1.   Findings, Purpose, and Administration.

   a)   Findings. The City of Minnetonka finds that:

      1)   Parking requirements should promote public health, safety, and welfare.

      2)   Parking requirements can significantly influence land use density and design and, in doing so, influence the overall aesthetic of a community.

      3)   Parking requirements and resulting parking availability can influence the decisions of property owners, business owners, developers, and consumers.

      4)   Parking requirements can result in increased impervious surfaces and stormwater runoff while reducing groundwater recharge and areas for vegetation and other impervious site amenities.

      5)   Parking requirements alone do not determine parking availability. Rather, parking demand for any land use, and thereby parking availability, can change based on business practices, consumer decisions, and household composition. For example, a business may promote teleworking, the popularity of restaurants may vary over time, and households may have more or fewer cars as members of households age.

   b)   Purpose. Consistent with the findings above, the purpose of the section is to establish parking regulations that promote public health, safety, and welfare by:

      1)   Ensuring that the average parking demand associated with new and existing land uses can be reasonably met.

      2)   Providing flexibility in parking regulations in support of city goals related to community aesthetics, environmental protection, and economic sustainability.

   c)   Administration.

      1)   Administration and enforcement of this section 315.14 is governed by Section 300.03.

      2)   Citation. This section 315.14 may be cited as the Minnetonka parking ordinance.

      3)   Severability. Every section, subdivision, clause, or phrase of this section 315.14 is declared separable from every other section, subdivision, clause, or phrase. If any such part is held to be invalid by a competent authority, no other part is invalidated by such action or decision.

2.   Definitions. For the purpose of this ordinance, the terms below have the meaning given to them:

   a)   “Assembly use” – a building or facility where a group of people gathers for specific purposes. Examples include educational buildings, religious facilities, fraternal clubs, sporting venues, community centers, and theaters.

   b)   “Bicycle parking facilities” – bicycle storing equipment that accommodates secure parking of multiple bicycles.

   c)   “Charging station” – a parking space served by charging equipment that conducts energy to a battery or storage device to a vehicle that operates on something other than fossil fuels.

   d)   “Daycare service” – service use that provides care to persons or animals for periods of less than 24 hours per day. This definition does not apply to uses operating as a permitted or accessory use under Sections 300.10, 300.11, 300.12, 300.13, 300.14, or 300.37.

   e)   “Healthcare service” – service use that includes areas for patient examination and treatment by physicians or dentists. Examples include hospitals, medical clinics, or dental clinics serving human or animal clients. Conversely, uses focused on mental health – such as psychiatry, psychology, or therapist offices - are considered personal care/wellness services uses for the purpose of calculating parking requirements.

   f)   “Low turnover use” – residential, office, industrial use, and other uses with similar traffic characteristics, as determined by the city planner.

   g)   “Personal care/wellness services” – service use catering to personal care. Examples include psychiatry, psychology, or therapist offices, licensed chiropractor offices, hair and nail salons, licensed massage facilities, weight loss centers, athletic clubs, and workout facilities.

   h)   “Proof-of-Parking” – parking stalls illustrated on site plans, which meet minimum design standards of this ordinance, but are not constructed.

   i)   “Restaurant, with table service” – a restaurant in which wait staff take orders for food or drink from customers in a seating area. Sometimes called “sit-down restaurants.”

   j)   “Restaurant, without table service” – a restaurant in which customers place orders for food or drink at a counter or via a computer or phone application and where seating is provided for the consumption of the food or drink. Examples include fast food restaurants, coffee shops, donut shops, or other similar food or drink-related spaces.

   k)   “Restaurant, without seating” – a restaurant in which customers place orders for food or drink at a counter or via a computer or phone application and where no seating is provided for the consumption of the food or drink. Examples include take-out only businesses.

   l)   “Visitor parking” – parking stalls designated for use by non-residents of a multi- household dwelling.

3.   Numerical Requirements.

   a)   General Parking. The change of use, tenancy, or occupancy of a parcel of land or building may change the parking demand associated with that parcel of land or building. To accommodate demand, the city will calculate parking requirements as outlined in this section.

