The following off-street parking regulations shall apply in the General Commercial District:
(A) An off-street parking area shall be located on each lot and shall contain at least 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area of the buildings (but no less than 4 parking spaces) plus employee parking for the maximum number of employees on duty in the buildings at any 1 time.
(B) A driveway permit is required for all off-street parking areas on the lot. The Building Commissioner shall not issue a driveway permit until all regulations promulgated for the off-street parking areas and for a driveway permit have been met and farther that the driveway curb cut has been approved by the State Indiana Department of Transportation.
(C) The off-street parking area on the lot shall provide accessible parking spaces in compliance with ADA (ADA requires a minimum of 1 accessible space for parking totals of 1 to 25 spaces and 2 accessible spaces (1 for a car and 1 for a van for parking totals of 25 spaces to 50 spaces).
(D) Parking spaces shall be at least 9 feet in width and 20 feet in length exclusive of access drives or aisles, ramps or work areas, provided that ADA parking spaces shall contain an adjacent access aisle of a minimum of 60 inches wide for a car parking space and an access aisle of a minimum of 96 inches wide for a van parking space. The vertical clearance for a parking space shall be a minimum of 8 feet.
(E) Off-street parking areas on the lot shall be installed with either:
(1) A suitable compacted base with a porous aggregate, porous asphalt or porous concrete surface; or
(2) If the off-street parking area is to be improved with an impervious asphalt or concrete surface the parking area shall be impressed with a 6-inch aggregate base and the lot shall contain adequate grading and drainage facilities to prevent storm water run-off from the lot onto a public street and adjacent lots.
(F) All parts of the lot which are not covered by a building, structure parking area, driveway and sidewalk, shall be landscaped with plantings of flowers, grass, ground cover, shrubs or trees which shall be maintained continuously. The planting of native plant species is encouraged. The planting of invasive exotic plant species is not permitted.
(G) Designated parking spaces shall be marked on the surface of the parking area with paint or permanent marking materials and maintained in clearly visible condition. ADA parking spaces shall have clearly visible signage and shall be clearly marked on the surface of the parking area.
(H) The off-street parking area on the lot shall be solely for the parking of motor vehicles of patrons, occupants or employees of the permitted uses.
(I) Off-street parking spaces may be located in yard setback areas.
(J) Each required off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle or driveway of a width and design so as to provide safe and efficient means of vehicular access to a parking space.
(K) The off-street parking area on the lot shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner that will least interfere with traffic movements.
(L) A landscaping strip 6 feet in width, which shall not include a sidewalk or trail, shall be located between the parking lot and the property line with plants that are no less than 3 feet in height.
(Ord. 2013-09, passed 12-16-2013)