10-4-4: PARKING, LOADING, AND DRIVE-THRUS:
   A.   Applicability: Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided for uses that are established, enlarged, extended, or moved onto any lot after the effective date of these zoning regulations or of a subsequent rezoning or other amendment establishing or increasing parking or loading requirements for the uses. When an expanded use results in an increase of more than 20% in the number of currently required parking spaces, additional parking shall be provided for the additional space based on the standards of this chapter.
   B.   Parking Space Count: The minimum number of provided parking spaces shall be provided per the table below:
   C.   Pick-Up And Drop-Off Parking Spaces:
      1.   Any use which provides delivery or pick-up of goods or services, or fulfillment of online orders, shall designate at least one pick-up/ drop-off parking space.
      2.   Where it is anticipated that 50% or more of sales will be generated from pick-up orders, delivery, or the fulfillment of online orders, an additional three pick-up and drop-off spaces shall be designated.
      3.   Pick-up and drop-off parking spaces shall be counted within the minimum required parking, shall be striped with a different color than other parking spaces, and shall be clearly signed and striped to state that they only serve pick-up, drop-off, and rideshare activity.
Table 10-4-4
All Districts
Parking
Max
Bicycle Requirements
Table 10-4-4
All Districts
Parking
Max
Bicycle Requirements
Residential Uses - Single Family
2 spaces per dwelling unit or one space per bedroom which is greater
 
 
Residential Units - Townhouse
Minimum 2 off-street spaces for a townhouse unit. A Townhouse with more than 2 bedrooms, requires an additional space per bedroom.
 
 
Residential Uses - Multi-family and apartments
2 spaces per dwelling unit. Dwelling units with three (3) bedrooms, a minimum of two and a half (2.5) off-street parking spaces. Dwelling units with more than three (3) bedrooms, minimum of one (1) parking space per bedroom required.
Parking spaces shall be at most 90% of the maximum per-person capacity of the building or site.
 
Commercial Uses (Including Office Uses)
0.5 spaces per person at full capacity; or 1 space per 500 GFA, whichever is less
1 bicycle parking space per 5 car parking spaces, with a maximum of 5 bicycle parking spaces required.
Industrial Uses
1 space per anticipated employee
 
Mixed-use Building
1 space per 600 GFA
1 bicycle parking space per 5 car parking spaces, with a maximum of 5 bicycle parking spaces required.
Public Uses
Decided per administrative approval
 
All uses in Downtown District (all sub-areas)
None required
Parking spaces shall be at most 60% of the maximum per-person capacity of the building or site.
1 bicycle parking space per 5 car parking spaces, with a maximum of 5 bicycle parking spaces required.
 
