A.

It is the intent of these requirements to set forth standards and criteria for curb openings, driveways and off-street parking and loading in order to:

1.

Minimize hazards to pedestrians by reducing areas of possible conflict between pedestrians and vehicles and to define such areas;

2.

Reduce hazards to vehicles by limiting areas of conflict between vehicles;

3.

Increase the capacity of roads and intersections by reducing points of conflict between vehicles;

4.

Ensure that vehicles diverge from and merge with the roadway traffic at a proper angle and in conformity with the rules of the road;

5.

Provide sufficient space for the installation of traffic-control devices, utilities and crosswalks; and

6.

Provide adequate space for passenger and truck loading areas and adequate parking facilities, off the street easements, for each use of land.

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 2, 11-29-2011)

A.

The requirements of this article shall uniformly apply to all land within the city.

B.

Any new curb openings, driveways or off-street parking and loading areas or any future additions or changes to existing curb openings, driveways or off-street parking and loading areas shall comply with the requirements set forth herein and in other applicable sections of this code.

C.

Prior to making any curb opening or driveway or using any area for off-street parking or loading, an application shall be submitted to the building official. The application shall be accompanied by a plot plan fully dimensioned and drawn to scale, in duplicate, which shows the existing and proposed access, proposed surfacing, drainage, lot design, location of permanent structures and aboveground utilities, and the location and arrangement of parking spaces. The application will also have, as an attachment, proof of ownership or a fully executed lease of the off-street parking or loading area. In the event the usage of the off-street parking or loading area is on a lease basis, the lease must show an initial duration of five (5) years. When a new lease or different parking provisions are made, proof of such shall be filed with the building inspector to show that sufficient parking will be available for the term of use.

D.

Once proper application is made, the site plan and other supporting data shall be reviewed by the city engineer, traffic engineer and planning director. Upon completion of their respective reviews, they shall forward their recommendations to the building official for a final disposition. If approval is granted, the necessary permit will be issued upon payment of the required fees as set forth in Appendix A of this code, "Schedule of Fees and Charges." No permits shall be issued until or unless all required fees have been paid in full. If approval is not granted, the applicant shall receive a written notice from the building official explaining the reasons for disapproval.

E.

Curb opening applications shall not be required when the applicant submits curb opening information on a building permit application or for cutting of a curb in conjunction with a paving cut for which a permit has been obtained under the provisions of Chapter 20 of this code.

F.

Any new curb opening or driveway or any future changes to existing curb openings or driveways which connect with a state or federal highway shall be approved by the appropriate office of the State Department of Transportation.

G.

If any new curb openings or any future changes to existing curb openings result in the abandonment or closing of an existing curb opening, the existing curb opening shall be restored to be compatible with the adjacent curbing, as approved by the city engineer, at the expense of the property owner.

H.

An existing building may be repaired, altered, maintained or modernized without additional parking unless otherwise provided in this article.

I.

For existing buildings which are enlarged or structurally altered but maintaining the same use or intensity of activity, the total amount of off-street parking built in accordance with applicable sections of this article shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for the enlarged and the existing portion of the structure. Where enforcement of this provision causes discontinuance of parking or maneuvering on the public right-of-way on local streets (as defined by the official State of Oklahoma/Federal Highway Administration Functional Classification Map), the owner of the existing building may apply to the city council for a revocable permit regarding the continued use of the right-of-way on the local street for parking and maneuvering. Additionally, owners of buildings located on local streets whose internal redesign or rearrangement of their building which may be directly impacted by the prohibition of use of the right-of-way of local streets may apply to the city council for a revocable permit regarding use of this right-of-way. Approval by the city council of the use of right-of-way shall be in the form of a revocable permit subject to the approved terms and conditions and upon payment of the fee as provided in the fee schedule. The revocable permit shall be approved prior to the issuance of any building permit for structures, parking or maneuvering which rely upon the use of right-of-way.

J.

