Purpose and intent.

(1)

In order to relieve traffic congestion in the streets, to minimize any detrimental effects of off-street parking areas on adjacent properties, and to ensure the proper and uniform development of parking areas throughout the City of West Point, parking and unloading spaces for every use shall be provided in accordance with the requirements established in this section.

(2)

For any parking lot, garage, vehicle storage area operated on a commercial basis, reconfiguration of an existing parking lot or any other off-street parking area required in this section (but excluding off-street parking for detached dwellings), a plan shall be submitted to the planning department to review for compliance with these regulations and any other applicable ordinances. Any such parking plan shall meet the minimum submittal requirements as provided in section 18.

1.

Definitions referenced. The definitions of certain terms referenced in these sections are set forth in section 2, "Definitions" of this ordinance, as amended.

2.

Applicability. The provisions of this section shall apply to all buildings, structures, and uses within the City of West Point. Where there is a conflict between terms and/or requirements contained in this section and another section contained in this ordinance, as amended, or any other ordinance, code, regulation of the City of West Point, Georgia, the stricter shall apply.

3.

General provisions.

(1)

Every use or structure instituted, constructed, or erected hereinafter the adoption of this ordinance shall provided off-street parking facilities in accordance with the requirements of this section for the use of occupants, employees, visitors, or patrons.

(2)

Any building or structure may be modernized, repaired, or substantially rebuilt for any reason, provided there is no increase in floor area or capacity and there is no change of use without providing additional off street parking facilities.

(3)

Whenever the existing use of a building or structure shall hereafter be changed to a new use, parking facilities shall be provided as required for such new use.

(4)

When any building, structure, or premises has an addition of dwelling units, addition of dwelling units, addition of gross floor area, an increase in seating capacity, or an increase of any other unit of measurement specified herein for required parking facilities, which creates a need for an increase of more than fifteen (15) percent in required off-street parking, additional facilities as required herein shall be provided only for such increase in use.

4.

Off-street parking standards.

(1)

Location of off-street parking facilities.

a.

Required off-street parking facilities shall be located on the same lot as the building to be served unless otherwise provided by this ordinance.

b.

Required off-street parking spaces for any use shall be located no more than four hundred (400) feet from the use they are intended to serve. This standard does not apply to auditoriums, stadiums, assembly halls, gymnasiums, and other places of assembly; industrial uses; and hospitals.

c.

An off-street parking space shall be located:

(1)

Off the public right-of-way;

(2)

Where the lot abuts a major street or any other street intersection considered hazardous because of inadequate sight distance or heavy traffic and so arranged that it will not be necessary for the vehicle, when exiting from the space, to back into said street; and

(3)

Accessible by a driveway meeting the requirements between space and the public street.

For detached single-family dwellings and for each side of a duplex dwelling, a driveway may serve as off-street parking space, provided that portion of the driveway use for parking is off the public right-of-way.

(2)

Off-street parking space. An off-street parking space shall have a minimum overhead clearance of seven and one-half (7½) feet and other minimum dimensions as follows:

(3)

Distribution of types of parking spaces. In parking lots with twenty (20) or more spaces, no more than forty (40) percent of all required parking spaces shall be designed and designated for compact cars.

(4)

Aisle width. Aisles between parking rows shall be provided at the following dimensions:

a.

Ninety (90) degree parking, twenty-four (24) feet.

b.

Sixty (60) degree parking, eighteen (18) feet.

c.

Forty-five (45) parking, thirteen (13) feet.

(5)

Change in off-street parking or loading. Area reserved for off-street parking or loading in accordance with the provisions of this section shall not be reduced in area or changed to any other use unless the permitted use which it serves is discontinued or modified, except where equivalent off-street parking or loading space is provided.

(6)

Requirements applicable to all uses. For uses not specifically mentioned in Table 18.02, "Off-Street Parking Requirements" of this section, the requirements for off-street parking and loading facilities shall be determined by the planning director.

(7)

Off-street parking plans. Off-street parking plans shall, at a minimum, include the following information:

a.

The number of parking spaces;

b.

The percentage of required spaces to be designate for use only by compact cars;

c.

The arrangement and dimension of parking aisles;

d.

The location of driveway entrances;

e.

Provisions for vehicular and pedestrian circulation;

f.

The location of sidewalks and curbs on and abutting the property;

g.

The location of utilities, barriers, shelters, and signs;

h.

The location of landscaped areas or a landscape plan on another set;

i.

Typical cross sections of pavement;

j.

Stormwater drainage facilities; and

k.

Any other relevant information requested by the planning department, as provided for in these regulations.

5.

Off-street parking requirements. There shall be provided at the time of the erection of any building or structure, minimum off-street parking, plus drives and maneuvering space sufficient for ingress and egress by an automobile of standard size, in accordance with the following Table 18.02. When a building or structure is enlarged or increased in capacity by adding dwelling rooms, guest rooms, floor area or seats, minimum off-street parking shall be provided for such additional rooms, floor area or seats.

6.

Shared parking.

