The purpose of this subchapter is to ensure the provision of off-street parking facilities that are sufficient in number, adequately sized, and properly designed to meet the range of parking needs and demands that are associated with land uses now in place in the city or with land uses allowed by this chapter.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003)

   (A)   Where required. In all zoning districts, off-street parking facilities for the storage and parking of self-propelled motor vehicles for the use of occupants, employees, and patrons of the buildings hereafter erected, altered, or changed existing use after the effective data of this chapter, shall be provided as herein prescribed. Such space shall be maintained and shall not be encroached upon so long as said main building or structure remains, unless an equivalent number of such spaces are provided elsewhere in conformance with this chapter.

   (B)   Existing off-street parking at effective date of ordinance. Off-street parking existing at the effective date of this chapter which serves an existing building or use, shall not be reduced or increased in size to less than that required under the terms of this chapter.

   (C)   Required greenbelt and setbacks. Off-street parking, including maneuvering lanes, shall not be located within the required front greenbelt in accordance with § 154.111(F) and the schedule of regulations. Off-street parking shall be permitted within the required side or rear yard setbacks, provided a minimum five-foot setback is maintained between off-street parking and the side and rear lot lines of all adjoining properties.

   (D)   Parking duration. Except when land is used as storage space in connection with the business of a repair or service garage, a 24-hour time limit for parking in non-residential, off-street parking areas shall prevail, it being the purpose and intention of the foregoing that the requirement of maintaining vehicle storage or parking space is to provide for the public safety in keeping parked cars off the streets, but such requirement is not designed to or intended to provide, and it shall be unlawful to permit, the storage or prolonged parking on any such parking area in any such district wrecked or junked cars, or for creating a junk yard or a nuisance in such areas.

   (E)   Units and methods of measurement. For the purpose of determining off-street parking requirements, the following units of measurement shall apply.

      (1)   Floor area. Where floor area is the unit for determining the required number of off-street parking spaces, said unit shall mean the gross floor area, except that floor area within the principal building used for parking, incidental service and storage, housing of mechanical equipment, heating systems, and similar uses need not be included.

      (2)   Employees. For requirements stated in terms of employees, the calculation shall be based upon the maximum number of employees likely to be on the premises during the largest shift.

      (3)   Places of assembly. In stadiums, sports arenas, churches, and other places of assembly in which those in attendance occupy benches, pews, or other similar seating facilities, each 18 inches of such shall be counted as one seat. In cases where a place of assembly has both fixed seats and open assembly area, requirements shall be computed separately for each type and added together, per the requirements of the Building Code.

      (4)   Fractional requirements. When units or measurements determining number of required parking spaces result in requirement of a fractional space, any fraction shall require one parking space.

   (F)   Location of parking.

      (1)   Single- and two-family dwellings. 

         (a)   The off-street parking facilities required for single- and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the building they are intended to serve, but shall not be considered a parking lot under the provisions of this subchapter.

         (b)   Off-street parking shall not be permitted within the right-of-way adjacent to the lot except within the street or driveway approach.

         (c)   Off-street parking shall not be permitted within the front yard, except within a properly constructed driveway, as defined in this chapter.

         (d)   Where no properly constructed driveway exists, an exception to subsection (c) above, shall be made for an existing driveway within the front yard that is not properly constructed. In such case, off-street parking shall be allowed within an area no wider than 12 feet, or the width of an existing garage, whichever is greater, centered on such existing driveway, but not within any area between the dwelling and street.

         (e)   The requirement of subsection (c) above, shall not apply to parking for temporary special events normally associated with the residential use of the property such as graduation and holiday parties.

      (2)   Multiple-family residential. The off-street parking facilities for multiple-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the dwellings they are intended to serve, and shall consist of a parking lot as set forth in this subchapter. In no event shall any parking space be located nearer than ten feet to any main building.

      (3)   Other land uses. The off-street parking facilities required for all other uses shall be located on the lot or within 500 feet of the permitted uses requiring such off-street parking, such distance to be measured along lines of public access to the property between the nearest point of the parking facility to the building to be served.

