as the building or use served shall not hereafter be reduced below or if already less than, shall not be further reduced below the requirements for a similar new building or use under the provisions of this Code. (Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.03 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

(a) Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall not occupy required livability space. Space allocated to any required off-street loading berth shall not be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street parking facilities. Space allocated to any required off-street parking shall not be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street loading facilities.

(b) Required off-street parking spaces and required off-street loading spaces shall not be used for the storage, sale, dismantling, or servicing of any vehicle, equipment, materials or supplies.

(c) Required off-street parking spaces and required off-street loading spaces shall be located on the lot containing the use for which the required spaces or spaces are to be provided except as modified by Section 1143.10.

(d) In the CN, CB, SI and AM Districts, all off-street parking spaces shall be designed in a manner that allows each space to be entered and exited without passing through another parking space. Stacked parking may be allowed in the Central Business District with the approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals.

(e) Parking spaces provided inside of a garage that are dedicated to the principal use of the property shall count towards the parking space requirements.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.04 PARKING LOT LOCATION.

All parking lots shall be located in accordance with the parking lot location requirements as noted in the development standards table for each District.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.05 PARKING BAYS.

(a) All new sites shall provide parking bays within the parking lots. No parking bay shall contain more than twenty-four (24) parking spaces, with a maximum of twelve (12) spaces in a single row in the CN and CG Districts. In the SI and AM Districts, no parking bay shall contain more than forty-eight (48) parking spaces, with a maximum of twenty-four (24) spaces in a single row. Each parking bay shall be separated by a parking lot island on each side.

(b) Parking Lot Islands: Each landscape island in a single loaded parking stall design shall have a minimum area of one hundred sixty-two (162) square feet with a minimum width of nine (9) feet. Each landscape island in a double loaded parking stall design shall have a minimum of three hundred twenty-four (324) square feet with a minimum width of nine (9) feet and shall be landscaped in accordance with Section 1141.08.

(c) Parking bays are not required for property being redeveloped. For purposes of this section, redeveloped means the expansion of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of a building or parking lot or the alteration of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the interior or exterior of the building. (Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.06 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET PARKING AREAS.

The following standards shall apply:

(a) All off-street parking spaces shall have a vertical clearance of at least six (6) feet six (6) inches.

(b) All parking areas, common areas and adjacent driveways in all Districts shall be paved with asphalt material, cement, cobblestone, or brick pavers and parking spaces shall be striped. The use of gravel or asphalt grindings for parking lots or driveways shall be prohibited. All vehicles in all Districts shall be parked on paved driveways or parking areas and shall be prohibited from being parked in grass or other unpaved areas of lots. Required off-street parking material shall be installed prior to the initiation of the use, unless an extension is granted based upon weather or unusual circumstances as determined by the City Planner or designee. This requirement does not apply to Special Event Parking as regulated in Section 1143.07.

(c) Off-street parking spaces shall be at least nine (9) feet in width and eighteen (18) feet in length exclusive of access drives and aisles.

(d) All off-street parking spaces shall be designed in accordance with Parking Table - 1.

(e) Handicap accessible parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and Ohio Building Code.

Parking Table - 1

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.07 SPECIAL EVENT PARKING.

Special event parking areas shall comply with the following conditions:

(a) Special event parking shall not be used for more than thirty (30) days in any calendar year.

(b) Special event parking cannot occur for more than fifteen (15) consecutive days during any thirty (30) day period.

(c) Special event parking shall be set back at least fifty (50) feet from any off-site lot in any R District or any residential development area in a PUD.

(d) Special event parking areas shall be on the same lot(s) approved for the principal use to which they are accessory.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.08 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET LOADING AREAS.

(a) All off-street loading spaces must be located to the side or rear of the principal structure and screened in accordance with Section 1141.07 and are prohibited within any front yard.

(b) Required off-street loading spaces shall be provided access to and from a public street or alley by an access drive of at least ten (10) feet in width designed to permit convenient access by semi-trailer trucks.

(c) An off-street loading space shall consist of a rectangular area adequate for loading and unloading and be accessible from a maneuvering area.

(d) All off-street loading spaces and maneuvering areas shall be located on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve.

(e) A required off-street loading space shall have a clearance height of not less than fifteen (15) feet and shall have minimum dimensions of not less than twelve (12) feet in width and fifty (50) feet in length, exclusive of any driveway, aisle, or other circulation area.

(f) All unenclosed off-street loading areas, common areas and adjacent driveways shall be paved with asphalt material, cement, cobblestone, or brick pavers and parking spaces shall be striped.

(g) The number of off-street loading spaces required for various types of uses shall be no less than as set forth in the following:

CN, CG, and SI Districts: Each use in these Districts shall provide loading spaces based on gross floor area as follows:

Less than five thousand (5,000) square feet - none required.

Five thousand (5,000) to two hundred fifty Thousand (250,000) square feet = one (one) space.

Over two hundred fifty (250,000) square feet = one (1) space for each two (2) hundred fifty (250,000) square feet or portion thereof.

AM District: Each use in this District shall provide loading spaces based on gross floor area as follows:

Under ten thousand (10,000) square feet = none.

