The Off-Street Parking Regulations require that developments provide parking in proportion to the need created by each use. The regulations further establish standards for the functional design of parking facilities. These regulations are intended to accommodate vehicles in a functionally satisfactory manner and to minimize external effects on neighboring properties.

   1.   Applicability. Off-street parking shall be provided for any new building constructed, for new uses or conversions of existing buildings, or for enlargements of existing structures.

   2.   Exemptions. Any use within the TC Town Center District is exempt from the off-street parking requirements provided by Section 174.03. Any off-street parking facility constructed in the TC District after the effective date of this Zoning Code must comply with the design standards set forth in this chapter.

   Parking facilities for each use shall be provided in accord with the minimum requirements set forth in Table 174-1.

   1.   When a computation of required parking results in a fraction of 0.5 or greater, the requirement should be rounded up to the next whole number.

   2.   Unless otherwise indicated, parking requirements are based on gross floor area. Gross floor areas for the purpose of this calculation exclude any interior space used for the parking or loading of vehicles.

   3.   When parking requirements are computed on the basis of capacity, capacity shall be determined by the Building Code in effect for the City at the time the use is established.

   4.   For sites with more than one use, the parking requirement shall be the sum of spaces required for each use, except as provided below.

   5.   The Board of Adjustment may authorize an adjustment in the total parking requirement for separate uses located on the same site or for separate uses located on adjoining sites and served by the same parking facility. The Board shall consider at least the following criteria in determining approval of such an adjustment:

      A.   The characteristics and time of operation of each use, and differences in projected peak parking demand.

      B.   Potential reduction in total expected vehicle movements afforded by multiple uses of the parking facilities.

      C.   Functional design of the development and its parking facilities.

      D.   Evidence of a written agreement that provides for the joint use of parking facilities.

   1.   Residential Parking.

      A.   Off-street parking for residential uses shall be located on the same lot or site as the use.

      B.   Off-street parking areas for multi-family residential uses shall be at least six feet from any residential building, and shall not be located within a required front yard or street side yard.

   2.   Nonresidential Parking. Off-street parking for nonresidential uses shall be located on the same lot or site as the use, or within 300 feet of that use if the parking site is within a zoning district that permits the off-street parking use type. Control of ownership or use rights to the remote off-street parking must be demonstrated as a condition of permission.

 

   Each off-street parking facility shall provide the number of parking spaces set forth in Table 174-2 designed and designated for use by people with disabilities. Parking spaces shall be van-accessible. Design criteria and dimensions are set forth in the Off-Street Parking Design Standards and the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Parking facilities for single-family, duplex, two-family, and mobile home residential uses are exempt from this requirement.

 

   1.   Dimensions.

      A.   Standard parking stalls shall be 9 feet wide and 18 feet long.

      B.   Required drive aisle widths shall be as follows:

         (1)   For diagonal parking (15 to 75 degrees), 20 feet for one-way aisles and 24 feet for two-way aisles.

         (2)   For perpendicular parking (75 to 90 degrees), 24 feet for all aisles.

      C.   Parking facilities may provide up to 40% of their total stalls as designated compact stalls. Compact parking stalls shall be a minimum of 8.5 feet wide and 16 feet long.

      D.   Spaces designated for persons with disabilities shall have a minimum width of 12 feet. Each space shall provide a barrier free route to an accessible building entrance, which shall not require users to walk or wheel behind parked cars. Such spaces shall be designated with an upright sign exhibiting the universal symbol for accessibility by the handicapped. All such spaces shall be designed in compliance with the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

   2.   Pavement and Drainage.

      A.   Off-street parking facilities shall be hard surfaced and maintained with materials sufficient to prevent mud, dust, or loose material. Acceptable hard surface materials shall include concrete, asphalt, or brick or concrete pavers.

      B.   Off-street parking facilities shall be designed and built to prevent the free flow of water onto adjacent properties or public rights-of-way.

      C.   Residential driveways which are not hard-surfaced at the effective date of this Zoning Code shall be required to come into compliance within two (2) years after adoption of this Code of Ordinances, or prior to the transfer of the title of the property, whichever comes first, unless they are rental properties or used as a home-based business.

   3.   Landscape and Screening Requirements. Unless otherwise noted, each unenclosed parking facility of over 3,000 square feet shall comply with the following regulations:

      A.   Each unenclosed parking facility shall provide a minimum landscaped buffer of ten feet along any street property line.