      (4)   Restriction on parking on private property. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to park any motor vehicle on any private property without the authorization of the owner or agent of such property.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 381, passed - - 2017) Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Generally. The amount of required off-street parking spaces for new uses or buildings, additions thereto, and additions to existing buildings shall be determined in accordance with the schedule set forth in § 154.178. Parking requirements listed in § 154.178 shall not include off-street stacking spaces for drive-through facilities set forth in § 154.181.

   (B)   Similar uses and requirements. When a use is not specifically mentioned, the requirements of off-street parking for a similar use shall apply as determined by the Planning Commission.

   (C)   Collective provisions. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent collective provisions of off-street parking facilities for two or more buildings or uses, provided:

      (1)   Such facilities collectively shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses computed separately in accordance with § 154.178. However, the Planning Commission may reduce the total number of spaces by up to 25% upon a determination that the peak space requirements for the individual uses occur at distinctly different times;

      (2)   Each use served by collective off-street parking shall have direct access to the parking without crossing any public rights-of-way; and

      (3)   Written easements which provide for continued use and maintenance of the parking shall be submitted to the city for approval.

   (D)   Parking exemption. As of the effective date of this chapter, buildings and uses located within the Central Business District (CBD) shall be exempt from providing off-street parking. However, in no case shall a building or use be expanded to remove off-street parking established before the effective date of this chapter. Parking areas constructed in the CBD shall meet all design requirements of this chapter.

   (E)   Flexibility in application.

      (1)   (a)   The city recognizes that, due to the specific requirements of any given development, inflexible application of the parking standards set forth in § 154.178 may result in development with inadequate parking or parking far in excess of that which is needed.

         (b)   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 stormwater runoff and a waste of space, which could be left as open space.

      (2)   The Planning Commission, based on a recommendation from the Planning Consultant may permit deviations from the requirements of § 154.178 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.

      (3)   (a)   The Planning Commission shall attach conditions to the approval of a deviation from the requirement of § 154.178 that bind such approval to the specific use in question.

         (b)   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.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003; Ord. 371, passed 6-8-2015) Penalty, see § 154.999

   The amount of required off-street parking space for new uses or buildings, additions thereto, and additions to existing buildings shall be determined in accordance with the following table.

 

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   The construction of any parking lot shall be in accordance with the requirements of the provisions of this chapter and completed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

   (B)   Unless incorporated in a site plan, prepared and approved in accordance with § 154.024, plans for the development of any parking lot must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator, prepared at a scale of not less than 50 feet equals one inch for submittal to the Planning Commission for approval. All information, including existing and proposed grades, drainage, pipe sizes, parking of all dimensions, type of curbing, drive and aisle dimensions, lighting, adjacent main buildings, sidewalks, landscaping, surfacing and base materials to be used, signage, use, building area, parking calculations and the layout of the proposed parking lot, and all other necessary information required by § 154.024, must be provided. All such parking lots, driveways, or loading areas required for uses other than single- or two-family residential shall be hard-surfaced with asphalt or concrete pavement. Drainage for parking lots shall conform to the standards set forth in § 154.120 and city design standards. All illumination for all such parking lots shall meet the standards set forth in § 154.117. Parking lot landscaping and buffering requirements shall meet the standards set forth in §§ 154.111(D) and 154.111(E). Adequate ingress and egress to the parking lot, by means of limited and clearly defined drives, shall be provided for all vehicles. To prevent encroaching upon pedestrian walkways or damaging required landscaping, curbing or other appropriate barriers shall be provided. No portion of a parking space and/or maneuvering aisle shall obstruct or encroach upon a pedestrian walkway. Plans for the layout of off-street parking facilities shall be in accordance with the following minimum regulations. (See Figure 13.)

 

 

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   On the same premises with every building or part thereof, erected and occupied for any uses involving the receipt or distribution of trucks and/or delivery vehicles, material, or merchandise, adequate space for loading and unloading shall be provided.

