(a)

Off-street parking and loading spaces required. Every use or structure instituted, constructed, erected, enlarged, or structurally altered after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter derives shall provide off-street parking and loading facilities in accordance with the provisions of this article, except as otherwise provided for in this article. No person, firm, or corporation shall utilize such structure or use without providing the off-street parking and loading facilities to meet the requirements of and be in compliance with this article. Such off-street parking and loading facilities shall be maintained and continued as long as the main use is continued. No owner or operator of any structure affected by this article shall discontinue, change, or dispense with the required parking and loading facilities without establishing alternative vehicular parking and loading facilities which meet the requirements of this article.

(b)

Parking for enlarged nonconforming uses. When a permitted use is nonconforming as to required parking, and said use is enlarged with respect to the unit of measurement specified in this section as the basis for determining the amount of parking spaces, additional parking shall be required only on the basis of the enlargement of the permitted use.

(c)

Location of parking spaces. Required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the structure or use to which they are necessary or on a lot adjacent thereto, not separated by any street, which has the same zoning classification and is in common ownership. The off-street parking requirements for two or more adjoining uses of the same or different types may be satisfied by the allocation of the required number of parking spaces for each in a common parking facility provided that the number of off-street parking spaces is not less than the sum of the individual requirements and provided further that there be compliance with all other provisions of this division.

(d)

Reduction of parking spaces in unusual cases. Upon the submission of operation schedules, a reduction in the number of parking spaces may be authorized as a special exception if it can be clearly demonstrated that the peak utilization of the parking facility by the users of the parking facility occurs at different times of the day.

(e)

Limitations on the use of off-street parking spaces. Parking areas required by this section are intended to accommodate the off-street parking needs of the customers and employees of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential uses to which the parking is accessory. They are specifically intended to eliminate the need for parking along adjoining streets and roads by customers and employees they are designed to serve. Storage of vehicles for sale or vehicles that are inoperable in required parking spaces shall not be allowed.

(Ord. of 12-11-00)

In addition to any other requirements of this section, off-street parking areas shall be designed and operated in accordance with the following regulations:

(1)

Access. When access to a parking area serving a single lot requires crossing a public street right-of-way line, no more than two crossings shall be permitted along the frontage of any single street and provided further in no case shall: (1) the center lines of separate access points be spaced closer than 65 on center; (2) the access point be closer than 12 feet from any side property line; and (3) the setback from the street line of any intersecting street less than 50 feet or one-half a lot frontage, whichever is greater. Continuous open driveways for nonresidential uses shall not exceed 24 feet in width at the street line exclusive of curb radii. All access openings shall be in accordance with VDOT standards.

(2)

Driveways.

a.

Sight clearance areas shall be maintained at the intersection of rights-of-way and driveways and the intersection of driveways with themselves. No grading, planting, fences or signs in excess of three feet in height shall be erected or maintained in this clearance area except street signs, fire hydrants and light standards.

b.

Driveways shall not have a grade of more than five percent for the first 25 feet from the street. Additionally, driveways shall not be located where visibility is limited because of road alignment or topography.

c.

Fire lanes may be required by the fire marshal.

(3)

Parking area dimensions. The minimum dimensions for off-street parking areas and spaces are as shown in the following table:

(4)

Sidewalk required. A paved walk shall be provided adjacent to a business or industrial building on any side that provides access or abuts a parking area. Walks of less than six feet wide shall be separated from off-street parking, loading and service areas by curbing or other protective devices so that there is an unobstructed walk space of not less than four feet between the building and parked vehicles.

(5)

Surfacing requirement. Parking lots for use by customers in excess of ten spaces shall be surfaced with asphalt or concrete. Parking lots with less than ten spaces shall be constructed of dust-free materials.

(6)

Parking for physically handicapped persons.

a.

Where parking lots are provided, designed parking spaces for handicapped shall be required as follows:

b.

Parking spaces for the physically-handicapped shall be located as close as possible to elevators, ramps, walkways and entrances. Parking spaces shall be located so that the physically handicapped persons are not compelled to wheel or walk behind parked cars to reach entrances, ramps, walkways or elevators. Where the designated spaces cannot be within 200 feet of the accessible principal entrance or entrances, a drop-off area is to be provided within 100 feet of such entrance or entrances.

c.

Parking spaces for individuals with physical handicaps shall be 12 feet wide and 18 feet long with an unobstructed near level surface which is suitable for wheeling and walking. Such parking space shall allow room for individuals in wheel chairs or individuals with braces, canes, and crutches to have ingress and egress to either side of a vehicle.

d.