      1)   Unless otherwise excepted by Section 3(b) or 3(c) below, parking stalls must be provided for uses in conformance with the following parking rates. Square footage is based on gross floor area, except as otherwise noted.

 

      2)   The parking requirement for a site will be calculated based on its component uses. For example, the total required parking for a hotel that includes a sit-down restaurant would be equal to 0.75 space per guest room (hotel parking rate) + 14 stalls per 1,000 square feet of restaurant space (restaurant with table service rate).

      3)   The parking requirement for uses not specifically outlined in this ordinance will be determined by the city planner based upon: (1) available published parking standards such as those compiled by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and American Planning Association; (2) observed local demand; or (3) a combination thereof.

      4)   When calculating parking, if the resulting number for the entire site is a fraction, the number will be rounded up to the closest whole number.

   b)   Existing Development. When the city has documented that parking demand regularly exceeds parking supply on or around a particular property or building, the city may require that a parking study be conducted prior to a change in use, tenancy, or occupancy of the property or building. The results of the study may result in conditions of approval, including but not limited to providing additional parking, or findings for denial.

   c)   Reduced Parking. The city may approve land use with parking stalls at a rate less than outlined in Table 1 without variance, if:

      1)   A parking study suggests fewer parking spaces would reasonably meet average parking demand. Such parking studies may be completed by city staff or a consultant hired by the city and referencing: (1) available published parking standards such as those compiled by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and American Planning Association; (2) observed local demand; or (3) a combination thereof. A memo outlining the results of the parking study must be saved in the associated building permit file or other appropriate city- maintained file; or

      2)   A travel demand management (TDM) plan is approved by the city. The plan may include a combination of modes of transportation, hours of operation, remote work options, incentives, and facilities that reduce parking demand. A memo outlining the TDM and any required reporting must be saved in the associated building permit file or another appropriate city-maintained file.

   d)   Proof-of-Parking. The city may allow the use of proof-of-parking to achieve parking requirements. The parking area must meet the setback, dimension, and maneuverability standards of this ordinance and the stormwater management rules as outlined in the city’s water resources management plan. When proof of parking is approved, an agreement must be recorded against the property outlining: (1) the proof-of-parking may not be constructed unless the city observes that parking demand regularly exceeds parking supply and approves such construction in writing; and (2) the property owner and successors are responsible for the cost of the parking lot and stormwater management facility construction.

   e)   Event Parking. The city may require that land uses provide a plan outlining how parking will be managed during reoccurring, high parking demand events.

4.   Design Requirements.

 

 

   b)   Visitor Parking. Visitor parking, whether enclosed or unenclosed, must be fully accessible to the public. No gates, doors, or other physical barriers may be erected to limit access to the parking area. In addition: (1) appropriate signage must be installed to direct visitors to the parking; and (2) the stalls and drive aisles must meet setback, dimension, and maneuverability standards of this ordinance.

   c)   Setbacks. Minimum setbacks for parking lots, driving aisles, loading spaces, and maneuvering areas are as follows:

 

      1)   For subject properties that contain multiple uses, the most restrictive setback outlined in Table 3 will apply.

      2)   If property lines bisect shared parking elements, the setback requirements do not apply. For example, if individual tenants in a retail center own a portion of a parking lot which serves the entire center, setbacks are not required between the separately owned areas, provided there is a recorded agreement outlining shared access and parking use.

   d)   Dimensions. Minimum parking stall and drive width dimensions are as follows:

 

   In addition: (1) all required parking spaces must be accessed by adequate maneuvering space; and (2) all dead-end parking rows must contain a turnaround area at least 13 feet deep.

   e)   Compact Parking. The city may allow low-turnover uses to use compact parking stalls, as follows:

      1)   The parking lot serving the use must contain at least 20 parking stalls.

      2)   No more than 25 percent of the total required stalls may be compact stalls.

      3)   Compact stalls must be appropriately signed.

   f)   Loading and Unloading. Except on properties containing single-household attached and detached dwellings, parking must be provided for site services including, but not limited to, garbage collection, moving trucks, and inventory delivery.

