The purpose of this Section is to provide minimum standards for off-street parking and loading in order to lessen congestion in the streets; to ensure adequate access and parking facilities for users of buildings; and to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare.

For all buildings or structures hereafter constructed, reconstructed, or expanded, off-street parking in the form of garages or areas made available exclusively for that purpose shall be provided. Such parking area shall be located entirely on private property, except the necessary drives may cross the right-of-way to connect the roadway with the parking area.

This issuance of a building permit shall require compliance with the parking area requirements as herein provided.

Dust-proofing of parking areas (as required herein) shall apply upon the issuance of a building permit.

Minimum number required: Off-street parking shall be provided in the amount specified below for the following uses. In the case of a use which is not specifically mentioned, the off-street parking requirements for a similar use shall apply. Similarity shall be determined by the Zoning Administrator. These requirements shall apply to each type of use regardless of the zoning district.

Method of computation:

Uses normally open or operated during daytime hours, including retail stores, personal service establishments (such as beauty shops and barber shops), and business service establishments (such as banks and offices) may share parking facilities with the following uses:

A written agreement for the joint use of the off-street parking facilities shall be properly drawn and executed by the parties concerned, approved as to form by the City Attorney, and filed with the application for a building permit.

Size Of Stalls. A required off-street parking space shall be a rectangle which is a minimum of nine (9) feet wide by nineteen (19) feet deep, placed at the prescribed angle so that it lies between the curb and the aisle; except that stalls fronting on curbs with grass adjacent, may be reduced to eighteen (18) feet.

Aisle Width. Aisles shall provide access to parking spaces and shall provide the necessary space for maneuvering into and out of each space. They may serve either double or single bays of parking. The width of aisles providing access and maneuvering space shall be as follows:

Ingress And Egress. Ingress and egress shall be by means of paved driveways not exceeding thirty-five (35) feet in width at points of connection with public streets. The minimum width of driveways for ingress and egress shall be the same as those specified above for aisles. Driveway width, for the purpose of this Section, shall include only the pavement and not the curbs and gutters. The distance of a parking area entrance drive from the intersection of two (2) streets, and the distance between curb cuts, shall be based on the following street design standards. All measurements shall be taken from the right-of-way lines.

Surfacing And Curbing. In Districts RR through DR, all off-street parking areas, driveways and access drives shall be improved with a permanent dust-free surface consisting of either concrete or asphalt. For concrete parking areas, driveways and access drives, or in the case of a driveway that is more than one hundred fifty (150) feet in length see Subsection (E)(2) below], the concrete approach, shall be a minimum of four (4) feet of concrete with no. four (4) rebar spaced twenty-four (24) feet on center in both directions or spaced twelve (12) feet when parallel. All concrete parking areas, driveways and access drives shall have a base of a minimum of four (4) feet not smaller than one-half (1/2) feet crushed stone. For asphalt parking areas, driveways and access drives, a minimum of a six (6) feet rolled stone base overlaid with a one and one-half (1 1/2) inches asphalt surface, or a four (4) feet asphalt base overlaid with a one and one-half (1 1/2) asphalt surface is required.

All new construction in Districts RR through DR platted after June 1, 2003, shall have concrete drives and parking, provided, that driveways more than one hundred fifty (150) feet in length may use a minimum of four (4) feet of asphalt, as long as the first ten (10) feet of the driveway approach at roadway is concrete and with at least a twenty-foot long concrete pad in front of the garage doors.

All access drives in commercial zoning districts shall have a boundary constructed of concrete curbing or an integral concrete sidewalk and curb with a vertical face. Access drives shall have a base of a minimum of six (6) inches not smaller than one-half (1/2) inch compacted crushed stone. All commercial access drives shall have a minimum of six (6) inches concrete with no. four (4) rebar spaced twenty-four (24) inches on center or other approved material and reinforcement.

