The design of parking areas is critically important to the economic viability of commercial areas, pedestrian and driver safety, the efficient and safe operation of adjoining streets, and community image and livability.

Standards are needed to establish the minimum and maximum number of parking spaces that are needed to serve various land uses.

Excessively large parking lots increase the cost of development, create an unhealthy built environment, contribute to the heat island effect associated with urban areas, and decrease the infiltration of stormwater into the ground.

Shared parking can reduce parking facility costs (including aesthetic and environmental impacts), allows greater flexibility in facility location and site design, and encourages more efficient land use.

Parking lots and their access represent a vital connection between the local transportation network and land uses.

Incorrectly designed parking lots and site access can have negative impacts on the site itself, the adjacent and nearby public roadways, and the image of the business community.

Increase the safety and capacity of public streets by requiring off-street parking and off-street loading facilities;

Minimize adverse effects of off-street parking and off-street loading facilities on adjacent properties and surrounding neighborhoods;

Lessen congestion and prevent the overtaxing of public roads by regulating the location and capacity of off-street parking and off-street loading facilities;

Maintain and enhance a safe and efficient transportation system;

Minimize the occurrences of motor vehicles backing into public roads; and

Minimize impervious surfaces.

Applicability. The off-street parking requirements in this article apply to all new development, including expansions.

General design principles. Parking areas shall be designed based on the following principles:

Proximity of parking to principal use. Parking spaces required by this article shall be located on the same lot with the principal use.

Location of parking on a lot. In commercial and industrial zoning districts, parking may be located in any yard, provided that such spaces and aisles are located at least five feet from another property in a commercial or industrial zoning district, except when such lots are developed with a joint parking lot and there is a cross-access easement in place, at least 15 feet from the side lot line or rear lot line of a property in a residential zoning district, and at least five feet from the front lot line. In a residential zoning district, parking for a multifamily building with three or more dwelling units may be located in the side or rear yards, provided that such spaces and aisles are located at least five feet from any property boundary line. Parking is only allowed in the front yard for single-family dwellings and duplex units when on a driveway.

Accessibility. Parking spaces shall be accessible at all times from a street, an alley, or a driveway intended to serve such parking. No parking area consisting of two or more parking spaces shall be designed as to require a motor vehicle to back into a public street, except for single-family dwellings and duplex units.

Use of parking spaces. Off-street parking areas shall be for occupants, employees, visitors, and patrons. The storage of merchandise, supplies, motor vehicles for sale, or the repair of vehicles in a parking area is prohibited, unless otherwise allowed in this chapter. In addition, the use of an off-street parking area for overnight camping, including recreational vehicle camping, is prohibited.

Surfacing. An off-street parking area (i.e., spaces and aisles) shall be hard-surfaced (e.g., concrete, asphaltic concrete, pavers, or similar product), except for those land uses listed as agriculture or resource-based in Appendix A[1] which may be surfaced with crushed gravel. If it is not possible to hard surface the parking area between November 1 and April 1, the Village Building Inspector may issue an occupancy permit, provided that the property owner and Zoning Administrator enter into a written agreement, with a financial guarantee, that requires completion no later than June 1.

Marking of parking spaces. Parking spaces within an off-street parking area shall be clearly marked, except for single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, twin homes, and townhouses.

Drainage. An off-street parking area shall be properly graded for drainage.

Landscaping. Landscaping for an off-street parking area must be provided consistent with the requirements set forth in Article 13.

Signage. Signage related to off-street parking and on-site traffic circulation must comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 309 of the Municipal Code.

Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting within a parking area must be provided consistent with the requirements set forth in Chapter 234 of the Municipal Code.

Screening. When a parking area with five or more parking spaces adjoins a property in a residential zoning district, a four-foot screen (e.g., landscaping, berm, fence, or any combination) shall be installed and maintained.

Dimensional standards. Parking spaces, except for handicapped parking; access aisles; and other features in a parking area shall conform to the dimensions in Exhibit 14-1.

Minimum number of spaces. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided in the number specified in Appendix B,[2] except as follows:

Maximum number of spaces. For land uses located in a business, mixed-use, or industrial zoning district, the number of parking spaces provided in a ground surface parking lot shall not exceed the number of minimum parking spaces by more than 15%, except that the Plan Commission may allow more parking spaces above that threshold as a special exception pursuant to the procedures and requirements in Article 5, provided that the Commission determines that additional spaces are needed for that particular use or location. There shall be no limitation on the number of parking spaces when located in a parking garage or similar structure.

Mixed-use requirements. For mixed uses, the total requirements for off-street parking spaces shall be the sum of the requirements for the various land uses. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing parking facilities for any other use except when considered shared parking as allowed in this article.

Generally. Off-street loading berths are required for new buildings and building expansions with any use that receives deliveries or makes shipments from large trucks, including retail stores, manufacturing, warehousing, processing, offices, health care centers, and schools.

Minimum number of loading berths. Those buildings subject to this section shall provide one or more loading berths as specified in Exhibit 14-2.

Dimensional standards. A loading berth shall comply with the dimensional standards in Exhibit 14-3. The minimum vertical clearance also applies to all areas providing access to the loading berth.

Location. A loading berth shall not be located on the front of the building, except when entirely located within the building and the access door is integrated into the overall design of the building. A loading berth shall not be located within a required side yard setback area. A loading berth shall not be located within a public road right-of-way or interfere with the intended use of a public road right-of-way. A loading berth or access to a loading berth shall not interfere with on-site traffic or pedestrian circulation or on-site parking.

