(a)

Applicability of article. Wherever in any zoning district off-street facilities are provided for the parking or display of any and all types of vehicles, boats or heavy construction equipment, whether such vehicles, boats or equipment are self-propelled or not, and land is provided upon which vehicles traverse the property as a function of the primary use, including drive-in facilities (referred to in this article as "other vehicular uses"), such off-street facilities and land shall conform to the minimum requirements of this article.

(b)

Intent of article. It is the intent of this article that the public interest, welfare and safety require that every building and use erected or instituted after the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived shall be provided with adequate off-street parking facilities for the use of occupants, employees, visitors, customers or patrons. It is also the intent of this article that the public interest, welfare and safety require that certain uses provide adequate off-street loading facilities. Such off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be maintained and continued so long as the main use continues. (For definitions of "parking space, off-street" and "loading space, off-street," see section 94-2.)

(c)

Compliance with article; general standards.

(1)

Parking and loading facilities required. Off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be provided as set out in this article. Conforming buildings and uses existing as of the effective date of this article may be modernized, altered or repaired without providing additional off-street loading facilities, providing there is no increase in floor area or capacity.

(2)

Parking and loading area surfaces. All parking and loading areas shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, brick, or other similar material as approved by the building official. Prohibited materials and surfaces for parking and loading areas include, but are not limited to, grass, tree bark, sawdust, pine needles, leaves, gravel, stones, sand, and mulch. Upon request by the property owner for which the paving is required an exception to the paving requirement may be granted by the building official, on a case by case basis, for a proposed use that occurs on a developed nonresidential site that does not require new construction or expansion of existing building footprint and parking area by more than ten percent. The property owner shall clearly demonstrate that paving of the parking area would require construction of stormwater retention or detention facilities for which there is not adequate available space within the site to construct. The property owner shall also take actions as a condition of permit approval to limit increased offsite transport of stormwater and sediments while also providing for some level of on-site retention or detention. Site design shall comply with the landscape code and shall include provisions that limit flooding impacts such as perimeter berms, swales, vegetated strips, underground stormwater storage, or other practices. The building official may opt to retain a licensed professional civil engineer to ensure that on and off-site flooding is minimized, with such efforts funded by the property owner.

In addition, parking areas in excess of the minimum required spaces and required aisles and areas as established in this code may be surfaced with grass typically used for permanent lawns in the city. Such excess parking (in all zoning districts) must receive approval from the planning board as a conditional use. If approved, all such parking areas must be maintained in a well-graded fashion and if such grass ceases to grow, then paving of such an area in accordance with this section will be required.

(3)

Expansion of existing use. Where a conforming building or use existed as of the effective date of this article from which this is derived and such building or use is enlarged in floor area, volume, capacity or space occupied, off-street parking and off-street loading as specified in this article shall be provided for the additional floor area, volume, capacity or space so created or used.

(4)

Change in existing use. Change in use of a building or use existing as of the effective date of the ordinance from which this article is derived shall require additional off-street parking and off-street loading facilities to comply with the requirements of this article for the new use. For purposes of this subsection, change of use shall mean a discontinuance of an existing use and the substitution therefor of a use of different kind or class. Change of use is not intended to include a change of tenants or proprietors unless accompanied by a change in the type of use.

(5)

Applicability to one- and two-family dwellings. The design, construction, landscaping and arrangement regulations set out in this article for off-street vehicular facilities do not apply to one- and two-family dwellings.

(6)

Use of required parking areas. Required off-street parking shall not be used for sales, dead storage, repair, dismantling or servicing of any type or kind, nor shall areas devoted to such activities count as meeting off-street parking requirements.

(7)

Location of parking areas in required yards. Subject to required buffer areas, required side and rear yards, but not required front yards, may be used for off-street parking in residential districts. Subject to required buffer areas, all required yards in commercial and industrial districts may be used for off-street parking.

(8)

Reduction of requirements for purpose of tree protection. The required number of off-street parking spaces or area of off-street loading facilities may be reduced by not more than ten percent where necessary to protect existing trees.

(d)

Design standards. Off-street parking facilities and other vehicular facilities, both required and provided, shall be subject to the following:

(1)

Identification. Such facilities shall be identified as to purpose and location when not clearly evident.

(2)

Drainage. Such facilities shall be drained so as not to cause any nuisance on adjoining or nearby properties.

