Winters City Zoning Code
CHAPTER 17
72 OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING
§ 17.72.010 Purpose and intent.
The purpose and intent of this section is to require off-street parking spaces and loading spaces for all land uses in the city in sufficient number, size and arrangement to meet the needs created by those land uses. Adequate off-street parking shall be provided so that on-street parking is diminished, traffic and pedestrian safety increased, property values stabilized and the general welfare promoted.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(A); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.020 Number of spaces required.
On-site parking spaces shall be required pursuant to Table 6. Unless otherwise noted, all figures are per square foot of gross building floor area, and shall include areas devoted to hallways, mechanical rooms, storage rooms, restrooms, etc. Where more than one use is proposed from a site or facility, the on-site parking requirement shall be the sum of each use activity. Incidental or typical accessory uses, such as office space within a commercial operation, may only be calculated separately if the incidental or accessory use collectively exceeds two hundred (200) gross square feet.
TABLE 6 OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS | |
|---|---|
Land Use | Off-Street Spaces Required |
Residential | |
Single-Family | 2/unit (1 covered/enclosed)* |
Two-Family/Duplex | 1.5/unit* |
*requires in-kind replacement when a garage or carport space is converted to another use | |
Multifamily: | |
≤1 bedroom | 1/unit** |
≥2 bedrooms | 2/unit** |
Guest | .25/unit** |
**At least 50 percent of the required spaces shall be covered or enclosed, with a minimum of one covered or enclosed space provided per unit | |
Mobilehome Park | 2/mobilehome |
Guest | .25/unit |
Single Room Occupancy | 1 space for staff per facility |
1 space per unit | |
Commercial and Office Use | |
Adult Entertainment | Per use permit |
Automobile Repair, Major/Minor | 1/200 s.f. with minimum of 5 customer parking |
Bar, Cocktail Lounge | 1/50 s.f. of seating area |
Bed and Breakfast Inn | 1/guest room |
Business Service | 1/300 s.f. |
Equipment Sales/Rental/Repair outdoor storage area | 1/500 s.f. building area plus 1/5,000 s.f. of |
Financial Institutions | 1/250 s.f. plus 2/each ATM |
Funeral Parlor | 1/50 s.f. seating area |
Hotel, Motel | 1/guest room |
Nurseries | 1/250 of sales floor area, plus 1/5,000 s.f. outdoor sales area |
Office, Business and Professional | 1/250 s.f. |
Outdoor Sales | 1/250 s.f. of sales floor area, plus 1/5,000 s.f. lot area |
Personal Retail Services | 1/300 s.f. |
Personal Storage | 1/2,000 s.f. storage space |
Recreation, Indoor or Outdoor | Per use permit |
Recreational Vehicle Park | Per use permit |
Restaurant | 1/3 seats |
Restaurant, Drive-Through | 1/3 seats, plus on-site queue space for minimum 5 drive-up vehicles |
Retail Sales, General | 1/250 s.f. |
Roadside Stand | 1/200 s.f. sales area |
Service Station | 3 spaces minimum, plus 2/service bay |
Veterinary Hospital, Kennel | 1/400 s.f. |
Industrial Uses | |
Finished Goods Assembly | 1/750 s.f. |
Heavy Equipment Terminal | 1/1,000 s.f. building area, plus 1/5,000 s.f. vehicle storage area |
Laboratory, Research/Experimental | 1/500 s.f. |
Manufacturing, Heavy | 1,1,000 s.f., or per use permit |
Manufacturing, Light | 1,750 s.f. |
Recycling Collection Center | 2/collection area |
Recycling and Salvage Yards | Per use permit |
Warehouse, Wholesales/Freight | 1/3,000 s.f. |
Public & Quasi-Public Uses | |
Assembly Hall/Community Services | 1/50 s.f. assembly area |
Cemetery | Per use permit |
Communication Equipment Facility | 1/500 s.f. |
Convalescence and Care Services | 1/3 beds |
Cultural Facility | 1/750 s.f. |
Day Care | 1/employee |
Emergency Shelter | 2 spaces for staff per facility |
1 space/6 occupants | |
Government Offices | 1/300 s.f. |
Hospital | Per use permit |
Public Parks | Per use permit |
Religious Institutions | 1/50 s.f. seating area |
Safety Services | 1/500 s.f. |
Utility Services, Major | Per use permit |
Utility Services, Minor | Per approved site plan |
Vocational Training Facility | Per use permit |
Agriculture Uses | |
Agricultural Operation | No requirement |
Animal Production | 1/employee |
Temporary Uses: | Per temporary activity permit |
(prior code § 8-1.6003(B); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part); Ord. 2011-07 § 7; Ord. 2011-08 § 4; Ord. 2015-02 § 6)
§ 17.72.030 Parking for disabled individuals.