(1)

Joint use of up to fifty (50) percent of required parking spaces may be permitted for two (2) or more uses located on the same parcel or adjacent parcels, provided that the developer can demonstrate that the uses will not substantially overlap in hours of operation or in the demand for shared spaces. Proof of claim for non-overlap by the developer shall be substantiated by a report which shall provide, at a minimum:

a.

Number of spaces anticipated to be used by each shared use.

b.

Anticipated distribution of parking utilization by each shared use by hour of operation over a twenty-four (24) hour period and over a seven (7) day week.

c.

A short narrative describing the anticipated dynamics of shared parking scenario.

(2)

Any sharing of required parking spaces by uses located on different parcels shall be guaranteed by a legally binding written agreement between the owner of the parking area and the owner of any use located on a different parcel and served by the parking area. The agreement shall be reviewed and approved in accordance with section 18, and filed with the City of West Point Planning Department.

7.

Parking barriers. Barriers such as wheel blocks, curbs, walls, or fences shall be located along the perimeter of parking lots, garages and other vehicle storage areas except at entrances and exits indicated on approved parking plans. These barriers shall be designed and located to prevent parked vehicles from extending beyond property lines and from hanging over any sidewalk or other pedestrian path.

8.

Restrictions on use of off-street parking and loading spaces. Dedicated parking spaces shall be used for the parking of motor vehicles only unless otherwise specified in this ordinance. The storage of merchandise or materials, or the repair of motor vehicles, or any kind of equipment, except for the temporary storage of construction material and equipment while work is taking place on the structure where the off-street parking is located, is prohibited in all off-street parking and loading spaces, including required and non-required spaces.

9.

Remote parking area.

Definition and purpose.

A remote parking area is an uncovered, ground-level area used to meet parking needs of a use permitted in the same district but separate and distinct from the principal lot. A private remote parking area may be established for the purpose of accommodating required or overflow parking for a specific use in a manner consistent with the character of the surrounding properties. No commercial use shall be made of remote parking areas by renting, leasing, or otherwise charging fees for the use of the parking spaces included therewith.

(1)

Establishment. A remote parking area may be established to satisfy the parking needs of a use permitted in the same district only if the space available on the principal lot does not meet the requirements of Table 18.02 or if a reasonable shared parking arrangement cannot be made. This provision shall not be construed as to permit a reduction in the number of parking spaces required on the principal lot by this ordinance.

(2)

Location requirements. Remote parking areas shall be located within reasonable walking distance of the principal lot. The parking area shall be located and its entrances and exits so arranged that vehicular and pedestrian traffic through surrounding residential areas will not be increased over that caused by existing on-street parking and through traffic.

(3)

Yard and site requirements.

a.

Setback requirements are not applicable as buildings or other structures are not permitted on the lot.

b.

There are no lot width or area requirements for remote parking areas; except that a lot shall not be altered in shape or further subdivided in such a manner that either the minimum requirements of the district are no longer met or any existing non-conformity is increased in scope.

(4)

Screening. A remote parking area shall be screened from adjacent residentially zoned and/or used property by a masonry wall or planted buffer strip not less than six (6) feet in height. Such screening shall also be provided along public rights-of-way, except that where necessary to meet vision clearance requirements, such screening shall be only three (3) feet in height. The height of screening along public rights-of-way shall be measured from either street level or ground level.

(5)

Signs and lighting.

a.

Signs- One (1) sign indicating each entrance or exit shall be permitted, but no such sign shall have an area of more than one (1) square foot. In addition, one (1) sign indicating restrictions on the use of the property shall be permitted at each entrance, but no such sign shall have an area of more than three (3) square feet. The above signs may be located adjacent to the public right-of-way but shall not be located within five (5) feet of any other property line.

b.

Lighting- Lighting of remote parking areas shall be adequate to assure the safety and convenience of persons using the parking area. Lights shall be so shielded and directed as to prevent glare into surrounding residential areas.

10.

Provision for on-street parking. The provision of on-street parking in new development or redevelopment shall appropriate for the street type as well as the design of the development proposed. Applicants wishing to provide such parking shall discuss plans with the planning director and city engineer prior to submitting plans.

11.

Loading standards and requirements.

(1)

Off-street loading requirements.

Off-street loading requirements for development in the City of West Point shall be governed by the following table:

(2)

Configuration of off-street parking and loading ingress and egress.

a.

Access to and from off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided by means of clearly defined entrance and exit drives from public rights-of-way or private streets to clearly limited and defined maneuvering lanes, which, in turn, provide access to individual off-street parking and loading spaces. Off-street parking and loading spaces must be designed so as not to interfere with the normal movement of vehicles and pedestrians on the public right-of-way.

b.

Layout configurations which require backing directly onto a street from a parking or loading space are strictly prohibited, except for single or two-family residential.

(3)

Commercial vehicle parking in residential areas. Vehicles used primarily for commercial purposes and with more than two (2) axles are prohibited from parking in residential districts. This shall not be construed as to prevent the temporary parking of delivery trucks, moving vans, and similar vehicles which deliver goods and services while in the process of delivering.

(Ord. No. 2007-10, 3-12-07)