(3)

Lighting. If artificially lighted, such facilities shall be so designed and arranged that no source of such lighting is visible from any adjoining or nearby property used or zoned for residential purposes and so designed and arranged as to shield public roadways and all other adjacent properties from direct glare or hazardous interference of any kind.

(4)

General arrangement. Such facilities shall be arranged for convenient access and safety of pedestrians and vehicles.

(5)

Vehicles backing onto public street. Such facilities shall be so arranged that no vehicle shall be required to back from such facilities directly onto public streets.

(6)

Marking of spaces. If such areas are in excess of 1,500 square feet or five off-street parking spaces, individual spaces shall be marked.

(7)

Curbs or wheel stops. Such facilities shall have curbs or motor vehicle stops or similar devices so as to prevent vehicles from overhanging on or into adjacent property or landscaped areas.

(e)

Location of parking facilities on separate lot. The required off-street parking facilities shall be located on the same lot or parcel of land they are intended to serve; provided, however, that the planning board may allow the establishment of such off-street parking facilities within 1,200 feet for all uses in the DB and DR zoning districts and 600 feet for other than residential uses in all other districts of the premises they are intended to serve when:

(1)

Practical difficulties prevent the placing of the facilities on the same lot as the premises they are designed to serve;

(2)

The owner of the parking area enters into a written agreement with the city and the owner of the property in need of off-site parking, with enforcement running to the city, and providing that the parking area shall be utilized as off-site parking so long as the facilities are required; and

(3)

The owner agrees to bear the expense of recording the agreement and agrees that the agreement shall bind his heirs, successors and assigns. The written agreement shall be voided by the city if other off-street facilities are provided in accord with this article.

(f)

Dimensions of parking spaces; aisle width. Each parking space shall be a minimum of ten feet by 20 feet in size, except for non-public parking areas including display, fleet, and restricted parking, which shall be a minimum of nine feet by 18 feet in size. Minimum aisle width shall be as follows:

For purposes of rough computation, an off-street parking space and necessary access maneuvering room and required landscaping may be estimated at 400 square feet, but off-street parking requirements will be considered to be met only where actual spaces meeting the requirements in this subsection are provided and maintained, are improved in the manner required by this article and in are accordance with all ordinances and regulations of the city.

ADD FIGURE page 1731

(g)

Plans for parking areas. A plan shall be submitted with every application for a building permit for any building or use that is required to provide off-street parking. The plan shall accurately designate the required parking spaces, access aisles and driveways, and the relation of the off-street parking facilities to the uses or structures such facilities are designed to serve. The proposed landscaping to comply with requirements of this chapter shall also be depicted on the plan, as well as tree protection requirements, where applicable.

(h)

Combined parking facilities; shared parking facilities.

(1)

Two or more owners or operators of buildings or uses requiring off-street parking facilities may make collective provision for such facilities, provided that the total of such parking spaces when combined or used together shall not be less than the sum of the requirements computed separately, except in accordance with this article. Any arrangement for combined off-street parking shall be subject to the filing of a legal instrument satisfactory to the city attorney insuring that such off-street parking will be maintained in the future so long as a use requiring such off-street parking continues.

(2)

No part of an off-street parking area required for any building or use shall be included as a part of an off-street parking area similarly required for another building or use unless the planning board shall find that the type of use indicates that the period of usage will not overlap or be concurrent with each other.

(i)

Parking requirements in case of extension of nonconforming use. Where an extension of a use is to be made in a building occupied by a nonconforming use, no such extension shall be permitted unless and until the off-street parking requirements for a new use of the type involved are applied to the existing use and full provision for off-street parking facilities is made.

(j)

Parking requirements for uses not specifically mentioned. Requirements for off-street parking for uses not specifically mentioned in the schedule of district regulations shall be the same as provided in section 94-262 for the use most similar to the one sought, it being the intent of this article to require all uses to provide off-street parking, unless specific provision is made to the contrary.

(k)

Parking calculations resulting in fractional space. When units or measurements determining the number of required off-street parking spaces result in a requirement of a fractional space, then such fraction equal or greater than one-half shall require a full off-street parking space.

(l)

Parking requirements for mixed uses. In the case of mixed uses, the total requirements for off-street parking shall be the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately, and off-street parking space for one use shall not be considered as providing the required off-street parking for any other use.

