A.   It is the intent of this Title to secure optimum coordination and interaction between land use and transportation facilities. Preservation and improvement of the traffic function of abutting streets and of the major street system, as a whole, are essential considerations in the project planning stage of land development.

   B.   It is the purpose of this Chapter to establish the regulations necessary to assure that every land use will be so located and planned as to minimize traffic congestion, hazards and vehicular pedestrian conflicts. It is the further purpose to place upon the property owner the primary responsibility for relieving public streets of the burden of on-street parking and to provide the regulations and minimum standards essential to the planning and development of adequate off-street parking. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the property owner to plan and develop his property in such a way that:

   A.   On-street space will never be required to satisfy parking or loading space needs;

   B.   Points of access from the public street will be minimized; and

   C.   Driveway openings will be so located and dimensioned as to minimize the disruption of passing traffic and the creation of traffic hazards. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

Every use shall conform to the following general standards in addition to the special standards for certain specific uses as set forth in this Title:

   A.   Traffic Visibility: No obstructions to visibility at any street intersection, including but not limited to structures, parked vehicles or vegetation, shall be allowed or permitted to remain in any zoning district between the heights of two and one-half feet (21/2') and eight feet (8') above the ground and within fifteen feet (15') of the intersection of the street right-of-way lines. In the case of an arterial street intersecting another arterial street or a railroad at grade, the vision clearance space shall be increased to twenty five feet (25').

   B.   Driveways: All driveways installed, altered, changed, replaced or extended after the effective date hereof shall comply with the following requirements:

      1.   Driveway openings shall not exceed twenty four feet (24') in width, measured at the street line, or thirty feet (30') in width, measured at the curb line, except as otherwise provided herein.

      2.   For commercial and industrial uses, driveway openings shall not exceed thirty four feet (34') in width measured at the street line, or forty feet (40') in width, measured at the curb line.

      3.   Vehicular entrances and exits to drive-in theaters, stadiums, racetracks, funeral homes and similar uses generating very heavy, periodic traffic conflicts shall be located not closer than two hundred feet (200') to any pedestrian entrance or exit to a school, college, university, church, hospital, public emergency shelter or other place of public assembly.

   C.   Access:

      1.   No direct private access shall be permitted to the existing or proposed right of way of any freeway, interstate highway, expressway or controlled access arterial street without the express permission of the highway agency having access control jurisdiction.

      2.   No direct public or private access shall be permitted to the existing or proposed rights of way of:

         a.   Freeways or interstate highways nor to their interchanges or turning lanes nor to their intersecting or interchanging streets within one thousand five hundred feet (1,500') of the most remote end of the taper of the turning lanes.

         b.   Arterial streets intersecting another arterial street, within forty feet (40') of the intersection of right-of-way lines.

         c.   Local or collector streets intersecting an arterial street, within twenty five feet (25') of the intersection of right-of-way lines.

      3.   The driveway of every interior lot fronting on an arterial street shall have a paved turning area allowing vehicles to turn around and head into the arterial street. Under no circumstances shall any parking lot be so arranged as to necessitate backing a vehicle into an arterial street. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

   A.   General Regulations:

      1.   Spaces Required: In all zoning districts, off-street parking facilities shall be provided in an amount not less than hereinafter specified for the parking of self-propelled motor vehicles used by occupants, employees, patrons, members and clients of establishments or uses erected or established after the effective date hereof, and of existing establishments or uses which are thereafter extended, enlarged or changed.

      2.   Existing Uses: Land or structures existing and in use or operation on the effective date hereof shall be provided such off-street parking space as was required for such land or structures by any previous ordinance to the extent that such requirements do not exceed the requirements of this Title; provided, however, that whenever such land or structures are enlarged or extended, additional off-street parking for the increased floor area shall be provided in the minimum amount specified for that kind of use. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

      3.   Parking Lot Changes: The owner or occupant of any building or use subject to off-street parking requirements under this Title shall not discontinue nor reduce any existing required parking lot without first having established other parking space in replacement thereof and having submitted satisfactory evidence to the City Council that such replacement space meets all requirements of this Title. (Ord. 94-14, 1-3-1995)

      4.   Use Of Spaces For Certain Activities Prohibited: Off-street parking space required under this Title shall not be used for the storage of merchandise nor for the sale, rent, repair, dismantling, storage or servicing of vehicles or equipment.

   B.   Location Of Off-Street Parking:

      1.   Residential Uses: Required off-street parking shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the use it is intended to serve; provided, however, that:

         a.   Parking for cooperative or condominium-type multi-family dwellings, fraternities, sororities and rooming houses may be provided in a parking lot not further than two hundred feet (200') from the entrance to the dwelling unit it is intended to serve.

         b.   Required parking for any multi-family dwellings, to the extent that the minimum requirement exceeds one space per dwelling unit, may be located on a separate lot or parcel in a parking lot not more than three hundred feet (300') from the dwelling units it is intended to serve.

      2.   Nonresidential Uses: Required off-street parking shall be located within three hundred feet (300') of the building or use it is intended to serve, the distance being measured along the sidewalk from the nearest point of the building or use to the nearest point of the parking lot; provided, however, that parking facilities for a stadium, auditorium, outdoor sports arena or similar use may be located not further than one thousand three hundred feet (1,300') from the nearest point of such building or use.

