Monroe Town City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Parking and Loading Space Requirements; Garages and Service Stations
§ 57-46 Provision for off-street parking required.
Off-street parking spaces for the storage or parking of passenger vehicles of occupants, employees and patrons of main buildings and structures hereafter erected or enlarged shall be provided and kept available in accessory private garages or in accessory private parking areas in amounts not less than specified in this article.
§ 57-47 Method of determining off-street parking requirements.
[Amended 9-16-2024 by L.L. No. 7-2024]
A.
The requirements for a simple use (e.g., a single-family residence or a retail store) shall be determined directly from the related provision of this section.
B.
The requirements for a use made up of several component uses (e.g., a bowling alley with auditorium seating and a restaurant and bar or a retail store and office building) shall be determined by establishing the requirements for each component use and adding them together.
C.
When the required number of spaces is determined to be a fraction, it shall be increased to the next highest whole number.
D.
If a use is not specifically listed in this article, the requirements shall be the same as for the most similarly listed use.
E.
At the time of individual site plan approval for uses located within a business park, the adequacy of accessory parking areas and truck loading spaces for that use shall be subject to review and determination by the Planning Board. After consideration of an appropriate parking needs study for the proposed use and the overall business park, the Board may reduce the actual parking area and/or loading spaces that would otherwise be required by this article by up to 25% in instances where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that the combination of uses within the business park will generate parking needs that do not overlap or will not occur simultaneously or that the actual parking requirements of the proposed use are less than would otherwise be required by this article.
F.
In appropriate cases, the Planning Board may reduce the number of parking spaces to be constructed prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy. As a condition of such reduction the applicant shall demonstrate that an appropriate area is available to meet the parking area requirements of this article, and such area shall be identified and reserved for parking purposes on the site plan for three years following approval of the site plan. The Planning Board may require the applicant to provide a sufficient bond to allow construction of the improvements in such parking area as a condition of site plan approval, and may require construction of the improvements at any time during that three-year period on its finding that the additional parking area is necessary to accommodate the actual parking requirements of the occupied site.
G.
At the time of individual site plan approval for uses located in the GB District, the adequacy of accessory parking and truck loading spaces shall be subject to review and determination by the Planning Board. After consideration of an appropriate parking needs analysis for the proposed site use, the Board may reduce the actual number of parking spaces and, if applicable, loading spaces that would otherwise be required by this article by up to 75% in instances where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning Board that the specific use or combination of uses on the site will be less than otherwise required by this article. Reference to this finding shall be included on the plan as well as in the Planning Board's approval resolution and filed with the Building Inspector. The Planning Board may require, at its option, that the site be capable of accommodating any portion of this reduced number of parking spaces and be bonded pursuant to § 57-47F.
H.
At the time of individual site plan approval for uses located within the HI District, the adequacy of accessory parking areas and truck loading spaces for that use shall be subject to review and determination by the Planning Board. After consideration of an appropriate parking needs study for the proposed use and the overall proposed use(s) in the HI District, the Board may reduce the actual parking area and/or loading spaces that would otherwise be required by this article by up to 40% in instances where it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Board that the combination of uses within the HI District will generate parking needs that do not overlap or will not occur simultaneously or that the actual parking requirements of the proposed use are less than would otherwise be required by this article.
§ 57-49 Parking area requirements for nonresidential uses; off-street parking requirements for residential uses.
A.
In all districts, the minimum required number of parking spaces to be provided in private garages or private parking areas accessory to main buildings or structures or uses of land permitted in any given district shall be in accordance with the following regulations:
(1)
Auditorium, convention hall, stadium, theater, dance instruction studio or other place of public assembly not otherwise classified: one parking space for each three fixed seats of capacity, or one parking space for each 40 square feet of floor area available to patrons in cases where the capacity is not determined by the number of fixed seats. Benches shall be deemed to have a capacity of one person for each 20 inches of length.
(2)
Bank or savings and loan association: one parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area of all stories of the building.
(3)
Billiard parlor: two parking spaces for each table.
(4)
Bowling alley: four parking spaces for each alley.
(5)
Building construction, involving 10 or more employees at one time: one parking space for each person customarily employed at any one period of time. Such parking spaces will not be required to be paved.
(6)
Charitable institution: one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area devoted to office or administrative use.
(7)
Club or lodge for social or civic purposes or community center building: one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area available to patrons.
(8)
Commercial swimming pool: one parking space for each 25 square feet of water surface area, exclusive of the water surface of wading pools.
