Preston City Zoning Code
ARTICLE VIII
Special Provisions
§ 210-41 Off-street parking.
A.
In all districts, no building, structure or premises shall be erected or any use changed, modified or increased unless off-street parking space is provided which is consistent with the provisions of this section. Each required parking space shall be of no less than 20 feet in length and nine feet in width and shall contain no less than 180 square feet. Aisles between rows of parking spaces shall be no less than 22 feet in width. The number of parking spaces provided shall be determined according to the following schedule of minimum requirements:
(1)
Residential uses: two parking spaces for each dwelling unit.
(2)
Lodging, rooming, or boarding houses: one parking space for each three guest lodging units.
(3)
Tourist courts, motels, or hotels: one parking space for each guest or sleeping room, plus one parking space for each three employees.
(4)
Hospitals, nursing homes, convalescent homes, and the like: one parking space for each two beds.
(5)
Community centers, libraries, museums, civic clubs, lodges, and the like: one parking space for each 200 square feet of building gross floor area.
(6)
Theaters, auditoriums, and assembly halls: one parking space for each three seats.
(7)
Restaurants, beer parlors, and nightclubs: one parking space for each 200 square feet of building gross floor area.
(8)
Doctors' offices and clinics: eight parking spaces for each doctor.
(9)
Professional offices, other than clinics and doctors' offices: one parking space for every 200 square feet of building area.
(10)
Churches: one parking space for each four seats in the principal auditorium.
(11)
Office building: one parking space for every 200 square feet of building area.
(12)
Country club or private club: one parking space for every four memberships thereof.
(13)
Retail stores: one parking space for each 200 square feet of building gross floor area.
(14)
Manufacturing plants, compounding, processing, or packaging and other similar uses permitted in the M District: one parking space for each two employees working on the principal shift.
B.
In the case of any building, structure, or premises, the use of which is not specifically mentioned herein, the provisions for the use which is mentioned which is most nearly similar shall apply. The aisles and parking spaces required in this section shall be smoothly graded, adequately drained, and constructed with a suitable subgrade and durable surface.
C.
Notwithstanding the off-street parking requirements set forth above, in the Village Redevelopment Sub-Area the number of off-street parking spaces may be reduced or modified by the Board of Zoning Appeals where the Board of Zoning Appeals makes a finding of fact that there is adequate on-street parking, which has been designated by the Town Commissioners, and/or shared parking to serve the use or structure that is subject to a special exception application.
§ 210-42 Off-street loading.
A.
In all districts any building or structure or part thereof having a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or more and which is to be occupied by manufacturing, storage, warehouse store, wholesale store, hotel, hospital, laundry, or other uses requiring the receipt or dispatch of materials by vehicles shall be provided with a minimum of one off-street loading space, plus one additional such space for each 20,000 square feet of gross floor area or major fraction thereof in excess of the first 20,000 square feet.
B.
Each loading space shall be a minimum of 10 feet in width and 45 feet in length, and with a clear height of not less than 14 feet. Such loading space may occupy any part of the required yard space except a front yard or the required side yard on the street side of a corner lot. Such spaces shall be smoothly graded, adequately drained, and constructed with a suitable subgrade and durable surface.
§ 210-43 Abandoned vehicles.
A. ABANDONED VEHICLE(1) (2) VEHICLE(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Definitions: As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any vehicle that is subject to registration and is unregistered as those terms are defined in Title 13 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time; or
Any vehicle located on private property, not within a completely enclosed structure or building, whose engine or motor or any other essential part thereof is inoperable or has be removed, or the tires of which or any tire has been deflated or its wheels have been removed.
Includes:
"Vehicle" as that term is defined in § 11-176 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Motor vehicle" as that term is defined in § 11-135 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Motorcycle" as that term is defined in § 11-136 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Moped" as that term is defined in § 11-134.1 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Semitrailer" as that term is defined in § 11-158 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Trailer" as that term is defined in § 11-169 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Travel trailer" as that term is defined in § 11-170 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Truck" as that term is defined in § 11-171 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Truck tractor" as that term is defined in § 11-172 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Farm equipment" as that term is defined in § 11-120 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
"Farm tractor" as that term is defined in § 11-121 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended from time to time.
B.
No owner or tenant or person or entity who controls real property shall store or deposit or permit the storage or deposit of an abandoned vehicle on private property unless the abandoned vehicle is either:
(1)
Kept in an enclosed structure or building which is secured against potential health and safety hazards; or
C.
A person who wishes to restore, renovate, and/or repair an abandoned vehicle on his or her property may apply for a permit to keep the abandoned vehicle on the property under the terms and conditions as set forth in this subsection. Application for an abandoned vehicle permit shall be made to the Town Manager. Applications shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission or Codes Administrator, after which one copy of the application shall be returned to the applicant by the Planning Commission after such copy shall have been marked approved or disapproved and attested to by the signature of a member of the Planning Commission designated to review applications for abandoned vehicle permits. The Planning Commission shall only issue a permit for an abandoned vehicle under the following circumstances:
(1)
The permit application must be made by at least one person who is an owner of the real property.
(2)
The term of the permit shall be three months.
(3)
The permit may be renewed in three-month increments, provided that there has been satisfactory progress toward repair or renovation.
(4)
There shall be a limit of one permit per parcel at any time, with the exception that a second, nonrenewable three-month permit may be issued for a vehicle used for the purposes of repairing the primary vehicle.