(m)

Measurement standards for calculation of parking requirements. Floor area shall mean the gross floor area inside the exterior walls, where floor area is indicated in section 94-262 as a basis for determining the amount of off-street parking required. In hospitals, bassinets shall not count as beds. In stadiums, sports arenas, churches and other places of public assembly in which occupants utilize benches, pews or other similar seating arrangements, each 24 lineal inches of such seating facilities shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of computing off-street parking requirements.

(n)

Minimum parking requirement. Regardless of any other requirement of this article, each and every separate individual store, office or other business shall be provided with at least one off-street parking space, unless specific provision to the contrary is made in this chapter.

(o)

Off-street loading facilities required.

(1)

Off-street loading facilities are required by this article so that vehicles engaged in unloading will not encroach on or interfere with the public use of streets, sidewalks and alleys by automotive vehicles or pedestrians and so that adequate space is available for the unloading and loading of goods, materials or other things for delivery and shipping. Off-street loading facilities supplied to meet the needs of one use may not be considered as meeting the needs of another use. Off-street parking facilities may not be used or counted as meeting off-street loading requirements.

(2)

When the use of a structure of land or any part thereof is changed to a use requiring off-street loading facilities, the full amount of off-street loading space required shall be supplied and maintained. When any structure is enlarged or any use extended so that the size of the resulting occupancy requires off-street loading space, the full amount of such space shall be supplied and maintained for the structure or use in its enlarged or extended size.

(3)

Each off-street loading space shall be directly accessible from a street or alley without crossing or entering any other required off-street loading space. Such loading space shall be accessible from the interior of the building it serves and shall be arranged for convenient and safe ingress and egress by motor truck and/or trailer combination.

(p)

Plans required for loading facilities. A plan shall be submitted with every application for a building permit for any use or structure required to provide off-street loading facilities. The plan shall accurately designate the required loading spaces, access thereto, dimensions and clearance.

(q)

Combined loading facilities. Collective, joint or combined provisions for off-street loading facilities for two or more buildings or uses may be made, provided that such off-street loading facilities are equal in size and capacity to the combined requirements of the several buildings or uses and are designed, located and arranged to be usable thereby.

(r)

Number of loading spaces. Off-street loading spaces shall be provided and maintained as follows:

(1)

The requirement for each retail store, storage warehouse, wholesale establishment, industrial plant, factory, freight terminal, market, restaurant, mortuary, laundry, dry cleaning establishment or similar use which has an aggregate floor area as listed in the following table shall be as follows:

Plus one additional off-street loading space for each additional 90,000 square feet over 290,000 square feet or major fraction thereof.

(2)

The requirement for each multifamily dwelling having at least 20 dwelling units but not over 50 dwelling units shall be one space. The requirement for each multiple dwelling having over 50 dwelling units shall be one space, plus one space for each additional 50 dwelling units or major fraction thereof.

(3)

The requirement for each auditorium, convention hall, exhibition hall, museum, motel, hotel, office building, sports arena, stadium, hospital, sanitarium, welfare institution or similar use which has an aggregate floor area of over 10,000 square feet but not over 40,000 square feet shall be one space; plus, for each additional 60,000 square feet over 40,000 square feet or major fraction thereof, one space.

(4)

For any use not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street loading facilities for a use which is so mentioned and to which the unmentioned use is similar shall apply.

(s)

Driveways and curb cuts.

(1)

No lot fronting on a street for less than 80 feet shall have more than one driveway opening on that street. Lots which have between 80 feet and 200 feet of frontage on any street shall have no more than two driveways opening on that street.

(2)

For each 100 feet or fraction thereof by which a lot exceeds 200 feet, one driveway opening may be created in addition to the first two.

(3)

No entrance driveway shall be constructed with its center closer than 20 feet to a property line, except when the drive is jointly used by the adjoining properties, or closer than 50 feet to a street intersection, or closer than 40 feet to the center of the next nearest entrance driveway.

(4)

Driveways shall not exceed 40 feet in width at their juncture with the street or highway pavement, and in all districts except M-1 shall not exceed 24 feet in width at the property line. Driveways in the M-1 district shall not exceed 40 feet in width at the property line.

(5)

Except for driveways, the area between the travelway of a street, road or highway and the property line shall not be used for vehicle maneuvering or parking subject to the following exception:

a.