Once the forms and reinforcement for the parking areas, driveways and access drives in all zoning districts are in place, the Building Official must inspect the forms and reinforcement prior to placement of concrete or asphalt.

Maintenance. Off-street parking areas shall be maintained in proper repair with a dust-free surface.

Drainage Facilities. For any use which will require a parking area to be newly constructed, added to, or altered in such a way as to affect drainage either on or off the site, as determined by the City, stormwater drainage plans, including grading plans, shall be submitted to and approved by the City, prior to the issuance of a building permit.

Permit Required. No person, firm, or corporation shall initiate construction of a new parking lot or driveway, or expansion of an existing parking lot or driveway, without first obtaining a permit for such development from the City. Construction or expansion of a parking lot or driveway does not include resurfacing or repainting an existing parking lot or driveway. Application for a permit shall be made upon the form provided and shall be accompanied by such information, plans and specifications as may be required.

Time Limit. All required off-street parking areas shall be ready for use, including the above surfacing requirement, before the issuance of an occupancy permit. An extension of time will be granted due to adverse weather conditions.

Off-street parking for single-family and duplex residential uses shall have no setback requirements.

Off-street parking for all other uses, including multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional uses, shall have a setback requirement of ten (10) feet from the front property line. A ten-foot side and rear setback shall be maintained for these uses if the lot abuts areas zoned for agricultural, or zoned or used for residential purposes.

The area between the property line and the parking setback line shall be used for landscaping and/or screening as required in Article VII.

For one and two-family dwellings: on the same lot as the building they are required to serve.

For three and four-family dwellings: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve. For the purpose of this requirement, a group of such uses constructed and maintained under single ownership or management that are contiguous shall be assumed to be on single lot or parcel of land.

For apartment houses containing four (4) or more dwelling units: on the same lot or parcel of land as the building they are required to serve, or on a separate lot or parcel of land not more than three hundred (300) feet from the nearest entrance to the main building being served, provided the lot or parcel of land selected for the parking facilities is located in an apartment district or a less restricted district.

For churches, hospitals, sanitariums, homes for the aged, convalescent homes, and other similar uses: the off-street parking facilities required shall be on the same lot or parcel of land as the main building or buildings being served or upon properties contiguous to that lot or parcel.

For uses other than those specified above, including commercial and industrial: off-street parking facilities shall be provided on the same lot or parcel of land as the main building being served, or on a separate lot or parcel of land not more than five hundred (500) feet from any entrance to the main building, provided the separate lot or parcel of land intended for the parking facilities is located in the same district as the principal permitted use or in a less restricted district.

Head-In Parking. Head-in parking from any public right-of-way, which would allow traffic to back out directly into the public right-of-way, shall not be permitted. This Subsection shall not apply to single-family and duplex residential use.

Off-street parking, not required under this Section, but voluntarily provided, shall comply with all the requirements with regard to location and construction.

Required spaces shall not be used for storage and shall be kept available for their parking function.

No trucks, tractors or trailers, excluding recreational vehicles, in excess of one (1) ton capacity shall be parked in a residential zone, except for deliveries.

Inoperative vehicles may not be stored or repaired (other than in enclosed garages) on the premises.

Location. Accessible parking spaces shall be located on the shortest possible accessible route of travel to an accessible building entrance. In facilities with multiple accessible building entrances with adjacent parking, accessible parking spaces shall be dispersed and located near the accessible entrances. When practical, the accessible route of travel shall not cross lanes for vehicular traffic. When crossing vehicle traffic lanes is necessary, the route of travel shall be designated and marked as a crosswalk.

Design And Construction. When accessible parking spaces are required by this Section, they shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following dimensions:

Signs. Every parking space required by this Section shall be identified by a sign, mounted on a pole or other structure between three (3) feet and five (5) feet above the parking surface, at the head of the parking space. The sign shall be at least twelve (12) inches by eighteen (18) inches.

Method Of Computation. Accessible parking spaces shall be counted as part of the total minimum number of parking spaces required by this Section.