Vermilion City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1276

Off-Street Parking and Loading

1276.01 INTENT.

This chapter is intended to provide reasonable requirements for off-street parking and loading, thus reducing congestion on the streets and preserving the traffic-carrying function of City streets and highways.

(Ord. 97-58. Passed 9-8-97.)

1276.02 GENERAL PROVISIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.

In all zoning districts, off-street parking facilities for the storage or parking of self-propelled vehicles for the use of occupants, employees, and patrons of buildings erected, altered or extended after the effective date of this Zoning Code (Ordinance 66-103, passed December 19, 1966) shall be provided and maintained as herein prescribed:

(a) In determining the number of parking spaces required, if such spaces result in fractional parts thereof, the number of such spaces required shall be construed to be the next higher whole number.

(b) Whenever a use requiring off-street parking is modified by an increase in floor area, an increase in employees, a change in use or in any other manner, additional parking spaces shall be provided if the total parking is less than that specified hereinafter for such use as so modified.

(c) For the purpose of this Zoning Code, "floor area" means the gross floor area of all floors within the structure, regardless of the use of such floor space.

(d) Off-street parking facilities for residential dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the building served. Off-street parking facilities for other than residential dwellings shall be within 300 feet of the building intended to be served. An industry which employs 500 or more employees may supply off-street parking at a distance greater than 300 feet from such industry, upon approval of the Planning Commission.

(e) The off-street parking requirements for uses not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as those required for uses of a similar nature.

(f) Collective off-street parking facilities may be provided; however, such facilities shall be no less than the sum of such facilities as would otherwise be individually required.

(g) When determining off-street parking requirements for structures of mixed usage, the number of required spaces shall be no less than the sum required if such separate uses were calculated individually.

(h) When given more than one method of computing parking requirements, the minimum parking spaces required shall be the amount determined by utilizing the method which requires the greatest number of spaces.

(i) When required parking spaces exceed eight, one space shall be reserved for parking by individuals displaying a State-recognized disabled parking permit. Additional spaces for the disabled shall be required at intervals of one out of every thirty-five spaces thereafter.

(j) As used in this chapter, the following interpretation shall apply:

(1) Employee parking - One space required for every two employees on the maximum shift capacity.

(2) Visitor parking - One space required per 1,000 square feet of structure (min. three spaces - max. twelve spaces)

(3) Storage - One space required for each vehicle stored on the premises.

(4) Stored - In relation to "stored on the premise," any vehicle that has been, may be or will be on site for a period of seventy-two hours or greater.

(k) The amount of off-street parking spaces for uses, buildings, or additions thereto, shall be determined according to the following requirements, and the space so required shall be stated in the application for a building permit and shall be reserved for such use:

	USE	REQUIRED PARKING SPACES
	Residential
(1)	Single-family dwelling	2 spaces per dwelling
(2)	Two and multiple family dwellings	2 spaces per dwelling unit
(3)	Hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfast and other similar uses	1 space per lodging unit, plus employee parking, plus 2 spaces for residential owner-manager
	Institutional/Educational/Recreational
(1)	Churches, theaters, meeting halls, auditoriums, stadiums, sports arenas and other similar use facilities (other than incidental to schools)	1 space for each 5 seats, plus employee parking
(2)	Hospitals	1 space for each 2 beds, plus employee parking
(3)	Medical, dental, veterinary clinics and other similar use	1.5 spaces for each patient exam room, plus employee parking facilities
(4)	Nursing homes, extended care facilities and residential social	1 space for each 2 beds, plus employee parking
(5)	Libraries and museums	1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking
(6)	Elementary and junior high schools	1 space for each 8 seats in the principal auditorium or 2 spaces per classroom/office
(7)	High schools and public vocational schools	1 space for each 5 seats in the principal auditorium or 1 space for each 8 students (maximum possible enrollment), plus employee parking
(8)	Colleges, universities, private vocational schools and other similar use facilities	1 space for each 2 students (maximum possible enrollment), plus employee parking
(9)	Establishments for the sale and consumption on the premises of alcoholic beverages, food or refreshments	1 space for each 100 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking or 1 space for each 4 seats, plus employee parking. However, no less than 7 spaces shall be required
(10)	Bowling alleys	5 spaces per alley, plus employee parking
(11)	Dance halls, game and billiard halls and exhibition halls without fixed seating	1 space for each 100 squre feet of floor area
(12)	Health and fitness facilities	1 space for each 100 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking
	Commercial
(1)	Retail and convenience stores, except as otherwise specified herein	1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking
(2)	Banks, other financial institutions, business and professional offices	1 space for each 400 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking
(3)	Hair care, tanning and nail salons	2 spaces per stylist, plus 1space per tanning apparatus, plus employee parking
(4)	Motor vehicle sales, machinery sales, appliance sales, furniture sales, wholesale stores, repair shops, printing and engraving facilities and establishments for the sale of foods and beverages for consumption off the premises	1 space for each 500 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking
(5)	Funeral homnes and mortuaries	1 space for each 50 square feet of floor area in the slumber rooms, parlors or funeral service rooms, plus employee parking
(6)	Auto repair/service stations	2 spaces for each "repair bay", plus employee parking, plus storage
(7)	Other personal service or business uses	1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area, plus employee parking, plus storage
	Industrial
	Manufacturing facilities, research and testing laboratories, packaging facilities and warehousing and storage facilities	Employee parking, plus visitor parking, plus storage, plus 2 spaces for each residential owner-manager

