Buildings and land uses in existence or for which building permits have been approved on the effective date of this amended chapter shall be subject to the parking or loading space requirements of this chapter on the date of such permit or the date the use was established, in the case of existing uses, provided that any parking and loading facilities then existing to serve such structures or uses shall not in the future be reduced except where they exceed such requirements, in which case they shall not be reduced below such requirements. Required parking and loading facilities shall, however, be provided as a condition for the issuance of any building permit for any enlargement of such structures or uses in the future, but, in the case of exceptional difficulty or unusual hardship to such properties arising out of this requirement, appeal may be made to the Board of Appeals. In acting upon such case, the Board of Appeals shall require such degree of compliance as it may deem reasonable for that part of the structure or use that is legally nonconforming but shall not waive any part of the requirement for that part of the structure or use that constitutes an enlargement or expansion and shall not permit reduction or elimination of whatever quantity of parking may already be in existence unless it is in excess of requirements.

Required off-street parking facilities which, after development, are later dedicated to and accepted by the Town shall be deemed to continue to serve the uses or structures for which they were originally provided.

Off-street motor vehicle parking facilities shall be provided as follows, except as provided above or where additional parking requirements may be made as a condition of the issuance of a special permit under Article IX, in which case provisions of that section shall apply:

Reasonable and appropriate off-street parking requirements for structures and land uses which do not fall within the categories listed above shall be determined in each case by the Board of Appeals, which shall consider all factors entering into the parking needs of such use.

Where two or more different uses occur on a single lot, the total amount of parking facilities to be provided shall be the sum of the requirements for each individual use on the lot, except that the Board of Appeals may approve the joint use of parking space by two or more establishments on the same or contiguous lots, the total capacity of which space is less than the sum of the spaces required for each, provided that the Board finds that the capacity to be provided will substantially meet the intent of the requirements by reason of variation in the probable time of maximum use by patrons or employees among such establishments, and provided that such approval of such joint use shall be automatically terminated upon the termination of the operation of any of such establishments.

In the B-R and SB-R Districts, the off-street parking requirements may be reduced by the Planning Board in the course of site plan review if the applicant demonstrates and the Planning Board finds that the capacity of such off-street parking is sufficient to meet the demands of such use or uses such as the case of shared parking by two or more different land uses. In no case shall such reduction be greater than 15% of that required by type of use.

The required off-street parking facilities for structures and land uses which are developed after the effective date of this chapter shall be provided on the same lot or premises with such structure or land use, except that off-street parking spaces required for structures or land uses on two adjoining lots may be provided in a single common facility on one or both of said lots, and except that the Board of Appeals may permit all or part of the required spaces to be located on any lot within 500 feet of the building, except in a residence district, if the Board determines that it is impractical to provide parking on the same lot with the building.

In residence districts:

No parking in connection with any nonresidential use shall be so located that motor vehicles may enter or leave the parking area across a sidewalk except at a point or points approved as part of a plan, as required by § 240-76.

No parking required for a business use in a business district may be provided in a residence district.

Parking areas shall be laid out so that vehicles will not be required to back into the public highway when leaving the parking area.

Off-street parking facilities developed to meet the requirements of § 240-78A or B for residence uses shall be made available to the tenants or owners on a basis equal to the lowest whole number listed in § 240-78 without charge or fee.

Off-street parking for all other uses shall be available for owners, employees and customers. Customer parking for retail, wholesale or office uses must be kept available as 10% of required parking, with a minimum of two spaces. Vehicles displayed for sale or rent may not use areas required as off-street parking pursuant to § 240-78A and B.

For retail and service business establishments, restaurants and other places serving food and beverages, where the ground floor area exceeds 2,000 square feet: one space for the first 4,000 square feet of floor area or major portion thereof used for business purposes and one additional space for each additional 10,000 square feet of business floor space or major portion thereof.

For wholesale businesses, storage warehouses, manufacturing or industrial establishments: one space for each 10,000 square feet or major portion thereof used for such purposes.

Reasonable and appropriate off-street loading requirements for structures and land uses which do not fall within the categories listed above shall be determined, in each case, by the Board of Appeals, which shall consider all factors entering into the loading and unloading needs of such use.