Surfacing. A loading berth shall be hard-surfaced (e.g., concrete, asphaltic concrete, pavers, or similar product). If it is not possible to hard surface a loading berth between November 1 and April 1, the Village Building Inspector may issue an occupancy permit, provided that the property owner and Zoning Administrator enter into a written agreement that requires completion no later than June 1.

Marking. A loading berth shall be clearly marked.

Use. A loading berth shall only be used for loading and unloading of vehicles.

Drainage. A loading berth shall be graded for proper drainage.

Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting for a loading berth shall comply with the requirements set forth in Chapter 234 of the Municipal Code.

Screening. The reviewing authority may require screening (e.g., landscaping, berm, fence, or any combination) when the use of the loading berth has the potential of negatively impacting adjoining residential uses.

This section applies to all driveways installed, altered, changed, replaced, or extended after July 1, 1995.

The number of driveways serving an individual parcel of land or lot developed for residential uses shall be limited to one access driveway where said parcel or lot abuts a state, county, or Village section line highway. Two connected driveways serving an individual residential parcel or lot may be permitted for parcels or lots abutting local subdivision streets, provided that:

No driveway serving a residential parcel or lot shall be placed less than five feet from the property line for an abutting parcel or lot; however, when two driveways serving a single residential parcel or lot are proposed pursuant to Subsection B, no driveway shall be placed less than 20 feet from the property line for an abutting parcel or lot. When two driveways serving an individual residential parcel or lot are proposed pursuant to Subsection B, a minimum spacing distance of 100 feet is required between the two driveways.

No driveway serving an individual parcel or lot developed for nonresidential uses, (e.g., industrial, commercial, etc.) shall be placed less than 10 feet from the property line for an abutting nonresidential parcel or lot.

Driveways shall meet county and state requirements where applicable but in no case shall exceed 24 feet at the right-of-way line and 30 feet at the roadway in residential districts or 30 feet at the right-of-way line and 40 feet at the roadway in other districts.

Driveways serving drive-in banks, motels, funeral homes and vehicular sales, service, washing and repair stations; garages; or public parking lots shall be not less than 200 feet from any pedestrian entrance or exit to a school, college, university, church, hospital, park, playground, library, public emergency shelter, or other place of public assembly.

Driveways shall be graded to a maximum of 12% and have a minimum width of 12 feet.

Turnaround. Adequate area necessary to accommodate the turning of emergency vehicles shall be provided on-site as part of any driveway exceeding 300 feet in length. Adequate on-site turnarounds shall be provided as part of driveways serving residential parcels or lots abutting county, state, or Village section line highways to preclude egressing vehicles from backing onto such highways.

Culvert endwalls, driveway approaches, and other landscaping treatments shall not be placed within a street or highway right-of-way above the street or highway center line elevation.

Driveways surfaced with concrete shall be surfaced with concrete up to the gutter on a street with a curb and gutter, but only to the street right-of-way on a non-curb and gutter street. In the latter case, the driveway approach from the edge of the street pavement to the edge of the concrete driveway shall be paved with asphalt materials compatible with the street surface.

Temporary driveways installed and used during construction shall be removed prior to issuance of a building occupancy certificate or permit. Restoration of the public right-of-way shall be completed within six months after the abandonment of such temporary driveways. Failure to restore rights-of-way to the original condition may result in Village action to restore the right-of-way and charge the property owner for such restoration.

Driveways serving all parcels or lots developed with commercial, industrial, institutional, recreational, and any other nonresidential uses shall be paved within six months after issuance of an occupancy permit.

Driveways may not connect to public streets on the perimeter of a temporary T-turnaround, cul-de-sac, or dead-end street without authorization from the Plan Commission. If allowed, such permitted driveways shall be paved for a minimum distance of 40 feet from the edge of the street pavement.

Property owners requesting approval of the installation of a driveway and/or driveway culvert are responsible for obtaining all driveway/access permits required by the Village or other county or state agency having jurisdiction over the street or highway to which driveway access is being requested prior to issuance of a building permit.

The location of all driveways and culverts shall be approved by the Building Inspector or other county or state agency, where applicable, prior to installation. The costs associated with the installation of a driveway culvert, including the cost of all materials and street restoration, if required, shall be the responsibility of the property owner requesting the driveway culvert.

The address of all occupied or improved properties shall be clearly displayed near the driveway entrance for safety and emergency purposes. Such address shall be located in such a manner that it will not be damaged or obliterated by vegetation or plowed snow.

A driveway serving a multifamily building, or any commercial, industrial, educational, or institutional use must be designed for two-way traffic at a minimum width of 24 feet.

Driveways and parking lots must be designed to accommodate a turning template for a SU-30 truck (a forty-two-foot turning radius) which represents the Village's largest fire truck turning radius.

No direct private access shall be permitted to the existing or proposed rights-of-way of expressways or freeways, nor to any controlled access arterial street, without permission of the highway agency that has access control jurisdiction.

No direct public or private access shall be permitted to the existing or proposed right-of-way of freeways, interstate highways, and their interchanges or turning lanes, nor to intersections or interchanging streets within 1,500 feet of the most remote end of the taper of the turning lanes.

No direct public or private access shall be permitted to existing or proposed rights-of-way within 150 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines of arterial streets intersecting another arterial street.

Access barriers, such as curbing, fencing, ditching, landscaping, or other topographic barriers, may be required by the Plan Commission to prevent unauthorized vehicular ingress or egress to the above-specified streets or highways.

Temporary access to the above rights-of-way may be granted by the Village Board after review and recommendation by the highway agencies having jurisdiction. Such access permit shall be temporary, revocable, and subject to any conditions required, and shall be issued for a period not exceeding 12 months.