Off-street parking for disabled individuals shall be provided when new facilities are constructed, or there is a change in the type of occupancy in existing facilities, in accordance with state and federal law and the following:
A.
Total spaces per accessible spaces:
1 to 25 = 1 accessible van space;
26 to 50 = 2 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
51-75 = 3 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
76-100 = 4 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
101-150 = 5 accessible space; including 1 van space
151-200 = 6 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
201-300 = 7 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
301-400 = 8 accessible spaces; including 1 van space
401-500 = 9 accessible spaces; including 2 van spaces.
B.
Outpatient facilities: ten (10) percent of total spaces.
C.
Facilities that specialize in services for persons with mobility impairments: twenty (20) percent accessible of total.
The location of accessible spaces shall be as follows:
1.
Route: on shortest route to accessible entrance(s).
2.
In parking not serving a particular building: on shortest accessible route to closest pedestrian entrance of pedestrian facility.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(C); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.040 General provisions.
A.
At the time of initial occupancy of a site, construction of a structure, or major alteration or enlargement of a site or structure, there shall be provided off-street parking facilities in accordance with the schedule of off-street parking spaces prescribed in this chapter. "Major alteration or enlargement" means a change of use classification or an addition which would increase the number of parking spaces required by not less than ten (10) percent of the total number required prior to the alteration/enlargement.
B.
Fractional Spaces.
If the calculation of parking needs results in the requirement of a fraction of a parking space, such parking space need not be provided unless the fraction exceeds one-half.
C.
Shared Parking.
If more than one use is located on a site, the number of parking and loading spaces provided shall equal the sum of the requirement prescribed in this chapter for each use, except that two or more uses clearly shown to have different hours of operation/parking demand may share the parking provided based on the use with the larger parking requirement. This determination shall be made by the community development director or, where one or more of the uses in question requires a use permit, by the planning commission. The maximum allowable reduction in the number of spaces to be provided shall not exceed thirty (30) percent of the sum of the number required for each use served.
D.
Location of Spaces.
1.
Required parking may not be provided within twenty-five (25) feet from a major arterial street property line, nor within fifteen (15) feet of any other street property line, except on driveways for one- and two-family residential uses or for second residential units.
2.
Required parking shall be provided on the same lot as the use being served by the parking or within two hundred (200) feet on a separate lot approved by the community development director or, where the use in question requires a use permit, by the planning commission. Evidence of ability for such off-site parking, in the form of a long-term lease, recorded deed or agreement, shall be provided to the city.
E.
Continuing Obligation of Owners.
1.
The requirements for providing off-street parking and loading spaces in accordance with this chapter shall be a continuing obligation of the owner of the site on which the structure is located so long as the structure is in use.
2.
The paving, drainage, landscaping, and marking of the parking area and the entrances and exits shall be maintained in the original condition of its design.
F.
In-Lieu Parking Payment.
1.
Findings. The city, after study of Winters' downtown parking problems, does find and determine the downtown area zoned C-2 as designated on Exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and incorporated herein be reference does constitute an area in which hardship exists because of the shape, size and location of the properties within the area, and that the minimum parking requirements within said area can best be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the property owners, and citizens, and the city by providing an alternative for the payment of money instead of furnishing of parking spaces that would otherwise be required.
2.
The following facts and circumstances exist within the area which classify and qualify the entire area as an area where hardship exists.
a.
Substantially all of the area is already built up with business and commercial improvements, and there is very little available off-street vacant land available for the individual property owners to develop into privately owned parking areas;
b.
Many of the lots within the area are too small in size to allow for adequate off-street parking on each lot, prohibiting the otherwise economically feasible development of these lots;
c.
Individual property owners have no right to eminent domain to acquire more land adjacent to their buildings and improvements for private off-street parking;
d.
The cost to each property owner of providing individual private off-street parking on or adjacent to the improved properties is prohibitive;
e.
A small number of inaccessible off-street parking spaces on each separate lot under private ownership is not good planning nor the best solution for adequate off-street parking in the area;
f.
Centralized large off-street tree-shaded parking areas within the area are the best solutions for the property owners, shoppers, and the city.
3.
It is the purpose of the city to create a plan and program which will eventually provide the area with adequate tree-shaded parking facilities to promote viable economic activity in the area. The primary goals of developing off-street parking are to attract consumers to the area and aid in the orderly movement of vehicle traffic.
4.
This subsection shall not apply to single family residences.
5.
This section applies only to the property in the downtown area zoned C-2 as designated on Exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified in this chapter and incorporated herein by reference.
6.
