The purpose of this chapter is to alleviate or prevent the congestion of the public streets, and so promote the safety and welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for the off-street parking and loading and unloading of motor vehicles in accordance with the use to which property is put.

(Ord. 280 § 12.01, 1968.)

A.

Scope of Regulations. The off-street parking and loading provisions of this chapter shall apply as follows:

1.

For all buildings and structures erected and all uses of land established after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, accessory parking and loading facilities shall be provided as required by the regulations of the district in which such buildings or uses are located. However, where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, and provided that construction is begun within 90 days of such effective date, and diligently prosecuted to completion, parking and loading facilities as required hereinafter need not be provided.

2.

When the intensity of use of any building, structure or premises is increased through addition of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity or other unit of measurement specified in this title for required parking or loading facilities as required in this chapter shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.

However, no building or structure lawfully erected or use lawfully established prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, shall be required to provide such additional parking or loading facilities unless and until the aggregate increase in units of measurement shall equal not less than fifteen percent of the unit of measurement existing upon the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, in which event parking or loading facilities as required in this chapter shall be provided for the total increase.

3.

Whenever the existing use of a building or structure is hereafter changed to a new use, parking or loading facilities shall be provided as required for such new use. However, if the said building or structure was erected prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, additional parking or loading facilities are mandatory only in the amount by which the requirements for the new use would exceed those for the existing use if the latter were subject to the parking and loading provisions of the ordinance codified in this title.

B.

Existing Parking and Loading Facilities. Accessory off-street parking or loading facilities which are located on the same lot as the building or use served and which were in existence on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title or were provided voluntarily after such effective date shall not hereafter be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not further be reduced below, the requirements of this chapter for a similar new building use.

C.

Permissive Parking and Loading Facilities. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the voluntary establishment of off-street parking or loading facilities to serve any existing use of land or buildings; provided, that all regulations in this chapter governing the location, design, improvement and operation of such facilities are adhered to.

D.

Damage or Destruction. For any conforming or legally nonconforming building or use which is in existence on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, which subsequent thereto is damaged or destroyed by fire, collapse, explosion or other cause, and which is reconstructed, reestablished or repaired, off-street parking or loading facilities equivalent to any maintained at the time of such damage or destruction shall be restored or continued in operation. However, in no case shall it be necessary to restore or maintain parking or loading facilities in excess of those required by this chapter for equivalent new uses or construction.

E.

Control of Off-site Parking Facilities. When required parking facilities are provided on land other than the zoning lot on which the building or use served by such facilities is located, they shall be and remain in the same possession or ownership as the zoning lot occupied by the building or use to which the parking facilities are accessory. No such off-site parking facilities shall be authorized and no occupancy permit shall be issued where the plans call for parking facilities other than on the same zoning lot until and unless the zoning board of appeals has reviewed the plans and heard the applicant and made findings that the common ownership or possession of the zoning lot and the site of the parking facilities are reasonably certain to continue and that the off-site parking facilities will be maintained at all times during the life of the proposed use or building.

F.

Submission of Plot Plan. Any application for a building permit, or for a certificate of occupancy where no building permit is required, shall include therewith a plot plan, down to scale and fully dimensioned, showing any parking or loading facilities to be provided in compliance with this chapter.

(Ord. 280 § 12.02, 1968.)

A.

Use of Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities accessory to residential use and developed in any residential district in accordance with the requirements of this chapter shall be used primarily for the parking of passenger automobiles and recreational vehicles (as described in subsection B below) owned by occupants of the dwelling structures to which said facilities are accessory or by guests of said occupants. Under no circumstances shall required parking facilities accessory to residential structures be used for the parking of automobiles belonging to the employees, owners, tenants, visitors or customers of business or manufacturing establishments.

B.

Recreational vehicles are permitted to park in residential areas. However, no boat, travel trailer, or motor vehicle registered as a recreational vehicle under the Illinois Motor Vehicle Code in excess of twelve thousand pounds shall be parked or stored on any lot in any residential district unless such boat, travel trailer or motor vehicle, shall be located in conformity with the setback requirement applicable to buildings on such lot and not closer than three feet to any side lot line thereof.

C.