      1)   The city may require parking spaces for the loading, unloading, or parking of trucks or semi-trailers. The number, configuration, and location of such spaces will be determined by the city based on individual use and site characteristics with an emphasis on minimizing interference with the use of the public right-of-way.

      2)   Loading and unloading spaces and the associated maneuvering area must be set back at least 50 feet from properties containing single-household attached or detached dwellings.

      3)   Unless approved by the city based on unique site characteristic or existing or proposed screening, loading and loading spaces must be located behind the building being served.

   g)   Landscaping.All parking lots containing over 150 stalls must be designed with unpaved, landscaped islands consistent with City Code Section 300.27 Subd. 16.

   h)   Construction. Parking improvements, including pavement expansion, reduction, or restriping, require city approval.

      1)   Properties containing or being developed for single-household dwellings must comply with Section 1105 of this code.

      2)   On all other properties:

         a.   All parking and loading areas, aisles, and driveways must be bordered with raised concrete curbs or equivalent approved by the city.

         b.   All parking, loading, and driveway areas must be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, or equivalent material approved by the city.

         c.   All parking stalls must be marked with painted lines not less than four inches wide in accordance with the approved site and building plan.

         d.   All parking lots must provide islands for traffic control as needed.

          e.   Parking lots must be designed such that vehicles are not required to back into public rights-of-way. The city may require turnaround areas to prevent such maneuvers.

   i)   Off-Site Parking. Required parking must be provided on-site. However, the city may allow off-site parking when an applicant demonstrates that the off-site parking will be:

      1)   Reasonably accessible from the use being served, as determined by the city planner; and

      2)   Protected by a recorded document. The document must be acceptable to the city and must include provisions binding any successor or assigns and allowing termination only as agreeable to the city.

5.   Miscellaneous Requirements.

   a)   Occupancy. Parking required under this ordinance must be fully constructed and striped, where required, before occupancy of a parcel of land or building served by the parking.

   b)   Accessible Parking. In addition to the standards outlined in this ordinance, all parking areas must conform to the requirements of Minnesota State Accessibility Code, Chapter 1341. Areas striped as “no parking” for accessibility purposes are not considered parking stalls.

   c)   Bike Parking. New construction, redevelopment, or other proposals requiring planning commission or city council review must provide bicycle parking as outlined below. Single-household dwellings are exempt from these requirements.

      1)   Multi-household Dwellings. The number of bicycle parking spaces provided must be at least equal to the required number of automobile parking spaces and must be located interior to the building(s). Spaces may be within bike storage rooms, lockers, or floor or wall-mounted racks.

      2)   Non-Residential Dwellings. The number of bicycle parking spaces provided must be at least equal to ten percent (10%) of the required number of automobile parking spaces.

      3)   Bike parking must be visible, well-lit, and at least as conveniently located as the most convenient automobile spaces, other than those spaces for accessible parking.

      4)   Spaces must be of sufficient dimension to accommodate a full-sized bicycle, including space for access and maneuvering.

      5)   Bicycle parking facilities must be appropriately separated from motor vehicle parking areas to protect parked bicycles from damage by motor vehicles.

      6)   Bicycle parking facilities must be visually compatible with the architectural design of the associated building(s).

      7)   Bicycle parking must be securely anchored and must allow the bicycle wheel and frame to be locked to the facility.

   d)   Charging Stations. New construction, redevelopment, or other proposals requiring planning commission or city council review are encouraged to appropriately plan for charging stations. Planning may include actual installation of stations, installation of station infrastructure, or installation of conduit to minimize site disruption for future installation of infrastructure. Projects receiving financial assistance from the city may be required to install charging stations as a percentage of total required parking.

   e)   Prohibitions

      1)   Parking lots, driving aisles, loading spaces, and maneuvering areas may not be used for the storage, display, sales, or rental of goods; repair of vehicles; or storage of snow unless approved by city staff.

      2)   Gates or other limiting devices are prohibited unless approved in writing by city planning and emergency management staff.

(Added by Ord. No. 2022-18, effective November 14, 2022; Amended by Ord. No. 2023-04, Effective May 18, 2023.)