Washington Grove City Zoning Code

Certain buildings and uses are permitted or required as accessories to a principal use. These are buildings and uses which are either:

(a) Clearly incidental to, and customarily found in conjunction with, a permitted principal use; or

(b) necessary in order to protect adjacent uses and the general public from adverse effects which would otherwise result.

6.211 Applicability

The provisions of this section apply to the C L Zone and all new construction. This section does not apply to reconstruction of non complying buildings under Section 5 to the extent that there is insufficient space to meet the requirements of this section.

6.212 Purpose

The purpose of this subsection is to require off street parking space and off street loading space sufficient to serve the parking needs of the building and its occupants, clients, employees or other persons associated with the building, in order

(a) to reduce the use of the public streets for such purposes and thus to aid in the relief of traffic congestion in the streets,

(b) to foster the convenience and amenity of the various sections or neighborhoods of the Town, and

(c) to protect the character of residential areas.

6.213 Other Uses Permitted and Prohibited

The off-street parking facilities required by this Section are for the use of accommodating the passenger vehicles of residents, occupants, guests, patrons, employees or other persons associated with the use to which they are accessory. The loading spaces required are for the use of delivering and removing merchandise or other material. These areas shall not be used for the sale, display or storage of merchandise, the performance of commercial services, including services to vehicles nor for any other purpose, except those permitted herein. The required off-street parking areas must not be used for loading purposes.

6.214 Permanent Requirements

All required off-street parking and loading areas together with the driveways giving access thereto are deemed to be required space in connection with the uses to which they are accessory and must not be encroached upon nor reduced in any manner, except that the Mayor may permit such reduction in cases where he finds that either:

(a) an equal number of spaces have been provided elsewhere in accordance with the standards set up in this Section; or

(b) there has been an equivalent reduction in the number of spaces required, due to a reduction in the size or a change in the nature of the use to which the spaces are accessory.

6.221 Plan and Design Standards

All off street parking lots, in the C L Zone whether required or not, must be built and maintained in accordance with the regulations set forth in this Section.

(a) Surfacing. All parking areas must be paved in accordance with the paving standards of the Town.

(b) Separation from Streets and Walks

1. All parking spaces and driveways must be guarded by curbs or other protective devices so arranged and installed that parked cars cannot project into streets, walkways, or sidewalks.

2. In the commercial zone, curbing constructed of Portland cement concrete, and having a vertical face of not less than 8 inches high, must be constructed and maintained (i) between any public street and any parking lot used by the general public, except at designated vehicular entrances and exits, and (ii) in front of any fence separating any parking lot used by the public from adjacent residential property, at a distance of not less than 5 feet from such fence.

(c) Drainage. All parking lots must be so drained as to prevent damage to other properties or public streets.

(d) Dimensions. Each parking space must have a minimum length and width of 18 feet and 9 feet respectively. Aisles between rows of spaces must have a minimum width as indicated in the following table:

Interior driveways in areas where there is no parking must be at least 10 feet wide for one way traffic or 20 feet for two way traffic.

(e) Marking and Lighting. Each parking space must be clearly marked by lines or other indication on the pavement, and signs or arrows must indicate the directions of traffic movement. Adequate lighting must be provided if the parking facilities are to be used at night, but the lighting must be so arranged as not to reflect or cause glare on any land used for residential purposes.

(f) Connection to Public Street. Every parking lot must be connected to a public street by means of a driveway constructed in compliance with the minimum standards required by the Town. Such a driveway must have a width of at least 12 feet for one way traffic, exclusive of curb return. No such entrance to a public street may be located less than 50 feet from the intersection of two curb lines or extensions thereof, except that in cases where topographic conditions or the size or shape of the lot make it impossible to maintain a distance of 50 feet the Mayor may permit this distance to be reduced, but in no case to less than 25 feet. In addition, no exit or entrance to a parking lot containing more than 10 parking spaces may be located within 300 feet of an entrance to a public or parochial school, a public park or playground, or a hospital, except in the case of a lot which has no access to any street frontage that would satisfy this requirement.

(g) Landscaping. In any parking lot containing more than 25 parking spaces, at least 10 percent of the total area of the lot must be devoted to plantings of trees or shrubs to provide internal landscaping, in addition to landscaped areas at the periphery of the lot.

(h) Screening. Where an off street parking facility containing more than 10 spaces is located less than 50 feet from any land in any residential zone, it must be screened from such land by a continuous opaque fence, wall, or evergreen hedge at least 6 feet in height and so located as to provide a maximum of visual screening.

(i) Signs. No parking facility may have any sign in or upon it nor upon any fence or wall surrounding it except as otherwise permitted in this Section.

(j) Sidewalk. In the commercial zone, a continuous sidewalk constructed of cement, concrete or asphalt must be constructed and maintained between all parking lots used by the public and the entrances of all business establishments.

6.222 Calculation of Required Number of Spaces

6.2221 Fractional Number of Spaces. When the number of spaces calculated in accordance with these regulations results in a number containing a fraction, the number is to be rounded off to the nearest whole number.

6.2222 Joint Facilities. The off street parking requirements for two or more uses may be satisfied by providing a common facility containing the sum of the number of spaces required for each of the uses, subject to the requirements of Section 6.2223.