   (B)   (1)   Off-street loading and unloading space, unless completely and adequately provided for within a building, shall be of sufficient area and height clearance to accommodate vehicles using the loading space, based upon evidence supplied by the applicant and verified by the Planning Commission. Loading and unloading space provided by truck wells located below surface grade shall be protected by pipe railings per Building Code. Drainage shall be provided to prevent the collection of stormwater at the bottom of the truck well. The loading and unloading space shall be a minimum of 12 feet wide by 40 feet long. The space shall not be located in the front yard of a building and shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any residentially zoned parcel. The Planning Commission may permit deviations from this standard with conditions where it deems appropriate.

      (2)   The number of spaces provided shall be in accordance with the following schedule.

 

 

   (C)   (1)   The city recognizes that due to the specific requirements of any given development, inflexible application of off-street loading requirements set forth in division (B) above may result in development with inadequate loading space or loading space in excess of that which is needed. The former situation may lead to traffic congestion or unauthorized loading on and/or off site. The latter situation may result in excessive paving and stormwater runoff and a waste of space, which could be left as open space.

      (2)   The Planning Commission may permit deviations from the requirements of division (B) above based upon a finding that such deviations are more likely to provide a sufficient number of off-site loading spaces and of adequate size to accommodate the specific characteristics of the use in question.

      (3)   The Planning Commission shall attach conditions to the approval of a deviation from the requirements of division (B) above that bind such approval to the specific use in question. Where a deviation results in a reduction of off-street loading, the Planning Commission shall further impose conditions, which ensure that adequate usable reserve area is set aside for further off-street loading, if needed. Where area is set aside for reserve off-street loading, it shall be easily developed, not devoted to a use other than open space, and shall be designed to accommodate attendant facilities vehicle such as maneuvering lanes and drainage.

   (D)   The following additional standards apply to commercial or similar vehicles in residential zoning districts: parking of commercial vehicles in residential zoning districts, which are rated over one ton capacity is prohibited; and open storage of commercial vehicles over one-ton capacity, including semi-trucks and trailers, mobile homes, tractors, bulldozers, earth movers, or other similar equipment is prohibited in any residential zoning district.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   All businesses which provide drive-through facilities for serving customers within their automobile shall provide adequate off-street stacking space and lanes which meets the following requirements.

   (A)   Each stacking space shall be computed on the basis of eight feet in width and 20 feet in length. Each stacking lane shall be ten feet in width;.

   (B)   Clear identification and delineation between the drive-through facility and parking lot shall be provided. Drive-through facilities shall be designed in a manner which promotes pedestrian and vehicular safety.

   (C)   For all drive-through facilities which have a single stacking lane, an escape lane shall be provided which allows other vehicles to pass those waiting to be serviced.

   (D)   Required stacking spaces may not occupy required or actual front yard setbacks, unless otherwise permitted by the Planning Commission.

   (E)   The number of stacking spaces per service lane shall be provided for the following uses. When a use is not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street stacking space for a similar use shall apply. The Planning Commission may permit deviations from this requirement if it is demonstrated that such deviations are appropriate and will improve the site.

 

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   The Planning Commission may require a traffic impact analysis in order to analyze the effect of development upon existing street traffic. The traffic impact analysis shall be paid for by the developer and shall examine existing and proposed traffic flows, trip generation studies, impacts on major intersections, turning movement analysis, roadway capacity, parking generation, and site ingress/egress. The traffic impact analysis shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer or transportation planner.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   (A)   Automobile access.

      (1)   Access barrier. Access to public roads shall be controlled in the interest of public safety. Each building or group of buildings used for non-residential purposes, and its parking or service area, shall be physically separated from public roads by a greenbelt, curb, or other suitable barrier against unchanneled motor vehicle access or egress, except for access ways authorized herein. In addition to providing the access barrier, greenbelt requirements shall be provided in accordance with § 154.111.

      (2)   Driveway performance standards. Driveways shall conform to the following performance standards.

         (a)   Driveway design and placement must be in harmony with internal circulation and parking design such that the entrance can absorb the maximum rate of inbound traffic during a normal peak traffic period.

         (b)   Sufficient on-site storage must accommodate at least three queued vehicles waiting to park or exit without using a portion of the public right-of-way obstructing existing vehicle sight distance, or otherwise interfering with street traffic.

         (c)   Provisions for circulation between adjacent parcels are encouraged through coordinated or joint parking systems and driveways.

