Loading and unloading facilities shall be provided prior to occupancy of a non-residential building hereafter erected, altered, or to be occupied by a new user, and shall be maintained while the building is occupied, unless equivalent facilities are provided as provided by the regulations of this chapter.
(a) Authority of the Community Development Administrator. The Community Development Administrator may waive the requirement for a loading and unloading facility based on the nature of the proposed use or the practical difficulties of adding such facilities to an existing building.
(b) Location. Loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the use served, to allow the orderly and safe movement of trucks. The required yard, off-street parking area, or access drive shall not be used for loading or unloading purposes, except that the Community Development Administrator may allow two or more uses provide permanent off-street loading and unloading spaces, shared by the uses. No such space shall be located closer than 25 feet to another lot in a Special or Residential District, unless within a completely enclosed building or unless enclosed on all sides facing lots in a Special or Residential District by a wall or fence not less than six feet in height.
(c) Size of Loading Spaces. Each loading space shall be sufficient to accommodate the largest vehicle anticipated.
(d) An Off-street loading space shall not be used for repairing or servicing motor vehicles.
(e) Access Driveways. Each required off-street loading and unloading space shall be designed for direct vehicular access by means of a driveway, or driveways, to a public street, public right of way except in situations of existing commercial facilities in the Chardon Square Mixed Use District (C-2) where no other means for loading/unloading exists.
(f) Minimum Loading Spaces Required. Except as otherwise provided herein, for a building or part thereof in any zoning district with a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or less, occupied by a manufacturing, storage, warehouse, retail establishment, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, dry cleaning or other similar use requiring the receipt or distribution by motor vehicle of material or merchandise, at least one off-street loading space shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building. One additional loading space for each additional 20,000 square feet or major fraction thereof of gross floor area shall be provided when required because of the volume material or merchandise shipped or received by motor vehicle.
(g) Loading Facilities for Self-storage Facilities. For self-service storage facilities, one loading and unloading space shall be provided for each individual storage unit; the overlay of loading spaces may serve adjacent units when simultaneous access to units will not normally occur. The loading space shall be located in the immediate vicinity of each storage unit. Where loading spaces are provided along driveway access aisles, between buildings and immediately adjacent to the individual storage unit, the minimum driveway width shall be twenty-four (24) feet to allow for passage of other vehicles.
(Ord. 2635. Passed 1-13-11; Ord. 3040. Passed 12-13-18.)