(a)

It is the purpose of this section to establish the guidelines for off-street parking space consistent with the proposed land use to:

(1)

Eliminate occurrence of non-resident on-street parking in adjoining neighborhood;

(2)

Avoid the traffic congestion and public safety hazards caused by a failure to provide such parking space; and

(3)

Expedite the movement of traffic on public thoroughfares in a safe manner, increase the carrying capacity of the streets, reduce the amount of land required for streets, and the cost to both the property owner and the city.

(Ord. No. 1641, § 1(Exh. A), 8-9-22)

(a)

Size of parking space.

(1)

Each standard off-street surface parking space shall measure not less than nine feet by 18 feet, exclusive of access drives and aisles, and shall be of usable shape and condition.

(2)

Wheel stops. Wheel stops shall be required for all areas of head-in parking adjacent to a landscaped areas and sidewalks. Wheel stops shall be designed so that the overhang of vehicles is contained totally within the parking space. If wheel stops are not provided at locations where vehicles extend over the sidewalk areas, a minimum of five feet of free walking area, exclusive of vehicle overhang, width must be provided.

(3)

Each parking space designed for parallel parking shall have a minimum dimension of eight feet by 22 feet.

(4)

Each standard parking space located in a parking garage shall measure not less than nine feet by 18 feet, exclusive of access drives or aisles.

(5)

Handicap accessible parking. The number, size, and location of the handicap parking spaces required must follow the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act and Texas Accessibility Standards.

a.

Handicap parking spaces count toward total required parking spaces.

(6)

Electric vehicle charging. Electric vehicle changing spaces may be provided and count toward total required parking spaces provided they meet the minimum parking space sizes listed above.

(b)

Determining the number of parking spaces. In computing the number of such parking spaces required, the following rules shall govern:

(1)

The number of off-street parking spaces required shall be determined from the schedule of off-street parking requirements table.

(2)

"Floor area" shall mean the gross floor area of the specific use.

(3)

Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

(4)

Whenever a building or use constructed or established after the effective date of this chapter is changed or enlarged in floor area, number of dwelling units, seating capacity or otherwise, to create a need for an increase of ten percent or more in the number of existing parking spaces, such spaces shall be provided on the basis of the enlargement or change. Whenever a building or use existing prior to the effective date of this chapter is enlarged in floor area or in the area used, said improvement or use shall then and thereafter comply with the parking requirements set forth herein.

(5)

Mixed uses. In the case of mixed uses, the parking spaces required shall equal the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately. In such cases where it can be shown that the peak parking demands are offset, for example with retail and residential, or theater and office uses the city manager or his/her designee may reduce the total requirements accordingly, but not more than 25 percent of the overall combined parking requirement.

(6)

Joint use. Required parking facilities of two or more uses may be satisfied by the same parking facility used jointly, to the extent that it can be shown by the owners or operators that the need for the facilities does not materially overlap and provided that such right of joint use is evidenced by a deed, lease, contract, or similar written instrument establishing the joint use.

(c)

Location of parking spaces. All parking spaces required herein shall be located on the same lot with the building or use served, except that where an increase in the number of spaces is required by a change or enlargement of use or where such spaces are provided collectively or used jointly by two or more buildings or establishments, the required spaces may be located not to exceed 300 feet from an institutional building served and not to exceed 500 feet from any other non-residential building served.

(1)

Up to 100 percent of the parking spaces required for a church or church school auditorium, may be provided and used jointly by banks, offices, retail stores, repair shops, service establishments and similar uses not normally open, used or operated during the same hours; provided, however, that such right of joint use is evidenced by a deed, lease, contract, or similar written instrument establishing the joint use.

(2)

In any cases where the required parking spaces are not located on the same lot or contiguous with the building or use served, or where such spaces are collectively or jointly provided and used, a written agreement thereby assuring their retention for purposes, shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the city attorney and shall be filed with the application for a building permit.

(3)

Parking spaces provided in enclosed garages for residential uses shall not count towards satisfying the required off-street.

(d)

Development and maintenance of parking area. Every parcel of land hereafter used as public parking area, including but not limited to commercial parking lots, automobile, farm equipment, manufactured home, trailer, or other open-air sales lot, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:

(1)

Surfacing. Except as otherwise provided, all off-street parking areas shall be all-weather surfaces, shall be installed, graded to drain, and maintained so as to dispose of surface water accumulated within the area, for all parking areas for more than five vehicles. Parking spaces shall be so arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe parking of vehicles. Surfaces shall be subject to approval by the city engineer.

(2)

Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking area shall be arranged so as to direct or shield the light away from the adjoining premises in any residential district.