         (d)   Driveways shall be designed to accommodate all vehicle types having occasion to enter and exit the site, including delivery vehicles. There shall be clear delineation and/or separation, where appropriate, of entry and exit lanes within driveways.

         (e)   Driveway placement must be such that loading and unloading activities will in no way hinder vehicle ingress or egress.

   (B)   Pedestrian access.

      (1)   General standard. The parking and circulation system within each development shall accommodate the movement of vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and transit, throughout the proposed development and to and from surrounding areas, safely and conveniently, and shall contribute to the attractiveness of the development. The on-site pedestrian system must provide continuity, street crossings, visual interest, and security as defined by the standards in this section.

      (2)   Safety considerations. To the maximum extent feasible, pedestrians shall be separated from vehicles.

         (a)   Where complete separation of pedestrians and vehicles is not feasible, potential hazards shall be minimized by the use of techniques such as special paving, grade separations, pavement marking, signs or striping, bollards, pedestrian safety island, landscaping, lighting, or other traffic calming measures to clearly delineate pedestrian areas, for both day and night use.

         (b)   Where bicycle paths are required or are specifically part of a site plan and pedestrians and bicyclists share walkways, the pedestrian/bicycle system shall be designed to be wide enough to easily accommodate the amount of pedestrian and bicycle traffic volumes that are anticipated. A minimum width of eight feet shall be required and shall meet American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) guidelines. Additional width of up to four feet may be required to accommodate higher volumes of bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

      (3)   Curb cuts and ramps. Curb cuts and ramps shall be located at convenient, safe locations for the physically disabled, for bicyclists, and for people pushing strollers or carts. The location and design of barrier-free spaces, curb cuts, and ramps shall meet the requirements of the State Barrier Free Code and the Americans With Disabilities Act and, to the extent possible, shall avoid crossing or funneling pedestrian traffic through loading areas, drive-through lanes, and outdoor trash storage/collection areas.

      (4)   Site amenities. Development plans shall include site amenities that enhance safety and convenience and promote walking or bicycling as an alternative means of transportation. Site amenities may include bike racks, drinking fountains, canopies, and benches.

      (5)   Walkways.

         (a)   Directness and continuity. Walkways within the site shall be located and aligned to directly and continuously connect areas or points of pedestrian origin and destination, and shall not be located and aligned solely based on the outline of a parking lot configuration that does not provide such direct pedestrian access. Such connecting walkways shall either be grade separated from the parking lot or clearly delineated as to avoid pedestrian/vehicular conflicts with a paved surface not less than six feet in width. Drive aisles leading to main entrances shall have walkways on at least one side of the drive aisle.

         (b)   Street crossings. Where it is necessary for the pedestrian access to cross maneuvering aisles or internal roadways, the crossings shall emphasize and place priority on pedestrian access and safety. The pedestrian crossings must be well marked using such pavement treatments, signs, striping, signals, lighting, pedestrian safety islands, landscaping, and other traffic calming techniques.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999

   In all residential districts, a recreational vehicle may be parked or stored subject to the following conditions.

   (A)   Storage or parking shall not be permitted on vacant lots or parcels.

   (B)   Unless within a completely enclosed building, a recreational vehicle shall be parked or stored in one of the following manners:

      (1)   Within the side or rear yard, but no closer than five feet from any side or rear lot line; or

      (2)   In those instances where the side or rear yard is not accessible or has insufficient clearance for the passage of a recreational vehicle, the Zoning Administrator may allow the parking or storage of a recreational vehicle in the front yard. In those instances where a recreational vehicle is to be parked or stored in a front yard, only the driveway portion of such yard shall be utilized and in no instance shall such recreational vehicle be parked or stored in a manner which obstructs pedestrian or vehicular visibility.

   (C)   No recreational vehicle shall be used for living, sleeping, or housekeeping purposes on the premises, except for occasional living purposes to accommodate visitors not to exceed a maximum period of two weeks.

   (D)   No recreational vehicle shall be stored on a public street or right-of-way or private road easement.

   (E)   A recreational vehicle stored outside shall be in a condition for the safe and effective performance of its intended function.

(Ord. 285, passed 12-8-2003) Penalty, see § 154.999