Southgate City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 1292
Off-Street Parking and Loading
1292.01 OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS.
There shall be provided in all districts, at the time of erection, enlargement, or re-occupancy where a new use would change the parking requirements of any main building or structure, automobile off-street parking spaces with adequate access to all spaces. The number of off-street parking spaces in conjunction with all land or building uses shall be provided prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, as hereinafter prescribed:
(a) Except as specifically permitted in the P-1 Vehicular Parking District, off-street parking or off-street parking lots shall not be permitted as the sole or principal permitted use in any zoning district.
(b) Off-street parking spaces may be located within a rear yard or within a side yard which is in excess of the minimum side yard setback unless otherwise provided in this Zoning Code. Off-street parking shall not be permitted within a front yard or within a minimum side yard setback unless otherwise provided in this Zoning Code.
(c) Off-street parking for other than a residential use shall be either on the same lot as or within 300 feet of the building it is intended to serve, measured from the nearest point of the building to the nearest point of the off-street parking lot. Ownership of all lots or parcels intended for use as parking by the applicant shall be shown.
A copy of the agreement between the joint users will be recorded prior to occupancy with the Register of Deeds of Wayne County. The agreement shall include a guarantee that each party to the agreement, its successors and assigns, will enjoy continued use of the jointly shared parking facility. In the event any party withdraws from the agreement, the withdrawing party and each of the remaining parties, must conform to the requirements of this chapter through execution of a new conforming agreement or meeting individual standards.
(d) Required off-street parking for single and two-family dwellings may be provided in a front to back configuration in a driveway or garage, or combination thereof.
Required off-street parking for all other uses shall consist of an unencumbered parking stall or strip, parking bay, vehicle maneuvering space, driveway or garage, or combination thereof. Residential parking shall be located on the premises it is intended to serve. Parking garages or structures, when accessory to a principal use, shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 1298.04.
(e) Minimum required off-street parking spaces shall not be replaced by any other use unless and until equal parking facilities are provided .
(f) Off-street parking, existing on the effective date of this Zoning Code (Ordinance 458, passed January 4, 1989), in connection with the operation of an existing building or use, shall not be reduced to an amount less than hereinafter required for a similar new building or new use.
(g) In the instance of dual function of off-street parking spaces, where operating hours of buildings do not overlap, the Board of Zoning Appeals may grant an exception.
(h) The sale, renting, leasing or storage of any trailers, merchandise or motor vehicles, or the repair of vehicles, is prohibited on off-street parking lots.
(i) For those uses not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street parking facilities shall be in accordance with a use which the Planning Consultant, Building Department, and/or Planning Commission, in accordance with Section 1298.07(i)(5), Site Plan Review, considers is similar in type.
(j) When units or measurements determining the number of required parking spaces result in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to and including one-half shall be disregarded and fractions over one-half shall require one parking space.
(k) Whenever off-street parking requirements are determined on a square footage of floor area basis, planned commercial centers and free-standing retail commercial uses, shall be computed on the basis of eighty percent of the gross floor area being usable.
(l) Wherever Council establishes off-street parking facilities by means of a special assessment district or by any other means, Council may determine, upon completion and acceptance of such off-street parking facilities by Council, that all existing buildings and uses and all buildings erected or uses established thereafter within the special assessment district be exempt from the requirements of this chapter for privately supplied off-street parking facilities.
(m) Nothing in this section shall prohibit the expansion of parking or loading areas to serve existing land uses or buildings, provided that all the regulations herein governing the location, design, landscaping, construction and operation of such areas shall be adhered to.
(Ord. 458. Passed 1-4-89; Ord. 720. Passed 7-18-01.)
