The purpose of this chapter is to reduce street congestion and traffic hazards and to increase the safety and convenience of citizens by providing adequate, attractively designed, and functional facilities for off-street parking and loading. Where parking requirements in this section conflict with those specified in a particular zoning district, the requirements contained in the specific zoning district shall control. The parking standards in this section do not apply to agricultural and winery uses. This chapter is also intended to promote non-automotive transportation and promote transportation/parking management programs.

(Ord. 1260 § 4, 2005: Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)

Off-street parking spaces and specified non automotive transportation and transportation/parking management programs for use by occupants, guests, clients, customers and visitors shall be provided on-site in accordance with Section 18.110.030 at the time any building or structure is constructed, erected or modified, or a new use is established.

(Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)

* Where the computation of required parking spaces produces a fractional result, fractions of one-third or greater shall require one full parking space.

** An employee means full time or the equivalent of full time.

(Ord. 1234 § 13, 2004: Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999; Ord. No. 1423, § 6, 9-26-2017; Ord. No. 1456, § 6, 2-11-2020; Ord. No. 1495, § 52, 9-24-2024)

A.

Parking Limits. The commission or zoning administrator may in its discretion establish a maximum number of parking spaces where the proposed number of spaces exceeds these standards.

B.

Bicycle Parking. Bicycle parking facilities shall be provided for all nonresidential uses as specified below:

1.

Each bicycle parking space shall be not less than six feet long by two feet wide and shall include a parking rack capable of supporting bicycles of various sizes in a vertical position. Parking racks shall be securely fastened to the ground or lot surface and be of sufficient structural strength to resist vandalism and theft. All bicycle parking spaces shall be located in a safe, secure area and, when feasible, near the entrance to the building.

2.

If the automobile parking requirement is twenty spaces or more, one-half of the total bicycle parking required shall be covered. Covered spaces shall not be located within any required yard area. Design of the covered area shall be consistent with the project building design. Alternately, covered space requirements may be satisfied by use of bicycle lockers or within the building if readily accessible to the outside. All required bicycle parking spaces shall be shown on plans submitted for permit approval.

C.

Compact Car Spaces. Thirty-five percent of the required parking spaces shall be designed for compact or small cars. Compact car spaces shall be designed and located in conformance with the Napa County Road and Street Standards.

D.

Cumulative Parking Requirements. When two or more uses are located in the same building or parcel and share common parking facilities, the parking requirements shall be the sum of the separate requirements for each use, except as may be provided for in this chapter.

E.

Cooperative Parking Facilities. The parking requirements for two or more uses of the same or different types on the same parcel, may be reduced by the commission or zoning administrator if it can be demonstrated that the nature of the uses of the facility will result in multi-purpose trips being made to the site or trips being made to individual uses at different times of the day or week. This reduction may not exceed ten percent of the total number of spaces that would be required if each use was assessed independently.

F.

Shared Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities may be shared by two or more commercial uses located on contiguous parcels located in the same zoning district provided that both uses:

1.

Receive a use permit which establishes appropriate design criteria and conditions along with periodic review to evaluate the sufficiency of parking facilities;

2.

Submits written documentation in a form acceptable to county counsel which is signed by all parcel owners wishing to share parking facilities, guarantees maintenance of the parking facilities, specifies the hours of operation of each use, and the term of the agreement;

3.

Submits an acceptable signage program which will notify users at all location(s) of shared parking facilities;

4.

Demonstrates how the shared parking arrangement will further the intent of this chapter.

5.

Permission for a shared parking arrangement shall automatically terminate, and the full parking requirements shall be promptly met, if the written agreement specified in subsection F.2. lapses.

G.

Reduction in Parking Requirements for Non-Automobile Use Programs. The zoning administrator or commission may allow up to a ten percent reduction in parking requirements for commercial or industrial development if such development includes measures such as staggered work hours, provision of employee bus passes, provision of van pools/car pool/shuttle programs or the like and if there is an enforceable means to carry out the program.

(Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)

A.

Development and Maintenance.

1.

Except as may be otherwise authorized by this chapter, required parking spaces shall not be located in the required front yard, any required landscape setback or area provided by an applicable specific plan or any required exterior side yard.

2.

Entries to driveways along arterial collectors and minor streets shall be separated by a minimum distance of one hundred twenty-five feet or as required by the director of public works to ensure proper traffic circulation and safety. Minimum driveway separation from intersections shall be in accordance with the Napa County Road and Street Standards.

3.

Adjacent parking lots shall be connected whenever possible to minimize conflicts with traffic along intersecting streets.

4.

Curb cuts shall be kept to a minimum and driveways shall be shared whenever possible.

5.

All street parking areas shall be surfaced as required by the department of public works so as to dispose of all surface water from within the area. In no case shall such drainage be allowed to cross the surface of the sidewalks. The commission or zoning administrator may permit the use of alternate surface materials for off-street parking facilities if the applicant demonstrates that the alternate material can be designed and improved to facilitate permanent maintenance and surface water disposal.