The parking of heavy trucks, commercial vehicles, tractors, trailers, any other heavy operating equipment or any motor vehicle having a state license plate designation in excess of category D is prohibited in all residential districts in the city of Palos Hills except for the purposes of picking up and delivering items and then only for those periods of time as shall be reasonably necessary to accomplish said purposes; provided, however, that there shall be included in such reasonable time necessary for picking up and delivering property such time as shall be required for the operator of such commercial vehicle or truck and any passengers therein to install or assemble such property delivered or to remove and prepare such property picked up for loading. The storage of a commercial vehicle or contractors' equipment by the operator of said vehicle or equipment at his place of residence shall not constitute the making of a delivery or the rendering of a service and shall be prohibited.

D.

A special permit shall be allowed to permit the overnight parking of construction vehicles so long as there is on-going construction taking place at a building site. Said special permit shall be allowed only upon proper application by the owner of the construction vehicle to the city of Palos Hills and a certification by the building commissioner that said overnight parking of construction vehicle is required in conjunction with the on-going construction. Said special permit, when certified by the building commissioner shall be valid for a ninety-day period and shall be renewable for the following ninety-day period upon recertification by the building commissioner.

E.

Access. Each required off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle or driveway of such width and design as to provide safe and efficient means of vehicular access to such parking space. All off-street parking facilities shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movements. No driveway across public property nor curb cut shall exceed a width of 9 meters (thirty (30) feet).

F.

Yards. Off-street parking spaces may be located in any yard except required front yards, but shall not be closer than 150 centimeters (five (5) feet) to the lot line. For the purpose of this subsection, a driveway, paved as specified in Section 17.44.030(G)(2), shall not be considered part of the front yard for parking purposes.

G.

Design and Maintenance.

1.

Open and Enclosed Parking Spaces. Accessory parking spaces located on the same lot as occupied by the use served may be open to the sky or enclosed in a building. Accessory parking spaces located in a residence district elsewhere than on the same lot occupied by the use served shall be open to the sky except when otherwise allowed as a special use.

2.

Surfacing. All open off-street parking areas and driveways shall be improved with a compacted macadam base, not less than four (4) inches thick, paved with asphaltic concrete, concrete, paving bricks, or some comparable, stable material. Sand, gravel, cinders, or similar materials, compacted, or not, are not permitted.

3.

Screening and Landscaping. All open automobile parking areas containing more than five (5) specifically identified parking spaces shall be effectively screened on each side adjoining or fronting on any property situated in a residence district or any institutional premises by a wall or fence, with a finished appearance on both sides, or a densely planted, compact evergreen hedge. Screening at the time of installation should be not less than six (6) feet nor more than eight (8) feet in height, unless the height of the screening, or fence/wall, is in conflict with Section 8.10.070(5), pertaining to health and safety. Chain link fences without slats are not permitted. Chain link fences with slats are allowed if approval of the installation is obtained from the adjacent property owners, the fence committee recommends approval by the city council and the city council votes to accept that recommendation. Screening of all types shall provide a minimum of 75% visibility blockage, when viewed through the screening. Such required screening shall be within the property line boundary at the time of installation.

4.

Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be directed away from residential properties in such a way as not to create a nuisance.

5.

Signs. Accessory signs are permitted on parking areas.

6.

Repair and Service. Only minor motor vehicle repair work shall be permitted in conjunction with accessory off-street parking facilities provided in a residence district.

The sale of gasoline and motor oil in conjunction with accessory off-street parking facilities is not permitted in any residence district.

I.

Floor Area Exemptions. When two or more uses are located on the same zoning lot, only one exemption in terms of floor area, as set forth in the schedule of parking requirements in Section 17.44.070, shall be taken.

(Ord. 93-17 § 1, 1993; Ord. 92-19 §§ 1—3, 1992; Ord. 825 §§ 1, 2, 1983; Ord. 798 §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 1982; Ord. 280 § 12.03, 1968.)

The location of off-street parking spaces in relation to the use served shall be as prescribed in this chapter. All distances specified shall be walking distances between such parking spaces and a main entrance to the use served.

A.

Uses in a Residence District. Parking spaces accessory to dwellings shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served. Spaces accessory to uses other than dwellings may be located on a lot adjacent to, or directly across a street or alley from, the lot occupied by the use served, but in no case at a distance in excess of 90 meters (three hundred (300) feet) from such use.

B.

Uses in Business and Manufacturing Districts. All required parking spaces shall be within 300 meters (one thousand (1,000) feet) of the use served, except for spaces accessory to dwelling units, which shall be within 90 meters (three hundred (300) feet) of the use served. However, no parking spaces accessory to a use in a business or manufacturing district shall be located in a residence district, except that private, free, off-street parking accessory to such uses and municipal parking lots may be allowed by special use permit in accordance with Chapter 17.64 within 60 meters (two hundred (200) feet) of and adjacent to any business or industrial district.