1292.02 SCHEDULE OF PARKING SPACES.
The minimum number of off-street parking spaces by type of use shall be determined in accordance with the following schedule:
Use
| Number of Minimum Parking Spaces Per Unit of Measure |
(a) Residential and Lodging Uses | |
(1) Dwelling unit - One-family and two-family | Two spaces for each dwelling unit. |
(2) Dwelling unit - Multi- family A. Efficiency B. One bedroom C. Two or more bedrooms | 1.25 spaces for each dwelling unit 1.50 spaces for each dwelling unit 2.00 spaces for each dwelling unit |
(3) Fraternity, sorority, dormitory or other student residence | One space for each five permitted active members or one for each two beds, whichever is greater. |
(4) Mobile home park | Two spaces for each mobile home site plus additional space for any accessory use. |
(5) Motel, hotel or other commercial lodging establishments | One space for each one occupancy unit, plus one additional space for each ten occupancy units, plus parking for accessory uses. |
(6) Nursing homes or convalescent homes | One space for each three beds. |
(7) Senior citizen or retirement housing (not including nursing or convalescent homes) | One space for each two units, plus one additional parking space for every five units for guest parking. |
(b) Institutional and Related Uses | |
(1) Churches, temples, and other religious facilities | One space for each three seats or one for each six linear feet of pews in the main units of worship. |
(2) Funeral homes, mortuaries, and cemeteries | One space for each 50 square feet of usable floor are in the parlors or chapels. Funeral homes with less than 1,500 square feet of usable floor area in the parlors or chapels shall require one space for each 35 square feet of usable floor area. |
(3) Golf course open to the general public, except miniature or Par-3 courses | Six spaces for each one golf hole, plus spaces required for each accessory use. |
(4) Hospitals | One space for each two beds. |
(5) Library, museum, and cultural center or similar facility | One space for each 150 feet of usable floor area. |
(6) Nursery schools, day nurseries, or child care centers | One space for each 350 feet of usable floor area. |
(7) Private clubs or lodge halls | One space for each 100 square feet of usable floor area. |
(8) Private golf clubs | Four space for each one golf hole, plus spaces required for each accessory use. |
(9) Private swimming pool clubs and other uses | One space for each two member families or individuals, plus spaces required for each accessory use. |
(10) Private tennis club or other similar use | Eight spaces for each one tennis court, plus spaces required for each accessory use. |
(11) Schools - Elementary and Junior High | One space for each one teacher, employee or administrator, or the requirements of the auditorium, whichever is greater. |
(12) Schools - Senior High | One space for each one teacher, employee or administrator, and one space for each five students, or the requirements of the auditorium, whichever is greater. |
(13) Stadium, sports area or similar place of single event assembly | One space for each three seats or eight linear feet of benches. |
(c) Business Commercial and Related Uses | |
(1) Automobile service - minor repairs | Two spaces for each service bay. |
(2) Automobile service - major repairs and body work | Two spaces for each service bay, plus one space for each 100 square feet of usable waiting room area. |
(3) Auto wash (automatic) | Ten front to back spaces for each automatic wash lane, plus one space for each vacuum station, plus space for each employee during the largest shift. |
(4) Auto wash (self-service or coin-operated) | Three front to back spaces for each washing stall in addition to the stall itself, plus one space for each vacuum station. |
(5) Bowling alleys | Five spaces for each one bowling lane, plus parking for accessory uses. |
(6) Drive-through restaurant with seating | One space for each 75 square feet of usable floor area, plus ten front to back spaces for the drive-through window. |
(7) Drive-through or carry-out establishments (no seating) | One space for each 75 square feet of food preparation area, plus ten front to back spaces for the drive-through window. |
(8A) Eating establishment for sale and consumption on the premises of beverages, food or refreshments, except those serving alcoholic beverages | One space for each 75 square feet of usable floor area. |
(8B) Eating establishment for sale and consumption on the premises of beverages, food, or refreshments, including those serving alcoholic beverages | One space for each 60 square feet of usable floor area. |
(9) Furniture and neighborhood appliance, household equipment, repair shops, show room of a plumber, decorator, electrician or similar trade, shoe repair and other similar uses | One space for each 800 square feet of usable floor area. (For that area used in processing, one additional space shall be provided for each two persons employed therein.) |
(10) Gasoline stations | One and one-half spaces for each fuel nozzle, plus one space for each 150 square feet of usable floor area in the cashier and office areas. |
(11) Gasoline stations with convenience store | One and one-half spaces for each fuel nozzle, plus one space for each 250 square feet of usable floor area. |
(12) Gasoline stations with service bays | One and one-half spaces at each fuel nozzle plus two spaces for each service bay. |
(13) Laundromats and coin- operated dry cleaners | One space for each two washing and dry cleaning machines. |