(5)
The Planning Commission may issue an extended permit for an abandoned vehicle upon the showing of good cause. The extended permit shall be subject to such conditions as the Planning Commission imposes.
D.
In the event that there is an abandoned vehicle for which there is no permit, the Town Codes Administrator shall send written notice to the owner(s) of the property, via certified mail, return receipt requested, that there is an abandoned vehicle on the property, and that the failure to remove the vehicle within 10 days shall be deemed a violation of this section and punishable as provided in § 210-19 hereof.
E.
All owners or other persons who are in violation of this section on the date it becomes effective shall be given not more than 90 days to comply with the terms of this section.
§ 210-44 Signs.
No sign, sign structure, or part thereof shall be erected, enlarged, or altered unless such sign shall be in compliance with the provisions of this section. No sign, sign structure or part thereof shall be located so as to obstruct or conflict with traffic sight lines or traffic control signs or signals. No lighting of signs shall be permitted which is of a flashing, intermittent, rotating, or other animated type, or which would tend to blind or distract motorists, or which would shine directly into any dwelling. No sign shall be permitted which has an area in excess of 80 square feet each face. The area of signs made up of individual letters, figures, or designs shall include the space between such letters, figures, or designs. For the various types of signs listed, the following specific provisions shall apply:
A.
B.
Signs for professional offices. One permanent sign, not exceeding six square feet in area and displayed on the premises, shall be permitted for professional offices, as defined in § 210-8, and in accordance with the district regulations herein.
C.
Public information and event signs. Directional or informational signs advertising places or events of a public or quasi-public nature shall be permitted in any district. No more than two such signs shall be permitted per place or event and such signs shall not exceed 15 square feet in area. Such signs noting an event shall be deemed temporary and shall be removed within 10 days after the event.
D.
Temporary real estate signs. One temporary, nonilluminated sign, not to exceed six square feet in area, may be erected in any district on the premises affected to advertise the sale, renting, leasing, etc., of real estate. Such signs shall be removed not later than two years after their erection, or within 30 days of the sale, rental, or leasing, etc., of property, whichever comes first.
E.
Signs on premises advertising commercial or industrial enterprises. Signs shall be permitted on the premises of businesses to advertise only the business conducted or the products sold on the premises, and in accordance with the district regulations herein. Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area, and may be illuminated consistent with the provisions of this section. All such signs shall be located entirely upon the property where the business is located and no part thereof shall occur within the right-of-way of any public road.
F.
Signs on premises advertising multiple commercial or industrial enterprises. Signs shall be permitted on the premises of businesses to advertise only the businesses conducted and the products or services sold on the premises, and in accordance with the district regulations herein. All such signs shall be located entirely upon the property where the business is located and no part thereof shall occur within the right-of-way of any public road. Signs shall be limited to the following:
(1)
One general freestanding identification sign structure limited to a maximum of 80 square feet of sign area shall be permitted when mounted perpendicular to the right-of-way. One commercial tenant will be allowed 20 square feet of sign area and each additional tenant will be allowed 10 square feet of sign area. Maximum height of sign shall not exceed 15 feet measured from the ground to the top of sign. Maximum width of sign shall not exceed 15 feet. A landscaped area equivalent to the area of each side of a freestanding sign shall be maintained by the permit holder. This area shall be kept in a neat and clean condition, free of weeds and rubbish.
(2)
Flat signs on buildings within the center may be erected as follows:
(a)
For each 10 linear feet of buildings fronting on public streets or parking areas, a maximum of one sign and 10 square feet of sign area shall be permitted.
(b)
For each 20 linear feet of buildings not fronting on public streets or parking areas, a maximum of one sign and 10 square feet of sign area shall be permitted.
(3)
Projecting signs extending not more than 30 inches from the front of the building. Signs may not be larger than 24 by 18 inches and must be at least seven feet from the ground. The sign shall advertise only the businesses conducted in the building to which it is attached.
G.
Directional signs advertising commercial or industrial enterprises. Directional signs, not more than two in number for each business, shall be permitted in accordance with the district regulations herein. Such signs shall not exceed 20 square feet in area and shall be erected no further than one mile from the premises where the business advertised is located. Such signs shall contain no more than the name, address, and nature of the business, the distance to the business, and a directional arrow, and no part thereof shall occur within the right-of-way of any public road.
H.
Farm signs. Farm signs, identifying the name of the farm or estate, displaying the name of the owner and the nature of the farm and its products, shall be permitted in accordance with the district regulations herein. Such signs shall be limited to one per farm or estate, shall not exceed six square feet in area, and shall not be illuminated and shall be located entirely upon the property where the farm is located and no part thereof shall occur within the right-of-way of any public road.
I.
Political signs. Political signs may be erected 30 days before the election and must be removed 15 days after the election.
J.
Permanent signs. All signs except temporary real estate signs and signs announcing a public or quasi-public event shall be deemed permanent signs. No permanent signs shall be erected, enlarged, or altered without a permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Applications for permits shall be submitted to the Town Manager. Each application shall be accompanied by drawings and written material showing the area and general appearance of the sign, the method of illumination, the exact location of the proposed sign, and the method of construction and/or attachment of such sign to the building or structure.
§ 210-45 Adult-oriented businesses.
[Added 8-28-2017 by Ord. No. 08282017]
No adult bookstore or video store nor any adult-oriented business shall be located within 1,000 feet of any public or private school or a day care for children, as measured from the property line.