(Ord. 280 § 12.04, 1968.)

For the following uses, accessory off-street parking spaces shall be provided as required in this section. Parking spaces required on an employee basis shall be based on the maximum number of employees who could reasonably be on duty or residing or both, on the premises at any one time.

A.

Residential Uses.

1.

One-family dwellings and two-family dwellings, three (3) parking spaces shall be provided for each dwelling unit;

2.

Multiple-family dwellings (including apartment-hotels), five (5) parking spaces shall be provided for every two (2) dwelling units. For lodging rooms located in an apartment hotel, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each lodging room;

3.

Motels, inns and auto courts, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each guest or sleeping room or suite, plus three (3) additional spaces for the owner or manager;

4.

Hotels one (1) parking space for each dwelling unit and one (1) parking space for each lodging room shall be provided, plus a minimum of three (3) or five percent (5%) additional spaces, whichever is greater, for the use of the staff;

5.

Lodging, rooming and boardinghouses, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each lodging room, plus three (3) additional spaces for the owner or manager;

6.

Private clubs and lodges (with sleeping facilities for guests), one (1) parking space shall be provided for each lodging room plus parking spaces equal in number to thirty percent (30%) of the capacity in persons (exclusive of lodging room capacity) of such club or lodge;

7.

Mobile home camps, two (2) parking spaces shall be provided for each mobile home space;

B.

Retail and Service Uses.

1.

Retail stores and banks, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each thirteen and one-half (13.5) square meters (150 square feet) of floor area. Drive-in banks or other similar drive-in establishments shall provide three (3) stacking spaces per teller or customer service window,

2.

Automobile service stations, parking spaces must be provided in a number equal to one-half of the number of motor fuel dispensing pumps to be used in the business, for the use of the attendants or employees,

3.

Automobile laundry, twenty (20) stacking spaces shall be provided for each wash rack, plus one (1) space for each wash rack employee,

4.

Bowling alleys, three (3) parking spaces shall be provided for each alley, plus such additional spaces as may be required herein for affiliated uses, bars, restaurants and the like,

5.

Establishments dispensing food or beverages for consumption on the premises, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each five and four/tenths (5.4) square meters (60 square feet) of floor area,

6.

Furniture and appliance stores, household equipment or furniture repair shops, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each forty-five (45) square meters (500 square feet) of floor area,

7.

Motor vehicle sales and machinery sales, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each eighteen (18) square meters (200 square feet) of floor area,

8.

Theaters (Indoor), one (1) parking space shall be provided for each three (3) seats,

9.

Undertaking establishments, funeral parlors, twelve (12) parking spaces shall be provided for each chapel or parlor, plus one (1) parking space for each funeral vehicle kept on the premises;

C.

Offices, business, professional and governmental, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each thirteen and one-half (13.5) square meters (150 square feet) of floor area;

D.

Clinic, medical or dental, eight (8) parking spaces shall be provided for each doctor;

E.

Wholesale establishments (but not including warehouses and storage buildings other than accessory), one (1) parking space shall be provided for each forty-five (45) square meters (500 square feet) of floor area;

F.

Manufacturing uses or any establishments engaged in production, processing, cleaning, servicing, testing or repair of materials, goods or products, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each forty-five (45) square meters (500 square feet) of floor area, plus one (1) parking space for each vehicle used in the conduct of the enterprise;

G.

Warehouses and storage buildings, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each forty-five (45) square meters (500 square feet) of floor area, plus one (1) space for each detached building used in the conduct of the enterprise;

H.

Community service uses:

1.

Church, school, college and other institutional auditoriums, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each three (3) auditorium seats. Adequate space shall also be provided for buses used in connection with the activities of the institution, and all loading and unloading of passengers shall take place upon the premises,

2.

Colleges, universities and business, professional and trade schools, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each two (2) employees and one parking space shall be provided for each two (2) students based upon the maximum capacity of students on the premises at any one time,

3.

Health center, government-operated, eight (8) parking spaces shall be provided for each staff and visiting doctor,

4.

Hospitals, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each hospital bed, plus one (1) parking space for each employee (other than staff doctors), plus one (1) parking space for each doctor assigned to the staff,

5.

Libraries, art galleries and museums, public, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each 90 square meters (1000 sq. ft.) of gross floor area,

6.

Municipal or privately-owned recreation buildings or community centers, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each two (2) employees, plus spaces adequate in number, as determined by the zoning administrator, to serve the visiting public,

7.