      B.   Each parking facility that abuts a residential district shall provide a ten-foot landscaped buffer along its common property line with the residential district.

      C.   Any parking facility which abuts property in a residential district shall provide a fence, wall, landscape screen, or earth berm not less than four feet in height for the length of the common boundary. A grade change, terrace, or other site feature which blocks the sight line of headlights into a residential property may satisfy this requirement, subject to the determination of the Planning Director.

      D.   Each unenclosed parking facility of over 4,500 square feet within a street yard shall provide interior landscaped area equal to no less than 5 percent of the total paved area of the parking facility.

      E.   Interior landscaping shall be credited toward the satisfaction of overall landscaping requirements set forth in Chapter 173 of this Zoning Code.

   4.   Entrances and Exits.

      A.   Adequate access to each parking facility shall be provided by means of clearly defined and limited driveways or access points. Such driveways shall be designed to direct nonresidential traffic away from residential areas.

      B.   Parking facilities other than driveways for single-family, duplex, two-family, or mobile home residential uses must permit vehicles to enter streets in a forward position.

   5.   Safety Features.

      A.   Parking facilities shall be designed to provide visibility of and between pedestrians and vehicles when circulating within or entering or leaving the facility, and shall not create blind, hidden, or hazardous areas.

      B.   Circulation patterns shall be designed in accord with accepted standards of traffic engineering and safety.

   6.   Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area shall be arranged to direct light away from adjoining properties in any residential district.

   7.   Maintenance. All parking facilities shall be maintained to assure the continued usefulness and compatibility of the facility. Acceptable maintenance includes keeping the facility free of refuse, debris, carts, and litter; maintaining parking surfaces in sound condition; maintaining aisle lines and the painted surfaces of signs; and providing proper care of landscaped areas.

   8.   Adjustment. For uses subject to conditional use permit approval, the Board of Adjustment may adjust the minimum requirements of this section, in order to provide design, usability, attractiveness, or protection to adjoining uses in a manner equal to or greater than the minimum requirements of this chapter.

   1.   Loading Requirement. Any use which involves the receipt or distribution of freight, merchandise, supplies, vehicles, or equipment as part of its typical operation shall provide and maintain adequate space for off-street loading and circulation. Loading areas shall be designed to avoid undue interference with the public use of streets and sidewalks.

   2.   Schedule of Loading Spaces. Loading spaces for each use requiring them shall be provided in accord with the minimum requirements set forth in Table 174-3.

 

 

   3.   Design Standards.

      A.   Each loading space shall be at least 10 feet wide by 50 feet long, with a vertical clearance of at least 14 feet.

      B.   Paving of loading spaces and access areas shall be permanent, durable, and free of dust.

      C.   Off-street loading areas are subject to the landscaping and buffering requirements for parking facilities set forth in this chapter.

   1.   Applicability. This section permits the parking of personal vehicles on a single lot in a residential district subject to specific conditions. Personal vehicles include: passenger cars; vans; pickup trucks, recreational vehicles, camper shells, toppers, and other similar items intended for attachment to a personal vehicle; trailers under 20 feet in length; and boats. Trucks, tractor cab units, trailers, trailers longer than 20 feet, and vehicles over 2.5 tons gross empty weight shall be defined as heavy commercial vehicles.

   2.   Location of Parking.

      A.   Parking is permitted within any enclosed structure when such structure conforms to the regulations of its zoning district.

      B.   Parking of personal vehicles is permitted on a paved driveway (outside of an enclosed structure) within the front yard setback, but shall in no case encroach upon the public right-of-way.

      C.   Parking of personal vehicles may occur in the rear yard setback (outside of an enclosed structure and not on the front yard paved driveway) if such parking meets the following conditions:

         (1)   The parking space is provided on a surface consisting of asphalt, concrete, brick, or paving stones made of one of the aforementioned substances. Parking is prohibited on gravel, regrind, crushed concrete/asphalt, sand, dirt, grass or other surfaces not mentioned in this section.

         (2)   The parking surface shall be no less than the overall length and width of the vehicle parked on the surface.

         (3)   The parking surface shall not exceed the maximum impervious coverage limit for the lot.

      D.   In areas not zoned for commercial use, parking of vehicles on private property for the purpose of sale of such vehicle is prohibited.