6.

Parking spaces within a facility shall be clearly marked and delineated. For non residential use, wheel stops or curbing, separating public areas from landscaped areas, shall require permanent maintenance and disposal of surface water.

7.

The currently adopted County Road and Street Standards shall be used for dimensions in the development and arrangement of parking spaces, back up areas and parking areas.

B.

Minimum Dimensions for Parking Spaces.

1.

Off-street parking spaces shall be dimensioned in accordance with the Napa County Road and Street Standards.

C.

Lighting. Lighting may be required by the planning commission or zoning administrator as part of its review of the associated commercial or industrial use to enhance safe ingress and egress for both automobiles and parking lot uses. Any lighting provided in parking facilities shall:

1.

Be no taller than necessary to provide safe and efficient lighting of the areas;

2.

Be in scale with associated buildings;

3.

Utilize materials which are an integral part of the architecture and site development map;

4.

Not create a nuisance or hazard for aviation; and

5.

Be shielded so that the lighting source is not visible from off-site locations.

The planning commission or zoning administrator may require that site lighting, including building mounted fixtures, be turned off to reduce night time impacts on adjacent uses.

D.

Landscaping and Screening.

1.

All parking areas shall be screened from public streets.

2.

All parking areas shall provide interior landscaping for shade and visual enhancement. Parking lots shall be landscaped at a minimum ratio of one tree per six parking spaces for double-loaded stalls, and one tree per three spaces for single-loaded stalls.

3.

Parking lot landscaping shall utilize natural or adapted species appropriate for the site and shall include trees, shrubs and ground covers. The minimum tree size shall be fifteen gallon unless a larger size is specified by the planning commission or zoning administrator. Existing vegetation shall be incorporated into parking lot landscape.

4.

A landscape plan shall be submitted for review and approval by the planning, building and environmental services department prior to issuance of building permits or other administrative approvals to ensure consistency with this chapter. Plans shall be prepared by qualified professionals as determined by the director of the conservation development and planning department and shall specify the names of all plant species (botanical and common name), the numbers of plants of each species, the spacing and method of irrigation. All landscaping shall be permanently maintained.

5.

All landscaped areas shall be irrigated utilizing an automatic system, unless waived by the director. All landscaped areas shall utilize treated waste water for irrigation to the maximum extent possible.

6.

Landscape planting areas shall be provided between all buildings and parking areas, excluding loading and service areas.

7.

A minimum of ten square feet of landscaped area shall be provided for each parking space. This is in addition to the landscaping of required setback areas. The planning commission or zoning administrator may approve a different landscape standard as part of its review of discretionary permits, so long as the alternative standards meet the purpose and intent of this chapter.

8.

Perimeter parking lot landscaping shall include trees at thirty feet on center. Ground cover and continuous evergreen hedging or shrub clusters, shall be maintained at a maximum height of thirty-six inches. The planning commission or zoning administrator may approve alternative landscape treatments as part of its review of discretionary permits, so long as the alternative standards meet the purpose and intent of this chapter.

9.

All landscape improvements and plant material shall be consistent with applicable area or specific plans.

10.

Parking areas containing twenty or more spaces shall establish pedestrian crosswalks across the parking lot which shall connect building entries to sidewalks, pedestrian paths or outdoor use areas. Crosswalks shall incorporate appropriate special paving or treatment and landscaping to separate and define the pedestrian area from vehicular areas.

(Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)

(Ord. No. 1379, § 170, 1-29-2013)

A.

All service and loading areas shall be screened from public streets and adjacent properties with a combination of landscaping and fencing.

B.

Loading and service areas shall be designed and located so that the entire operation is conducted within the confines of the site.

C.

No service or loading areas shall be located within a required front yard, landscape or exterior yard setback.

D.

No loading or service area shall be situated in such a manner so as to face a state highway.

E.

All loading spaces shall have minimum dimensions of twelve feet by forty feet, with fourteen feet of vertical clearance.

F.

All loading spaces shall be paved and all outdoor storage areas and access ways shall at a minimum be surfaced with rolled rock.

G.

One loading space shall be provided for the first ten thousand square feet of gross building floor area plus one additional space for each forty thousand square feet of gross floor area above ten thousand square feet for uses devoted to storage/warehousing, manufacturing, processing or research. No loading space shall be required for buildings that are employed entirely for office use.

(Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)

The improvements resulting from application of any part of this chapter shall be constructed according to plans and specifications that meet the approval of the director of public works. The Napa County Road and Street Standards are incorporated herein by reference and, unless modified by the zoning administrator or commission pursuant to this chapter, shall apply as determined by the director of public works.

(Ord. 1161 § 2 (part), 1999)