6.2223 Off Site Facilities. For all uses except residences, the required accessory parking facilities may be provided on a lot other than that on which the principal use is located, provided that all such facilities are within 500 feet of the nearest boundary of the lot on which the use is located.

6.2224 Schedule of Minimum Requirements. The minimum numbers of street parking spaces per unit of measurement for each type of use are as listed in the following schedule. Other uses operated in association with the uses listed must be provided for in addition.

6.231 Plan and Design Standards

All off street loading spaces, whether required or not, must be built and maintained in accordance with the regulations set forth in this Section.

(a) Surfacing. All loading areas must be paved in accordance with the paving standards of the Town.

(b) Dimensions. Each loading berth must have the following minimum dimensions in feet, exclusive of driveways, entrances and exits.

(c) Screening. Where an off street loading facility is located on a lot adjacent to any land in any residential zone, it must be screened from such land by a continuous opaque fence, wall, or evergreen hedge at least 6 feet in height and so located as to provide a maximum of visual screening.

(d) Location. In the commercial zone, the loading or transfer of freight, merchandise, trash or garbage must not be conducted on a side facing a Town residential zone. Provided, however, that upon an affirmative showing that compliance with this section would impose unreasonable commercial hardship on a business in the zone, the Board of Zoning Appeals may grant a special exception to the strict application of this section, upon such conditions as it deems necessary to assure that the residential character of the Town is adequately protected.

6.232 Schedule of Minimum Requirements

The minimum numbers of off street loading spaces for each type of use are as listed in the following schedule.

It is the purpose of this Section to regulate the location, size and other characteristics of signs in the Town so as to aid in the accomplishment of the following ends:

(a) To permit the identification of home occupations, parking lots, and community facilities in residential areas, and

(b) To permit the advertising of professions and businesses located in commercial areas; while at the same time having due regard to:

(1) The preservation of residential areas against any deleterious effects of signs within or near them;
(2) The protection of highway traffic from congestion and danger such as might be caused by the confusion or distraction of motorists by signs;
(3) The prevention of any undesirable effects upon public parks or parkways which might result from the proximity of signs; and
(4) The protection of local retail business areas from types of signs which are not appropriate in such areas.

6.321 Where Permitted

(a) Signs are permitted in each zone subject to the conditions set forth in this Section 6.3. All signs must be located on private property.

(b) Off-Site Signs are not permitted.

6.322 Permit Required. No sign may be erected, affixed, painted, hung or otherwise displayed, altered or repaired unless a permit has been applied for, together with payment of the applicable fee as set forth in ARTICLE XVI of the Code of Ordinances, and issued by the Mayor and a certificate of compliance has been issued by the Town council, except as provided in section 6.323.

6.323 Signs Not Requiring Permits. No permit is required for the following types of signs, where permitted:

(a) Any sign not exceeding two square feet in area.

(b) On any lot, one temporary sign not exceeding six square feet in area, announcing that the building or lot, or both, are for sale or rent.

(c) Any sign, not exceeding two square feet in area, associated with a political campaign.

6.331 Types Permitted. In all residential zones, only the following types of signs are permitted:

(a) For any residential building, one sign with a total area of not more than two (2) square feet, indicating the name of the occupant, the occupation of a person carrying on a permitted home occupation, and similar customary information, are permitted for each dwelling unit.

(b) For any place of religious worship, one or more signs with a total area of not more than 12 square feet are permitted, in addition to a temporary bulletin board of not more than 16 square feet.

(c) For any permitted off street parking area, a sign with an area of not more than two square feet is permitted at each entrance, exit, or combined entrance and exit.

(d) Sign(s) associated with a political campaign.

6.332 Height. No part of any sign in a residential zone may be more than 7 feet above the ground level.

6.333 Illumination. No sign located in a residential zone may be illuminated with more than 25 candlepower per square foot of surface. The illumination must consist of white light and must not produce glare in any residential zone or street.

6.334 Flashing or Moving Signs. No sign which moves, or which includes flashing, moving, or changing lights, is permitted in any residential zone.

6.341 Signs Near Residential Zones. No sign which is located within 250 feet of any land in a residential zone may be larger (in square feet) than its nearest distance (in linear feet) from the residential zone.

6.342 Types Permitted. In the C L Zone only the following types of signs are permitted:

(a) Commercial Signs. Signs directing attention to a business commodity, service, profession, or other commercial use are designated as “commercial signs” for purposes of this section. On any lot, the total area of commercial signs must not exceed one half square foot for each lineal foot of the street frontage of the lot, or six tenths of one percent of the lot area, whichever is smaller.

(b) Noncommercial Signs. A “noncommercial sign” must not contain any statements, words, or pictures that are of a commercial nature advertising or identifying a commercial use, product, or service. A noncommercial sign must not exceed 4 square feet in area.

6.343 Placement, Height. Any commercial sign in the C-L Zone must be painted on or affixed to the building containing the business or use advertised by the sign. No commercial sign may project above the roof or wall line (whichever is higher) of the building on which it is erected. Any noncommercial sign in the C-L Zone must not exceed a height of 8 feet.

6.344 Types Prohibited.

(a) Flashing or Moving Signs. No sign which moves, or which includes flashing, moving, or changing lights is permitted.

(b) Signs on Vehicles. No vehicle advertising a business facility located in the C L Zone may be parked in the C L Zone for more than 60% of the time the facility is open for business in any one week. This prohibition does not apply during the hours the facility is closed for business.