All proposed off-street parking, including commercial parking lots and automobile, trailer or other vehicular sales lots, in conjunction with any multi-family residential, commercial, industrial, public or semi-public land use, whether such use is existing or proposed, shall meet all of the required development standards set forth in this section:
1. No part of any parking space shall be closer than three (3) feet to any established street right-of-way or alley line. In case the parking lot adjoins an “R” District, it shall be set back at least fifteen (15) feet from the “R” District boundary and shall be effectively screen planted by any one or approved combination of the following options:
A. A buffer yard of fifteen (15) feet in width; a six (6) foot high masonry wall to be designed with face brick, stucco or similar finished surface facing toward the residential district; or
B. A buffer yard of 35 feet or more in width; four (4) foot high earth berm or opaque wood fence; and four (4) overstory trees, six (6) understory trees, six (6) coniferous trees, and fifteen (15) shrubs for each 100 lineal feet.
The buffer yard shall be located on the entire common perimeter of the contrasting uses, and extend to the lot lines. No part of any required buffer shall be used for parking, storage, loading, active recreation, locating refuse containers or similar activity which may create a nuisance. Where a residentially zoned area has been subdivided, the developer of a vacant commercial property shall be responsible for providing the buffer; where commercial buildings exist or are under construction, the developer of a vacant residential area shall provide the buffer.
2. Any off-street parking area, including any commercial parking lot, shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or portland cement binder pavement.
3. Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area including any commercial parking lots, shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises in any “R” District.
4. Off-street parking areas may be established in any “R” District that immediately joins a “C” or “M” District, or is directly across an alley from a “C” or “M” District, provided such parking shall be accessory to and for use of one or more business or industrial establishments located in the adjoining “C” or “M” District; provided, however, that such transitional use shall not extend more than one hundred (100) feet from the boundary of the less restricted zone.
5. Where the Zoning Code and regulations specify parking space, that space size shall be determined in accordance with the layout criteria and the table of standard dimensions † . Handicapped stalls shall be provided as required by the Code of Iowa. The spaces shall be delineated to define their boundaries exclusive of driveway and access drive areas, except for one and two family dwelling units, and shall be shown as part of the parking lot plan on the site plan drawing.
6. Where a parking area does not abut a public or private alley or easement of access, there shall be provided a permanently surfaced drive, not less than eight (8) feet in width in case of a dwelling and not less than sixteen (16) feet in width in all other cases, leading to the loading or unloading spaces and parking or storage areas required under the provisions of this chapter in such manner as to secure the most appropriate development of the property in question; provided, however, such easement of access or access drive shall not be located in any residence district, except where serving a permitted use in a residence district.
7. When visible from a public street or land zoned for residential use, the interior of such parking areas shall be developed as follows:
A. Not less than five percent (5%) shall be landscaped and continuously maintained.
B. Planting along the perimeter of the parking area, whether required for screening or general beautification will not be considered as part of the five percent (5%) interior landscaping.
8. Parking spaces required shall be provided with bumper guards, raised curbing or equivalent, also lines marking stalls.
9. All commercial or industrial driveways installed, altered, changed, replaced or extended after April 17, 1989, shall meet the following requirements:
A. Islands between successive driveway openings shall be a minimum of twelve (12) feet with six (6) feet between the driveway opening and the lot lines. All distances are to be measured at the right-of-way line.
B. Openings for vehicular ingress and egress shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet at the street line and forty-five (45) feet at the curb.
C. Vehicular entrances and exits to drive-in theaters, banks and restaurants, motels, funeral homes, vehicular sales, service, washing and repair stations, garages or public parking lots shall not be less than two hundred (200) feet from any pedestrian entrance or exit to a school, college, university, church, hospital, park, playground, library, public emergency shelter or other place of public assembly.
10. Lots directly abutting arterial streets shall not exceed one drive access onto each such arterial street except as provided below. Common drives between adjacent landowners shall be encouraged in lieu of individual drives, recommended to be located with the common property line as the centerline of the drive and required to be located a minimum of forty (40) feet from any other drive as measured from centerline to centerline. Where such common drive is provided and joint access easements to parking areas are provided, required parking spaces on each lot may be reduced in number by up to five percent (5%).
11. Maintenance of parking lots:
A. All parking areas shall be paved and maintained in a dust-free condition at all times.
B. If nonconforming (rock, gravel, grass, etc.), the parking lot must be kept in a dust-free condition. (Nonconforming uses of land, see Section 166.03 of this Code of Ordinances.)
Notes
| † | † EDITOR'S NOTE: See layout criteria figures and the table of standard dimensions at the end of this chapter. |