The board of zoning appeals may authorize use of the area between the travelway of a street, road, or highway and the property line for vehicle maneuvering or parking, provided that:

i.

the parcel or lot possesses a residential zoning classification; and,

ii.

there is a completed residential dwelling unit on the lot as of the date of the passage of this section; and,

iii.

because of the lot size, configuration, or the location of the residential dwelling unit on site, the lot has no "side yard" through which vehicular access to the rear yard may be gained; and,

iv.

there is no garage or carport on the lot which was designed to accommodate a vehicle and which is accessed by a driveway leading from an adjacent street, road, or highway.

v.

no more than one parking space per residential lot may be authorized, with dimensions not to exceed ten feet in width and 20 feet in length. The surface of the parking space shall be concrete, brick, or other masonry material, as decided by the board of zoning appeals with consideration being given to the character and architecture of the neighborhood in which the parking space is to be authorized.

vi.

the parking space provided for herein shall be used only for the parking of operational motor vehicles, i.e. cars, trucks, or motorcycles, and shall not be used for the parking or storage of other equipment, including but not limited to boats, trailers, non-operational motor vehicles, etc.

vii.

if the residential lot at issue is located within a designated historic district, the request for parking space shall be presented to the City of Palatka Historic Preservation Board before being considered by the board of zoning appeals. The historic preservation board may, by majority vote, make recommendations to the board of zoning appeals regarding the design of the parking space, to include the material which comprises the surface of the parking space. The recommendations of the historic preservation board shall be duly and in good faith considered by the board of zoning appeals. However, the board of zoning appeals shall not be bound to follow the recommendation of the historic preservation board.

viii.

in considering a request under this section, the board of zoning appeals shall be guided by the criteria set forth in subsections 94-71 (2), (4), (6) and (7), in addition to those criteria set forth above.

In order to minimize the number of drives necessary for proper access to the uses in this district, there should be joint use of drives by adjoining properties wherever possible.

(Code 1981, app. C, § 26-9(1); Ord. No. 12-43, § 1, 10-11-2012; Ord. No. 13-04, § 1, 1-10-2013; Ord. No. 15-03, § 1, 1-22-2015; Ord. No. 2021-05, § I, 5-27-2021)

(a)

For all districts except DB and DR, off-street parking requirements are as follows:

(1)

Single-family and two-family dwelling structures: Two spaces for each dwelling unit.

(2)

Multiple-family dwelling structures: Two spaces for each dwelling unit.

(3)

Churches, temples or places of worship: One space for each four seats in the main auditorium.

(4)

Commercial manufacturing and industrial concerns not catering to the retail trade: One space for each 1,000 square feet of floor area, plus one space for each company vehicle operating from the premises.

(5)

Country, golf or gun clubs: One space for each five members.

(6)

General business, commercial or personal service establishments: One space for each 200 square feet of nonstorage floor area.

(7)

Hotels: 1.1 spaces for each bedroom.

(8)

Hospitals, sanitariums, convalescent and nursing homes: One space for each patient bed.

(9)

Housing for the aged: One space for each dwelling unit. (See the definition in section 94-2.)

(10)

Kennels and animal hospitals: One space for each 400 square feet of nonstorage floor area.

(11)

Libraries and museums: One space for each 200 square feet of non-storage floor area, or one space for each three seats, whichever is greater.

(12)

Medical or dental offices or clinics: One space for each doctor or dentist, plus three spaces for each consultation or examining room.

(13)

Mortuaries: One space for each 50 square feet of floor area used for services.

(14)

Motels: 1.1 spaces for each bedroom.

(15)

Office and public buildings: Seven spaces for each 1,000 square feet of floor area used for office purposes.

(16)

Private clubs and lodges: One space for each five members.

(17)

Restaurants, other eating places and cocktail lounges: One space for each three seats.

(18)

Roominghouses, boardinghouses and dormitories: One space for each living unit.

(19)

Schools: One space for each two employees, plus one space for each three students of driving age.

(20)

Theaters, auditoriums and places of assembly: One space for each four seats.

(21)

Bowling alleys: Five spaces for each bowling lane.

(22)

Student housing: One space for every two sleeping accommodations.

(23)

All other uses: Parking requirements for uses not listed in this section shall be determined by the planning board.

(b)

For uses in the DB and DR districts, off-street parking requirements are as follows:

(1)

Residential dwellings: One space per dwelling unit.

(Code 1981, app. C, § 26-9(2); Ord. No. 09-09, § 3, 4-23-2009)