Public utility and public services uses, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each three (3) employees, plus spaces adequate in number, as determined by the zoning administrator, to serve the public,

8.

Schools. nursery, elementary and high, two (2) parking spaces shall be provided for each employee;

I.

Places of assembly:

 stadiums, arenas, auditoriums (other than church, college or institutional school), convention halls, dance halls, exhibition halls, skating rinks, and other similar places of assembly, parking spaces equal in number to forty percent (40%) of the capacity in persons shall be provided;

J.

Miscellaneous uses:

1.

Fraternities, sororities and dormitories, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each active member, plus one (1) parking space for the manager thereof,

2.

Institutions for the care of the insane or feebleminded, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each staff doctor, plus spaces adequate in number, as determined by the zoning administrator, to serve the visiting public,

3.

Private clubs and lodges (without sleeping facilities for guests), parking spaces equal in number to thirty percent (30%) of the capacity in persons shall be provided.

4.

Rest homes and nursing homes, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each three (3) beds, plus one parking space for each employee (other than staff doctors), plus one (1) parking space for each doctor assigned to the staff,

5.

Sanitariums, convalescent homes or institutions for the aged or for children, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each two (2) beds, plus one (1) parking space for each employee (other than staff doctors), plus one (1) parking space for each doctor assigned to the staff,

6.

Theaters, automobile drive-in, reservoir parking space equal to ten percent (10%) of the vehicle capacity of such theaters shall be provided,

7.

For the following uses, parking spaces shall be provided in adequate number, as determined by the zoning administrator, to serve persons employed or residing on the premises as well as the visiting public:

a.

Airports or aircraft landing fields; heliports,

b.

Convents and monasteries,

c.

Crematories or mausoleums,

d.

Fraternal or religious institutions,

e.

Outdoor amusement establishments — fairgrounds, permanent carnivals, kiddie parks and other similar amusement centers,

f.

Penal and correction institutions.

K.

Mixed uses, when two (2) or more uses are located on the same zoning lot within the same building, parking spaces equal in number to the sum of the separate requirements for each such use shall be provided. No parking spaces or portion thereof shall serve as a required space for more than one use unless otherwise authorized by the plan commission;

L.

Other uses, for uses not listed in this schedule of parking requirements, parking spaces shall be provided on the same basis as required for the most similar listed use, or as determined by the zoning administrator.

(Ord. 2008-3 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2002-3 § 17, 2002: Ord. 593 § 1, 1977: Ord. 280 § 12.05, 1968.)

A.

Location. All required loading berths shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served. No loading berth for vehicles over 1815 kilograms (two (2) tons) capacity shall be closer than 15 meters (fifty (50) feet) to any property in a residence district unless completely enclosed by building walls, or a uniformly painted solid fence or wall, or any combination thereof, not less than 180 centimeters (six feet) in height. No permitted or required loading berth shall be located 7½ meters (twenty-five (25) feet) of the nearest point of intersection of any two (2) streets.

B.

Size. Unless otherwise specified, a required loading berth shall be at least 300 centimeters (ten (10) feet) in width by at least 7½ meters (twenty-five (25) feet) in length, exclusive of aisles and maneuvering space and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 420 centimeters (fourteen (14) feet).

C.

Access. Each required off-street loading berth shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movements.

D.

Surfacing. All open off-street loading berths shall be improved with a compacted macadam base, not less than 17½ centimeters (seven (7) inches) thick, surfaced with not less than 5 centimeters (two (2) inches) of asphaltic concrete or some comparable all-weather dustless material.

E.

Repair and Service. No motor vehicle repair work or service of any kind shall be permitted in conjunction with loading facilities provided in any residence or business districts.

F.

Space allocated to any off-street loading berth shall not, while so allocated, be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street parking facilities or portions thereof.

G.

For special uses other than prescribed for in Section 17.44.070, loading berths adequate in number and size to serve such uses, as determined by the zoning administrator, shall be provided.

H.

Uses for which off-street loading facilities are required in this chapter but which are located in buildings of less floor area than the minimum prescribed for such required facilities shall be provided with adequate receiving facilities off any adjacent alley, service drive, or open space on the same lot which is accessible by motor vehicle.

(Ord. 280 § 12.06, 1968.)

For the uses listed in the following table, off-street loading berths shall be provided on the basis of gross floor area of buildings or portions thereof devoted to such uses in the amounts shown in this section:

SCHEDULE OF LOADING REQUIREMENTS

(Ord. 280 § 12.07, 1968.)