A permanently paved and maintained area for standing, loading, and unloading of delivery vehicles, taxis, or rideshare vehicles shall be provided for principal uses in the nonresidential districts. These off-street loading facilities shall be in accordance with the following specifications:
(a) Number of Spaces.
(1) This code does not require a minimum number of off-street loading spaces. However, uses which receive frequent deliveries are required to provide adequate space, built to the standards as identified in this subsection.
(2) As part of the site plan review process, the Planning Commission shall have the authority to require such spaces if there is a demonstrated need to accommodate this loading or unloading area.
(b) Size. Loading spaces shall conform to the following minimum dimensions. Unless otherwise noted, all dimensions are exclusive of any driveway, aisle or other circulation area:
(1) For loading spaces that will accommodate box trucks or vehicles smaller than a semi- trailer truck, the space shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet, a minimum length of twenty (20) feet and a minimum clearance height of fifteen (15) feet.
(2) For loading spaces that will semi-trailer trucks, the space shall have a minimum width of fourteen (14) feet, a minimum length of fifty-five (55) feet and a minimum clearance height of fifteen (15) feet.
(c) Location and Activities.
(1) All loading spaces and maneuvering areas shall be located on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve.
(2) Loading and unloading areas shall be so located and designed that the vehicles intended to use them can maneuver safely and conveniently to and from a public right-of-way, and complete the loading and unloading operations without obstructing or interfering with any public right-of-way or any parking space or parking lot aisle.
(3) No area allocated to loading and unloading facilities may be used to satisfy the area requirements for off-street parking, nor shall any portion of any off-street parking area be used to satisfy the area requirements for loading and unloading facilities.
(4) Off-street loading spaces shall be so arranged that they may be used without blocking, and they shall not obstruct or occupy, any parking space, circulation or drive aisles, sidewalks, or vehicle stacking spaces for drive through lanes.
(5) A loading space may occupy all or any part of any required side or rear yard. No loading or unloading shall occur in a front yard, except for structures less than 15,000 square feet.
(6) No loading ramp, dock, door or space, or any portion thereof, shall be located closer than fifty (50) feet from any lot zoned for any residential use, unless located completely within an enclosed building.
(7) An off-street loading space shall not be used for repairing or servicing motor vehicles, or for storage.
(d) Access.
(1) All required off-street loading spaces shall have access to a public street or alley in such a manner that any vehicle entering or exiting the premises shall be traveling in a forward motion onto such street or alley.
(2) Each required off-street loading space shall be designed for direct vehicular access by means of a driveway, or driveways, to a public street in a manner which shall least interfere with adjacent traffic movements and interior circulation. The access drive of an off-street loading facility shall be located so that the driveway center line shall not be less than fifty (50) feet from the nearest intersecting street right-of-way line.
(e) Improvements. All off-street loading spaces shall be improved as required for all vehicular use areas as set forth in Section 1115.03.
(Ord. 2023-16. Passed 6-5-23.)