      4.   Pick-up and drop-off spaces shall be the closest parking spaces to the building entrance with the exception of parking spaces for disabled persons.
   D.   Parking Space And Driveway Dimensions:
      1.   Parking spaces shall be a minimum of 9 feet in width and 18 feet in length.
         a.   10% of spaces shall be 10 feet in width and 20 feet in length in order to accommodate larger passenger vehicles like trucks and camper vans.
         b.   Up to 10% of spaces may be utilized for compact cars, which shall have a minimum dimension of 8 feet in width and 16 feet in length.
      2.   Driveways shall be a minimum of 24 feet wide and shall be long enough so that no vehicle parked on the property extends into the right-of- way, either the sidewalk or road.
      3.   Drive aisles shall be a minimum of 24 feet wide.
   E.   Shared Parking Spaces:
      1.   Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent the joint use of off-street parking for two (2) or more buildings or uses on the same parcel of land if the total of such spaces, when used together, is not less than the sum of the requirements for the individual uses computed separately.
      2.   A City zoning official may administratively permit shared parking, and may also permit a reduction of the combined parking requirement by up to 25 percent where the property owner provides written evidence, such as a lease or condominium bylaws, which limits the hours of operation of individual tenants to ensure that peak parking demands do not exceed the number of parking spaces present.
   F.   Location Of Parking Areas:
      1.   Townhouse:
         a.   Parking spaces may be provided on the lot of the townhouse or in a commonly owned and maintained off-street parking bay or facility; provided that such parking facility is easily accessible and of a reasonable distance from the townhouse unit it is serving (maximum 100 ft.).
         b.   Required parking spaces shall be allowed in front or side yards, but shall not exceed thirty feet (30') in width at the curb except shared driveways may be a maximum of forty feet (40') in width if there is at least (20') to the next driveway throat or driveway.
      2.   All Other Uses:
         a.   Parking may be located off-site as long as it is within 600 feet of an entrance to the building or site, connected by a paved pedestrian walkway.
         b.   If the off-site parking is not under common ownership with the property for which the parking is provided, then a legal covenant permitting the use of the off-site parking shall be provided to the City.
   G.   Pedestrian Access:
      1.   Walkways with a minimum unobstructed width of five (5) feet shall be provided between any building and an adjacent parking lot.
      2.   Pedestrian pathways shall be provided through all parking areas larger than forty (40) parking spaces to create a safe and convenient connection to building entryways.
      3.   Pedestrian pathways in and through parking areas must be designed and constructed to meet the following criteria:
         a.   Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines;
         b.   Limit conflict between pedestrians and vehicular traffic;
         c.   Be clearly delineated and directional using techniques such as contrasting textured or colored material, segregation of pathway from vehicle travel lanes, or raised pathway surfaces;
         d.   Be located a reasonable walking distance from all parking spaces to minimize conflict with moving vehicles;
         e.   Provide functional connection between the parking area, the building served by the parking area, and adjacent public sidewalks and rights-of-way; and
         f.   Provide safe, convenient pedestrian access to all building entryways open to the public.
   H.   Parking Area Surfaces:
      1.   Parking areas shall have improved surfaces that do not contribute dust, gravel, sand, or soil to the air, water, or ground surface outside the lot.
      2.   No required parking space shall be a yard or grassy area.
   I.   ADA Parking Requirements:
      1.   Parking spaces designated and designed for people with disabilities shall be provided at a rate of 1 parking space per 25 standard parking spaces provided with a minimum of 1.
      2.   Nothing in this Zoning Code shall be construed to conflict with the regulations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
      3.   Parking spaces designated and designed for people with disabilities shall comply with the universal parking space design set forth in the International Building Code.
      4.   All such spaces shall be designated by free-standing signs pursuant to the Montana Secretary of State guidelines. ARM 24.301.905
   J.   Parking Lot Landscaping:
      1.   Parking lots shall be landscaped as specified in 10-4-3.
   K.   Drive-Thru Standards:
      1.   Drive-thrus are permitted only within specific zoning districts as specified in Chapter 3 Uses.
      2.   All queuing vehicles shall be located on the lot on which the drive-thru services are being provided and shall not interfere with the movement of vehicles or pedestrians on public rights-of-way.
      3.   All establishments with drive-thrus shall provide a bypass lane whereby vehicles may exit the lot at any point without proceeding through the drive-thru lane.
      4.   Menu boards may not flash or have any visible bulbs. All menu boards shall be oriented toward the drive-thru aisle they serve.
         a.   Drive-thru speakers shall not be audible from adjacent properties. Drive-thru speakers shall not emit outdoor music.
   L.   Loading Standards:
      1.   The requirements for commercial off-street loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following standards for any new structure which requires the receipt or distribution of materials or merchandise by trucks or similar commercial vehicles.
         a.   All required loading berths shall be located on the same lot as the use served.
         b.   Loading facilities shall not be located within 200 feet of a residential structure unless the loading facility is being installed within a mixed-use structure.
         c.   No permitted or required loading berth shall be located within 50 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets.
         d.   All off-street loading berths shall be surfaced with concrete or other appropriate material meeting the durability requirements.
         e.   Every building having over 5,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be provided with at least one truck loading and unloading space, not less than twelve feet in width, forty feet in length and with fourteen feet clearance. An additional truck space of these dimensions shall be provided for every additional 20,000 square feet or fraction thereof of gross floor area in the building.
         f.   Loading areas may not be located closer to a street or road than the primary structure, with the exception of loading areas on through-lots. Loading areas facing a public street or road on a through-lot shall be fully shielded through screening or landscaping.
         g.   Access to truck loading and unloading spaces shall be provided directly from a public street or alley or from any right of way that will not interfere with public convenience and that will permit the orderly and safe movement of such trucks.
         h.   Loading space as required under this section, shall be provided as an area additional to off-street parking spaces required and shall not be considered as supplying off- street parking space. (Ord. 2023-7, 7-17-2023; amd. Ord. 2023-9, 12-18-2023)