Off-street parking regulations are established to achieve, among other reasons, the following:

   (a)   To relieve congestion so streets can be utilized more fully for movement of vehicular traffic;

   (b)   To promote the safety and convenience of pedestrians and shoppers by separating parking areas and extensive car movements in the vicinity of pedestrian ways;

   (c)   To protect adjoining residential neighborhoods from on-street parking;

   (d)   To promote the general convenience, welfare and prosperity of residential, business, service and manufacturing developments that depend on off-street parking facilities;

   (e)   To provide regulations and standards for the development of accessory off-street parking and loading facilities in accordance with objectives of the Master Plan and codes of the Village; and,

   (f)   To provide for accommodation of vehicles in a functionally and aesthetically satisfactory manner and to minimize external effects on adjacent land uses.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   Accessory off-street parking facilities, including access driveways, shall be provided prior to the occupancy of a building or use. Facilities shall be provided for the entire building or use in accordance with the regulations contained in this chapter whenever:

   (a)   A building is constructed or a new use is established.

   (b)   The use of an existing building is changed to a use requiring more off-street parking facilities.

   (c)   An existing building is altered and there is an increase in seating capacity, floor area of the building, or number of employees.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   In computing the number of parking spaces required by this Zoning Code, the following rules shall apply:

   (a)   Floor Area. Where floor area is designated as the standard for determining parking space requirements, gross floor area shall be used, unless specifically noted otherwise.

   (b)   Seats. Where seating capacity is the standard for determining parking spaces, the capacity shall mean the number of seating units installed or indicated, or one seat for each twenty-four lineal inches of benches or pews. When fixed seats are not indicated, the capacity shall be determined as being one seat for each twenty square feet of floor area of the assembly room.

   (c)   Employees. Where employees are the standard for determining parking space requirements, employees shall mean the maximum number of employees on the shift with the highest number of employees expected.

   (d)   Fractional Numbers. Where the computation results in a fractional unit, one additional off-street parking space shall be provided.

   (e)   Parking for Mixed Uses. Where a building or group of buildings contains two or more uses, normally operating during the same hours, the number of parking spaces for each use shall be computed separately and the total spaces provided shall not be less than the sum of the spaces required for each use, except as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   (a)   The number of off-street parking spaces for each facility or use shall be determined by application of the standards set forth in Schedule 1292.04. For a use not specified in this Schedule, the Planning Commission shall apply the standard for a specified use that the Commission determines to be most similar to the proposed use.

    (b)   Schedule 1292.04 Required Off-Street Parking Spaces.

 

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   In addition to specific requirements contained in each district regulation, the location of off-street parking facilities shall further be regulated according to the following provisions:

   (a)   All Districts. All required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use served, unless otherwise provided for in this chapter. If the parking spaces required in Schedule 1292.04 cannot reasonably be provided on the same lot on which the principal use is conducted, the Planning Commission may permit such spaces to be provided on other off-street property, provided that such spaces shall be within four hundred feet walking distance, measured along the route of public access to the property, of a public entrance to such principal use and use of such off-street parking spaces are secured either by common ownership, leased for at least twenty years, or through a permanent easement. The Zoning Administrator and the Law Solicitor shall approve such lease or easement.

   (b)   Access. All required off-street parking spaces shall have direct access to an aisle or driveway without the need to move any other vehicle, except as otherwise specifically permitted in this chapter.

   (c)   Parking in Designated Areas Only. Any vehicle customarily or seasonally parked on any lot shall be so parked only in parking areas specifically constructed for such purposes, and shall not be parked on tree lawns, sidewalks, other lawns, or areas required by this Code to be landscaped.

   (d)   Areas Computed as Parking Spaces. Areas that may be computed as open or enclosed off-street parking spaces include any private garage, carport or other area available for parking, other than a street or driveway.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   A reduction in the number of required off-street parking spaces is permitted in compliance with the following:

   (a)   Allowance For Shared Parking.

