It is the intent of this article that automobile parking spaces shall be provided and adequately maintained for the off-street storage of motor vehicles by occupants, employees, and patrons of each building and premise constructed, altered or enlarged under the provisions of this chapter. The number of off-street parking spaces prescribed in conjunction with all land or building uses shall be provided prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

(Ord. No. 152, 5-1-2006)

(a)   Application of floor area. The term usable floor area (UFA) shall be applied as defined in chapter 1.

(b)   Fractional space. When units of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces result in a fractional space, any fraction above one-half shall require one parking space.

(c)   Requirements for a use not mentioned. In the case of a use not specifically mentioned in this article, the zoning official shall determine the requirements of off-street parking based upon a similar listed use.

(d)   Use of parking areas.

   (1)   The storage of merchandise, inoperable motor vehicles, motor vehicles for sale, and the commercial service or repair of vehicles in parking areas is prohibited.

   (2)   Parking areas once designated shall not be changed to any other use unless and until equal space facilities are provided elsewhere subject to planning commission approval.

   (3)   Parking and storage of certain vehicles. In residential zoning districts, the storage of commercial vehicles shall be limited to one vehicle per residential dwelling which shall not exceed a G.V.W.R. of 15,000 pounds. Further, such commercial vehicles must be owned and operated by a member of the family residing in said dwelling and shall not be used for hauling garbage or refuse or other objectionable matter.

(e)   Building additions or other changes in floor area. Whenever a use requiring off-street parking is increased in floor area, or when interior building modifications result in an increase in capacity for any such use, additional parking shall be provided and maintained in the proper ratio to the increased floor area or capacity.

(f)   Joint use of parking areas. The joint use of parking facilities by two or more uses may be granted by the zoning official or the planning commission for uses requiring site plan review by the planning commission whenever such joint use is practical and satisfactory to each of the uses intended to be served, and when all requirements for location, design, and construction are met.

   (1)   Computing capacities. The space requirement for jointly used parking facilities shall be the sum of the individual requirements. If space requirements for individual uses occur at distinctly different times, the total of such off-street parking facilities required for joint use may be reduced below the sum total of the individual space requirements at the sole discretion of the zoning official, but shall not be reduced below the largest single use requirement.

   (2)   Record of agreement. An agreement between joint users shall be made a condition of site plan approval and a copy of such agreement shall be filed with the application for a building permit and recorded with the Register of Deeds of Ingham County. The agreement shall include a guarantee for continued use and maintenance of the parking facility by each party.

(g)   Parking space requirements.

   (1)   Table 100-5 in chapter 100 sets forth the minimum standards for the number of parking spaces required by type of land use.

   (2)   Parking space deferment. Where the property owner can demonstrate that the required amount of parking is excessive, the site plan approving body may waive the parking requirement and approve a parking area smaller than required. The parking area waived shall be designated as reserved parking area for possible future use. The site plan approving body may subsequently require the applicant to construct additional parking spaces upon a determination by said body that the reduced number of parking spaces is not adequate to meet the parking needs of the use and public safety and welfare is at risk. Upon such a determination, the applicant shall convert the reserved parking area into available parking spaces in compliance with said determination and the requirements of this article within six months of being so directed in writing by the zoning official. The approved site plan shall clearly identify the location of this reserved parking area including dimensions and dotted parking space layout, and no buildings, structures, or similar improvements shall be established in the reserved parking area. A notice clearly identifying the location and number of reserved parking spaces should be recorded with the Ingham County Register of Deeds by the owner as a condition of final site plan approval. This discretion shall be guided by the basis of determination set forth at section 94-191(f). This subsection shall apply only to office, commercial, and industrial uses that are required to provide more than 50 parking spaces.

(h)   Location of parking areas. All off-street parking areas shall be located on the same lot, or on the adjacent premises in the same district as the use they are intended to serve, with the following exceptions:

   (1)   Uses in the C-1 district. There shall be no off-street parking space requirements in the C-1 district for those uses which require 20 or less off-street parking spaces. Uses requiring more than 20 off-street parking spaces shall have their parking requirement determined by the planning commission. In making such a decision, the planning commission shall consider the availability of both public and private parking spaces.

   (2)   Uses in C-2 and C-3 districts. Parking on the premises or within 400 feet.

   (3)   Uses in M-1 and M-2 districts. Parking on the premises or within 800 feet.

   (4)   Public and quasi-public buildings, places of assembly, private clubs, associations and institutions. Parking on the premises or within 400 feet.

(i)   Parking lot plan review. Whenever six or more off-street parking spaces are required for a given use, plans and specifications for the construction or alteration of an off-street parking area shall be submitted to the zoning official before a building permit can be issued. Such plans and specifications shall indicate, to the satisfaction of the zoning official, the location, basis of capacity calculation, size, site design, surfacing, marking, lighting, drainage, curb cuts, entrances, exits, landscaping, and any other detailed feature essential to the complete design and construction of the parking area.