When the intended use of any building is changed to a higher intensity, the amount of the off-street parking shall be the amount required for the new use and be installed in accordance with applicable sections of this article. "Use" shall be defined as allowable activities within each zoning district. Where enforcement of this provision causes discontinuance of parking or maneuvering on the public right-of-way on local streets (as defined by the official State of Oklahoma/Federal Highway Administration Functional Classification Map) the owner of the existing building may apply to the city council for a revocable permit regarding the continued use of the right-of-way on the local street for parking and maneuvering. Additionally, owners of buildings located on local streets whose internal redesign or rearrangement of their building which may be directly impacted by the prohibition of use of the right-of-way of local streets may also apply to the city council for a revocable permit regarding use of this right-of-way. Approval by the city council of the use of right-of-way shall be in the form of a revocable permit subject to the approved terms and conditions and upon payment of the fee as provided in the fee schedule. The revocable permit shall be approved prior to the issuance of any building permit for structures, parking or maneuvering which rely upon the use of right-of-way.

K.

Should the number of parking spaces already being furnished for an existing building exceed the requirements of the provisions of this chapter, the excess may be counted toward the additional spaces required for a change of use, an expansion of the existing building, for a new building on the lot, or off-site spaces for another building within three hundred (300) feet (see M).

L.

Parking on a public street shall not be substituted for off-street parking requirements.

M.

Sixty percent (60%) of the required off-street parking spaces shall be installed on the lot of principal use and shall have direct access to a street. Forty percent (40%) of the required off-street parking spaces may be located off the site; but this parking lot shall be within three hundred (300) feet of the lot of principal use, exclusive of street and alley widths, and shall have direct access to a street. Off-site parking may not be separated from the lot of principal use by an arterial street or expressway.

N.

Parking and loading areas which would require the use of public rights-of-way for maneuvering or parking shall be prohibited except:

1.

A portion of the outside edge of a public right-of-way may be used to extend existing parking lots in residential districts for the following uses permitted in a residential Single-Family Dwelling District:

a.

Detached one-family dwelling;

b.

Church;

c.

Public school or school offering general educational courses the same as ordinarily given in public schools and having no rooms regularly used for housing and sleeping;

d.

Nonprofit institutions of higher education with all accessory and auxiliary buildings and uses customarily incidental to such institutions;

e.

Public park or playground;

f.

Library; and

g.

General-purpose farm or garden but not the raising of livestock;

2.

Provided in cases of this Subsection 1 above:

a.

At least thirteen (13) feet of unused space is provided between back of curb and the parking or maneuvering space; and

b.

Use for parking or maneuvering space will not interfere with the use of the right-of-way for installation and maintenance of required public or private utilities; and

c.

The extended parking lot shall be separated from the remainder of the right-of-way as required by Subsection B of Section 18-804 of this code; and

3.

For backing and off-street parking only at one- and two-family dwellings.

4.

In the downtown area, as defined in Section 18-106 of this code; and

5.

In the downtown area, alley rights-of-ways may be used for maneuvering provided the parking space(s) is not located in the public right-of-way.

O.

The provision of landscaping, particularly plant materials, shall be required within certain zoning districts to enhance, protect and promote the economic and aesthetic environment of the City of Lawton, and provide for the prosperity, comfort and enjoyment of its citizens. Specific requirements are provided in Section 6-1-5-186 of this code.

P.

In no case shall a residential structure with eight (8) or less units be allowed access or driveways onto an expressway system; major arterial system; federal, state or county highway; or section line road if access is available to either a collector or local residential street. Residential structures with more than eight (8) units shall be required to follow the access provisions as stated in this article.

Q.

Parking lots within or adjacent to residential.

1.

Whenever off-street parking lots for more than six (6) vehicles are to be located within or adjacent to R-E Residential Estates District, R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District, or R-2 Two-Family Dwelling District or a single-family or two-family residential use, all sides of the lot not adjacent to a public street shall be enclosed with an opaque ornamental fence or wall having a height of not less than six (6) feet nor more than eight (8) feet.

2.

Additionally, wherever the parking lot is located within a R-E Residential Estates District, R-1 Single-Family Dwelling District, or R-2 Two-Family Dwelling District or immediately abuts the front yard of a single-family or two-family residential unit, no parking shall be permitted within a front yard setback line established fifteen (15) feet back of the property line of interior and corner lots except as provided in paragraph N of this section. In all other cases no setback shall be required.

(2000-30, Amended, 09/12/2000; 99-13, Amended, 02/09/1999; 95-37, Amended, 09/12/1995)

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 3, 11-29-2011)

A.