      (1)   Parking spaces that are designed and developed to comply with the requirements for one building or use shall not be counted as fulfilling the parking requirement of another building or use except as specifically permitted in this section. The Planning Commission may approve a development plan with a reduction in the number of parking spaces required if it can be shown that the lesser number of spaces is appropriate and consistent with these regulations and when it is determined that in a project with more than one use or a single-use project for which the different components of the use have varying peak demands, the uses can be adequately accommodated with a lesser number of parking spaces than that which is required based on the sum of the various uses computed separately.

      (2)   The required parking spaces for a proposed use can be accommodated on an adjacent or nearby site within four hundred feet walking distance, provided that binding, recorded agreements are made between the business owners and property owners of uses that are not normally open, used or operated during the same hours to ensure the perpetual joint use and maintenance of such shared parking areas and the continuance of such upon transfer of ownership. The binding agreement shall specify the parking spaces that shall be shared. In such case, not more than fifty percent of the required parking spaces shall be shared.

   (b)   Deferred Construction Of Required Spaces. If the number of parking spaces required in Schedule 1292.04 is substantially larger than the number anticipated by the applicant and the applicant provides sufficient evidence that supports the reduced parking needs, a development plan may be approved with an allowance for the construction of a lesser number of parking spaces provided that:

      (1)   The total number of spaces initially constructed shall not be less than seventy percent of the spaces required by Schedule 1292.04, Required Off-street Parking Spaces.

      (2)   Suitable area(s) are reserved for the construction of the balance of the total number of spaces otherwise required by Schedule 1292.04. Such suitable areas shall be illustrated on the development plan in locations and with landscaping in full compliance with this Zoning Code. Such areas shall not be counted towards any open space requirement set forth in this Zoning Code.

      (3)   The Planning Commission, upon reevaluation of the project's parking needs, may at any time direct that some or all of the parking spaces identified in subsection (b) be constructed.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   (a)   Drive-thru establishments and other establishments which, by their nature, create lines of customers waiting to be served within automobiles shall provide off-street waiting areas, on the same lot as the use, in addition to the required number of parking spaces specified in Schedule 1292.04, in accordance with the requirements of this section.

   (b)   Schedule 1292.07 Off-street waiting spaces for drive-thru facilities.

 

 

   (c)   Vehicles Prohibited within the Public Right-of-Way. In any case, vehicles shall not be permitted to wait within the public right-of-way for service at such drive-in or drive-thru facilities.

   (d)   Waiting Space Dimensions. Each off-street waiting space shall have an area not less than 144 square feet (measuring eight feet by eighteen feet) exclusive of access drives and parking aisles and shall not interfere with parking or circulation.

   (e)   Reduction in Required Waiting Spaces. The Planning Commission may reduce the number of required waiting spaces when the applicant provides credible documentation, such as studies from similar sites, that fewer than the required number of waiting spaces does not impede vehicular traffic flow on and off the site as well as ingress/egress to the site.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   (a)   Off-street parking area shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the following minimum dimensions set forth in Schedule 1292.08, based on the angle of the spaces.

   (b)   Schedule 1292.08 Minimum Dimensions for Parking Areas.

 

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   All accessory parking spaces shall have vehicular access to a street or alley. Access drives to major streets shall be designed in the interest of public safety and located so that vehicles can safely enter and leave the facility. The location, width, and number of entrance and exit access drives to accessory parking spaces shall be in accordance with the following:

   (a)   Location. The location and width of entrance and exit driveways to parking facilities shall be planned to interfere as little as possible with the use of nearby property and with pedestrian and vehicular traffic on the nearest streets and access driveways shall be located at least fifty feet from the right-of-way line of the nearest intersecting street.

   (b)   Number of Drives.

