Subd. 1. Purpose. The regulation of off-street parking spaces in these zoning regulations is intended to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public right-of-way and to promote the safety and general welfare of the public, by establishing minimum requirements for off-street parking of motor vehicles in accordance with the intensity of utilization of the various parcels of land or structures.
Subd. 2. Application of Off-Street Parking Regulations. The regulations and requirements set forth herein shall apply to all off-street parking facilities in all of the zoning districts of the city.
Subd. 3. Permit Required. An administrative permit is required for residential driveway expansion and replacement, residential parking pads, and parking lots installation/expansion.
Subd. 4. General Provisions.
1. Floor Area. The term “floor area,” for the purpose of calculating the number of off-street parking spaces required, shall be determined on the basis of the exterior floor area dimensions of the buildings, structure, or use, multiplied by the number of floors, minus 10%.
2. Reduction of Existing Off-Street Parking and Loading Area. Off-street parking spaces and loading area shall not be reduced in number or size unless said number or size exceeds the requirements set forth herein for a similar new use.
3. Change of Use or Occupancy of Buildings. Any change of use, change of building occupancy, or building addition which requires additional parking spaces shall not be permitted until there is furnished such additional parking spaces as required by these zoning regulations.
4. Calculating Space.
a. Fractions of a Space. When determining the number of off-street parking spaces results in a fraction, each fraction of one-half or more shall constitute another space.
b. Places of Public Assembly. In stadiums, sports arenas, places of worship, and other places of public assembly in which patrons or spectators occupy benches, pews, or other similar seating facilities, each 18 inches of such seating facilities shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining requirements.
c. Snow Storage in Parking Stalls. Provision shall be made in the parking area for adequate snow storage or removal to ensure that the required number of parking spaces are available at all times during the year.
Subd. 5. Design Standards.
1. Vehicular traffic generated by commercial, industrial, and multiple-family residential uses shall be channeled and controlled in a manner to avoid congestion of the public streets, traffic hazards, and excessive traffic through residential areas, particularly truck traffic.
2. The adequacy of any proposed parking facility or internal circulation system shall be determined by the City Engineer who may require such additional measures for traffic control as they deem necessary, including, but not limited to, directional signalization, channelization, standby turn lanes, illumination, and storage area and distribution facilities within the site to prevent back-up of vehicles on public streets.
3. Within Structures. Required parking for residential dwellings, except multiple-family apartments, shall be covered and located within the principal or accessory structure(s). On-street parking shall not be utilized to satisfy the required off-street parking supply.
4. Streets Not Used. Except under joint parking provisions or in the case of single- and two-family dwellings, parking areas shall be designed so that circulation between parking bays or aisles occurs within the designated parking lot and does not depend upon a public street or alley. Except in the case of single- and two-family dwellings located on local streets, parking area design which requires backing into the public street is prohibited.
5. Access. Off-street parking spaces shall have access from a public right-of-way.
a. Access drives shall be so located as to minimize traffic congestion and abnormal traffic hazard.
b. Vehicular access to business or industrial uses across property in any residential district shall be prohibited.
6. Parking Stall Standards. Except in the case of single-family and two-family dwellings, parking areas and their aisles shall be designed in compliance with the following standards.
Table 26 | |||||
Angle of Parking | Stall Width | Curb Length Per Car | Stall Length | Aisle One-Way | Width Two-Way |
Table 26 | |||||
Angle of Parking | Stall Width | Curb Length Per Car | Stall Length | Aisle One-Way | Width Two-Way |
90 degrees | 9 feet | 9 feet | 20 feet | 24 feet | 24 feet |
75 degrees | 9 feet | 9 feet | 20 feet | 20 feet 11 inches | 23 feet |
60 degrees | 9 feet | 10 feet | 20 feet | 18 feet 6 inches | 22 feet |
45 degrees | 9 feet | 12 feet 3 inches | 20 feet | 13 feet | 22 feet |
0 degrees | 9 feet | 22 feet | 20 feet | 12 feet | 24 feet |
Note to Table: The parking lot dimensions may be reduced upon City Council approval of a comprehensive snow removal site plan. The snow removal site plan shall be contractual in nature, signed by the property owner and filed with the City Clerk. The reduction shall not be allowed until the conditions of this subsection are met. | |||||
7. Curb Cut Minimum and Maximum. Curb cuts shall adhere to the standards in the Engineering Design Standards.
8. Driveway Access. Each property shall be allowed one driveway access for each 125 feet of street frontage. Single-family uses shall be limited to one driveway access per lot.