The location, number and size of curb openings and driveways shall conform to the requirements stated herein and shall be subject to approval by the city engineer, the traffic engineer and the planning director.

B.

No curb opening or driveway may be placed within, on or across any sight triangle as defined in Section 18-404.1A4 of this code except for public fire and police responder facilities. The sight triangle in all R-3, R-4, commercial and industrial zones shall be defined by barrier curb to prevent encroachment.

C.

The number of curb openings permitted and size of driveways shall conform to the standards outlined in figure 1, contained in Section 18-808 of this code.

D.

Curb openings and driveways in C-2 and C-3 districts for a planned neighborhood shopping center or planned community shopping center shall conform to figure 5, Section 18-808 of this code, as to placement, size and curb radii.

E.

Curb openings and driveways to one- and two-family dwellings shall conform to figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 11, in Section 18-808 of this code, as to placement, size and curb radii.

F.

Curb openings and driveways in all districts, except for one- and two-family dwellings and planned neighborhood shopping centers within the C-2 district and planned community shopping centers within the C-3 district, shall conform to figures 6 and 7, Section 18-808 of this code, as to placement and separation.

G.

All curb radii shall conform to the standards established in figure 8, Section 18-808, except for one and two-family dwellings and planned neighborhood shopping centers within the C-2 district and planned community shopping centers within the C-3 district.

H.

The center line of all driveways shall intersect with a public street at a ninety-degree angle to a minimum sixty-degree angle for maximum sight distance.

I.

All driveways on public street right-of-way shall be constructed as detailed in figure 11, Section 18-808 of this code.

J.

All one-lane egress and ingress driveways for all uses except for one- and two-family residential uses shall be greater than fifteen (15) feet but less than twenty (20) feet wide, with the combined width not to exceed the maximum in figure 1, Section 18-808 of this code.

K.

For other than one- and two-family residential uses, alleys shall not be the primary means of access to the main parking area but paved alleys with a minimum width of twenty (20) feet may be a secondary means of access to the main parking area or a primary means of access to a secondary parking area. The exceptions to this provision are that a parking area in existence on January 1, 2008 which uses an existing paved alley as the primary means of access may be continued, improved, and/or expanded as required to meet the minimum parking requirements listed herein and as provided in Section 18-8-1-802 of this code.

L.

Street curbs shall be made a required part of all parking and building permits and when not already existing shall be installed by the property owner according to figure 12, Section 18-808 of this chapter and other provisions of this code. The City Manager or his designee may waive or modify this requirement provided that the public safety will not be adversely affected or that the surface drainage will not be adversely impacted.

M.

Any existing curb opening or driveway as of June 12, 2015, connecting to an arterial street with a curb radius less than that required in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of this chapter may be continued, improved, and/or reconstructed with the existing curb radius.

(Ord. 2004-41, Amended, 12/09/2004; 00-36, Amended, 10/10/2000)

(Ord. 2008-45, Amended, 07/24/2008; Ord. 2008-44, Amended, 06/24/2008)

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 4, 11-29-2011; Ord. No. 15-09, § 1, 5-12-2015)

A.

For all buildings, except for one- and two-family dwellings, hereafter erected, reconstructed or enlarged so as to require additional parking spaces, adequate permanent off-street facilities shall be provided for the loading and unloading of merchandise and goods within or adjacent to the buildings, in such manner as not to obstruct the freedom of traffic movement on public right-of-way. Loading space shall be in addition to all vehicular parking required for such use.

B.

All off-street parking and loading shall be separated from a public right-of-way or easement by a concrete barrier curb or chainlink fence. Such barrier curbs or chainlink fence shall be placed on the property line. However, along arterial and expressway streets, barrier curbs shall be placed two and one-half (2½) feet inside the property line to prevent possible encroachment on public right-of-way by vehicles. Interior barrier curbs or tire stops shall be required on the property line for all loading and circulation areas using gravel surfacing under Section 18-804.F.3 of this code to prevent the migration of gravel onto the right of way. Open display uses may use tire stops, provided they are permanently secured to the ground. The traffic engineer must approve the design of such barrier, curb or tire stop. Suggested designs are shown in figure 12, Section 18-808 of this code.

C.