(j)   Site development standards. All off-street parking areas shall be designed, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards and requirements:

   (1)   Parking in the required front yard is prohibited in the RM, C-1, O-1, and O-2 districts. For residential uses in the AG, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, and R2F districts, that portion of a regularly constructed driveway extending in front of the required front yard setback line may be used for parking by up to two passenger vehicles. Front yard parking in the C-2, C-3, M-1, and M-2 districts is prohibited except upon a finding by the planning commission that such parking is a critical component of the operation of the particular use and that adequate provisions are included for the screening and landscaping of such parking area.

   (2)   Required parking areas including driveways shall be constructed from materials that provide a durable smooth and dustless surface, shall be drained properly, and shall be maintained in a safe and usable condition.

   (3)   A minimum area of 200 square feet with a minimum width of ten feet shall be provided for each vehicle parking space. Each space shall be definitely designated and reserved for parking purposes exclusive of space requirements for adequate ingress and egress. The planning commission may allow up to 20 percent of the spaces to be a minimum of 180 sq. ft. with a minimum width of nine feet in those cases where more than 40 spaces are required. For property zoned or used as single-family or two-family residential, the required minimum width shall be nine feet.

   (4)   Parking areas shall be so designed and marked as to provide for orderly and safe movement and storage of vehicles.

   (5)   Adequate ingress and egress to the parking area by means of clearly limited and defined drives shall be provided. Except for parking space provided for residential uses in the RS-1, RS-2, and RS-3 zones, drives for ingress and egress to the parking area shall be not less than 20 feet wide. For parking space provided for residential uses in the R2F zone, the zoning official may require a specified minimum drive width up to 20 feet for ingress and egress to the parking area if found necessary to ensure public safety due to the drive location, configuration, and visibility along the drive.

   (6)   Each parking space, within an off-street parking lot, shall be provided with adequate access by means of maneuvering lanes. Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited. The width of required maneuvering lanes may vary depending upon the proposed parking pattern, as follows:

      a.   For right angle parking patterns 75 to 90 degrees, the maneuvering lane width shall be a minimum of 20 feet for one-way traffic movement or a minimum of 24 feet for two-way traffic movement.

      b.   For parking patterns 54 to 74 degrees, the maneuvering lane width shall be a minimum of 15 feet.

      c.   For parking patterns 30 to 53 degrees, the maneuvering lane width shall be a minimum of 12 feet.

      d.   All maneuvering lane widths shall permit one-way traffic movement, except for the 90-degree pattern which may provide for two-way traffic movement.

      e.   Except for property used as residential in the RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, and R2F districts, adequate lighting shall be provided throughout the hours when the parking area is in operation. All lighting shall be so arranged as to reflect light away from any residential property adjacent to the parking area and any adjacent road or street.

      f.   Where a parking area or drive with a capacity of six or more vehicles adjoins a residential district, a landscaped buffer strip at minimum equivalent to the requirements of subsection 94-241(f)(1)b. of this chapter shall be provided between the parking area and the adjoining property.

   (7)   Parking for the disabled shall comply with the State of Michigan Barrier Free Rules, Public Act No. 1 of 1966, as amended. For uses where there may be a higher number of persons with disabilities, such as medical uses or senior housing, the site plan approving body may require a larger proportion of the parking spaces be barrier-free.

(k)   Signs. Parking area signage shall comply with applicable local, state and federal regulations.

(Ord. No. 152, 5-1-2006; Ord. No. 230, 9-28-2020)

(a)   Intent and purpose. Every manufacturing, storage, warehouse, department store, wholesale store, retail store, hotel, hospital, laundry, dairy, mortuary, restaurant, tavern and other uses similarly and customarily receiving or distributing goods by motor vehicle shall provide space on the premises for that number of delivery vehicles that will be at the premises at the same time on an average day of full use.

(b)   Additional parking space. Loading space required under this chapter shall be in addition to off-street parking space required under this chapter.

(c)   Space requirements. Adequate space shall be provided for loading and unloading services not less than 12 feet in width, 25 feet in length, and 14 feet in height, open or enclosed, for uses listed in table 100-6 in chapter 100, or for similar uses involving the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials or merchandise. There shall be no requirement of loading or unloading space in the C-1 district for property with direct access to an alley.

(d)   Access. Access to loading and unloading space shall be provided directly from a public street or alley and such space shall provide sufficient off-street maneuvering space as well as adequate ingress and egress to and from a street or alley.

(e)   Site requirements. Off-street loading spaces and access drives shall be paved, drained, lighted, and shall have appropriate bumper or wheel guards where needed. Any light used for illumination shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises and streets. Where any off-street loading space adjoins or abuts a lot used for residential, educational, recreational, or religious purposes, or abuts a residential district, a wall or solid fence not less than four feet in height shall be provided between the off-street loading space and said residential, educational, recreational, or religious lot or residential zone.

(Ord. No. 152, 5-1-2006)