Subd. 6. Location. All accessory off-street parking facilities required by this chapter shall be located and restricted as follows.
1. Required accessory off-street parking shall be on the same lot under the same ownership as the principal use being serviced, except for combined or joint parking facilities as regulated by this subsection.
2. Except for single-, two-family dwellings, head-in parking, directly off of and adjacent to a public street, with each stall having its own direct access to the public street, shall be prohibited.
3. There shall be no off-street parking within ten feet of any property line within multiple-family, commercial, or industrial zoning districts. The parking and drive aisle setback shall be increased to 20 feet where said facilities are located adjacent to residentially zoned or used property. The Zoning Administrator may approve a zero-foot setback for shopping centers.
4. All lots having direct driveway access onto collector or arterial roads shall provide turn around facilities on the lot to eliminate vehicles backing onto said roads.
Subd. 7. Parking Pads.
1. General Rules.
a. Parking on landscaping is prohibited.
b. All motor vehicles and recreational vehicles must be operable and licensed.
i. A maximum of four vehicles are allowed per lot.
ii. Up to two vehicles may exceed 20 feet.
c. Parking pad must meet all yard setbacks and is considered an accessory structure when defining setbacks.
d. Pad surface materials shall be orderly contained by delineated edging or in some other effective fashion.
e. All parking must not disturb proper drainage or utilities.
f. In cases where improved and semi-improved surface materials are required, the pad must cover the entire area under the vehicle and cannot be placed solely under the wheels of the vehicle.
2. Rear Yard.
a. Vehicles, recreational vehicles, or trailers are allowed on any surface type.
b. No commercial vehicles are allowed.
3. Side Yard.
a. Vehicles, recreational vehicles, or trailers are allowed on a semi-improved or improved surface. The access portion to a side yard parking pad may be a semi-improved surface.
b. Allowed on garage side only on in other cases subject to the judgment of the Zoning Administrator.
4. Front Yard. A parking pad is not allowed unless determined to be acceptable by the Zoning Administrator. No unimproved or semi-improved surfaces are allowed.
Subd. 8. Residential Driveways. The purpose of this provision is to provide minimum setback and slope standards for single-family and two-family dwelling unit driveway construction. The intent is to reduce interference with drainage and utility easements by providing setback standards; reduce erosion by requiring an improved surface for all driveways; and, provide positive drainage to the street via establishment of minimum driveway slope standards. The requirements of this provision shall apply to all building permits for new construction of residential units and future modifications. A certificate of survey indicating the setback, slope, area, and elevations shall be required to illustrate compliance with these provisions. Residential driveway requirements are as follows.
1. Driveways shall be set back at least five feet from side and rear yard property lines.
2. All driveways shall be surfaced with bituminous, concrete, or other improved surface material, as approved by the City Engineer. Except, in the Agricultural District, driveways shall be surfaced for the first 100 feet of the driveway, with bituminous concrete or other improved surface materials as approved by the City Engineer.
3. A maximum of four operable and licensed vehicles may be parked in the front yard driveway.
Subd. 9. Number of Spaces Required. Unless otherwise specified in the underlying zoning district, the following minimum number of off-street parking spaces shall be provided and maintained by ownership for and during the life of the respective uses.