The size of parking spaces and parking lot design shall conform to the standards given in figure 9, Section 18-808 of this code, in addition all ADA compliant spaces shall also conform to figure 13, Section 18-808 of this code.

D.

The size of a loading space and maneuvering room shall conform to figure 10, Section 18-808 of this code, and the review and approval of the traffic engineer.

E.

Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be marked with a four-inch white paint or white plastic line or a row of white four-inch diameter buttons placed on two-foot centers on each side of the space or other designs acceptable to the traffic engineer, except for one- and two-family dwellings and ADA compliant parking spaces.

F.

Surfacing requirements for parking and loading areas.

1.

All off-street parking areas, aisle and access driveways shall be permanently paved with hard-surfaced pavement, except that turf pavement or other permeable pavement may be allowed in low traffic areas under the provision of Section 6-1-5-186 of this code. The requirement of hard-surfaced access driveways may be waived by the public works director in areas not designated for urban development and in other areas if it is determined that the public convenience, health or safety is not affected. However, all portions of access driveways on public rights-of-way, connected to paved streets for which the grade has been established, must be permanently paved with hard-surfaced pavement and comply with all City of Lawton codes relating to driveway construction. Permanent hard-surfaced pavement shall mean a surface covering over earth, gravel or other natural or artificial base or foundation, which shall meet or exceed the following minimum standards:

a.

Two (2) inches of hot asphaltic concrete on a four (4) inch base of stabilized aggregate or the equivalent thereto, which has been approved by the public works director; or.

b.

Four (4) inches of Portland cement concrete on a two (2) inch sand or aggregate base or the equivalent thereto, which has been approved by the public works director.

c.

All portions of access driveways on public right-of-way require six (6) inches of Portland cement concrete on a two (2) inch sand or aggregate base or the equivalent thereto, which has been approved by the public works director.

2.

Driveway aprons and openings shall be Portland cement concrete per figure 11, in Section 18-808 of this article.

3.

Off-street loading and adjacent circulation areas shall be paved in accordance with subparagraph 1 above in all commercial zoning districts and all industrial districts, except in cases where the primary activity is in trucking terminals or similar activity, where the property is in excess of four (4) acres, and located in an industrial zoned area greater than fifty (50) acres, the area used for loading, open storage and adjacent circulation areas shall at a minimum be properly graded and maintained with gravel surface and shall be constructed in accordance with Section 18-808 of this code, Figure 14. Driveway and approaches shall be constructed with a minimum of 3500 p.s.i. concrete in accordance with figure 14 of Section 18-808 of this code. Areas abutting public street rights-of-way or easements shall be maintained and landscaped, using grass, low lying ground cover or other suitable landscaping materials not to include sealed surfacing of any kind.

G.

Movement arrows or signs without advertising must be placed on circulation drives when required by either the city engineer, the traffic engineer or the planning director.

H.

Areas for off-street parking for greater than six (6) vehicles and loading of vehicles and adjacent circulation areas shall be graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the property and shall be approved by the city engineer. Prior to approval, the city engineer will require submission of drainage plans which indicate storm water flow rate, direction, and discharge points before and after an improvement.

(Ord. 2007-53, Amended, 09/27/2007)

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 5, 11-29-2011; Ord. No. 24-074, § 3, 11-5-2024)

A.

Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided in all districts in accordance with the following requirements with the following exceptions:

1.

In the downtown area as defined in Section 18-1-1-106 of this code, there shall be no requirement for off-street parking and loading facilities.

2.

In the Fairmont Area as defined in Section 18-1-1-106 of this code, the total required number of off-street parking and loading facilities may be reduced by forty percent (40%). Further reductions as allowed elsewhere in this code also apply.

All off-street parking and loading facilities that are provided shall meet the design standards of this article. These standards are to be considered minimum. Property owners and developers are encouraged to provide sufficient parking based on prior experience to meet the needs of the business.

sf = square feet; GFA = gross floor area

¹  If buses for transportation of students are kept at the school, one off-street parking space shall be provided for each bus.

²  Bay shall not count as parking space.

³  This provision shall not affect the parking requirements for existing bars, taverns, and nightclubs unless such uses fall under the provisions specified in Subsections I and J of Section 18-802 of this code.