(14) Miniature or Par-3 golf courses | Three spaces for each one hole. |
(15) Motor vehicle sales and service establishments | One space for each 200 square feet of usable floor area of a sales room and one space for each one auto service stall in the service room. |
(16) Multiplex Theaters | One space for each four seats. |
(17) Personal service establishment (i.e., beauty/barber shops, tanning salons, nails) | Three spaces for each treatment station/chair. |
(18) Retail stores and planned commercial or shopping centers A. Up to 5,000 square feet B. 5,000 to 10,000 square feet C. 10,000 to 25,000 square feet D. 25,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet E. 50,000 square feet to 400,000 square feet F. Centers greater than 400,000 square feet | One space for each 100 square feet of usable floor area. One space for each 150 square feet of usable floor area. One space for each 200 square feet of usable floor area. One for each 200 square feet of usable floor area up to 25,000 square feet, plus one for every 250 square feet of usable floor area up to 50,000 square feet. Above requirements, plus one for each 300 square feet of usable floor area up to 400,000 square feet of usable floor area. Above requirements, plus one for each 500 square feet of usable floor area. |
(19) Public recreation facilities (i.e., roller rinks, skating rinks, swimming pools, etc.) | One space for each 150 square feet of usable floor area. |
(20) Exhibition halls and assembly halls without fixed seats | One space for each 25 square feet of usable floor area. |
(d) Offices | |
(1) Banks | One space for each 100 square feet of usable floor area, plus five front to back spaces for each drive-through window. |
(2) Business offices or professional offices, except as indicated herein | One space for each 200 square feet of usable floor area. |
(3) Professional office of doctors, dentists and similar professions | One space for each 50 square feet of usable floor area in waiting rooms and one for each examining room, dental chair, office, laboratory, x-ray therapy room or similar use area. |
(4) Veterinary clinic and commercial kennel | One space for each 50 square feet of usable floor area in the waiting rooms, examining rooms, offices and similar areas. |
(e) Industrial | |
(1) Industrial or research establishments and related accessory uses | Five spaces plus one for each one and one-half employees in the largest working shift, plus one space for each company vehicle, or five spaces plus one for each 500 square feet of usable floor area, plus one for each company vehicle, whichever is greater. Space on site shall also be provided for all construction workers during periods of plant construction. |
(2) Warehouses and wholesale establishments and related accessory offices | Five spaces plus one for every one employee in the largest working shift, plus one space for each company vehicle, or five spaces plus one for every 2,000 square feet of usable floor space, plus one for each company vehicle, whichever is greater. |
(f) Accessible handicap spaces shall comply with the State of Michigan Department of Labor Building code including Barrier-Free Design, Michigan Public Act. No. 1 of 1966, as amended.
(Ord. 458. Passed 1-4-89; Ord. 720. Passed 7-18-01; Ord. 848. Passed 4-4-07; Ord. 892. Passed 8-19-09.)
1292.03 LAYOUT, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF PARKING AREAS.
Whenever the off-street parking requirements in this chapter require the building of an off-street parking facility, or where P-1 Vehicular Parking Districts are provided, off-street parking lots shall be laid out, constructed and maintained in accordance with the following standards and regulations:
(a) No parking lot shall be constructed unless and until a permit therefor is issued by the Director of Inspections. An application for such a permit shall be submitted to the Building Department, in such form as may be determined by the Director, and shall be accompanied by two sets of site plans for the development and construction of the parking lot showing that the provisions of this section will be fully complied with.
(b) Plans for the layout of off-street parking facilities shall be in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
Parking Pattern(degrees) | Maneuvering Lane Width (ft.) | Parking Space Width | Parking Space Length(ft.) | Total Width of One Tier Spaces Plus Maneuvering Lane | Total Width of Two Tier Spaces Plus Maneuvering Lane(ft.) |
0 (parallel) | 12 | 8 ft. | 23 | 20 ft. | 28 |
30 to 53 | 12 | 8 ft.-6 in. | 19 | 31 ft. | 50 |
54 to 74 | 15 | 8 ft.-6 in. | 19 | 35 ft.-6 in. | 56 |
75 to 95 | 22 | 10 ft. | 19 | 41 ft. | 60 |
(c) All spaces shall be provided with adequate access by means of maneuvering lanes. Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited.
(d) Adequate ingress and egress to a parking lot shall be by means of clearly limited and defined drives.
Ingress and egress to a parking lot lying in an area zoned for a multifamily residential use shall not be across land zoned for single-family residential use. Further, ingress and egress to a parking lot lying in an area zoned for a nonresidential use shall not be across land zoned for a residential use, nor shall access to a local residential street be permitted except as may otherwise be permitted in Section 1298.16.
(e) All maneuvering lane widths shall permit one-way traffic movement, except that the ninety-degree pattern may permit two-way traffic movement.
