Obetz City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1169
Off-Street Parking and Loading Facilities
1169.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.
(a) No building or structure shall be erected, substantially altered, or its use changed in any zoning district without providing off street parking and or loading spaces. This off street parking and loading must be constructed of concrete or asphalt, and shall be maintained in good condition. Any alternate means of paving must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission by means of a variance. If any additions or alterations are made to an existing building or property which require additional parking, any and all existing parking and loading spaces must also be paved to comply with this chapter.
1169.02 PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONS.
All parking space shall have minimum rectangular dimensions of not less than nine feet in width and nineteen feet in length for ninety (90) degree parking, nine feet in width and twenty- three feet in length for parallel parking, ten feet in width and nineteen feet in length for sixty degree parking, and twelve feet in width and nineteen feet in length for forty-five degree parking. All dimensions shall be exclusive of driveways, aisles, and other circulation areas.
1169.03 LOADING SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND DIMENSIONS.
(a) Classification. The loading space shall consist of a rectangular area of one (1) of the following classes:
Class A: An area at least fourteen (14) feet by fifty-five (55) feet having a vertical clearance of fifteen (15) feet or more, plus adequate area for ingress and egress.
Class B: An area at least twelve (12) feet by thirty (30) feet having a vertical distance of fifteen (15) feet or more, plus adequate area for ingress and egress.
(b) Schedule of Loading Spaces. Loading space shall be provided for retailing, wholesaling, warehousing, processing, hotel, hospital, goods display, and similar uses requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise in accordance with the following schedule:
BUILDING AREA (square feet) | REQUIRED CLASS |
Less than 750 | None required |
750 to 1,499 | 1 Class B |
1,500 to 2,499 | 1 Class A or 2 Class B |
2,500 to 9,999 | 1 Class A and 1 Class B or 3 Class B |
10,000 to 49,999 | 1 Class A and 1 Class B or 3 Class B, plus 1 Class A for each 10,000 sq. ft. over the first 10,000 sq. ft. of area |
More than 50,000 | 1 Class A for each 10,000 sq. ft. over the first 10,000 sq. ft. of area, plus 1 Class A for each 25,000 sq. ft. over the first 50,000 sq. ft. |
1169.04 PAVING.
The required number of parking and loading spaces, together with driveways, aisles, and other circulation areas, shall be surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, premixed asphalt pavement, blacktop, or brick so as to provide a durable and dustless surface. Off-street parking area designs shall be reviewed and approved by the Municipal Engineer prior to issuance of a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. All access driveway aprons shall be graded for proper drainage and surfaced with concrete. Access driveway and apron designs shall be reviewed and approved by the Municipal Engineer prior to construction.
1169.05 DRAINAGE.
All parking and loading areas shall provide for proper drainage of surface water to prevent the drainage of such water onto adjacent properties or walkways.
1169.06 MAINTENANCE.
The owner of property used for parking and/or loading shall maintain such area in good condition without holes and free of all dust, trash, and other debris.
1169.07 LIGHTING.
Any parking area which is intended to be used during non-daylight hours shall be properly illuminated to avoid accidents. Any lights used to illuminate a parking lot shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from the adjoining property and shall provide not less than two and one- half (2 1/2) foot candles at the paved surface.
1169.08 LOCATION OF PARKING SPACES.
The following regulations shall govern the location of off-street parking spaces and areas:
(a) Parking spaces for all detached residential Uses shall be located on the same lot as the use which they are intended to serve;
(b) Parking spaces for commercial, industrial, or institutional uses shall be located not more than 700 feet from the principal use. Parking lots farther than 700 feet from the principal use may be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
(c) Parking spaces for apartments, dormitories, or similar residential uses shall be located not more than 300 feet from the principal use.
1169.09 MINIMUM DISTANCE AND SETBACKS.
No part of any parking area for more than five (5) vehicles shall be closer than twenty feet to any dwelling unit, school, hospital, or other institution for human care located on an abutting or adjoining lot, unless separated by a solid wood privacy fence or other approved constructed screen of between four (4) and six (6) feet in height. If on the same lot with a one-family residence, the parking area shall not be located within the front yard required for such building. In no case shall any part of a parking area be closer than four feet to any established street or alley right of way.
1169.10 WHEEL BLOCKS.
Whenever a parking lot extends to a property line, wheel blocks or other suitable devices shall be installed to prevent any part of a parked vehicle from extending beyond the property line.
1169.11 ACCESS.
The frequency of access points along thoroughfares in Obetz is to be minimized to reduce vehicle and pedestrian conflict and improve traffic flow. Access drives (driveways) leading to and from a street shall be developed according to the following standards:
(a) Width. An access drive serving a single-family residence shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet in width. Access drive entrances at a street shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) feet in width. All access drives shall not exceed twenty-five (25) feet in width, except at curb returns.
(b) Spacing. The following standards shall apply to determining the permitted spacing of access drives. Street classifications are based upon the Municipal Thoroughfare Plan, as amended, and interpretation by the Municipal Engineer relative to street classification.
(1) For all arterials and collectors, the following minimum spacing related to posted speed limit shall be required between adjacent access drives:
POSTED HIGHWAY SPEED (mph) | MINIMUM SPACING (feet) |
25 | 50 |
30 | 50 |
35 | 75 |
40 | 100 |
45 | 150 |
50 | 150 |
(2) For non-residential uses on local streets, the minimum distance between access drives shall be twenty-five (25) feet.
(3) For all arterials, access drives shall be located no closer than three hundred (300) feet to an intersection.
