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Sebewaing Township City Zoning Code

PARKING AND

ACCESS

§ 153.050 INTENT.

   This section is intended to provide efficient and safe access management and adequate parking area for specific uses as well as promote the efficient use of land. It also seeks to prevent adverse environmental impacts of large paved areas.
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)

§ 153.051 CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN.

   Regulations in this section apply to all districts.
   (A)   Application. Any person desiring to establish or change a parking area shall submit plans to the Village Office and Zoning Administrator showing the location, design, size, shape, landscaping, surfacing, marking, lighting, drainage, curb cuts, entrances, exits, and any other features of the parking lot. Any curb cuts, entrances, exits, drainage, and design shall have the written approval of the Zoning Administrator with the comments of the Chief of Police and Department of Public Works Superintendent, shall be presented for site plan approval by the Planning Commission.
   (B)   Standards. The design and construction of parking areas shall conform to the following requirements:
      (1)   All spaces shall be laid out in the dimension of nine feet by 20 feet in size, or 180 square feet of space. This does not include access drives and aisles. Designated handicapped spaces must be 12 feet wide by 20 feet long.
      (2)   All spaces shall be provided adequate access by means of maneuvering lanes.
      (3)   Handicapped spaces. Off-street parking facilities required for buildings shall be provided in accordance with the following table and identified by signs as being reserved for disabled persons. Signs shall be located approximately six feet above grade. Where a curb exists between a parking lot surface and a sidewalk surface, an inclined approach or a curb cut with a gradient not more than one foot in 12 feet and a width of not less than four feet shall be provided for wheelchair access. Parking spaces for the physically disabled shall be located as close as possible to walkways and entrances. Signs shall be provided when necessary, indicating the direction of travel to an accessible entrance.
      (4)   Required number of accessible spaces. Source: https://www.ada.gov/restriping_parking/restriping2015.html
Table 11 - Required Number of Accessible Parking Spaces
Total in Parking Lot
Required Number of Accessible Spaces
Table 11 - Required Number of Accessible Parking Spaces
Total in Parking Lot
Required Number of Accessible Spaces
Up to 25
1
26 to 50
2
51 to 75
3
76 to 100
4
101 to 150
5
151 to 200
6
201 to 300
7
301 to 400
8
401 to 500
9
500 to 1,000
2% of total
Over 1,000
20, plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000
 
      (5)   There shall be a curb or curb stop provided wherever an off-street parking and loading area adjoins a public sidewalk right-of-way, or adjoining property line. The curb or curb stop shall be designed to prevent any portion of a vehicle from encroaching upon the sidewalk, right-of-way, or adjoining property.
      (6)   Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking and loading area shall be arranged to direct light away from adjoining premises. All light poles and mounts shall be at a height of 15 feet or less.
      (7)   Each off-street parking driveway opening to a public street must be approved by the agency having jurisdiction over the street following site plan review by the Planning Commission. If the public street is paved, the driveway must be paved for at least the length required for stacking area as defined below. Lanes for entering and exiting traffic shall be clearly marked on the pavement. Each driveway shall intersect a public street at a 90 degree angle.
      (8)   Each off-street parking driveway shall include an on-site stacking area, which does not function as an access aisle for parking spaces, equivalent to at least 5% of the spaces in the parking area.
      (9)   All off-street parking driveways shall have a clear vision area unobstructed by accessory structures or plantings, within 20 feet of any public street right-of-way, for a sight distance of 50 feet along the near edge of the pavement in either direction.
      (10)   Except for parallel parking, all parking spaces shall be clearly marked with striping which shall be maintained.
      (11)   Landscaping. Off-street parking shall be permitted to occupy required front, side and rear yards after approval of the parking plan layout, provided that there shall be maintained a minimum landscaped setback of ten feet between the nearest point of the off-street parking area, exclusive of access driveways, and the nearest right-of-way line.
      (12)   Off-street parking areas shall be effectively screened on any side which abuts a residentially zoned district or institutional use with a continuous and completely obscuring wall or fence not less than four feet in height and maintained in good condition.
      (13)   Access drives to and from a multifamily, commercial or industrial parking area and all other drives to structures or entrances to structures on the site shall be paved. Access drives are not part of the required parking area. Design and construction of access drives must be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator and Department of Public Works Superintendent and in the instance M-25, the Michigan Department of Transportation.
      (14)   Any off-street parking area shall be surfaced with an asphalt, concrete, pavers, or similar durable and dustless surface, and shall be graded and drained to dispose of all surface water.
   (C)   Shared access. The Planning Commission must require shared access between and among uses where feasible, excluding single family dwelling uses. Feasibility is determined with respect to the physical design of the site and not the effort or costs involved with achieving joint access. This requirement applies to driveways and access drives associated with site redevelopment or new construction. In the case of new development, a joint driveway agreement must be signed by all property owners involved prior to a construction permit being issued. Driveways must be designed to allow joint access in the future, where feasible, and an agreement to allow future use of the drive for joint access must be signed at the time of site plan approval. Shared drives must be shown on site plans at the time of review by the Planning Commission. Refusal to design a site with provisions for joint access or refusal to participate in a joint access agreement is justification for site plan denial by the Planning Commission.
   (D)   Driveway closure. Nonconforming driveways, per this chapter, shall be made to be less nonconforming at the time a site is redeveloped. Lessening the degree of driveway nonconformance may include the Planning Commission requiring closing a driveway or combining driveways or access points at the time of site plan review.
   (E)   Occupancy. The occupancy of a building or any part of a building shall not change it from one use to a use in another classification unless the minimum parking requirements are provided for the new use. No building shall be enlarged if the enlargement requires additional parking space, unless the minimum requirements for off-street parking are provided.
   (F)   Count toward requirement. Parking spaces may count toward the requirement for a parcel if they are located on it or on an adjoining parcel where the farthest space is not over 500 feet from the nearest public entrance to the principal building, with a continuous paved walkway between the lot and entrance.
   (G)   Traffic study. The Planning Commission may request a traffic impact study of an applicant for site plan review if the project is located on M-25 or in any commercial or industrial zone.
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)