Upon approval from the Winters' planning commission, all or portions of the requirement for furnishing parking spaces in the area as required by this article may be satisfied by a one time payment to the city prior to issuance of a building permit of an in-lieu parking fee to the city of sixteen hundred dollars ($1,600.00) for each required parking space waived by the city planning commission. The city council finds that the foregoing sum is the current reasonable cost of acquiring and constructing each parking space in the defined area. The city council may, by resolution, from time to time, adjust the in-lieu parking payment with such adjustment being made on the basis of acquisition, design and construction costs of a paved parking lot; including shade trees for maximum shading, and low maintenance planter strips, all with automatic watering systems.
7.
The funds shall be deposited with the city in a special interest-bearing fund and shall be administered, used and expended by the city exclusively for the acquisition and development of off-street parking facilities within the defined area.
8.
The payment of in-lieu parking fees herein shall be paid to city prior to the issuance of a building permit.
9.
An in-lieu parking fee payment may be refunded by the city, without interest, to the person who made such payment, or his or her assignee or designee, if, prior to the date the funds are spent or committed by the city to acquisition, design or development of off-street parking facilities, additional off-street parking spaces are provided for such building other than by the city, so as to satisfy the parking requirement for which the in lieu fee payment was made.
10.
The plan and program provided for herein shall be optional with the owner, developer or lessee of any property in the area and such owner, developer or lessee shall have the right at all times to meet and comply with minimum off-street parking pursuant to city requirements.
Should in-lieu parking fees be desired, application for permission to make such in-lieu payments shall be made to the city planning commission in accordance with procedures prescribed by the planning commission. The city planning commission may: (a) waive all of the parking normally required; (b) order compliance with minimum off-street parking requirements, or (c) a combination of both. In making a determination to require in-lieu parking fee payments or compliance with minimum off-street parking requirements, or a combination of both, the planning commission shall consider the following criteria:
a.
The shape and size of the property to be improved;
b.
The proposed use of the property;
c.
Availability of parking in nearby areas;
d.
Number of spaces required for the use under this title;
e.
Consistency with the general purposes and intent of this title and the city general plan.
11.
Payment pursuant to this subsection shall not relieve any owner, developer or lessee from any ad valorem taxes or special district assessments or from any charges which may be imposed for the operation, maintenance and use of parking spaces within any municipal off-street parking facilities. The only purpose and intended effect of the in-lieu parking fee payments herein is to make provision whereby an owner, developer or lessee may be relieved from the duty and obligation now imposed by city ordinance to provide minimum on-site or off-site parking facilities for commercial use and development, and to provide a method and program for the acquisition of future municipally-owned and operated off-street parking facilities which may serve the land uses.
12.
In no case shall payment of in-lieu parking fee payments exempt a property from inclusion in a parking district if subsequent to the payment of in-lieu parking payments a parking district is formed, those having made in-lieu parking fee payments may receive all or partial credit for having provided required parking spaces as determined at the time assessments are made for any such parking district.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(D); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.050 Design standards for parking spaces and lots.
A.
Paving Requirements.
1.
Parking stalls, driveway, aisles and maneuvering areas shall be surfaced with asphalt or cement pavement, or other comparable durable and dustless surface, in accordance with public works department specifications and shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulated within the area.
2.
Areas used for the off-street parking or storage of track propelled heavy equipment may be surfaced with gravel of at least eight inches in depth.
B.
Minimum Dimensions.
All off-street parking areas shall meet the following minimum dimensions:
1.
Full sized spaces shall be nine feet wide by nineteen (19) feet long.
2.
Compact spaces shall be not less than eight-feet, six-inches wide by sixteen (16) feet long. Up to thirty (30) percent of all spaces in a parking facility may be compact spaces.
3.
Parallel spaces shall be ten (10) feet wide by twenty-four (24) feet long.
4.
Spaces for disabled individuals shall be fourteen (14) feet wide by eighteen (18) feet long. Two spaces may be provided within a twenty-three (23) foot wide area, striped to provide a nine-foot wide parking space on each side and a five-foot loading and unloading area in the center. Van spaces shall be seventeen (17) feet wide by eighteen (18) feet long.
5.
Maneuvering aisles shall be the width in feet as shown below:
Type | One Direction | Two Directions |
|---|---|---|
90 degree | 25 | 25 |
60 degree | 16 | 25 |
45 degree | 14 | 25 |
30 degree | 12 | 25 |
Parallel | 12 | 25 |
6.
The minimum width of a driveway with no parking space maneuvering within it shall be ten (10) feet (single family or one way) or twenty (20) feet (commercial or two way).
C.
Striping and Marking.
1.
All parking spaces shall be marked by a four-inch stripe of durable white paint designed for that purpose.
2.
All spaces for disabled individuals shall be striped and marked in accordance with the applicable state and city standards.
3.
All compact spaces shall be clearly marked as such.