Ten Thousand (10,000) square feet or more but less than seventy-five thousand (75,000) square feet = one (1) space.

Seventy-five thousand (75,000) square feet or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) square feet = two (2) spaces.

One hundred fifty thousand (150,000) square feet or more but less than three hundred thousand (300,000) square feet = three (3) spaces

Over three hundred thousand (300,000) square feet = one (1) space for each one hundred thousand (100,000) square feet or portion thereof.

The loading space requirements for buildings with multiple uses or tenants shall be determined based on the aggregate total of gross floor area of all uses or tenants.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.09 PARKING IN THE (CBD) CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

(a) The (CBD) Central Business District is characterized by higher development density, small lots, and minimal building setbacks. Historically, a significant portion of the parking needs of this area has been provided by on-street parking, an option that is typically not available for suburban-type locations. For this reason, special parking regulations are warranted.

(b) A specific number of off-street parking spaces is not required as long as the property is within one thousand (1,000) feet from sufficient on-street parking spaces or a public parking facility that has adequate capacity to serve the use(s) on the property, as determined by:

(1) The Historic Review Commission if located within the Historic Overlay; or

(2) The Board of Zoning Appeals, if outside of the Historic Overlay.

Otherwise, the site must follow the required parking spaces as specified in Section 1143.11 .

(c) When Section 1143.09(b) cannot be met and off-street parking spaces are required in accordance with Section 1143.11, two (2) or more uses within the CBD District may meet the parking requirements by complying with the Shared Parking Requirements in Section 1143.10 . Additionally, if bicycle parking is provided, the number of required spaces can be reduced at the ratio of one (1) automobile off-street parking space for every six (6) bicycle spaces provided.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.10 SHARED PARKING.

(a) In any District, when a mix of uses creates staggered peak periods of parking (see Parking Table - 2), the total parking requirements for the uses may be reduced provided a shared parking plan is submitted and approved as a Special Exception by the Board of Zoning Appeals.

(b) The shared parking plan must be based upon the number of originally required spaces for differed uses or facilities sharing the same parking area and documentation that the required parking needed for different uses is at different days and times generally based upon Table 2.

(c) Parking spaces included in the shared parking plan must be distributed in a manner that provides parking spaces within a reasonable distance from all proposed uses as determined by applicable reviewing entity.

(d) Shared parking must remain under common ownership providing access to all users of the shared parking. If common ownership is not proposed, the applicable approving authority may require documentation of shared access agreements to be provided.

Parking Table - 2

Weekday Peaks	Evening Peaks	Weekend Peaks
Banks	Bars	Retails Uses
Professional Offices	Ice Cream Shops	Movie Theaters
Medical Offices	Restaurants	Residential
Library	Movie Theaters
Daycare	Residential
Coffee Shops
Restaurants

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.11 SCHEDULE OF REQUIRED OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES.

All uses within all Districts shall comply with the number of off-street parking spaces requirements specified herein. These standards are being established to encourage efficient use of parking areas by establishing a maximum number of spaces required and permitting sensible shared parking to reduce Impervious Surfaces and increase green space. The Total Number of Required Parking Spaces shall be calculated for each separate use on the lot. In no case shall the total number of parking spaces for a particular use be less than the Minimum nor more than the Maximum Number of Required Parking Spaces for said use based upon the below chart. When calculating the required number of spaces, fractional numbers shall be increased to the next whole number.

Parking Table - 3 - Required Off-Street Parking Spaces

Use	Minimum Number of Required Parking Spaces	Maximum Number of Required Parking Spaces
General Business - Personal Services – Institutional -Office not otherwise specified herein	1 space per 500 square feet	1 space per 225 square feet
Daycare/School	1 space for every 7 children and 1 space for each employee on the largest shift	1 space for every 5 children and 1 space for each employee on the largest shift
Hospital/Nursing Home/Hospice - other than medical offices	1 space for every bed plus 1 space for each employee on largest shift	1 space for every bed, 4 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of inpatient treatment area, and 5 parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of outpatient treatment area
Hotel/Motel	1 space per room	1.5 spaces per room
Movie Theater - Places of Assembly	.25 spaces per seat or 1 space per 40 square feet	.3 spaces per seat or 1 space per 30 square feet
Restaurants, Bars, Coffee and Ice Cream Shops	1 space per 100 square feet	1 space per 75 square feet
Recreational Uses
Mini-Golf, Batting Cage	1 per tee or cage	1.5 per tee or cage
Bowling Alley	3 per lane	4 per lane
Recreation/Fitness Centers	7 spaces per 1,000 square feet	8 spaces per 1,000 square feet
Outdoor Recreation Fields	50 per field	75 per field
Ice Skating Rinks or other recreational use not specified herein	1 per 200 square feet	1 per 150 square feet
Industrial Uses not otherwise defined below	1 space per 2,500 square feet	2 spaces per 2,500 square feet

