§ 60-208. Off-street parking requirements.

In all zoning districts, off-street parking facilities for the storage and parking of self-propelled motor vehicles for the use of occupants, employees, and patrons of the buildings hereafter erected, altered, or extended after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, shall be provided as herein prescribed. Such space shall be maintained and shall not be encroached upon so long as said main building or structure remains, unless an equivalent number of such spaces are provided elsewhere in conformance with this chapter.

(1)

Fractional requirements. When units or measurements determining number of required parking spaces result in requirement of a fractional space, any fraction up to, and including one-half may be disregarded, and fractions over one-half shall require one parking space.

(2)

Requirements for and location of parking for one and two family dwellings. The number of required parking spaces for one- and two-family dwellings shall be sufficient to accommodate the occupancy load of the dwelling. The off-street parking facilities required for one- and two-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the building they are intended to serve, but shall not be considered a parking lot under the provisions of section 60-209

(3)

Location of parking for multiple-family dwellings. The off-street parking facilities for multiple-family dwellings shall be located on the same lot or plot of ground as the dwellings they are intended to serve, and shall consist of a parking lot as set forth in section 60-209

(4)

Location of parking for other land uses. The off-street parking facilities required for all other uses shall be located on the lot or within 500 feet of the permitted uses requiring such off-street parking, such distance to be measured along lines of public access to the property between the nearest point of the parking facility to the building to be served.

(5)

Seating capacity or seats. As used in this article for parking requirements, seats shall mean that each 24 inches of seating facilities shall be counted as one seat, except that where specifications and plans filed with the enforcing officer specify a certain seating capacity for a particular building, such specified seating capacity shall be used as the basis for requiring parking space.

(6)

Similar uses and requirements. In the case of a use which is not specifically mentioned in this article but is similar to a use which is specified, the requirements of off-street parking facilities for the similar use shall apply.

(7)

Floor area. For the purpose of this article, the floor area used to determine the required number of parking spaces shall be as defined in article II of this chapter.

(8)

Collective provisions. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent collective provisions of off-street parking facilities for two or more buildings or uses, provided such facilities collectively shall not be less than the sum of the requirements for the various individual uses computed separately in accordance with section 60-210. Written documentation of recorded parking easement agreements may be required by the building department prior to approval of a site plan. Parking facilities for one use shall not be considered as providing the required parking facilities for any other use, except churches.

(9)

Parking duration. Except when land is used as storage space in connection with the business of a repair or service garage, a 72-hour time limit for parking in nonresidential off-street parking areas shall prevail, it being the purpose and intention of the foregoing that the requirement of maintaining vehicle storage or parking space is to provide for the public safety in keeping parked cars off the streets, but such requirement is not designed or intended to provide, and it shall be unlawful to permit, the storage or prolonged parking on any such parking area in any such district wrecked or junked cars, or for creating a junkyard or a nuisance in such areas.

(10)

Restriction on parking on private property. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to park any motor vehicle on any private property, or use of said private property for vehicle storage, or use any portion of any private property as parking space, without the expressed or implied consent, authorization, or ratification of the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent, or trustee of such property.

(11)

Barrier free parking space requirements. In those cases where barrier-free parking areas are required by state barrier-free design laws, such parking areas, signs, curb cuts, etc., shall be in full compliance with such laws of the state and/or adopted building codes.

(12)

Off-street parking and off-street loading requirements in B-1 central business district. For permitted uses and special uses allowed within B-1 district, off-street parking and off-street loading requirements shall not apply if the following conditions are met:

a.

The use is within 500 feet of a municipal parking lot.

b.

The use will not create unusual parking demands and will not disrupt the parking arrangements of residential neighborhoods or existing commercial areas.

c.

The use is within the B-1 district bounded by Downie Street, Pine Street, Center Street, and Wright Avenue and Lincoln Streets.

d.

That where practical, any available land on the owner's premises shall accommodate the required number of parking spaces for those uses as specified by the off-street parking requirement table in section 60-210

(13)

Types of vehicles in residential districts/recreational vehicle parking. Outdoor parking of motor vehicles in all residential districts shall be limited to passenger vehicles, plus four residential type recreational vehicles per dwelling unit, and not more than one commercial vehicle of the light delivery type, not to exceed one rear axle and a three-ton payload capacity, per dwelling unit. The outdoor parking of any other type of commercial vehicle or bus, except for those parked on school or church property, is prohibited in all residential districts. Parking space requirements for vehicles may be provided either in garages, carports or outdoor parking areas conforming to the provisions of this chapter.

(14)

Parking lot deferment/banked parking. Where the property owner can demonstrate that the required amount of parking is excessive, the planning commission may approve a smaller parking area, provided that an area of sufficient size to meet the parking space requirements of this article, is retained as open space, and the owner agrees to construct the additional parking at the direction of the planning commission based on observed usage within six months of being informed of such request in writing by the zoning administrator or enforcing officer. The site plan shall note the area where parking is being deferred, including dimensions, and dotted parking lot layout.

(15)

Commercial activities. No commercial repair work, servicing, selling or other commercial activities of any kind shall be conducted on any required parking area except that which is specifically permitted by this chapter.

(16)

Driveway approaches. Refer to section 60-209 et seq.

(17)

Planning commission discretion. The planning commission may, at its discretion, modify the numerical requirements for off-street parking as established in section 60-210, based upon evidence provided by the applicant that establishes that another parking standard would be more reasonable. In considering any such modification, the planning commission may consider:

•  Parking generation standards published by the Institute of Transportation Engineers, or other similar parking studies which document anticipated parking needs.

•  Current or future levels of employment or patrons.

•  Peak period usage versus normal usage.

•  Banked or reserved parking for future use.

•  Environmental factors which accommodate additional landscaping, low-impact development standards, and the minimization of impervious areas.

•  Other factors bearing on the necessity of modification of off-street parking requirements.

(Ord. No. 691, § 1(32-134), 5-4-2005; Ord. No. 746, § 1, 3-13-2012)