The Planning Board, in conjunction with site development plan approval, may permit a reduction in the number of developed parking spaces where adequate accessible reserve areas are available and designated on the plan as areas for overflow parking.

The Planning Board may reduce the required number of parking spaces upon demonstration by the applicant that the number exceeds the design-hour requirement and upon a demonstration that such reduction would not induce parking on public ways or result in hazardous conditions for vehicles and pedestrians within or proximate to the site. This reduction by the Planning Board may not exceed 25% of the normally required amount.

Where an existing structure exists in the BU, LI, LI-2 or O Zoning Districts and where such structure is proposed for occupancy by a use permitted by right in the relevant Table of General Use Requirements and where no exterior site changes are proposed, the Building Inspector is authorized to waive parking as follows:

Location. Areas which may be considered as open or enclosed off-street parking spaces include any private garage, carport or other area available for parking, other than a street or entrance and exit lanes of a driveway, except that no vehicle shall be parked or stored in any fire lane. A driveway beyond a required front yard for a one-family or two-family residence may count as one parking space. All driveways shall include an adequate turnaround area to preclude the need for backing onto a public road.

Size of spaces. Minimum parking stall width shall be nine feet, except that the Planning Board may reduce stall widths for employee parking areas to 8 1/2 feet.

Access. Unobstructed access to and from a street shall be provided for nonresidential uses. Such access shall consist of at least one twelve-foot lane for parking areas with 20 or fewer spaces and at least two twelve-foot lanes for parking areas with over 20 spaces. Access to roads shall include adequate turnaround area to preclude the need for backing out onto the road right-of-way.

Drainage and surfacing. All open parking areas shall be properly drained, and all such areas shall be provided with a dustless surface, except that grassed areas may be used at the discretion of the Planning Board.

Joint facilities. Required parking spaces, open or enclosed, may be provided in spaces designated to serve jointly two or more uses or owners, whether or not located on the same lot, provided that the number of required spaces in such joint facilities shall not be less than the total required for all such uses.

Combined uses. When any lot contains two or more uses having different parking requirements, the parking requirements for each use shall apply to the extent of that use. Where one or more such uses will be generating a demand for parking spaces primarily during periods when the other use or uses is not or are not in operation, the Planning Board may reduce the total parking spaces required by 50% of the parking spaces required for that use with the least requirement.

Location and ownership. Required accessory parking spaces shall be provided upon the same lot as the use to which they are accessory or on a nearby lot, provided that all spaces on the second lot are located within 400 feet walking distance of the original lot along the existing road network. Parking spaces shall conform to all the requirements of the district in which the parking spaces are located. In no event shall such parking spaces be located in any residence district unless the use to which the spaces are accessory is permitted in such residence district. Such spaces shall be in the same ownership as the use to which they are accessory and shall be subject to deed restriction, in a form approved by the Town Attorney, binding the owner and heirs and his assigns to maintain the required number of spaces available either throughout the existence of the use to which they are accessory or until such spaces are provided elsewhere.

On lots divided by district boundaries. When a parking lot is located partly in one district and partly in another district, the regulations for the district requiring the greatest number of parking spaces shall apply to the entire lot. Parking spaces on such lot may be located without regard to district lines, provided that such parking spaces shall not be located in any residence district unless the use to which they are accessory is permitted in such district.

Not more than one commercial vehicle, of 25 feet or less in length, may be parked on a developed lot in any residence district but not within the required yards of such lot and in no case between the street line and the principal building.

Not more than one commercial vehicle of 25 feet or less in length may be parked within a private garage in any residence district.

Commercial vehicles are permitted as accessory to a commercial farm use in any residence district but shall not be stored or parked within any required yard.

No commercial vehicle or otherwise shall be parked or stored on any unimproved lot.

Within the BU, LI or LI-2 Zoning District, as an accessory to a conforming use, the Planning Board may approve the storage of up to 10 commercial trucks or vans up to 30 feet in length, where such vehicles are offered for rent or lease by the property owner, but such vehicles shall not be stored within any required front or side yard or any required rear yard abutting to a residential zoning district and any parking space or area used for storage of such vehicles shall not be considered toward meeting the parking requirement. The approval shall not require the submission of a site plan, except if determined to be necessary by the Planning Board following a site visit by reason of requiring mitigating controls, such as additional paving, screening, drainage, pavement striping, lighting or other necessary site features. In such a case, the Planning Board may require that a full site plan be submitted or may waive site plan requirements it deems unnecessary. Where a site plan is required, the Planning Board shall follow the procedures for approval of site plans including the advertising and conduct of a public hearing.

Off-street loading berths are required for all nonresidential structures or uses. Nonresidential uses permitted in residential districts shall have one loading berth with minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 40 feet and a clear height of 15 feet for the first 20,000 square feet of gross floor area and one additional berth for each additional 40,000 square feet of gross floor area or major portion thereof. In the BU District, there shall be one loading berth with minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 50 feet with a clear height of 15 feet for the first 10,000 square feet of gross floor area and one additional berth for each 20,000 square feet of gross floor area or major portion thereof. In the O and LI Districts, there shall be one loading berth with minimum dimensions of 10 feet by 50 feet with a clear height of 15 feet for the first 20,000 square feet of gross floor area and one additional berth for each 40,000 square feet of gross floor area or major portion thereof. The Planning Board may modify the minimum requirements where necessary to ensure proper circulation and traffic safety or where such change would not create future difficulties in the event that the structures or uses are changed to any other use permitted by right in the district.

Location and access. Unobstructed access, at least 12 feet wide, to and from a street shall be provided to off-street loading berths. Such access may be combined with access to parking areas. No off-street loading berth shall be located between the street line and principal building. A loading berth shall not be located in any required yard and shall be screened where visible from any residential district boundary.

Joint facilities. Loading berths may be provided in spaces designed to serve jointly two or more adjacent establishments, provided that the number of required berths in such joint facilities shall not be less than the aggregate of all such requirements.

On lots divided by district boundaries. When a lot is located partly in one district and partly in another district, the regulations for the district requiring the greater number of loading berths shall apply to the entire lot. Loading berths on such lot may not be located in any residence district unless the use to which they are accessory is permitted in such district.

Access near street intersections. No entrance or exit for any accessory off-street parking area with more than four parking spaces nor for any loading berth shall be located closer than 75 feet to the intersection of any two designated street lines as determined by the official map. This distance shall be 100 feet for any signalized intersection or an intersection provided for a designated left-turn storage lane on the same intersection leg as the proposed access drive.

Screening. Parking areas with more than four spaces in a residential district shall be screened from all property lines, including any roads bordering the property. All parking areas and loading berths shall be screened from any residential district boundary where visible. Such screening shall not obstruct sight distance. The Planning Board may require landscaping between nonresidential-use parking areas to prevent massing of such areas and to protect the character and compatibility of adjacent uses.

Requirements for lighting. The Planning Board is empowered, subject to § 215-140 and pursuant to § 274-a of the Town Law, to adopt rules and regulations pertaining to lighting systems.[1]

Regulations for parking spaces. The Planning Board is empowered, subject to § 215-140, to adopt rules and regulations providing for standard design of parking areas, including striping of stalls, provision of vehicle stops, control of traffic movements, and specifications for surfacing of required parking spaces.[2]