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Merriam City Zoning Code

ARTICLE XIII

- OFF-STREET LOADING

Sec. 74-566. - Applicability.

In any zoning district, all structures built and all uses established hereafter shall provide accessory off-street loading spaces. When an existing structure is expanded, accessory off-street loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the following regulations for the area of such expansion.

(Ord. No. 54, art. 7, § 7-201, 12-4-1958)

Effective on: 1/1/1901

Sec. 74-567. - General provision.

  • Location. All required loading spaces or berths shall be located on the same lot as the use served. All motor vehicle loading berths which abut a residential district shall be completely screened therefrom by building walls or a uniformly painted solid fence, wall, door or any combination thereof, not less than six feet nor more than eight feet in height. No permitted or required loading space or berth shall be located within 40 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets or highways. No loading space or berth shall be located in a required front yard, and any loading space or berth located in a required rear yard shall be open to the sky.
  • Area. Unless otherwise specified, a required off-street loading space or berth shall be ten feet in width by at least 35 feet in length, exclusive of aisles, columns, ramps, work areas and maneuvering space and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet.
  • Access. Each required off-street loading space or berth shall be designated with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street, highway or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movement.
  • Surfacing. All open off-street loading shall be surfaced with hot mix asphalt or concrete.
  • Repair and service. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with any off-street loading facilities.
  • Utilization. Space allocated for any off-street loading berth shall not, while so allocated, be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street parking facilities or portions thereof.
  • Minimum facilities. Uses which require off-street loading facilities by this article but which are located in buildings that have a floor area less than the minimum required off-street loading facilities shall be provided with adequate receiving facilities accessible by motor vehicle, from any adjacent alley, service drive or open space on the same lot.

    • (Ord. No. 54, art. 7, § 7-202, 12-4-1958)

    Effective on: 1/1/1901

    Sec. 74-568. - Off-street loading berth requirements.

  • No off-street loading facilities are required in any residential district, except that elementary and intermediate schools shall provide at least one loading space for passenger automobiles for each 50 students based upon the designed maximum capacity of the school, plus school bus loading spaces.
  • On the same lot with every building or part thereof, erected hereafter in any commercial or industrial district, there shall be provided on the lot adequate space for motor vehicles to load and unload in order to avoid interference with the public streets or alleys. Such space shall include the following minimum off-street loading space:
    1. For banks, medical and dental clinics, and business and professional offices. One loading berth shall be provided for each building that contains 1,000 to 100,000 square feet of gross floor area; for each additional 100,000 square feet of gross floor area up to 500,000 square feet, one additional loading berth shall be provided, plus one additional loading berth for each additional 500,000 square feet of gross floor area or any fraction thereof in excess of 500,000 square feet.
    2. For amusement establishments, bowling alleys, pool halls, dance halls, gymnasiums, skating rinks and other similar amusement establishments. One loading berth for each building that contains 1,000 to 100,000 square feet of gross floor area; for each additional 100,000 square feet of gross floor area or any fraction thereof, one additional loading berth shall be provided.
    3. For hotels and motels, meeting halls, service and fraternal clubs, lodges, funeral parlors and mortuaries. one loading berth for buildings containing 1,000 to 150,000 square feet of gross floor area, plus one additional loading berth for each additional 150,000 square feet of gross floor area, or fraction thereof. Each such loading berth for buildings in excess of 20,000 square feet of gross floor area shall not be less than ten feet in width by 60 feet in length.
    4. For all other uses in the C-0 through C-3 districts, loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following table:
    • Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—252-(10' x 35' each)
    26—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1003-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—252-(10' x 35' each)
    26—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1003-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—252-(10' x 35' each)
    26—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1003-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—252-(10' x 35' each)
    26—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1003-(10' x 70' each)

    For each additional 200,000 square feet of gross floor area or any fraction thereof over 100,000 square feet of gross floor area, one additional loading berth shall be provided. Each such additional loading berth shall be at least ten feet in width by 70 feet in length.

      1. For all uses in the I-1 Industrial Districts, loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following table:
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1002-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1002-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1002-(10' x 70' each)
    Gross Floor Area of Establishments (thousands of square feet)Required Number and Size of Loading Berths
    1—101-(10' x 35')
    11—402-(10' x 70' each)
    41—1002-(10' x 70' each)

    For each additional 100,000 square feet of gross floor area or any fraction thereof over 100,000 square feet of gross floor area, one additional loading berth shall be provided. Each such additional loading berth shall be at least ten feet in width by 60 feet in length.

    (Ord. No. 54, art. 7, § 7-203, 12-4-1958)

    Effective on: 1/1/1901

    Secs. 74-569—74-599. - Reserved.

    Effective on: 1/1/1901