A. Purpose. The regulation of off-street parking spaces 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 use intensity of the various parcels of land or structures.
B. Application. The regulations and requirements set forth in this Section shall apply in all zoning districts.
C. General parking requirements.
1. The term “floor area” is used to calculate the number of off-street parking spaces. It is the sum of the gross horizontal areas of all floors of a building or portion thereof devoted to a particular use, however, the “floor area” shall not include floor area other than area devoted to retailing activities, the production or processing of goods, warehousing, and business or professional offices. Only the principal structure floor area contributes to parking requirements.
2. Snow storage area(s) shall be provided so that the number of parking spaces is not reduced below the minimum required. The City may initiate proceedings to require that snow be hauled off the site if parking and circulation problems related to inadequate snow-removal occur.
3. Proof of parking. The City may also consider a proof of parking when a business can demonstrate a proposed use will not require the minimum number of spaces as stated in this Section. When parking is reduced, the City may require that area to be reserved in open space for future parking needs.
D. Use of parking facilities.
1. No Class I commercial vehicles shall be allowed to park in a residential district except while making a pickup or delivery or performing a service.
a. Conditional use permit. One (1) Class I commercial vehicle may be permitted to park on a residential lot with a conditional use permit in compliance with the following conditions:
(1) The Class I commercial vehicle shall be kept within the principal building, or an accessory building, at all times when not in use.
(2) The hours of operation of the vehicle shall not adversely affect adjoining property.
(3) The lot shall be five (5) acres or more in size.
2. Class II commercial vehicles. Residential lots are permitted one (1) Class II commercial vehicle per dwelling unit.
3. No auxiliary motors or engines on any commercial vehicle shall be allowed to operate in residential districts unless making a pick-up, delivery or performing a service.
4. School buses designed to carry individuals may be parked in a residential district during school hours only.
5. This Section does not apply to agricultural equipment being used for agricultural purposes.
E. Location of parking facilities. Required off street parking must be on the same lot as is the principal building and must meet the following setback requirements.
1. Corner lots. May not be located within any yard area abutting a street on a corner lot.
2. Single family lots. Must comply with minimum setback requirements for accessory structures.
3. Access drives, drive aisles, and parking spaces for religious institutions, schools, public parking lots, parks, and municipal facilities must be set back thirty feet (30') from the front, side, and rear property lines.
a. Exception. Where a joint driveway or access point serving more than one (1) property will provide better and safer traffic circulation.
4. Within all business zoning districts, off street parking spaces, drive aisles and/or garages shall be located in areas other than a required yard.
a. Exception. Parking may be located in a rear yard to within ten feet (10') of the rear or side lot line and in the front yard within twenty feet (20') of front yard lot line or adjacent to a public right-of-way or residential district.
5. Within all industrial zoning districts, off street parking spaces, drive aisles, and truck staging areas must at least twenty feet (20') from any street right of way line, and at least ten feet (10') from any interior side or rear lot line.
a. Exception. When a side or rear lot line abuts a residential district, off street parking must be at least one hundred feet (100') from such lot lines.
F. Off site parking facilities. When required accessory off street parking facilities are provided elsewhere than on the lot on which the principal use served is located, written authority for using such property for off street parking shall be filed with the City, so as to maintain the required number of off-street parking spaces during the existence of such principal use. No such parking facility shall, at its closest point, be located more than one hundred feet (100') from the premises nor more than four hundred feet (400') from the principal use or building served.
G. Use of parking area for use other than parking. Required off street parking space in all districts shall not be utilized for open storage of goods or for the storage of vehicles which are inoperable, for lease, rent or sale.
H. Design and maintenance of off-street parking areas.
1. General Requirements. Access and parking areas shall be designed so as to provide an adequate means of access to a public alley or street. Such driveway access shall not exceed the driveway dimensions of this Code and shall be so limited so as to cause the least interference with the traffic movement.
a. Except for single-family, two-family, and townhouse 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. All parking spaces shall have access from driveways and not directly on a public street.
2. Parking Spaces Striped. All parking spaces shall be striped with suitable paint in accordance with approved plans, except for single-family residences.
3. Calculating Space. When the determination of the number of required off street parking spaces results in a fraction, each fraction up to and including one-half (1/2) shall be disregarded; fractions over one-half (1/2) shall count as one (1) additional space.
4. Surfacing. All parking areas and driveways in the front yard of property in the MUSA must be paved with asphalt, paver bricks, or concrete.
a. All parking surfaces in front of the principal structure must be in conformance with this code and must not exceed forty percent (40%) of the front yard area. A maximum width of two feet (2') of landscape rock or similar landscaping material may additionally be permitted to border such parking or driveway area. The parking or driveway surface may not encroach on any drainage and utility easement, except the front yard drainage and utility easement running adjacent and parallel to the street.
b. Any parking or driveway surface behind the principal structure must be one (1) of the following: concrete, asphalt, class V gravel (minimum six inches (6") compacted), landscape rock (minimum six inches (6") compacted), landscape paver blocks, or brick. All parking surfaces must be contained within a solid edging or other border. The setback for parking surfaces behind the front of the principal structure is the same as the setbacks for accessory structures in the zoning district. Such parking or driveway surface cannot encroach on any drainage and utility easements.
c. All development in non-MUSA areas must have an asphalt or concrete driveway between the roadway edge and the minimum front yard setback line. The City, at its discretion, can require the entire or a greater portion of the driveway to be paved if erosion or drainage problems are experienced on public or private land. This requirement applies to open sales lots in or out of the MUSA.
