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West Liberty City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 1153

Off-Street Parking and Loading

1153.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS.

   (a)   No building or structure shall be erected, substantially altered, or its use changed unless permanently maintained off-street parking and/or loading spaces have been provided in accordance with the provisions of this Zoning Ordinance. Any exceptions to this provision shall be granted only by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
   (b)   The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any existing building or structure or land use.
   (c)   Whenever a building or structure constructed after the effective date of this Zoning Ordinance is changed or enlarged in floor area, number of employees, number of dwelling units, seating capacity, or otherwise to create a need for an increase in the number of existing parking spaces, additional parking spaces shall be provided on the basis of the enlargement or change. (Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.02 PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONS.

   A parking space shall have a minimum rectangular dimension of not less than nine feet in width and nineteen feet in length for ninety degree parking, nine feet in width and twenty-three feet in length for parallel parking, ten feet in width and nineteen feet in length for sixty degree parking, and twelve feet in width and nineteen feet in length for forty-five degree parking. All dimensions shall be exclusive of driveways, aisles, and other circulation areas. The number of off-street parking spaces is established in Section 1153.15.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.03 LOADING SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND DIMENSIONS.

   A loading space shall have minimum dimensions of not less than twelve feet in width, fifty feet in length, exclusive of driveways, aisles, and other circulation areas, and a height of clearance of not less than fifteen feet. One off-street loading space shall be provided and maintained on the same lot requiring delivery of goods and having a modified gross floor area of up to 5,000 square feet. One loading space shall be provided for each additional 10,000 square feet or fraction thereof of ground area.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.04 PAVING.

   The required number of parking and loading spaces as set forth in Sections 1153.03 and 1153.15, together with driveways, aisles, and other circulation areas, shall be improved with such material to provide a durable and dust-free surface.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.05 DRAINAGE.

   All parking and loading areas shall provide for proper drainage of surface water to prevent the drainage of such water onto adjacent properties or walkways.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.06 MAINTENANCE.

   The owner of property used for parking and/or loading shall maintain such area in good condition without holes and free of all dust, trash and other debris.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.07 LIGHTING.

   Any lights used to illuminate a parking lot shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from the adjoining property.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.08 LOCATION OF PARKING SPACES.

   The following regulations shall govern the location of off-street parking spaces and areas:
   (a)   Parking spaces for all detached residential uses shall be located on the same lot as the use which they are intended to serve;
   (b)   Parking spaces for commercial or industrial uses shall be located not more than 700 feet from the principal use;
   (c)   Parking spaces for apartments, or similar residential uses shall be located not more than 300 feet from the principal use.
      (Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.09 SCREENING AND/OR LANDSCAPING.

   Whenever a parking area is located in or adjacent to a residential district it shall be effectively screened on all sides which adjoin or face any property used for residential purposes, by an acceptable designed fence, or planting screen. Such fence or planting screen shall be not less than four feet nor more than six feet in height and shall be maintained in good condition. In the event that terrain or other natural features are such that the erection of such fence or planting screen will not serve the intended purpose, then no such fence or planting screen and landscaping shall be required.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.10 MINIMUM DISTANCE AND SETBACKS.

    No part of any parking area for more than ten vehicles shall be closer than twenty feet to any dwelling unit unless separated by an acceptably designed screen. If on the same lot with a one-family residence, the parking areas shall not be located within the front yard required for such building. In no case shall any part of a parking area be closer than four feet to any established street or alley right-of-way.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.11 JOINT USE.

   Two or more nonresidential uses may jointly provide and use parking spaces when their hours of operation do not normally overlap, provided that a written agreement approved by the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer shall be filed with the application for a zoning permit.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94; Ord. 2017-08. Passed 9-11-17.)

1153.12 WHEEL BLOCKS.

   Whenever a parking lot extends to a property line, wheel blocks or other suitable devices shall be installed to prevent any part of a parked vehicle from extending beyond the property line.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.13 WIDTH OF DRIVEWAY AISLE.

   Driveways serving individual parking spaces shall be not less than twenty-five feet wide for ninety degree parking, twelve feet wide for parallel parking, seventeen and one-half feet for sixty degree parking, and thirteen feet for forty-five degree parking.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.14 STRIPING.

   All parking areas with a capacity over twelve vehicles shall be striped with painted lines five inches wide between stalls to facilitate the movement into and out of the parking stalls. Lines shall be maintained in a good visible condition.
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.15 PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENTS.

   For the purpose of this Zoning Ordinance, the following parking space requirements shall apply:
Type of Use
Parking Spaces Required
Single-family or two family dwelling
Two for each unit
Apartments, or multi-family dwellings
Two for each unit
Boarding houses, rooming houses, motel
One for each sleeping room or one for each permanent occupant
Manufactured housing (mobile homes)
Two for each unit
Automobile service-garages which also provide repair
One for each two gasoline pumps and/or two for each service bay
Restaurant
One for each 100 sq. ft. of floor area
Retail Sales stores
One for each 20 sq. ft. of floor area
Offices, public or professional, administration or services
One for each 400 sq. ft. of floor area
All other types of businesses or commercial uses permitted in any business district
One for each 300 sq. ft. of floor area
Churches and other places of religious assembly
One for each 5 seats
Private club or lodge
One for each 5 members
All types of manufacturing, storage and wholesale uses
One for every 2 employees (on the largest shift for which the building is designed)
(Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94.)

1153.16 GENERAL INTERPRETATIONS.

   In the interpretation of this chapter, the following rules shall govern:
   (a)   Parking spaces for other permitted or conditional uses not listed in this chapter shall be determined by the Board of Zoning Appeals upon appeal from a decision of the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer .
   (b)   Fractional numbers shall be increased to the next whole number.
   (c)   When a reason for parking demand is unusually low, then the parking space provisions cited above may be reduced proportionately by the Board of Zoning Appeals upon an appeal from a decision of the Zoning Code Enforcement Officer .
       (Ord. 553. Passed 1-24-94; Ord. 2017-08. Passed 9-11-17.)