Table 27 |
Table 27 | |
Use | Parking Standard |
Animal hospitals and kennel | 5 per 1,000 SF GLA |
Assisted living facility | One space for each 5 residents, based on the building design and operational needs. |
Automobile repair and motor fuel station | 3 per 1,000 SF GFA interior sales area, storage/display area, plus 2 per service bay |
Bank or financial institution (with or without a drive through) | 4 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Car wash | 2, plus 1 per each 2 peak shift employees |
Catering business | 2 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Clinic | 4 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Coffee shop | 10 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Day care facility | 2 parking spaces, plus 1 space for every 5 participants based on the building design |
Dwelling, multiple-family | 2 per dwelling unit |
Dwelling, single-family | 2 enclosed spaces per dwelling unit |
Dwelling, senior | 1.5 per dwelling unit |
Dwelling, townhouse | 2 enclosed spaces per dwelling unit |
Dwelling, two-family | 2 enclosed spaces per dwelling unit |
Grocery store | 6 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Health club | At least 15 spaces, plus 1 additional space for each 300 square feet of floor area over 2,000 square feet |
High intensity/call centers and telemarketing | 6 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Hospital | 4 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Large item retail sales | 3 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Manufacturing, fabricating, or processing of a product or material | 1.5 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Medical laboratory | 5 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Motels, motor hotels, hotels | 1.5 per dwelling unit, guest room, or hotel room |
Municipal administration buildings, post office, and other public service buildings | 3 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Office buildings, medical and professional offices | 3 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Places of worship | 1 parking space for each 4 seats based on the design capacity of the main seating area or areas |
Research, experimental, or testing stations | 2 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Restaurant | 10 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Restaurant-tavern, tavern, brewery, micro-brewery, micro-distillery, micro-winery, tap room | 16 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Retail store, service/shopping center or convenience food take-out/delivery establishment | 4 per 1,000 SF GFA |
School: elementary/middle/junior high (public/private/charter) | One parking space for each classroom plus 1 parking space for each 7 students based upon design capacity |
School: senior high (public/private/charter) | One parking space for each classroom plus one parking space for each 4 students based upon design capacity |
State licensed residential facility | One parking space for each 4 beds for which accommodations are offered |
Places of assembly | One parking space for each three seats based upon design capacity |
Warehousing, storage, or handling of bulk goods | 1 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Wholesale establishments (selling only to retailers and contractors) | 2 per 1,000 SF GFA |
Note to Table: For uses not specifically listed above, off-street parking requirements shall be computed by the Zoning Administrator on the same basis as required for the most similar listed uses. In such cases, the Zoning Administrator shall also consult off-street parking reference materials including, but not limited to, manuals prepared by the American Planning Association and Institute of Transportation Engineers. | |
Subd. 10. Joint Facilities.
1. Joint Use of Parking. The City Council may approve a conditional use permit for one or more businesses to provide the required off-street parking facilities by joint use of one or more sites where the total number of spaces provided is less than the sum of the total required for each business, subject to the provisions of subsection 1002.08 and the conditions outlined below.
a. Entertainment Uses. Up to 60% of the parking facilities required for a theater, bowling alley, bar, restaurant, or similar entertainment oriented use may be supplied by the off-street parking facilities provided by types of uses specified as primarily daytime uses in Item 1.d below.
b. Nighttime or Sunday Uses. Up to 60% of the off-street parking facilities required for any use specified under item 1.d below as primary daytime uses may be supplied by the parking facilities provided by the following nighttime or Sunday uses; auditoriums incidental to a public or parochial school, churches, bowling alleys, theaters, bars, restaurants, or other similar entertainment oriented use, or apartments.
c. Places of Assembly (School Auditorium and Place of Worship and the Like). Up to 80% of the parking facilities required by this section for a place of worship or for an auditorium incidental to a public or parochial school may be supplied by the off-street parking facilities provided by uses specified under item 1.d below as primarily daytime uses.
d. Daytime Uses. For the purpose of this subsection the following uses are considered as primarily daytime uses: banks, offices, retail stores, personal services, household equipment or furniture shops, manufacturing, wholesale, and similar uses.
2. Additional Criteria for Joint Parking. In addition to the preceding requirements, the following conditions are required for joint parking usage.
a. Proximity. The building or use for which application is being made to utilize the off-street parking facilities provided by another building or use shall be located within 300 feet of such parking facilities.
b. Conflict in Hours. The applicant shall show that there is no substantial conflict in the principal operating hours of the two buildings or uses for which joint use of off-street parking facilities is proposed.
c. Written Consent and Agreement. A legally binding instrument, executed by the parties concerned, for joint use of off-street parking facilities, duly approved as to title of grantors or lessors, and form and manner of execution by the City Attorney, shall be filed with the City Clerk and recorded with the County Recorder or Registrar of Titles, and a certified copy of the recorded document shall be filed with the city within 60 days after approval of the joint parking use by the city.
Subd. 11. Off-Site Parking. Any off-site parking which is used to meet the requirements of this chapter shall be a conditional use permit as regulated by subsection 1002.08 and subject to the conditions listed below.