      (1)   Each parcel shall have not more than two access drives from each abutting street except that;

         A.   One additional access drive may be permitted for lots that have 200 or more feet of frontage on one street,

         B.   One additional access drive for lots that have more than 500 feet of frontage when the Planning Commission determines that such additional drive will improve public safety and/or the management of traffic.

      (2)   Insofar as practical, the use of common drives by two or more uses shall be encouraged to reduce the number of such highway access points.

   (c)   Width of Access Drives. The width of such entrance and exit lanes shall be not less than nine feet or more than twelve feet per lane and shall not exceed a total of thirty-six feet.

   (d)   Radius. The radius of the edge of the access drive apron shall be at least thirty feet so that a vehicle may enter from or exit onto the curb lane without obstructing vehicles in other traffic lanes.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   Off-street loading spaces, when provided, shall be maintained for non-residential buildings in compliance with the following regulations:

   (a)   All loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use served and no part of any required setback, off-street parking area, or access drive thereto, shall be used for loading or unloading purposes.

   (b)   Off-street loading spaces shall not be used, designed, intended or constructed to be used, in a manner so as to obstruct or interfere with the free use of any street, alley, or adjoining property.

   (c)   Access to truck loading and unloading space shall be provided that will not interfere with public convenience and that will permit the orderly and safe movement of trucks.

   (d)   Streets, sidewalks, alleys or other public rights-of-way or other public property shall not be used for loading purposes nor shall vehicles be parked on such areas during loading and unloading.

   (e)   Off-street loading facilities shall be located in compliance with the principal building setback requirements.

   (f)   Loading spaces shall not be used for repairing or servicing of motor vehicles.

   (g)   Off-street loading spaces shall be in addition to and not considered as meeting a part of the requirements for off-street parking spaces.

   (h)   Each off-street loading space shall have the minimum dimensions of twelve feet in width, fifty feet in depth.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   All driveways, parking areas, curbs, and bumper guards shall be constructed in accordance with standards established by the following:

   (b)   Drainage. Parking areas shall be graded, drained and provided with adequate drainage facilities so that adjacent properties and rights-of-way, including public sidewalks, shall not be subject to flooding by run-off water from the proposed parking area.

   (c)   Illumination in Open Areas. Parking areas shall be illuminated whenever necessary to protect the public safety. Light sources shall be located and designed to prevent light pollution into residential areas.

   (d)   Curbs and Wheel/Bumper Guards. Appropriate bumper guards or barrier curbs shall be provided in order to define parking spaces, access drives or limits of paved areas, contain the cars on sloping surfaces, and to prevent bumper over-hang or other encroachment into required yards, walkways, landscaping, sidewalks, aisles, parking spaces, or adjacent property.

   (e)   Marking. Any off-street parking area for five or more parking spaces shall indicate the location of each parking space, the location of spaces for persons with disabilities, and the location and direction or movement along the aisles and access drives providing access thereto by painting upon the surface, by raised directional signs, or by markers or other similar measures placed in the surface.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009; Ord. 2019-9. Passed 9-17-19; Ord. 2021-6. Passed 5-18-21.)

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009; Ord. 2021-7. Passed 5-18-21.)

   Parking areas shall be landscaped and screening in conformance with the requirements of Chapter 1298, Landscaping, Screening, and Outdoor Lighting.

(Ord. 2009-17. Passed 9-15-2009.)

   (a)   No owner of an office, business, facility, or parking garage shall fail to maintain clearly marked parking lines.

   (b)   Special parking locations and privileges for persons with disabilities that limit or impair the ability to walk, also known as handicap parking spaces or disability parking spaces, shall be provided and designated. The locations shall be designated through the posting of an elevated sign, imprinted with the international symbol of access and shall be reasonably close to exits, elevators and ramps. The location shall be in accordance with the 2010 ADA Standards.

   (c)   Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be subject to Section 202.99 Penalties of the Village of Walton Hills Codified Ordinances.

(Ord. 2017-6. Passed 4-18-17.)