(Ord. No. 1641, § 1(Exh. A), 8-9-22)

(a)

Off-street parking shall be provided in sufficient quantities to provide the following ratio of vehicle spaces for the uses specified:

(b)

New and unscheduled uses. When a proposed land use is not classified in this section or a single use which have varying parking needs depending on the function of that specific single use, an applicant may submit a parking ratio based on best/current planning and transportation practices.

(1)

A best/current parking ratio application should include the following:

a.

An application shall fully cite the sources used to derive the applicant-submitted parking ratio, possible resources include parking standards material from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) or the American Planning Association (APA).

b.

The city manager or his/her designee shall review the applicant submitted parking ratio to confirm best/current planning practices for a use.

c.

The city manager or his/her designee shall approve, modify, or deny the applicant submitted parking ratio.

(2)

Parking ratio determination where no application is submitted.

a.

If the applicant does not submit a parking ratio, then the city manager or his/her designee shall determine the parking ratio based on the best/current planning and transportation practices.

(Ord. No. 1641, § 1(Exh. A), 8-9-22)

(a)

Off-street loading regulations. Every building or part thereof erected or occupied for retail business, service, manufacturing, storage, warehousing, hotel, mortuary, or any other use similarly involving the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials or merchandise, shall provide and maintain on the same premise, loading space in accordance with the following regulations:

(1)

In the B-1, B-2, and B-3 districts, one loading space for the first 5,000 to 15,000 square feet of floor area in the building and one additional loading space for each 15,000 square feet, or fraction thereof, of floor area in excess of 15,000 square feet.

(2)

In the I-1 & I-2 industrial districts, one loading space for each 10,000 square feet or fraction thereof, of floor area in the building.

(3)

No more than three off-street loading spaces shall be required for any neighborhood service or general business use, nor more than five off-street spaces for any industrial use.

(b)

Stacking and queueing regulations.

(1)

The following is required for drive-through facilities:

a.

A stacking space shall be an area on a site measuring eight feet by 20 feet with direct forward access to a service window or station of a drive-through facility which does not constitute space for any other circulation driveway, parking space, or maneuvering area.

b.

All stacking spaces shall be located entirely within the lot and shall be outside of any right-of-way, fire lane or similar access.

c.

For financial institutions with drive-through facilities, each teller window or station, human or mechanical, shall be provided with a minimum of four stacking spaces.

d.

For each service window of a drive-through restaurant, a minimum of six stacking spaces shall be provided.

e.

For drive-through kiosks and other self-service style stations, a minimum of three stacking spaces for each service window or station shall be provided.

(c)

The following is required for schools, day nurseries, and other similar uses that utilize vehicle queueing for student or customer pick up and drop off:

(1)

provide adequate stacking for vehicles based on a parking study approved by city manager or his/her designee ensuring that vehicles will not queue into the right-of-way and maintain safe vehicle circulation which provides adequate access to the site for emergency services.

(Ord. No. 1641, § 1(Exh. A), 8-9-22)

(a)

Carports are a permitted encroachment in the front-yard setback in the following residential districts: R-1; R-2A; R-2B; R-2C and R-3, provided such carports comply with the following:

(1)

Each resident within the city intending to construct a carport must obtain a permit with the development services department.

(2)

The development services department may issue the permit if the applicant presents construction or design plans that meet all the following requirements:

a.

A one-story standard structure extension as a carport is allowed to extend into the front set back of the residential structure.

b.

Carports may only be constructed material approved for use by a national model code, published within the last three code cycles, applicable to the construction, renovation, maintenance, or other alteration of the carport. All materials must meet the manufacturer's approved specifications.

c.

The carport shall have three open sides, no walls allowed.

d.

A carport may extend into the front setback of a residential structure not closer than five feet from the front property line (which is generally 15 feet from the curb).

e.

All carports must comply with all building codes and all other codes adopted by the city, as amended.

f.

The carport shall not exceed 20 feet in width and have a maximum, interior height clearance of ten feet. In the event special construction circumstances exist and compliance is unattainable, the building official shall address the issue and ensure compliance with the city's building standards.

g.

At any time that the materials of the carport is showing wear or is damaged to the extent that it will allow for the elements to enter, it must be replaced at the expense of the owner.

h.

If the property is located in a homeowner's association, and there are restrictive covenants in place that provide restrictions for those properties, the owner is required to provide a signed affidavit stating that proposed carport meets these restrictive covenants.

(3)

Any request with deviations from these standards, regulations and guidelines are required file for a variance and proceed to the board of adjustment.

(Ord. No. 1641, § 1(Exh. A), 8-9-22)