Longmeadow City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Off-Street Parking and Loading Standards
§ 315-49 Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to ensure that all zoning districts are provided with adequate off-street parking and loading facilities to meet the needs of persons employed at and/or utilizing such uses; to ensure that off-street parking and loading areas are designed so as to reduce hazards to pedestrians and drivers; to reduce congestion in the streets; and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public in the Town of Longmeadow.
§ 315-50 General regulations.
A.
With the exception of single- and two-family dwellings, any new structure or the enlargement of an existing structure or the extension or change of an existing use shall be required to provide off-street parking and loading and unloading areas in accordance with the provisions of this bylaw. Fire lanes shall be provided, designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations, 527 CMR 1.00. No building permit shall be issued until the Zoning Board of Appeals has found that such structure or use is in accordance with the provisions of this bylaw.
[Amended 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 25, approved 3-29-2023]
B.
The Zoning Board of Appeals may require off-street parking spaces or loading and unloading areas, standards, or conditions in addition to those set forth in this bylaw, if it deems it necessary for the use.
C.
The Zoning Board of Appeals may grant a variance to allow the reduction of the minimum number of required parking spaces to not less than 75% of the total required by this bylaw where conditions unique to the site reasonably justify such a reduction.
D.
When the computation of required spaces results in a fractional space, any fraction of 1/2 or more shall require one space.
E.
The parking spaces required by the provisions of this bylaw shall be located on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve, or on an immediately adjacent lot as long as said lot is located within the same zoning district or within different zoning districts that allow the same use.
F.
No parking space shall be used for any storage of material or equipment, including snow and waste disposal facilities, dumpsters, or display of merchandise, or any purpose or activity which interferes with the availability of said space to meet any minimum applicable requirement of this bylaw.
G.
In no case shall the minimum required parking spaces be part of the area used to satisfy any minimum loading space requirements of this bylaw.
H.
Parking spaces needed for the storage, whether temporary or permanent, of business vehicles or any other vehicle related to the intended use shall not be used to meet any minimum applicable requirement of this bylaw.
I.
Any specific provision in any section of this bylaw shall prevail over provisions in this article.
§ 315-51 Parking space and area design requirements.
A.
With the exception of handicapped or compact spaces, each parking space shall have dimensions of not less than nine feet in width and not less than 18 feet in length and a minimum area of 162 square feet exclusive of adequate access to said space.
[Amended 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
B.
Up to 30% of parking spaces may be designed for compact cars with spaces measuring not less than eight feet by 16 feet. Compact car spaces shall be grouped together to the greatest possible extent in areas clearly designated for compact cars. Parking lots shall have a system of signs beginning at the entrance that clearly indicates the location of compact car spaces.
[1]
Editor's Note: This article also redesignated former Subsection B as Subsection C.
C.
All driveways and parking areas shall be designed with due regard to topography, integration with surrounding streets, general interior circulation and separation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic as to reduce hazards to pedestrians, motorists and property.
E.
Double-lane driveways shall be between 20 feet and 24 feet wide.
[Added 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
F.
Double-track, wheel strip, or ribbon driveways are permitted as follows:
[Added 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
G.
Driveways may be designed with impervious or semi-pervious materials, such as concrete, asphalt, macadam, brick, and stone. Gravel and crushed stone are permitted for residential driveways accessing parking areas with up to 10 spaces. Pervious materials such as porous asphalt or concrete, porous pavers, and reinforced grass blocks may be allowed in lower volume parking stalls or overflow parking areas. Note that snow storage should not coincide with these areas as plow piles may include sand, which will clog pervious pavement and prevent infiltration.
[Added 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
H.
Developments with proposed parking areas of 10 spaces or more shall provide a minimum of 10% of the total parking area as landscaped open space.
[Added 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
I.
All parking and loading facilities shall be laid out so that each vehicle may proceed to and from its parking space without requiring the movement of any other vehicle.
J.
All parking areas shall be designed so that vehicles will not need to encroach upon public property, and shall be designed so that vehicles will not need to back into the street.
K.
In no case shall any parking space or loading area be located less than 10 feet from a side, rear or front lot line or be located less than 10 feet from any structure.
L.
All parking area and access driveways shall be graded, surfaced and drained in accordance with acceptable engineering practices as to dispose of all water in an adequate manner to prevent nuisance of erosion or flow of surface water across public or private ways and abutting property.
M.
Lighting shall be provided to improve safety and visibility. Driveways and parking areas shall be illuminated in such a way that there shall be no glare for motorists, pedestrians or adjacent premises.
N.
Parking spaces and loading areas shall be effectively screened to provide visual relief on each side which adjoins or faces any residence zone, Elderly Residential Zone, Residential Condominium Reuse Zone or Elderly Congregate Residential Zone.
O.
No access drive shall be located closer than 40 feet to the intersection of any two streets or to any other access drive.
P.
All parking lots shall be landscaped according to the following standards:
[Added 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023[3]]
(1)
Visibility. To avoid landscape material blocking driver sight distance at driveway-street intersections, no plant material greater than 24 inches in height shall be located within 15 feet of a curb cut.
(2)
Parking bays shall extend no more than 20 parking spaces without an intervening tree, landscaped island, or landscape peninsula where landscaped end islands are provided. Where landscaped end islands are not provided, an equivalent landscaped area must be provided internally within the parking lot.
(3)
Landscape islands.