      E.   Heavy commercial vehicles, including tractor cab units weighing more than 2.5 tons gross empty weight, shall not be parked on any lot within the RI, R2, R3, R4 and MH residential zoning districts. Recreational vehicles meeting the definition of heavy commercial vehicles shall only be allowed on any lot within the R1, R2, R3, R4 and MH residential zoning districts if they comply with the special provisions listed below.

   3.   Special Provisions for Recreational Vehicles and Boats. Parking and storage of recreational vehicles and boats within residential districts is subject to the following additional conditions. These conditions are in addition to those requirements for the parking of personal vehicles.

      A.   Recreational vehicles and boats must be maintained in a clean, well-kept state.

      B.   Recreational vehicles and boats equipped with liquefied petroleum gas containers must ensure that such containers meet the current standards of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the United States Department of Transportation, or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Any valves must be closed at all times the vehicle is not in preparation for immediate use. Leaks in containers must be repaired immediately.

      C.   Recreational vehicles may be used as temporary housing by non-paying guests for a maximum of three consecutive days and no more than 14 days total during any calendar year. Cooking in the recreational vehicle is prohibited at all times.

      D.   Recreational vehicles and boats may not be permanently connected to utility lines.

      E.   Recreational vehicles and boats may not be used for the storage of goods, materials, or equipment other than those items which pertain to the use of the vehicle.

      F.   If at all physically feasible on a lot, recreational vehicles and boats shall be parked outside of required front yard and street side yard setbacks.

      G.   No more than two recreational vehicles and/or boats may be parked on a single property at any one time. Any recreational vehicle or boat parked on a property must be owned in whole or in part by the resident of the property.

   1.   The storage or keeping of motor vehicles not having a properly issued current motor vehicle registration and current motor vehicle license plate properly displayed is prohibited on any lot, parcel or tract of land or part thereof, situated within the zoning jurisdiction of the City; provided, conformance with the following shall not constitute a violation of this section:

      A.   The storage of any unlicensed and/or unregistered motor vehicle in a fully enclosed garage.

      B.   The storage of not more than one personal vehicle in good operable condition and shielded from view of the general public by a manufactured and fitted vehicle cover and located on a paved driveway pursuant to a permit to store obtained from the City. The permit shall be issued without cost to the applicant and shall:

         (1)   Be issued for a period of not to exceed six months and shall be renewable upon application for like periods as long as such storage is in all respects in compliance with this section;

         (2)   Identify the vehicle by make, year of manufacture, model and manufacturer’s identification number;

         (3)   State the reason the vehicle does not bear a current registration and license;

         (4)   Require owner to prove continued operability of the vehicle within 72 hours upon request of the Police Department;

         (5)   Contain the property owner’s and vehicle owner’s consent for the City and its agents to enter upon the premises and vehicle for purposes of identification and inspection of the vehicle.

      C.   The storage, keeping or abandonment of parts, including scrap metals, from motor vehicles or machinery, or parts thereof, is prohibited on any lot, parcel or tract of land or part thereof, situated within the zoning jurisdiction of the City, except in enclosed buildings or garages or where otherwise permitted by this Zoning Code.

      D.   Parking, storage or keeping, other than in a fully enclosed garage of any non-operable motor vehicle is prohibited on any residential zoned lot, parcel or tract of land or part thereof, situated within the zoning jurisdiction of the City; provided, however, automobiles that are non-operable by reasons of repair work being done thereon may be parked on the residential lot of the owner of said automobile within the City’s zoning jurisdiction under the following conditions:

         (1)   The automobile is owned by the occupier of the premises and registered to him/her at that address.

         (2)   The period of said repair work does not exceed ten days in duration.

         (3)   Repair work is at all times conducted on a paved driveway.

         (4)   No more than one automobile in need of repair is situated on the premises at the same time.

   2.   Before the City removes a vehicle suspected of being in violation of this section, by reason of it being inoperable, the City shall give the owner of the premises upon which the offending vehicle is situated a 72-hour warning notice. Notice shall be given by tagging the motor vehicle and by regular mail, postage pre-paid to the occupier of the premises on which the motor vehicle is situated. Any motor vehicle not removed from the premises within such 72-hour period shall be presumed to be inoperable and shall be subject to proceedings set forth in Chapter 50 of this Code of Ordinances. The owner may demonstrate operability of the vehicle by making special arrangements with the Police Department to demonstrate operability of the vehicle within said 72-hour period. If operability of the vehicle is satisfactorily demonstrated, the automobile need not be removed.