(f) Each entrance to and exit from any off-street parking lot located in an area zoned for other than a single-family residential use shall be at least twenty-five feet distant from adjacent property located in any One-Family Residential District.
(g) The off-street parking area of any nonresidential use permitted in a Residential District shall be provided with a continuous and obscuring wall or landscaped earth berm not less than four feet, six inches in height measured from the surface of the parking area. This wall or berm shall be provided on all sides where the next zoning district is designated as a Residential District and shall contain materials as set forth in Section 1298.13.
When a landscape setback is required between a parking area and any property line or street right-of-way line, the area shall be kept free from refuse and debris and shall be landscaped with deciduous shrubs, evergreen materials or ornamental trees. The ground area shall be planted and kept in lawn. All such landscaping and planting shall be maintained in a healthy, growing condition, neat and orderly in appearance.
(h) The entire parking area, including parking spaces and maneuvering lanes required under this section, shall be provided with asphaltic or concrete surfacing in accordance with specifications approved by the City Engineer. The parking area shall be hard-surfaced before a certificate of occupancy will be issued.
(i) Off-street parking areas shall be drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulated in the parking area in such a way as to preclude drainage of water onto adjacent property or toward buildings.
(j) All lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area shall be so installed as to be confined within and directed onto the parking area only.
(k) (1) To construct or replace a driveway or an approach, serving a single family resident, a site plan shall be submitted, approved and a zoning permit issued by the Building Department to the homeowner or a contractor, to ensure proper placement as regulated by this Zoning Code.
(2) Driveways serving single-family residences shall be by means of clearly limited and defined drives which shall consist of either concrete, brick pavers, or a combination of both.
(3) Driveways and approaches must be the same width at the City sidewalk (except as noted in 1292.03
(k)(9)), and driveways must be located on the same side of the lot as adjoining properties, unless approved in advance in writing by the Building Department or, if denied, the applicant must seek approval of the Board of Zoning Appeals after review and approval by the Planning Commission.
(4) Single-family residences without a garage may install a driveway not more than twelve feet wide. When the width of the side yard between the house and the side lot line is less than twelve feet wide, in front of the house the driveway may be expanded to the maximum permitted width but may not extend across the front of the house more than two feet, and may extend to the street at that width.
(5) Single-family residences with a garage may install a driveway as wide as the garage wall subject to the requirements of Sections 1298.04(a)(1) and 1298.04(a)(3) containing the vehicle entrance door. When the width of the side yard between the house and the side lot line is less than twelve feet wide, in front of the house the driveway may be expanded to the maximum permitted width but may not extend across the front of the house more than two feet, and may extend to the street at that width.
(6) Single-family residences with an attached garage on a cul-de-sac or concaved curve lot at the street property line may install a driveway as wide as the front garage wall, subject to Section 1298.04(a)(1), containing the vehicle entrance door; however, the drive must gradually taper to the City sidewalk not to exceed forty percent of the front lot width.
(7) Front yard circle driveways may be installed on any lot that has a minimum front yard width of seventy-five feet. The driveway width for the circle cannot exceed twelve feet and shall have a minimum side yard setback of five feet for each side.
(8) Single-family residences on a corner lot with the garage entrance less than twenty (20) feet from the existing sidewalk may install an additional parallel paved parking area on the garage entrance side of the corner lot, within their existing road right-of-way, between the sidewalk and curb. Only one (1) parallel to the road space shall be permitted and shall meet the following requirements.
A. The paved (four (4) inches of concrete) parallel parking space shall be no wider than ten (10) feet and no less than eight (8) feet, and no longer than twenty (20) feet, unless otherwise approved by the Building Department.
B. The area between the sidewalk and curb to allow this parking area shall be a minimum of nine (9 ) feet. Any area not paved shall only be between the sidewalk and the new parking area, not the curb and the new parking area, unless otherwise approved by the Building Department.
C. The existing sidewalk shall not be included as part of the paved area and the existing sidewalk will in no way be blocked by the parking area.
D. If a tree, landscaping or other is required to be removed from the ROW the homeowner shall be solely responsible. City policy on tree removal and replacement shall be required.
E. The existing sidewalk shall not be obstructed in any way, this includes overhanging mirrors, bumpers, trailer hitches, etc.
F. The parking pad shall not be within thirty (30) feet of the approach to a flashing beacon, stop sign, or traffic-control signal located at the side of a street.