(a)
In addition to any pedestrian refuge areas, each landscaped island shall include two, minimum two-and-five-tenths-inch-caliper canopy deciduous trees, be of length greater than eight feet in its smallest dimension, include at least 80 square feet of ground area per tree to allow for root aeration, and have raised concrete curbs.
(b)
If landscaped islands are located in an area with existing soils classified in the NRCS hydrologic soil groups A/B, such that the existing soils are suitable for infiltrating stormwater runoff, the internal landscape areas may be installed at a lower grade than the parking lot pavement, and curbing shall allow drainage from the pavement to enter and percolate through the landscaped areas while simultaneously protecting the landscape materials.
(4)
Adherence to all existing engineering regulations and requirements.
Q.
The design of all access drives shall be approved by the Fire Chief.
§ 315-52 Handicapped space requirements.
A.
All parking facilities shall provide specifically designed parking spaces for the physically handicapped in accordance with the Architectural Access Board Rules and Regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. Such spaces shall be located nearest to the handicapped entrance to the use or building served.
B.
Handicapped spaces shall be clearly identified by signs indicating that the spaces are reserved for the physically handicapped.
§ 315-53 Mixed-use facilities.
[Amended 5-9-2023 ATM by Art. 32, approved 10-2-2023]
A structure or a lot containing more than one use is considered a mixed-use facility. The number of required parking spaces for a mixed-use facility shall be the sum of the various uses calculated separately.
In mixed-use developments, applicants may propose a reduction in parking requirements based on an analysis of peak demands for noncompeting uses. Up to 75% of the requirements for the predominant use may be waived by the Planning Board if the applicant can demonstrate that the peak demands for two uses do not overlap. An applicant may use the latest peak demand analyses published by the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE) or other source acceptable to the Planning Board. At its discretion, the Planning Board may commission an independent parking demand study, to be paid for by the applicant.
§ 315-54 Uses not outlined.
Any use not expressly included within this bylaw shall require the number of parking spaces for the closest similar use as determined by the Building Commissioner.
§ 315-55 Minimum parking space requirements.
A.
Definitions.
(1)
"Gross building area" shall be defined as total building area measured by outside dimensions at each floor level intended for occupancy or storage exclusive of basements and garages utilized solely as storage and utility areas.
(2)
"Number of employees on the largest shift" shall include unpaid persons engaged in any type of activity related to the use.
B.
All structures or uses that are required by § 315-50A of this article to comply with this article shall provide not less than the minimum parking spaces as set forth in the following Table of Minimum Parking Space Requirements herein below:
Principal Use | Required Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
Nursing home, assisted living complex or similar | 1 space for each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per 2 beds |
Child-care facility | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per 8 students |
Library or museum | 1 space per 400 square feet of gross building area |
Assembly place (church, gymnasium, theater, club or similar) | 1 space for each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per 4 persons of total design capacity |
Elementary or junior high school | 1 space per each employee and adequate space for visitors |
High school | 1 space per each employee and adequate space for visitors and student drivers |
College classroom building | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 5 spaces per classroom, plus minimum requirements for assembly places, including gymnasiums and auditoriums |
College dormitory | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per each room |
Food service facility (restaurant, delicatessen or similar) | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per 4 persons of total design capacity |
Professional office (attorney's office, bank, real estate office or travel agency or similar) | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross building area |
Government offices | 1 space per 300 square feet of gross building area |
Dentist or physician's office or health clinic | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 5 spaces per practitioner |
Retail stores or consumer services (pharmacy, convenience store, laundromat, clothing store, gift shop, florist) | 1 space per 200 square feet of gross building area |
Additional minimum requirements for any use or structure utilizing a drive through window or lane | 6 stacking spaces for each drive through window or lane |
Salon or barbershop | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 3 spaces per station |
Golf course | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 4 spaces per hole |
Gasoline or service station (exclusive of minimum requirements for retail store or other use) | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 2 spaces per service stall, plus 6 stacking spaces per pump area |
Any single retail use over 10,000 square feet | 6 spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross building area |
Funeral establishment | 1 space per each employee on the largest shift, plus 1 space per 3 persons of total design capacity |
§ 315-56 Loading and unloading area requirements.
A.
Each structure, parking area or mixed-use facility shall have one loading and unloading area for each 50 spaces of required minimum off-street parking as set forth in this bylaw.
B.
The loading and unloading area shall be designed and constructed to accommodate the largest vehicles likely to service the use of the property, but in no case shall the area be less than 12 feet in width and 25 in length, and the area shall be a minimum of 300 square feet and have a minimum of 14 feet of overhead clearance from the roadway grade.
[Amended 10-25-2022 STM by Art. 25, approved 3-29-2023]
C.
The loading and unloading areas required by the provisions of this bylaw shall be located on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve, or on an immediately adjacent lot as long the lot is located within the same zoning district or within different zoning districts that allow the same use.
D.
No loading or unloading areas shall be used for any storage of materials or equipment or display of merchandise or any purpose or activity which interferes with the availability of said loading or unloading area to meet the minimum applicable loading and unloading area requirement.
E.
In no case shall the minimum required parking spaces be part of the area used to satisfy any minimum loading space requirements of this bylaw.
F.
The loading and unloading areas shall be so located and designed that the vehicles intended to use them can maneuver safely and conveniently to and from a public right-of-way and complete loading and unloading operations without obstructing or interfering with any public or private right-of way or impeding the circulation of traffic within any off-street parking or driving area.