(Ord. 97-58. Passed 9-8-97.)

1276.03 CONSTRUCTION AND USE SPECIFICATIONS.

(a) Parking lots or areas adjacent to public streets shall have driveways or openings not to exceed thirty-five feet in width at the curb line. All such lots or areas shall have a protective wall or bumper block at least five feet from any sidewalk line, and such lots shall be designed so that all vehicles leaving the facility will be traveling forward to approaching traffic. Detailed plans shall be submitted for approval of all curb cuts or driveway openings in commercial and manufacturing districts before a building permit may be obtained therefor.

(b) Entrances, exits or driveways shall not be computed as any part of a required parking lot or area.

(1) Any vehicle parking space in a commercial or industrial district shall be used for parking only. Any other use of such space, including repair work or servicing of any kind other than in an emergency, shall be deemed to constitute a separate commercial use in violation of the provisions of this Zoning Code.

(2) No building or structure of any kind shall be erected in any off-street parking space except a parking garage containing parking spaces equal to the requirements of this section.

(3) No signs shall be displayed in any such vehicle standing space except signs to direct the orderly use of such space.

(Ord. 2003-45. Passed 10-20-03.)

(4) The design of all off-street parking facilities and means of access thereto shall be subject to approval of the Planning Commission. Each plan, when filed for review and approval, shall bear the stamp or seal of a professional engineer. The filing fee for the review of any off-street parking facility shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), plus a $500 deposit.

A. Additional funds must be deposited anytime the review fees submitted fall below 25% of the original required amount. The additional funds must be equal to 50% of the original required amount.

B. Any funds remaining after all review costs have been deducted shall be refunded to the applicant upon completion of all reviews and approval of the project.
(Ord. 2009-12. Passed 3-16-09.)

(5) The vehicle parking space on any lot, as set forth and designated in this Zoning Code, shall be deemed to be required open space on such lot, in addition to any yard space required by the provisions of this Zoning Code, and shall not be reduced or encroached upon in any manner.

(6) All parking spaces, entrances and aisles shall be surfaced by one of the following means:

A. Parking lot pavement may be plain concrete without mesh or reinforcement and shall be a minimum of five inches thick. Concrete shall be mixed and delivered according to ASTM C94 Specifications for Ready-Mixed Concrete. Concrete shall meet the following requirements.

1. A minimum compressive strength of 4,000 psi at twenty-eight days. Local aggregate No. 57 topsize. An air content of six, plus or minus two percent. Slump shall be five inches maximum for hand placement, three inches maximum with machine. Concrete shall be properly placed on the prepared subgrade, adequately consolidated and struck off to proper elevation. Concrete shall be placed continuously to prevent the formation of "cold joints." Wherever placing operations stop, a bulkhead shall be installed to form a straight joint. The sequence of finishing operations shall be strikeoff and consolidations, floating (if necessary), straight edging and texturing.