(9)
Drive-through restaurant or refreshment stand or outdoor retail establishment: one parking space for each 40 square feet of building area devoted to retail sales and the display of goods for sale.
(10)
Automotive filling station, public garage or service station: sufficient parking spaces for all vehicles being serviced at one time and a minimum of five parking spaces.
(11)
Funeral home: one parking space for each 40 square feet of floor area devoted to assembly rooms for services.
(12)
Hospital: for in-patient uses, one parking space for each bed plus two parking spaces for each three persons customarily employed at any one period of time; for out-patient uses, including but not limited to emergency room, immediate care and any other outpatient clinical, testing or therapeutic uses, one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area used for such purposes.
(13)
Manufacturing or industrial establishment, wholesale establishment or distribution center: two parking spaces for each three employees customarily employed at one time.
(14)
Membership club: one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area available to patrons.
(15)
Offices and office buildings: one parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area or two parking spaces for each three employees customarily employed at one time, whichever is greater.
(16)
Neighborhood shopping center: one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area available to patrons.
(17)
Public library, art gallery or museum: one parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area available to patrons.
(18)
Research institute or laboratory: two parking spaces for each three employees customarily employed at one time.
(19)
Restaurant or tavern: one parking space for each 45 square feet of floor area.
(20)
Retail store, personal service store or studio or shop for custom work: one parking space for each 150 square feet of floor area available to patrons.
(21)
School: one parking space for each employee, or such number of parking spaces as are required for an auditorium, computed pursuant to Subsection A(1), whichever is the greater.
(22)
Wholesale warehouse and storage: one parking space for each 2,000 square feet of gross floor area or two spaces for each three persons customarily employed at any one period of time.
(23)
Veterinarian's establishment or animal hospital: one parking space for each 200 square feet of the facility area devoted to such use.
(24)
Medical office/arts building: one parking space for each 100 square feet of floor area or five parking spaces per licensed medical professional or per examination room, whichever is greater.
(25)
(Reserved)
(26)
Hotel: one parking space for each guest unit plus one parking space for each employee customarily employed at one time.
B.
Off-street parking requirements for residential uses shall be as follows:
(1)
One-family dwelling, attached or detached: two per unit.
(2)
Dwelling unit in a two-family building: two per unit.
(3)
Efficiency dwelling in a multiple dwelling group structure: 1.5 per unit and 1.0 per unit for senior citizen residences.
(4)
One-bedroom dwellings in a multiple dwelling group structure: 2.0 per unit and 1.5 per unit for senior citizen residences.
(5)
Two-bedroom dwellings in a multiple dwelling group structure: 2.5 per unit and 2.0 per unit for senior citizen residences.
(6)
Three-bedroom dwellings in a multiple dwelling group structure: 2.75 per unit.
§ 57-50 Required off-street truck-loading spaces.
Every building or structure, lot or land hereafter put into use for business or industrial purposes or for a hospital, which has an aggregate floor area of 4,800 square feet or more in an LI or HI District or of 15,000 square feet or more in any other district where such uses are permitted, shall be provided with off-street truck-loading spaces in accordance with the following schedule:
Square Feet of Aggregate Floor Area Devoted to Such Use | Required Number of Off-Street Truck- Loading Spaces |
|---|---|
4,800 to 25,000 in any LI or HI District | 1 |
15,000 to 25,000 in other districts | 1 |
25,001 to 40,000 in all districts | 2 |
40,001 to 100,000 in all districts | 3 |
Each additional 60,000 in all districts | 1 additional |
§ 57-51 Supplemental regulations.
A.
In all districts, an accessory garage or accessory parking area shall be subject to the applicable regulations for accessory buildings and uses prescribed in § 57-38.
B.
In all districts, an access drive to an accessory garage, parking area or truck-loading space may be located within a required side yard.
C.
In any residence district, a private garage or private parking area may be utilized only as an accessory to the main building, except that one parking space in a private garage accessory to a one-family or two-family dwelling may be rented to a person who is not a resident of the main building.
D.
In any residence district, not more than one commercial vehicle, with a gross weight limited to 3/4 of one ton, may be housed on any lot, and then only in a private garage, except that motorized equipment properly accessory to garden apartments or multiple dwellings may be housed, but only within a roofed enclosure.
E.
In any residence district, not more than 50% of the area of a minimum required rear yard shall be used as a parking area.
F.
In all districts, required garages or parking areas accessory to any permitted residence use shall be on the same lot with the main building or buildings or on an immediately adjacent lot in the same ownership.