Curb ramps shall be provided to permit physically handicapped people access from parking areas to sidewalks. The curb ramp shall be inclined with a gradient of not more than one foot in 12 feet and have a width of not less than four feet.

e.

Designated parking spaces for physically handicapped drivers shall be identified with clearly visible signs mounted at line of sight and displaying the international symbol of access.

(7)

Landscaping. Parking areas shall be arranged for functional efficiency and convenience and shall be designed to be amenable to the surrounding property. Parking areas containing more than ten parking spaces shall comply with the following:

a.

Parking areas shall be separated from the street right-of-way, side property lines and rear property line by a landscaped strip at least ten feet in width. Ingress and egress shall be provided through driveway openings only. In the event a joint parking lot is proposed, the required landscaped strip along the common property line may be waived.

b.

"Landscaped area", "landscaped setback", "landscaped strip", "landscaped island", or "perimeter open space" as herein used are defined as areas containing shrubs, trees, flowers, and/or grass. Such areas shall be shown on the site plan or a separate landscaping plan for the site. All landscaped areas contiguous to the parking bays shall be protected from intrusion by vehicles by curbs or bumpers.

(8)

Lighting. Any lights used to illuminate parking areas shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises in the residential district.

(Ord. of 12-11-00)

Minimum off-street parking with adequate provisions for ingress and egress by vehicles normally serving or visiting the premises shall be provided in accordance with the following table at the time of erection of the main building or at the time of its enlargement as the case may be.

(Ord. of 12-11-00; Ord. No. 2014-6, 10-14-14)

No off-street parking area shall be reduced in size or encroached upon by buildings, vehicular storage, loading or unloading or any other use if such reduction or encroachment will reduce the off-street parking and/or loading spaces below that which are required by this division.

(Ord. of 12-11-00)

The following off-street loading requirements shall be applied to the corresponding uses, except that off-street loading areas are not required in the MX-3 district. However, where off-street loading is provided in the MX-3 district, it shall meet the standards of this section.

Each loading space shall be no less than 12 feet in width, 50 feet in length and 14 feet in height and may not be located in the front yard setback. Such space shall be screened from view.

(Ord. of 12-11-00; Ord. No. O-10-24, 12-9-24)

(a)

No provision as to off-street parking shall apply to the following areas:

(1)

Beginning at the northeast corner of the Wilson Street/West Virginia Street intersection and running east along the north side of West Virginia Street to the east side of Goodes Ferry Road; thence south on the east side of Goodes Ferry Road approximately 148 feet; thence east along the shared property line between parcel record number (PRN) 23114 and 34647 for approximately 266 feet to the east side of South Hill Avenue; thence northeast along the east side of South Hill Avenue approximately 260 feet to the north side of East Virginia Avenue; thence east-southeast along the north side of East Virginia Street approximately 327 feet until PRN 28864; thence follow the southern property line of PRN 28864 before turning and heading north-northeast along the eastern property line of PRN 28864 to the southern side of East Danville Street; thence head west along East Danville Street approximately 129 feet to the west side of Brook Avenue; then head north-northeast along Brook Avenue approximately 860 feet to the northern side East Atlantic Street; thence west-northwest approximately 145 feet; thence north-northwest along the common property line between PRN 25355 and 23566 approximately 450 feet to the northern side of Franklin Street; thence west-northwest approximately 116 feet to the east side of North Mecklenburg Avenue; then north-northeast approximately 27 feet; thence west-northwest along the southern side of North Lane approximately 350 feet to the east side of North Brunswick Avenue; thence south-southwest approximately 465 feet to the north side of West Atlantic Avenue; thence west-northwest paralleling West Atlantic Avenue approximately 690 feet to the east side of Matthews Street; thence south-southwest along the east side of Matthews Street approximately 730 feet to the south side of the old Southern Railway right-of-way; thence westward along the southern line of the former Southern Railway right-of-way approximately 1560 feet to the northeastern corner of the Hillcrest Road/Wilson Street intersection; thence south along the east side of Wilson Street approximately 735 feet to the northeastern corner of the intersection of Wilson Street/West Virginia Avenue.

This area includes the following parcels identified by parcel record number (PRN):

(2)

The parking requirements for all non-residential uses in the MX-3 district shall be one space for every 300 square feet of gross floor area of the building.

(3)

Residential uses located within zone C-3—central business district.

(Ord. of 12-11-00; Ord. No. 2012-3, 4-9-12; Ord. No. 2019-5, 7-8-19; Ord. No. O-10-24, 12-9-24)