§ 153.052 RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS.

   (A)   Provisions shall be made for one usable off-street parking space for each dwelling unit, plus one for each bedroom over one, up to three spaces. Parking in residential zones is only permitted as an accessory use. In no case is it intended that parking or access drives to parking spaces or facilities be permitted as a principal use of any residentially zoned lot. Parking areas must be on an approved surface of asphalt or concrete.
   (B)   Apartments require two spaces per dwelling unit. Each off-street parking space shall have an area of not less than 162 square feet exclusive of access drives or aisles. Parking areas must be on an approved surface of asphalt or concrete. Dwelling units located above commercial uses shall provide one space per unit that may be in conjunction with the parking provided for the commercial use on the ground floor.
   (C)   For all institutional, public, or essential services in a residential district, the required parking area shall be provided on the same lot with the buildings or on a lot immediately adjacent, under the same ownership.
   (D)   The parking areas shall not be permitted in any required front yard area, except in a defined driveway no wider than ten feet (excluding that portion of the drive leading to a garage or parking area), or the width of a garage serving the residence or site. However, in the case of a dwelling with a driveway leading to a garage or parking area, the drive may be used for parking. No driveway shall occupy more than 25% of a required front yard.
   (E)   No commercial repair work, commercial servicing, or selling of any kind except for periodic garage or yard sales shall be conducted on parking areas in residential districts, and no sign of any kind other than those indicating entrances, exits, and conditions of use shall be erected thereon. The storage of merchandise, motor vehicles for sale, trucks or the repair of vehicles is prohibited. No person shall park, place or otherwise store any item in public parks or alleys within the village limits.
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)

§ 153.053 COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS.

   Where parking space is required to be provided for any use, 10% of the capacity of any publicly owned off-street parking facilities located within two blocks may be deducted from the parking space required by this section, but the requirements of this section shall not be reduced by more than 40%.
   (A)   Employee parking. Employee parking shall consist of one parking space for every one employee on the largest shift. Handicapped parking shall be required in accordance with § 153.051(B) of this chapter.
   (B)   Parking surface. All parking shall be on an approved paved surface with the exception of parking for campgrounds, RV parks, cemeteries, parks and other outdoor recreational uses.
   (C)   Access drives. All access drives to and from a parking area and all other access drives to structures or entrances to structures on the site shall be paved. Access drives are not part of the required parking area. Design and construction of access drives must be reviewed and approved by the village staff and in the instance of Beck Street (M-25), the Michigan Department of Transportation.
   (D)   Mixed-use developments. In case of a situation where there is more than one use in a single structure, the following off-street parking regulations may apply:
 