(c) Side Lot Lines. An access drive, exclusive of curb returns, shall be located no less than ten (10) feet from the side lot line, except that an access drive for a residential use may be within three (3) feet of a side lot line. Access drives for any uses utilizing a common drive may be adjacent to and coterminous with a side lot line.
(d) Quantity Permitted. The number of access drives shall be kept to a minimum to promote safe and reasonable access, improve the convenience and ease of movement of travelers, and permit reasonable speeds and economy of travel while maintaining roadway capacity. For lots with less than two hundred (200) feet of frontage on public right(s)-of-way and with less than five (5) acres in total area, no more than two (2) access drives shall be permitted. For lots with more than two hundred (200) feet of road frontage on public right(s)-of-way and greater than five (5) acres in total area, additional access drives may by permitted by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The spacing standards of subsection (b) hereof shall take precedence.
1169.12 SCHEDULE OF PARKING SPACES.
The minimum number of off-street parking spaces, exclusive of ADA requirements, shall be as set forth in the following schedule. For uses not specifically named herein, the requirement shall be the same as required for a listed use similar in nature, as determined by the Zoning Inspector.
USE | REQUIRED PARKING SPACE |
Automobile service station | 1 for each 3 pumps plus 1 for each service bay |
Automobile repairs | 1 for each 300 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Assembly hall, club room, place of amusement or similar place of assembly without fixed seating | 1 for each 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Banks, savings and loans, business and administrative offices | 1 for each 400 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Bed and breakfast inns | 1 for each guest room |
Bowling alleys, tennis courts or similarplace of intensive public activity | 1 for each alley, court or similar activity area |
Business, technical and trade school, college and university | 1 for each 3 students |
Business and Professional Offices not elsewhere specified | 1 for each 200 square feet of office space |
Dance halls and assembly halls without fixed seats, exhibition halls except church assembly rooms in conjunction with auditorium | 1 for each 250 sq. ft. of gross floor area used for assembly or dancing |
Day care centers, children’s nurseries and preschools | 1 for each classroom but not less than 5 per center |
Drive-up window service or fast-food restaurants, with seating | 1 for each 150 sq. ft. of gross floor space |
Drive-up window service or fast-food | 1 for each 250 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Driving range | 1 for each 2 playing locations |
Dwellings other than multi-family | 2 for each dwelling unit |
Eating and drinking establishments with no drive-up window service | 1 for each 100 sq. ft. of gross floor space |
Electronic products store-retail | 1 for each 500 sq. ft. |
Elementary and middle schools | 1 for each teacher and staff member, plus 1 for each student up to three (3) percent of the student body |
Funeral homes, mortuaries | 1 for each 150 sq. ft. of floor area in slumber rooms, parlors, or service rooms |
Furniture and appliance stores, household equipment or furniture repair shop | 1 for each 400 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Golf course | 2 for each hole plus 1 space for each 2 employees on combined work shifts |
Health care maintenance and emergency | 1 for each treatment room plus one for every employee on the largest shift |
High school | 1 for each 3 students |
Hospitals | .5 for each bed |
Indoor swimming pool or natatorium | 1 for each 5-person capacity (1person/1,000 gallons of pool capacity) plus 1 for each 4 seats or 30 sq. ft. of seating floor area |
Indoor sales exclusively of motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, lumber, plants and furniture | 1 for each 1,000 sq. ft. of sales area |
Libraries, museums or art galleries | 1 for each 500 sq ft. of gross floor area |
Manufacturing, warehousing, wholesaling, or similar establishments | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross building area |
Medical and dental offices and clinics | 1 for each 200 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Miniature golf course | 2 spaces for each hole plus 1 for each 2 employees on combined work shifts |
Motels and hotels (not including restaurant facilities) | 1 for each living or sleeping unit plus one space for each two employees |
Multi-family residential | 2 for each dwelling unit |
Outdoor display and sales | 1 for each 1,000 sq. ft. of display area |
Outdoor swimming pool | 1 for each 5-person capacity (1 person/500 gallons) plus space for supplementary uses |
Personal services such as barber shop or beauty shop | 1 space for every chair |
Personal and Consumer Services not elsewhere specified | 1 for each employee plus one for each 400 square feet of office space |
Recreational uses not elsewhere specified | 1 for each 3 patrons |
Restaurants and bars | 1 for each 100 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Retail sales or services not elsewhere specified | 3 for first 1,000 sq. ft. plus 1 for each additional 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area |
Sanitariums, convalescent homes, children’s homes | 1 for each 2 beds |
Service-related uses such as printing or plumbing shops | 1 for each 2 employees plus 1 for every 2 vehicles used for service or delivery |
Shopping centers including supermarkets | 3 for each 1,000 sq ft. of gross floor area |
Sports arenas, auditoriums, theaters, assembly halls, churches, or similar place with fixed seating | 1 for each 4 seats |
Video rental store | 1 for each 300 square feet of gross floor area |
(a) Where two (2) or more uses are provided on the same lot, including principal and supplementary uses, the total number of spaces required shall be reduced. In order to determine the number of parking spaces required, take the sum of the individual requirements and multiply by (.75).
Two or more non-residential uses may jointly provide and use parking spaces when their hours of operation do not normally overlap, provided that a written agreement approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission shall be filed with the application for a before a certificate of occupancy is issued.
(b) The calculation of parking spaces shall be to the next highest whole number where a fractional space results.
(c) Whenever a building or use is constructed or enlarged in gross floor area, by number of employees, by number of dwelling units, by seating capacity or otherwise after the effective date of this Zoning Code such as to create a requirement under this chapter for an increase of thirty (30) percent or more in the number of existing parking spaces, such spaces shall be provided on the basis of the enlargement or change.