G.
In all districts, required garages or parking areas accessory to any permitted nonresidential use shall be on the same lot or parcel of land with the main building, buildings or use, except that where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships, the Board of Appeals may grant a permit for a required parking area to be located on other property, subject to appropriate safeguards, within 500 feet of the property to which it is accessory, measured in a straight line between the nearest point of the property to be served. Such permit shall be subject to safeguards and conditions designed to assure the continuing availability of such parking area to serve the use to which it is accessory for a minimum term of 20 years; provided, however, that a different parking area may be substituted therefor at any time within such twenty-year period, on approval of the Board of Appeals and subject to similar safeguards and conditions.
H.
In all districts, required accessory parking areas and truck-loading spaces shall have safe and adequate access to a public street, either by a driveway on the same lot or by means of a permanent easement across an adjoining lot.
I.
In any nonresidential district, except in the LI District, an accessory parking area may be situated in whole or in part on the roof of the main building to which it is accessory.
J.
The adequacy of accessory parking areas and truck-loading spaces for special uses shall be subject to review and determination as an integral part of the review of the site plan by the Planning Board, as provided in the applicable provisions of this chapter.
K.
Accessory parking areas shall be marked off into parking spaces, each with a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of 18 feet, exclusive of access driveways and turning areas. The left and right sides of parking spaces shall be delineated by two four-inch-wide painted lines running the length of the parking space and separated by eight inches.
L.
An off-street truck-loading space shall have a minimum width of 10 feet, a minimum length of 25 feet and minimum clear height of 14 feet, including its access from the street.
M.
Accessory nonresidential parking areas and off-street truck-loading spaces shall be suitably paved, drained and lighted and appropriately planted and fenced for the protection of adjacent residential properties, in accordance with specifications of the Town. Driveways and turning areas shall be of adequate width and radii to assure ease of mobility, ample clearance and convenient access, egress and safety of vehicles and pedestrians. Such facilities shall be maintained in good condition by the owner.
N.
No required accessory parking area nor off-street truck-loading space shall be encroached upon by buildings, open storage or any other use.
O.
Accessory private garages may be constructed within or under any portion of a main building, provided that the access driveway does not at any point have a grade in excess of 10%.
P.
In all residence districts, wherever the average level of the ground within 10 feet of the street line at the front of the lot is eight feet or more above the curb level, an accessory private garage for not more than two cars may be located not less than 10 feet from such street line.
Q.
In private garages accessory to garden apartments, no repairing of cars shall be done, but washing of tenants' cars shall be permitted, if done without the aid of washing machinery.
R.
Private garages accessory to garden apartments shall conform in exterior architectural style and treatment to the architecture of the main building or buildings and shall be of similar materials.
S.
No manufacturing or industrial building or use of land and no wholesale business shall have any truck-loading space or spaces or access driveway for trucks within 30 feet of any residence district.
T.
Parking lots with more than 30 spaces shall devote at least 5% of the parking lot area to landscaping within the interior of the parking lot. Such landscaping shall be in addition to that which may be required along the property line and, at the Planning Board's option, shall include at least one tree for every eight parking spaces. Such landscaping shall be maintained in perpetuity by the site owner, his lessees or assigns.
§ 57-52 Access driveways.
All access driveways for a public garage, public parking area, filling station or service station may have separate or combined entrances and exits. Every separate-entrance or exit-access driveway shall have a minimum unobstructed width of 10 feet. Every combined-entrance and exit-access driveway shall have a minimum total unobstructed width of 20 feet.
§ 57-53 Additional requirements for garages and automotive filling (gasoline) stations.
A.
No public or private garage accommodating more than five vehicles and no automotive service or filling station shall be located or shall have an entrance or exit within 150 feet of the entrance to a public or a parochial school, private school, public library, theater, assembly hall, church, hospital, semipublic institution, public park, playground or fire station.
B.
All public garages and automotive service and filling stations shall be so arranged and all gasoline pumps shall be so placed as to permit all services to be rendered entirely within the lot lines. No gasoline or oil pump shall be placed within 10 feet of any street line or side lot line nor within 20 feet of any residence district boundary line.
§ 57-54 Exceptions and waivers.
A.
Nonapplicability to existing buildings and uses. The provisions of §§ 57-47 to 57-50, inclusive, shall not apply to any building, structure or use lawfully in existence at the effective date of this chapter, whether continued as a permitted or a nonconforming use or thereafter converted or changed without enlargement to a different lawful use.