Use	Minimum Number of Required Parking Spaces	Maximum Number of Required Parking Spaces
Flex-Office/Flex-Warehouse/Advanced Manufacturing	2 spaces per 1,000 square feet	2.5 spaces per 1,000 square feet
Logistics/Warehouses/Data Processing Center/Contractor’s Office/Machine Shop/ Equipment Repair	1 space per employee on largest shift plus 1 space per vehicle stored on site	1.5 space per employee on largest shift lus 1 space per vehicle stored on site
Residential, One- and Two-Family Units	1 space per unit	2 spaces per unit
Assisted Living Facilities	1 space for every 2.5 Dwelling Units plus 1 space for every 2 employees	1 space for 2 Dwelling Units plus 1 space for every 2 employees on largest shift
Independent Senior Living Facilities/Adult Group Homes	.85 spaces per Dwelling Unit	1 space per Dwelling Unit
Multi-Family Dwelling Units, Townhomes	1 space per Dwelling Unit	3 spaces per Dwelling Unit
Note: Utilize gross square footage whenever there is a reference to square feet

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.12 DRIVE THRU STACKING REQUIREMENTS.

Drive thus are considered Automobile Oriented Uses and require a Special Exception permit from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

(a) The following criteria shall be utilized by the Board of Zoning Appeals when approving a Special Exception permit for a drive thru.

Activity	Minimum Stacking Spaces (per lane)	Measured From and Including
Banks and ATMs	3	Teller/Window or ATM machine
Restaurant, Coffee Shop, or other similar use	8	First pick up window
Full Service Car Wash*	20	Entrance of tunnel
Self Service - Automated Car Wash*	4	Washing Bay
Fuel/Gasoline Pump Island	1	Pump Island
Other - Not Specified	As determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals

* BZA shall also ensure adequate spaces are provided at the end of the tunnel or wash bay for the drying and vacuuming of vehicles.

(b) Design and Layout.

(1) Pump spaces can count toward the stacking space requirement.

(2) Stacking spaces shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet by twenty (20) feet in size.

(3) Stacking spaces may not impede on- or off-site traffic movements or movements in or out of off-street parking spaces. There shall be a separate drive aisle allowing ingress and egress of vehicles that are not waiting in the drive thru lanes.

(4) Stacking spaces shall be separated from other internal driveways by surface markings or raised medians.

(5) These stacking space requirements shall be in addition to the off-street parking space requirements.

(6) When adjacent to the RE, R-LD, or R-MD Districts, stacking spaces shall be required to be located on sides of the lot opposite the adjacent residential use. (Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.13 PARKING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.

(a) No commercial tractor, truck, trailer or commercial automobile weighing more than eight thousand (8,000) pounds shall be parked, stored or allowed on any lot or parcel of land or on the street in any residential District.

(b) This section shall not apply to such vehicles used for conveying the necessary tools and materials to premises where labor using such tools and materials is to be performed during the actual time of parking of such vehicles, nor to the actual time during which such vehicles are being loaded or unloaded or used to deliver or hoist property or merchandise for completion of delivery as long as such activities referred to in this provision are conducted diligently and without unnecessary delay. (Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.14 ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.

(a) The purpose of this section is to encourage electrical vehicle charging stations but not require them.

(b) To promote the installations of these stations, the total number of required automobile off-street parking spaces required by this code shall be reduced by two (2) automobile off-street parking spaces for every one (1) electric vehicle space with a charger provided.

(Ord. 15-23. Passed 8-14-23.)

1143.15 ACCESS, VEHICULAR AND PEDESTRIAN/BIKEWAY CONNECTIVITY.

(a) New sites shall be designed to provide for vehicular and pedestrian connectivity between adjoining properties.

(b) Vehicular Connectivity.

(1) Parking lots for new sites in the RM, CN, CG, SI and AM Districts shall provide a future connection point to each adjacent parcel that has the potential to develop or redevelop in the future, as determined by the City Planner or designee. If an adjacent parcel has an established connection point, the new site shall be required to connect to it. Cross access easements shall be provided when adjacent parking lots are connected.

(2) New roads established for residential developments in the RE, R-LD, or R-MD Districts shall provide for the future extension and connection to adjoining properties in accordance with Part Eleven - Title One, Subdivision Regulations.

(1) All new sites and redeveloped sites in all Districts shall provide a five (5) foot sidewalk adjacent to the public street when such sidewalk does not exist. The City Planner or designee may require a ten (10) foot multi-use path (MUP) in lieu of the five (5) foot sidewalk, when necessary to connect to an existing MUP.

(2) Additionally, any proposed new development or redevelopment of a Multi-Family, Commercial or Industrial Use or any single-family development that contains five (5) or more new or redeveloped lots shall provide a Pedestrian and Bikeway Study. This study shall show all existing Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations within 0.25-mile buffer around the entire site ("study area"). For purposes of this Ordinance, Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations shall include all existing sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian signals, pedestrian push buttons, bike lanes and trails, sidewalk buffers, on-street parking, medians, and transit stops within the study area. This study shall be prepared and stamped by a Professional Engineer and submitted with the application for a Zoning Clearance Permit for review by the City Engineer. The City Planner or designee shall require the applicant to install any on-site Pedestrian and Bicycle Accommodations as deemed necessary by the City Engineer to increase connectivity and safety of pedestrians and cyclists as part of the Zoning Clearance Permit.