New Lebanon City Zoning Code
§ 205-9
Off street parking and loading.
A.
Off-street parking. Off-street parking space shall be required for all buildings constructed after the effective date hereof, and no off-street parking or loading area shall be constructed or provided until a site plan describing such parking and loading improvements has been approved by the Planning Board.
(1)
Each off-street parking space shall consist of at least 180 square feet with a minimum width of eight feet.
(3)
The Planning Board shall determine reasonable and appropriate off-street parking requirements based on the guidelines set forth below. The number and layout of parking spaces shall be based on the need to protect public safety and convenience while minimizing harm to the character of the community and to environmental, historic and scenic resources. Since businesses vary widely in their need for off-street parking, it is most appropriate to establish parking requirements based on the specific operational characteristics of the proposed uses. In determining the parking requirements for any proposed use, the Planning Board shall consider the maximum number of persons who use the parking lot at times of peak usage. The recommended number of spaces for off-street parking is detailed below. For structures and uses which do not come within the following guidelines, the Planning Board shall determine reasonable parking requirements, taking into consideration all factors entering into the parking needs of each such case as part of their site plan or special permit study and review.
(4)
Where practicable, all off-street parking shall be located to the rear or side of the building and to the rear of the front building line of the building it serves. Where it is not practicable to locate off-street parking in this manner, the Planning Board may require screening of such parking, such as with a stone wall, landscaped berm, and/or landscaping sufficient to effectively screen from view the automobiles parked therein when viewed from the street or walkway.
(5)
No improvement that is a part of any off-street parking facility shall be located closer than five feet from any lot line exclusive of any driveway providing access for such facility.
(6)
Parking shall not dominate any site when viewed from the street providing frontage for such site. No off-street parking shall be located within any required open space.
(7)
Large uninterrupted areas of parking stalls that significantly reduce the continuity or quality of natural open space shall not be permitted. Off-street parking shall be developed as small (6,000 square feet to 12,000 square feet), well-distributed and landscaped areas, interconnected by driveways and walkways that provide visual relief.
(8)
(9)
All off-street parking shall be graded and maintained to the extent necessary to avoid nuisances of dust, erosion or excessive stormwater flow onto or across walkways, streets or adjacent lands.
(10)
All off-street parking for more than five vehicles shall be marked in accordance with generally accepted standards or applicable regulations to identify individual parking stalls, maneuvering aisles, pedestrian crossings, handicap spaces, entrances, exits, vehicle movement and fire lanes.
(11)
Any off-street parking for 20 or more vehicles should provide curbed planting islands or beds within the parking area equal in total area to 15% of the total square footage of all stalls and aisles.
(12)
Guide to off-street parking.
[Amended 11-10-2020 by L.L. No. 3-2020]
Guide to Off-Street Parking | |
|---|---|
Use | Spaces |
Dwellings | 1 space for each dwelling unit |
Boardinghouse, tourist home, motel, hotel, short-term rental | 1 space for each guest room |
Administrative, professional nonprofit, governmental | 1 space for each 200 square feet of floor space |
Funeral home | 10 spaces, plus space for all employee and resident personal cars |
Church or temple | 1 space for each 5 seating spaces in the main assembly room |
School: elementary, junior high | 1 space for each teacher or employee |
School: senior high | 1 space for each classroom or office and 1 space for each 10 students |
Theater or other place of assembly | 1 space for each 5 seating spaces |
Nursing or convalescent home | 1 space for each 4 beds |
Retail store or bank | 1 space for each 50 square feet of floor space devoted to customer use |
Clubs and restaurants | 1 space for each 4 seating spaces |
Bowling alley | 5 spaces for each alley |
Industrial or manufacturing | 1 space for each 2 employees on the maximum working shift |
Skating rink or dance hall | 1 space for each 100 square feet of floor space |
Automobile racing facility | 1 space for each 3 seating spaces |
Barbershop or beauty parlor | 1 space per chair |
Cleaner or tailor | 2 spaces for establishment plus space for all employees |
Professional offices | Adequate spaces for customers/personnel |
All other uses | Same as for professional office |
B.
Off-street parking landscaping.
(1)
All parking lots for more than 10 cars shall be landscaped. Any planting bed located within a parking lot should contain at least one tree and such other plant materials as are recommended by a landscape design professional, architect or engineer for such location for purposes of establishing vertical interruption and definition to vehicular movement.
(2)
Any required street parkway or median should include trees, shrubs, ground cover and grass as appropriate to minimize impervious materials and to provide definition for any walkway contained therein.
C.
All open parking areas shall be properly drained.
D.
Required parking spaces may be provided in areas designed to jointly serve two or more establishments, whether or not located on the same lot, and the number of required spaces in such joint facilities shall not be less than the total required for all such establishments.
E.
When any lot contains two or more uses having differing parking requirements, the parking requirements for each use shall apply to the extent of that use. Where it can be conclusively demonstrated that one or more such uses will be generating a demand for parking spaces primarily during periods when the other use or uses is not or are not in operation, the Planning Board may reduce the total number of parking spaces required for that use with the least requirement.
F.
Lighting in parking lots. The Planning Board may require that lighting in parking lots be extinguished within one hour of the end of closing. Building security lights on motion detector switches are acceptable. Parking areas in which lights are necessary all night shall be lighted in a manner that does not result in glare to adjacent residential properties or cause traffic hazards due to glare.
G.
Future parking. The Planning Board may require that an applicant set aside additional land to meet potential future parking needs. Such land may remain in its natural state or be landscaped but may not be used in a manner that would prevent it from being used for parking in the future.
H.
Shared parking. When feasible, all parking areas should be designed to allow linkages to adjacent developments to promote efficient traffic flow and encourage shared parking areas to reduce the use of land for parking and development costs and impacts associated with impervious surfaces. Internal areas between buildings in a development should incorporate shared parking areas. In cases where two or more developments are adjacent, the Planning Board may require cross-access easements between adjacent parking lots to provide for interconnected parking and to facilitate traffic and control access on the main road. Shared parking facilities are encouraged.
I.
Floor areas for the purposes of computing parking requirements shall be the sum of the horizontal area within exterior walls of the several floors of the building, excluding basement, cellar and attic areas used primarily for storage or service.
J.
Off-street loading. At least one off-street loading facility shall be provided for each commercial or industrial establishment hereafter erected or substantially altered. Space for off-street loading shall be in addition to space for off-street parking. Such space shall not be less than 12 feet wide, 33 feet long and 14 feet in height when covered. Loading docks shall be placed behind or on the side of buildings in visually unobtrusive locations. Screening and landscaping shall prevent glare, noise, or exhaust fumes and shall prevent direct views of the loading areas from the public rights-of-way. Screening can also be achieved through use of walls or fences.