2. The pavement shall be jointed to control cracking. Longitudinal and transverse joint spacings shall be at regular intervals. Individual spacings may vary slightly to meet catch basin and manhole castings.

NOTE: The required joint spacings are ten feet to twelve feet for five-inch slabs; twelve feet to fifteen feet for six-inch slabs; and fifteen feet to eighteen feet for seven-inch slabs.

3. Contraction joints shall be made by sawing, tooling or installing an approved insert to a depth of one-fourth of the slab thickness. Sawed joints shall be cut as soon as possible without ravelling the concrete. In warm weather, joints shall be cut on the day of pour.

4. Full depth expansion (isolation) joints, one-quarter to one-half inch thick, shall be installed only to isolate fixed objects. These fixed objects include existing pavements, sidewalks, castings and structures.

B. Parking lot pavement may be asphalt concrete and shall meet the requirements of the latest edition of the Ohio Department of Transportation, Construction and Material Specifications. Materials are as follows:

1. Subgrade shall be prepared and compacted to meet the requirements of ODOT Item 203. Eight inches of aggregate base meeting the requirements of ODOT Item 304 shall be placed in two four-inch courses.

2. Prior to application of the asphalt concrete, a prime coat meeting the specifications of ODOT Item 408 shall be applied at the rate of 0.4 gallons per square yard of compacted base.

3. The leveling course shall be a minimum compacted thickness of 1.5 inches of asphalt concrete meeting the requirements of ODOT Item 403.

4. The surface course shall be a minimum compacted thickness of 1.5 inches of asphalt concrete meeting the requirements of ODOT Item 404. (Ord. 2003-45. Passed 10-20-03.)

C. Any other hard-surfaced material approved by the City Engineer.

(Ord. 2011-84. Passed 11-21-11.)

(7) In all commercial districts, a minimum area of 300 square feet per motor vehicle shall be allowed in computing the total area to be devoted to parking. Parking stalls shall be a minimum of ten feet in width and twenty feet in length. Parking stalls designated as handicapped parking spaces shall be a minimum of fifteen feet in width and twenty feet in length. Entrance and drive aisles shall be a minimum of twenty-four feet in width.

(8) Surface water drainage must be addressed in all off-street parking areas. All such lots must have a system of storm drainage facilities which will include a grading plan designed to include a slope of one percent minimum.

(Ord. 97-58. Passed 9-8-97.)

(d) Owners may obtain permits for and subsequently install off-street parking spaces parallel to certain uncurbed roadways based on the following standards and criteria:

(1) The minimum size of the parking space shall be 10 feet x 20 feet. Tapers from the edge of the roadway will be constructed in accordance with accepted standards and the total width of the parking area will not exceed the lot frontage.

(2) The parking area will not be located within 2 feet of a sidewalk.

(3) The pavement for the parking area shall be constructed in accordance with City standards and shall meet the following minimum requirements:

A. Subgrade shall be prepared and compacted to meet the requirements of ODOT Item 203. Six inches of aggregate base meeting ODOT Item 304 shall be placed and compacted.

B. Prior to installation of asphalt, a prime coat application meeting ODOT Item 408 shall be applied. The application rate shall be 0.4 gallons per square yard.

C. The intermediate course of asphalt shall be a minimum compacted thickness of 1 ½ inches and shall meet the requirements of ODOT Item 402.

D. The surface course of asphalt shall be a minimum compacted thickness of 1 1/4 inches and shall meet the requirements of ODOT Item 404.

(4) Parking areas shall be located in such a manner as not to obstruct access to driveways or mailboxes.

(5) Surface water runoff must be addressed in all parking areas. Where required a system of storm sewer basins or piping will be necessary.

(Ord. 2003-45. Passed 10-20-03.)

1276.04 LOADING SPACE REQUIREMENTS.

On the same premises with every building, structure or part thereof erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage, warehouse goods display, department store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, laundry, dry cleaning or other use similarly involving the receipt or distribution of vehicles or materials or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for standing, loading and unloading services, in order to avoid undue interference with public use of streets or alleys. Such space, unless otherwise adequately provided for, shall include a ten-foot by twenty-foot loading space with a fourteen-foot height clearance for every 10,000 gross square feet or fraction thereof in excess of 3,000 gross square feet of building.