G. A site plan shall be submitted, approved and a zoning permit issued by the Building Department to the homeowner or a contractor, to ensure proper placement of the parking area as regulated by this Zoning Code.
(9) Single-family residences with an approach (sidewalk to curb) of greater than twenty (20) feet deep are allowed to add, with the Building Official's approval, an additional paved parking area, contiguous to the existing approach, within their existing road right-of-way, between the sidewalk and curb. Only one perpendicular to the road space shall be permitted and shall meet the following requirements.
A. The paved (six (6) inches of concrete) parking space shall be no wider than ten (10) feet unless otherwise approved by the Building Department.
B. The area between the sidewalk and curb to allow this parking area shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet. Any area not paved shall only be between the sidewalk and the new parking area, not the curb and the new parking area, unless otherwise approved by the Building Department.
C. The existing sidewalk shall not be included as part of the paved area and the existing sidewalk will in no way be blocked by the parking area.
D. If a tree, landscaping or other is required to be removed from the ROW the homeowner shall be solely responsible. City policy on tree removal and replacement shall be required.
E. The existing sidewalk shall not be obstructed in any way, this includes overhanging mirrors, bumpers, trailer hitches, etc.
F. A site plan shall be submitted, approved and a zoning permit issued by the Building Department to the homeowner or a contractor, to ensure proper placement of the parking area as regulated by this Zoning Code.
G. The total width of the approach, including the additional parking space, may not exceed 50% of the lot frontage.
(Ord. 458. Passed 1-4-89; Ord. 555. Passed 4-20-94; Ord. 673. Passed 3-31-99; Ord. 674. Passed 3-31-99; Ord. 722. Passed 8-15-01; Ord. 17-993. Passed 9-20-17; Ord. 24-1039. Passed 2-7-24.)
1292.04 OFF-STREET LOADING AND UNLOADING REQUIREMENTS.
On the same premises with every building or structure, or part thereof, involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles, materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for the standing, loading and unloading of vehicles in order to avoid undue interference with the public use of dedicated rights of way. All spaces shall be provided, where required in Section 1298.01, as follows:
(a) Within the RO District, loading space shall be provided in the rear yard or, in the case of a double frontage lot, in the interior side yard, at a ratio of five square feet per front foot of building up to a total area of 360 square feet per building. However, if the use located within the RO District does not sell or distribute merchandise or materials, no loading/ unloading space will be required.
(b) Within the Commercial Districts, loading and unloading space shall be provided in the rear yard at a ratio of ten square feet for each front foot of building. In the case of a double frontage lot, loading, unloading and trash receptacles may be located in an interior side yard beyond the minimum side yard set-back requirement of the District. The location of such facilities in a permitted side yard shall be subject to review and approval by the City. The City, in making its review, shall find that any such use shall:
(1) Not have a disruptive effect on the safe and efficient flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic within the site;
(2) Be aesthetically and effectively screened from view from adjoining properties and from a street, in a manner acceptable to the City.
The City, to aid its review, may require the submission of building elevations and cross-section plans showing grade elevations with respect to the location of loading, unloading and trash receptacles, the corresponding elevations of adjoining property and streets and the means by which these facilities will be effectively screened from view.
(c) Within Industrial Districts, all loading and unloading operations shall be conducted in the rear yard. In those instances where an interior side yard is located adjacent to an Industrial District, loading and unloading may be conducted in that interior side yard when located near the rear of the building. When loading and unloading are to be conducted within an interior side yard, the City may require aesthetic screening of the facility in accordance with Section 1298.13.
All loading and unloading spaces in Industrial Districts shall be laid out in the dimension of at least ten feet by fifty feet, or 500 square feet in area, with a clearance of at least fourteen feet in height. Loading dock approaches shall be provided with a pavement having an asphaltic or Portland concrete binder so as to provide a permanent, durable and dustless surface. All loading and unloading spaces in Industrial Districts shall be provided in the following ratio of spaces to floor area:
Gross Floor Area (square feet) Space Required
0 - 1,400 None
1,401 - 20,000 One space
20,001 - 100,000 One space, plus one space for each 20,000 square feet in excess of 20,001 square feet
100,001 and over Five spaces
(d) The area required for loading, unloading and trash receptacles shall be computed separately from the off-street parking requirements and shall be laid out in such a way that when in use it shall not cut off or diminish access to off-street parking spaces or service drives.
(Ord. 458. Passed 1-4-89; Ord. 850. Passed 5-16-07.)