      3.   Use Of Separate Lots Or Parcels For Required Parking: Whenever the use of a separate lot or parcel is proposed for fulfillment of minimum parking requirements, the owner shall submit, as a part of his application for a zoning compliance certificate, satisfactory assurance that the separate lot or parcel is permanently committed to parking use by deed restriction or other enforceable legal measure.

   C.   Methods Of Providing Required Off-Street Parking: Required off-street parking may be provided by any one or combination of the following methods:

      1.   By providing the required parking space on the same lot as the building or use being served. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

      2.   By the collective provision of required parking for two (2) or more buildings or uses, whereupon the total of such parking shall be not less than the sum of the requirements for the several buildings or uses computed separately; provided, however, that if two (2) or more such buildings or uses have operating hours which do not overlap, the City Council may grant a reduction of the collective requirement based upon the special circumstances involved. A written agreement for joint use of such facilities shall be executed between the parties concerned and a copy shall be filed with the Building Inspector. (Ord. 94-14, 1-3-1995)

      3.   By securing the consent to use off-street parking facilities under another's ownership which are not otherwise used during the principal operating hours of the building or use in question; however, that such consent shall be in written form, and a copy shall be filed with the Building Inspector.

      4.   In any zoning district, the City Council may waive all or any portion of an off-street parking requirement based on the public welfare.

   D.   Parking Lot Design Standards:

      1.   Minimum Design Dimensions: The layout of every off-street parking lot shall conform to the following minimum standards:

 

 

      2.   Measurement Of Unmarked Lots: In measuring unmarked parking lots, each parking space shall be considered to require a minimum of three hundred (300) square feet, inclusive of access lanes. For single-family, duplex, triplex and fourplex residential land uses, the square footage of each required parking space shall be not less than one hundred eighty (180) square feet (9' x 20').

   E.   Parking Lot Replacement Regulations:

      1.   General: Every part of every parking lot shall be set back from every lot line a sufficient distance to assure that no part of any parked vehicle will project over the lot line.

      2.   Residential Parking: In any multi-family residential district, no off-street parking space shall be located in a required front yard or interior side yard, except as otherwise provided herein.

      3.   Nonresidential Parking:

         a.   Every nonresidential parking lot abutting a residential district on the same side of the street in the same block shall be set back a distance not less than the minimum required setback for principal residential buildings in the same block.

         b.   Every nonresidential parking lot across a street or streets from a residential district shall not exceed beyond the property line of said parking lot.

   F.   Parking Lot Access:

      1.   Access From An Alley: An alley may be used for principal access to any parking lot and for direct access to parking spaces; provided, however, that every such alley shall be dedicated full-width to the public, fully improved with an all-weather, dust-free surface and properly drained to prevent impoundment of surface water.

      2.   Access From A Street: No entrance or exit to a parking lot shall be located closer than fifteen feet (15') to any abutting residential district.

      3.   Surfacing, Curb And Drainage: Every parking lot shall be:

         a.   Properly graded to prevent impoundment of surface water.

         b.   Surfaced with asphaltic concrete at least two inches (2") thick.

         c.   Parking spaces shall be clearly striped.

         d.   Continuous six inch (6") concrete curbs shall be installed as protection for planted areas, islands and walls. Within the parking lot proper, pre-cast concrete curbs six feet (6') long, six inches (6") high and eight inches (8") wide at the base pinned to surface with eighteen inch (18") steel rods one-half inch (1/2") in diameter, may be substituted for continuous curb as wheelstops.

      4.   Required Screen Walls: Where the interior side lot line or rear lot line of a nonresidential parking lot abuts a residential district and is not separated therefrom by an alley, a solid, unpierced masonry screen wall not less than five feet (5') nor more than six feet (6') in height above grade shall be installed and maintained abutting the residential district line; provided, however, that such wall shall extend no closer to the street line than the minimum required setback for residential properties in the same block. (Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

   G.   Exceptions: In the case of a multi-family dwelling proposed to be restricted to occupancy by elderly persons and which is owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation, the City Council may grant a reduction in the required off-street parking to not less than one space per two (2) tenants. (Ord. 94-14, 1-3-1995)

The minimum number of off-street parking spaces required for specific uses shall be determined according to the following schedule. Requirements for a specific use not listed shall be the same as those for the most similar use listed or as required by the City Council: (Ord. 94-14, 1-3-1995)

 

 

A.   Residential Uses:

 

 

B.   Hotels, Motels:

 

 

C.   Institutional Uses:

 

 

D.   Offices:

 

 

E.   Places Of Public Assembly:

 

 

F.   Commercial Recreation:

 

 

G.   Commercial Sales And Service:

 

H.   Manufacturing And Industrial Uses:    1 per 500 square feet of gross floor area or 1 per employee, whichever is greater

I.   Public And Quasi-Public Uses:

 

 

J.   Wholesaling And Warehousing Uses:    1 per 1700 square feet of usable floor area or 1 per employee, whichever is greater, plus 1 per company-owned motor vehicle

K.   All uses requiring 50 or more parking spaces    1 handicapped parking space per 50 other parking spaces

(Ord. 91-9, 6-4-1991)

Site plans are required for off-street parking and loading and shall show how the required parking and loading spaces are to be located and arranged on the site. In addition, such plans shall show how drives and parking lots are to be graded and drained, as well as the location and design of all screen walls, landscaping and lighting. Such plans must be approved by the City Council. (Ord. 94-14, 1-3-1995)