Lyme, CT Zoning Ordinance

§ 315-21.1 Parking facilities required.

[Amended 9-12-2022]

Off-street parking space shall be provided for the total of all uses on the premises, including agricultural (farm activities), adequate in size, layout and design to facilitate the free flow of traffic and the safe ingress and egress from the property. The number of parking spaces shall be sufficient to accommodate the motor vehicles of all occupants, employees, customers and other persons normally visiting such premises at any one time.

§ 315-21.2 Location of required parking facilities.

Required parking facilities shall be located on the same lot as the building or other use which they serve, except that the Planning and Zoning Commission may approve required parking facilities on another property within a radius of not more than 200 feet from such building or use, measured from the use or structure to the nearest off-site space for vehicular parking.

§ 315-21.3 Shared parking.

Joint parking areas may be established by the owners of adjacent lots in order to provide the total number of off-street parking spaces required for each lot, when the owners show that mutual access to such spaces is assured in writing for the duration of the uses for which the spaces are required. The Commission may authorize a particular number of parking spaces on a lot to be counted for compliance with the required number of spaces for more than one use on the lot, or on another lot, when the Commission determines that such spaces will be occupied by cars of persons using or visiting two or more such uses on the same trip to the parking space, and/or such spaces will serve uses having substantially different hours or days of operation.

§ 315-21.4 Parking space requirements.

Required parking facilities shall contain not less than the minimum areas set forth below, exclusive of driveways, aisles, pedestrianways and landscaping. Indoor parking may be included in the required area. For single-family dwellings, the driveway may be included in the required area. For purposes of this regulation, 200 square feet shall be the equivalent of one parking space, exclusive of access aisles, pedestrian walkways and landscaped areas.

For dwellings, 400 square feet for each family unit.

For office and for permitted home occupations, an area equal to twice the floor area used for such purpose.

For financial institutions, retail stores, personal service shops and similar business buildings, an area equal to three times the floor area used for business, excluding storage.

For churches, theaters, and assembly halls, 200 square feet for every three seats.

For restaurants, an area equal to 200 square feet for every three seats.

For places of public assembly or public recreation not otherwise listed, 200 square feet for every three legal occupants.

For marinas and similar docking facilities, 200 square feet for every two mooring spaces. This area shall not be used for storage of boat trailers during the boating season. In addition, there shall be 200 square feet of parking area for every two boats for which storage space is provided. With the approval of the Commission, a portion of the parking area may be used for winter boat and boat trailer storage as long as adequate parking remains for winter use of the property.

§ 315-21.5 Parking layout.

All off-street parking areas with more than five spaces shall include parking stalls of suitable angle, width and length, with access aisles of sufficient width and suitable alignment to such stalls as to allow safe and convenient use of each parking space. Safe pedestrian circulation shall also be provided. Suitable markings, curbs, end islands, landscaping, fences or other devices may be required to encourage proper and efficient use of each area.

A parking space for a one passenger automobile shall have a minimum width of 10 feet and a minimum length of 20 feet, exclusive of access to the space.

An off-street truck loading space shall have a minimum width of 10 feet, a minimum length of 25 feet, and a minimum clear height of 14 feet excluding its access from the street.

For all nonresidential uses, the Commission may require a landscaped buffer surrounding the parking area, and/or landscaping within the parking area, to define traffic flow, mitigate the impact of large areas of paved impervious surface on water quality, and assure that the development is in character with the neighborhood.

When more than five spaces are required, a map of said parking shall be submitted as part of a zoning permit application. The map shall include boundary screening and landscaping, landscaped islands, parking sites, traffic circulation patterns, loading areas, storm drainage facilities and traffic access, including driveways.

§ 315-21.6 Stormwater drainage and surfacing.

Parking areas and off-street loading surfaces shall have adequate stormwater drainage and all-weather surfacing, capable of allowing free and safe movement of all vehicles customarily using the facility. Such facilities shall be maintained in good condition by the owner.