D.
Bumpers, Curbs, Wheel Stops.
A permanent curb, bumper, wheel stop or similar device at least six inches high and thick shall be installed two feet from landscape areas, buildings walls and pedestrian ways. When a parking space abuts a landscaped area, the front two feet of the required length of a parking space may overhang the planter. The two feet beyond the wheel stop may be paved, landscaped with ground cover, or used as additional sidewalk width.
E.
Parking Slopes.
No parking space may have a cross-slope in excess of four percent.
F.
Lighting.
Approved outdoor lighting in a parking area shall not employ a light source higher than sixteen (16) feet measured from final grade, unless approved by the planning commission and found consistent with the Winters design guidelines. All lighting used to illuminate an off-street parking or loading area shall be so arranged as to direct light away from any adjoining lots and public streets.
G.
Access.
1.
Driveway access from streets shall be designed in accordance with the specifications of the Winters public works department.
2.
Parking areas serving other than single family homes shall be designed so that any vehicle entering a public right-of-way can do so without being required to back into the right-of-way.
3.
Off-street parking spaces, except those for one- and two-family residential uses, shall be designed so that each parking space can function independently of any other parking space.
4.
All required parking spaces shall be available for the parking of operable vehicles. No required parking space nor any part of an access aisle shall be used for the storage of goods, materials or inoperable or unlicensed vehicles except as noted below:
a.
Within an enclosed garage of a one- or two-family garage.
b.
Minor repairs and maintenance of vehicles which belong to the occupants of a one- or two-family residence may occur within the driveway, where the repair and/or maintenance activity and corollary outside storage of vehicle parts does not occur for more than seventy-two (72) hours in any one-month period.
H.
Parking lots shall be located behind buildings and away from street corners. Where such siting is not physically possible, parking lots shall be screened in accordance with subsection I, to reduce visual impacts of the parking lot from the adjoining street.
I.
Parking area Screening-Walls and Fences.
A parking area for five or more cars serving a non-residential use shall be screened from an adjoining R district by a solid wall or fence six feet in height (or higher, if consistent with fence/wall height provisions in Chapter 17.64).
Landscaping may also be used to meet this requirement.
Where the parking area is separated from an R district by an alley or street, an architectural screen wall or fence, landscaped berm or hedge not less than three feet in height shall be installed and maintained to separate the parking area from the alley or street.
J.
Other Improvements.
Parking lots shall include other features as determined necessary by the city (shopping cart return areas, special signage, etc.) to meet the purpose and intent of this section.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(E); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.060 Recreation and commercial vehicle parking.
Recreational and commercial vehicles may be parked on private property subject to the standards and provisions contained in Section 10.20.050 of the Municipal Code. No recreation vehicle shall be used for dwelling purposes on any site except an approved recreational vehicle park.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(G); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.070 Loading zones.
A.
When Required.
All nonresidential uses or buildings where large amounts of goods are received or shipped shall provide loading and unloading space adequate to handle the volume of truck traffic and loading requirements.
B.
Number.
At a minimum, one loading space shall be provided for buildings between three thousand (3,000) and twenty thousand (20,000) gross square feet, plus one additional space for every additional twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of gross floor area. The community development director or, where the proposed use requires a use permit, planning commission may approve a modification of this requirement based on submittal of information which demonstrates a lesser need due to the specific nature of a business and building.
C.
Dimensions.
Each required loading space shall be not less than ten (10) feet wide, thirty-five (35) feet long and fourteen (14) feet of clear height. Loading zones shall be separate from other required parking and maneuvering areas.
D.
Location.
Where feasible, loading zones and docks shall be located to the rear of properties. No truck entrance door, loading zone and/or dock serving commercial vehicles shall be permitted to face a residential area that is within seventy-five (75) feet unless adequately screened by a wall, fence and/or landscaping.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(H); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part))
§ 17.72.080 Bicycle parking.
A.
Location of bicycle parking shall be provided to serve all non single-family residential uses in a convenient and accessible manner. Bicycle parking shall not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular travel, but may be located within pedestrian rights-of-way when properly marked if it provides convenient proximity to a facility or building entrance.
B.
One bicycle parking space shall be provided for each ten (10) automobile parking spaces required for each particular use. For each bicycle parking space required, a stationary object, such as a freestanding rack or wall-mounted bracket, shall be provided to which a user can secure both wheels and frame of a bicycle.
C.
To the extent feasible, bicycle paths shall be provided connecting land uses, including residential, schools, shopping areas and employment centers.
D.
New businesses which will employ twenty (20) or more people are encouraged to include shower facilities to promote the use of bicycles for travel to and from the workplace.
(prior code § 8-1.6003(I); Ord. 97-03 § 2 (part); Ord. 2003-01 (part))