Uses per Structure
% of otherwise combined required parking
2
80%
3
75%
4
70%
5 or more
65%
      In no case shall less than 65% be allowed
 
   (E)   Bicycle parking. If bicycle parking is provided, the racks must meet the following standards:
      (1)   The bicycle frame and one wheel can be locked to the rack with a high security, U-shaped shackle lock if both wheels are left on the bicycle; and
      (2)   A bicycle six feet long can be securely held with its frame supported so that the bicycle cannot be pushed or fall in a manner that will damage the wheels or components.
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)

§ 153.054 INDUSTRIAL DISTRICTS.

   (A)   Where parking space is required to be provided for any industrial use, 10% of the capacity of any publicly owned off-street parking facilities located within two blocks may be deducted from the parking space required by this section, but the industrial off-street parking requirements of this section shall not be reduced by more than 40%.
   (B)   Off-street parking facilities shall be located as specified in this section. For industrial uses, required parking shall be provided within 500 feet of the industrial building, which shall be measured from the nearest point of the parking facility to the nearest point of the building such facility is required to serve.
   (C)   Every parcel of land used as a public or private parking area in any "I" District shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements or other industrial property line, unless screened by a solid masonry wall.
   (D)   For every building, or part, hereafter erected, which is to be occupied by manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display, wholesale store or warehouse, laundry, dry cleaning, or other uses similarly requiring the receipt or distribution in vehicles of materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same premises off-street loading spaces in relation to floor area as follows:
 
Up to 20,000 square feet
1 space
20,000 to 50,000 square feet
2 spaces
50,000 to 100,000 square feet
3 spaces
One additional space for each additional 100,000 square feet, or part thereof and each loading space shall be at least 12 feet in width, and 88 feet in length, and have a clearance of 14 feet above grade.
 
   (E)   Vehicle service garages shall contain one parking space for each 500 square feet of building floor area.
   (F)   Employee parking shall consist of one parking space for every one employee on the most populated shift. Handicapped parking shall be required in accordance with § 153.051(B) of this chapter.
   (G)   In the case of a building, structure, or premises, the use of which is not specifically mentioned in § 153.055, the provisions for a use which is mentioned and to which the use in question is similar, shall apply.
   (H)   In case of a situation where there is more than one use in a single structure the following off-street parking regulations may apply:
 
Uses per Structure
% of otherwise combined required parking
2
80%
3
75%
4
70%
5 or more
65%
In no case shall less than 65% be allowed
 
   (I)   Parking surface. All parking shall be on an approved paved surface, which can include pervious pavement, with the exception of parking for campgrounds, RV parks, cemeteries, parks and other outdoor recreational uses.
   (J)   Access drives to and from a parking area and all other access drives to structures or entrances to structures on the site shall be paved. Access drives are not part of the required parking area. Design and construction of access drives must be reviewed and approved by the Zoning Administrator and Department of Public Works Superintendent and in the instance of M-25, the Michigan Department of Transportation.
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)

§ 153.055 NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED.

   (A)   Parking or storage of motor vehicles shall be provided for in all districts in connection with all industrial, commercial, business, trade, institutional, recreational, or dwelling uses and similar uses. In the case of a building, structure, or premises, the use of which is not specifically mentioned, the provisions for a use which is mentioned and to which the use in question is similar, shall apply. Handicapped parking shall be provided in accordance with § 153.51(B).
   (B)   In case of a situation where there is more than one use in a single structure the following off-street parking regulations may apply. The Planning Commission shall have the power to reduce parking further in the case of shared drives, shared parking or other circumstances where a reduction in parking will contribute to the safety, function or overall site design.
 
Uses per Structure
% of otherwise combined required parking
2
80%
3
75%
4
70%
5 or more
65%
In no case shall less than 65% be allowed
 
   In cases where there is a single specified use, the following regulations shall apply:
 
Use
Required parking spaces
Personal services
Two parking spaces for each chair or booth
Places of public assembly
One parking space for each three seats
Commercial recreation (outdoor)
25% of lot area, but in no case less than 10 parking spaces
Commercial recreational (indoor)
One parking space for each 100 square feet of building floor space
 
(Ord. passed 11-16-2020)