⁴  Multiple-use commercial centers with a total square footage of building area in excess of 50,000 square feet may use the Commercial Development/Shopping Center formula regardless of individual uses.

⁵  All loading and unloading space shall be off the street or right-of-way.

⁶  If the proposed use is associated with a public or private school and located on the same parcel, additional parking will not be required. The use will be considered an accessory use.

B.

In places of assembly where the parking requirement is based on seating, each twenty-two (22) inches of such seating shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining the parking requirement.

C.

When determination of the number of required parking spaces results in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction equal to or greater than 0.50 shall require one additional parking space.

D.

Reductions to Required Number of Parking Spaces.

1.

Landscaping. In accordance with Section 6-1-5-186 of this code, the total required number of parking spaces may be reduced by a maximum of ten percent (10%) for developments providing additional landscaping such that the total number of landscaping points provided is at least twenty percent (20%) more than the total required landscaping points. This provision shall not apply to developments requiring less than ten (10) parking spaces.

2.

Permeable material. For developments using turf pavements or other permeable material for parking areas, refer to Section 6-1-5-186 for requirements.

3.

Bicycle parking. For all uses, other than residential, requiring at least twenty-five (25) vehicle parking spaces, three (3) bicycle parking spaces may be substituted for one vehicle parking space up to a maximum of two (2) percent of the required vehicle parking.

4.

Motorcycle parking. For all uses, other than residential, requiring at least twenty-five (25) vehicle parking spaces, two (2) motorcycle parking spaces may be substituted for one automobile parking space up to a maximum of two (2) percent of the required vehicle parking. The minimum size of each motorcycle space shall be four (4) feet by eight (8) feet.

E.

For all uses not covered in Subsection A hereof, the planning commission shall make a determination of the parking demand to be created by the proposed use; and the amount of parking thus determined shall be the off-street parking requirement for the permitted use.

F.

ADA compliant parking.

1.

The number of required ADA compliant spaces shall be included within the total otherwise required and be provided as follows:

2.

One in every eight (8) accessible spaces, but not less than one, shall be served by an ADA compliant van parking space in accordance with Figure 13 and shall be designated by a sign as "van accessible".

3.

ADA compliant parking shall be located on the shortest accessible route of travel from adjacent parking to an accessible building entrance. Accessible routes shall have walks, ramps, slopes, and dimensions which comply with the American National Standard for Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities (ICC/ANSI A117.1), as periodically revised.

G.

Queuing requirements.

1.

The following minimum queuing requirements shall apply unless otherwise approved by the planning commission:

2.

Required queuing spaces shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet in width and eighteen (18) feet in length and shall meet the following requirements:

a.

No required queuing space shall occupy any portion of a public right-of-way and shall not block any required parking spaces and/or any access drive.

b.

Queuing spaces and lanes may not be used to satisfy the off-street parking or loading requirements of this code.

c.

Queuing spaces may be provided in the primary access aisle leading to a drive-in or drive-through facility.

3.

All existing facilities made nonconforming by this requirement shall be considered legally nonconforming.

(Ord. 2007-53, Amended, 09/27/2007; Ord. 2007-32, Amended, 05/11/2007)

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 6, 11-29-2011; Ord. No. 14-35, § 2, 11-11-2014; Ord. No. 17-26, § 1, 8-8-2017; Ord. No. 23-46, § 1, 11-14-2023; Ord. No. 24-074, § 4, 11-5-2024)

Multiple-use commercial developments with less than fifty thousand (50,000) square feet of gross floor area will be required to meet the parking requirement for each individual use unless the developer provides documentation that uses will not operate at the same time. In those instances, the parking requirement will be based on the more intense use. Multiple-use commercial developments with a total square footage of building area of at least fifty thousand (50,000) square feet may use the commercial development/shopping center formula provided in Section 18-8-1-805 regardless of individual uses.

(2000-30, Amended, 09/12/2000; 99-13, Amended, 02/09/1999)

(Ord. No. 11-54, § 8, 11-29-2011)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 11-54, § 8, adopted November 29, 2011, repealed § 18-8-1-807, which pertained to off-street parking in residential areas. See also the Code Comparative Table and Disposition List.

The figures that apply to this article are found at the end of this chapter.