1. Code Compliance. Off-site parking shall be developed and maintained in compliance with all requirements and standards of this chapter.
2. Access and Proximity. Reasonable access from off-site parking facilities to the use being serviced shall be provided. Off-site parking shall not be located more than 500 feet from any normally used entrance of the principal use serviced.
3. Lessee Agreement Required. The site used for meeting the off-site parking requirements of this chapter shall be secured by a lease agreement between the parties, with terms approved by the City Council subject to the review and approval of the City Attorney, filed with the City Clerk and recorded with the County Recorder or Registrar of Title. A certified copy of the recorded document shall be filed with the City Clerk within 60 days after approval of the agreement by the City Council.
4. Term of Parking Agreement. Any use which depends upon off-site parking to meet the requirements of this chapter shall maintain parking utilization of the off-site location until such time as on-site parking is provided or a site in closer proximity to the principal use is acquired and developed for parking.
Subd. 12. Proof of Parking. A reduction in the number of required parking stalls may be permitted by interim use permit subject to the provisions of subsection 1002.09 and the conditions outlined below.
1. Evidence is provided demonstrating that the parking requirements of the proposed use will be less than the parking required under subsection 1006.03, during the peak demand period. Factors to be considered when reviewing the proposed parking demand shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Size, type, and use of building;
b. Number of employees;
c. Projected volume and turnover of employee and/or customer traffic;
d. Projected frequency and volume of delivery or service vehicles;
e. Number of company owned vehicles; and
f. Storage of vehicles on-site.
2. In no case shall the amount of parking provided be less than one-half of the amount of parking required by ordinance.
3. The property owner can demonstrate that the site has sufficient property under the same ownership to accommodate the expansion of the parking facilities to meet the minimum requirements of subsection 1006.03, if the parking demand exceeds on-site supply.
4. The area reserved as proof of parking shall be sodded or seeded and maintained as green space or a recreational area. No permanent buildings shall be permitted in the “proof of parking” area.
5. The property owner shall record a restrictive covenant against the title to the property providing that additional parking shall be constructed in accordance with subsection 1006.03, if the site parking demand exceeds the actual on-site parking supply in the sole opinion of the city. The form of the restrictive covenant shall be approved by the City Attorney before the issuance of the interim use permit.
6. To qualify for proof of parking, the site plan must comply with all current zoning standards.
Subd. 13. Off-Street Loading. The regulation of loading spaces in these zoning regulations is to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public right-of-way and in off-street parking areas so to promote the safety and general welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for off-street loading and unloading from motor vehicles in accordance with the specific and appropriate utilization of various parcels of land or structures.
1. Location.
a. Off-Street. All required loading spaces shall be off-street and located on the same lot as the building or use to be served.
b. Distance from Intersection. All loading space curb cuts shall be located at minimum 50 feet from the intersection of two or more street rights-of-way. The distance shall be measured from the property line.
c. Distance from Residential Use. No loading space for a non- residential use shall be located closer than 100 feet from a residential use or district.
d. Front Yard Locations. With the exception of the I-1 District, a conditional use permit shall be required for loading spaces for non-residential uses where the loading space is located at the front or side of the building on a corner lot.
i. Pedestrians. Loading spaces shall not conflict with pedestrian movement.
ii. General Compliance. Loading spaces shall comply with all other requirements of this subsection.
e. Traffic Interference. Each loading space shall be located with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or public alley in a manner which will cause the least interference with traffic.
f. Parking Spaces. Loading spaces shall not utilize required parking spaces.
g. Adequacy. All loading space shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of each use and shall provide adequate space for storage and maneuvering of the vehicles they are designed to serve.
h. Surfacing. All loading spaces and access ways shall be improved per the engineering standards manual.
i. Accessory Use: Parking and Storage. Any space allocated as a required loading space or access drive so as to comply with the terms of this chapter, shall not be used for the storage of goods, inoperable vehicles, or vehicles for sale or rent or show and shall not be included as part of the space requirements to meet the off-street parking requirements.
j. Screening. Except in the case of multiple dwellings all loading areas shall be screened and landscaped from abutting and surrounding residential uses and the public right-of-way, in compliance with subsection 1006.06.
2. Size of Loading Spaces. Loading spaces shall be not less than 30 feet in length, ten feet in width, and 14 feet in height, exclusive of aisle and maneuvering space.