Warren City Zoning Code

Required Size of Parking Spaces and Access.

Provisions for Proper Drainage and Maintenance. All off-street parking, off-street loading and service facilities shall be so drained as to prevent damage to abutting properties or public streets and shall be constructed of materials which will assure a surface resistant to erosion. All parking areas, aisles and loading areas open to the general public shall be paved with six inches of stabilized base or equivalent except that the Planning Board or Board of Adjustment may waive paving in lieu of crushed stone or other material when such is shown to substantially lessen surface runoff. This waiver shall apply only to areas used for employee parking, on-site driveways not connecting directly to the street and loading areas. All such areas shall be, at all times, maintained at the expense of the owners thereof, in a clean, orderly and dust-free condition.

Separation from Walkways and Streets. All off-street parking, off-street loading and service areas shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks and streets by curbing or other protective device.

Private Walks Adjacent to Business Buildings. A private walk, if provided adjacent to a building, shall not be less than four feet in width and shall be in addition to the other requirements of this section.

Buffer Required when Adjoining Property is Residential. Where off-street parking, loading or service areas are proposed to be located closer than 50 feet to a lot in any residential zoning district, or to any lot upon which there exists a dwelling as a permitted use under these regulations, and where such parking, loading or service areas are not entirely screened visually from such lot by an intervening building or structure, there shall be provided along the lot line a continuous screen in accordance with applicable buffer and transition requirements set forth in this chapter. No such screen shall extend nearer to a street right-of-way line than 25 feet.

Parking Space and Interior Driveway and Dimension Requirements.

Connection to a Public Right-of-Way. Each off-street parking, loading or service area shall be connected to a public street right-of-way by means of a driveway.

Size of Driveways. A driveway exclusive of curb return radii shall be not less than 12 feet per lane nor more than 36 feet in width. All two-way traffic driveways shall have a minimum width of 24 feet.

Location of Curb Cuts. At the intersection of streets, a curb cut shall be set back not less than 50 feet from the intersection of two curb lines or such lines extended. Between the curb returns for any two driveways serving the same property, there shall be at least 75 feet of curb.

Off-Street Parking Space within Building. Garage space or space within building, in basements or on the roofs of buildings, may be used to meet the off-street parking requirements of this chapter, provided each space is designated to serve as off-street parking space.

Pavement Markings and Signs. Each off-street parking space shall be clearly marked, and pavement directional arrows or signs shall be provided wherever necessary. Markers, directional arrows and signs shall be properly maintained so as to ensure their maximum efficiency.

Lighting for Night Use. Adequate lighting shall be provided if the off-street parking facilities are used at night. If the parking facilities abut residential land, the lighting shall be arranged and installed so as not to reflect or cause glare on the abutting residential land in accordance with provisions of performance standards.

Required Off-Street Parking Area Shall Not be Reduced. No off-street parking area shall be reduced in size or encroached upon by any building, vehicle storage, loading or unloading, or any other use where such reduction or encroachment will reduce the off-street parking and loading spaces below that required by these regulations.

Joint Parking Facilities. The off-street parking requirements for two or more nonresidential neighboring uses of the same or different types located on the same lot and within the same zoning district, may be satisfied by the allocation of the required number of spaces for each use in a common parking facility, provided that the number of off-street parking spaces is not less than the sum of individual requirements, and provided further, that there be compliance with all other provisions of these regulations.

Parking Provided on the Same Lot as Main Building. Except as provided in the above paragraph n., all parking spaces for all uses shall be provided on the same lot as the main building to be served by such parking.

Requirements for Combined Uses. The number of off-street parking spaces required by land or buildings used for two or more purposes shall be the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses.

Sharing of Parking Facilities. Off-street parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required facilities for any other use, provided that 1/2 of the off-street parking spaces required by any use whose peak attendance will be at night or on Sundays, such as churches, theaters, and assembly halls, may be assigned to a use which will be closed at night or on Sundays.

Computing Number of Employees. For the purpose of this subsection, the number of employees shall be computed on the basis of the maximum number of persons to be employed at any one time taking into consideration day, night and seasonal variations.

Other Use of Off-Street Parking Space Prohibited. No off-street parking or loading area shall be used for the sale, repair, dismantling, servicing or storage of any vehicle, equipment materials or supplies.

Size of Loading Berth. A loading berth shall be at least 12 feet wide with at least 15 overhead clearance. The length of the loading berth shall be 48 feet.