5. Curbing. All open off-street parking areas and loading areas designed to have head in parking along the perimeter of the off-street parking area or loading area shall provide a concrete curb or equivalent of adequate height approved by the City.
6. Drive-Up Facilities. Business establishments containing drive-up facilities, including restaurants and financial institutions, shall provide a motor vehicle stacking area for vehicles on the site. A minimum of six (6) vehicle spaces per lane shall be provided. The vehicle stacking area shall not extend beyond the street right of way line and shall be delineated in such a manner that vehicles waiting in line will not interfere with nor obstruct the primary driving, parking and pedestrian facilities on or off the site.
7. Bumper Overhang. The minimum parking space length may be decreased by up to two feet (2') for spaces which allow the bumper of the vehicle to project over the parking space without obstructing other parking spaces or vehicle circulation.
8. Turnarounds. All required parking spaces shall be accessed by adequate maneuvering space. All dead-end parking rows shall contain a turnaround area.
9. Parking Lot Design Standards. Parking areas shall be designed in conformance with the following:
Parking Angle (A) | Stall Width (B) | Curb Length (C) | Stall Depth (D) | Aisle Width (E) |
Parking Angle (A) | Stall Width (B) | Curb Length (C) | Stall Depth (D) | Aisle Width (E) |
0° | 9' | 23' | 9' | 12' |
20° | 9' | 26'4" | 15' | 11' |
30° | 9' | 18' | 17'4" | 11' |
40° | 9' | 14' | 19'2" | 12' |
45° | 9' | 12'9" | 19'10" | 13' |
50° | 9' | 11'9" | 20'5" | 12' |
60° | 9' | 10'5" | 21' | 18' |
70° | 9' | 9'8" | 21' | 19' |
80° | 9' | 9'2" | 20'4" | 24' |
90° | 9' | 9' | 20' | 24' |
I. Required Off-Street Parking. The following minimum areas shall be provided and maintained by ownership, easement or lease, for and during the life of the respective uses set forth below.
Auto repair | 3 spaces per auto bay, plus 1 space for each employee. |
Banks and financial services | 1 space for each 250 square feet of floor area. |
Boat and marine sales | 4 spaces, plus 1 space for each 500 square feet of floor area over the first 1,000 square feet. |
Community, activity, and cultural centers, post offices, commercial recreation facilities (indoor and outdoor), libraries, museums and art galleries | 1 space per maximum capacity of patrons, plus 1 space for every employee |
Funeral homes and mortuaries | 1 space per 3 seats based upon design capacity of assembly area, plus 1 space for every 2 employees plus 1 space per company vehicle. Notwithstanding the above, a minimum of 10 parking spaces shall be provided. |
Hospitals | 2 spaces for each patient bed. |
Hotels and motels | 1 space per sleeping unit, plus one space per day shift employee plus one space for each 40 square feet devoted to meeting or banquet rooms. |
Manufacturing, fabricating and processing | 4 spaces, plus 1 space for each 400 square feet of floor area. |
Motor fuel stations and motor fuel station convenience stores | 4 spaces plus 2 spaces for each service stall. Those facilities designed for sale of additional items other than strictly automobile products, parts or service shall be required to provide additional parking in compliance with other applicable Zoning Code Sections |
Multiple-family dwellings | 1.6 spaces per dwelling unit in the multi-family residential districts. Additional spaces for visitor parking shall be provided based on the development characteristics and anticipated demand for visitor spaces as determined by the City. |
Day Care Facilities (child and/or adult) | 1 space for each 6 individuals of licensed capacity. |
Office including clinics for human care | 1 space for each 250 square feet of floor area for the first 100,000 square feet, plus 1 space for each 350 square feet of floor area thereafter. |
Open sales lots | 1 space for each 2,000 square feet of land up to the first 8,000 square feet, plus 1 space for each 4,000 square feet of land up to a parcel of 24,000 square feet, plus 1 space for each 6,000 square feet thereafter. |
Places of Worship | 1 space for each 4 seats, based on the design capacity of the main assembly hall. |
Restaurants | 1 space for each 3 seats, based on capacity design or where there is no design layout, 1 space for each 50 square feet of floor area, whichever is greater, plus employee parking. |
Restaurants; drive-in or convenience food | 1 space for each 3 seats based on capacity design, plus employee parking. 6 spaces of stacking of a drive-thru facility. |
Retail | 1 space for each 200 square feet of floor area. |
Schools, elementary and junior high | 1 space for each classroom, plus 1 additional space for each 100-student capacity. |
Schools, post-secondary | 1 space for each 10 students, based on design capacity, plus 1 additional space for each 2 classrooms. |
Self-service passenger vehicle car wash | 2 spaces per bay. |
Senior citizen housing (dependent) | 1 space for each 6 beds for which accommodations are offered, plus 1 additional space for each 15 beds, plus 1 space per employee. |
Senior citizen housing (independent) | 1.5 parking spaces for each unit. |
Single-family dwellings | 2 spaces for each dwelling unit. A garage may fulfill this requirement. However, a building permit shall not be granted to convert a garage to living space unless other acceptable provisions are made to provide the required parking space. |
Theaters, ball fields, stadiums, ice rinks and arenas | 1 space for each 3 seats of design capacity. |
Two-family dwellings | 2 spaces per dwelling unit, but not more than one 2-car garage per dwelling unit. |
Wholesale business, storage and warehouse establishment | 1 space for each 2,000 square feet of floor area for any building used solely in a storage capacity. For mixed use building where storage and warehousing is an incidental use to other activity, required parking spaces shall be based upon the specific requirements for each use appearing in this Section. |
Vet Clinics and Kennels | 5 spaces plus 1 space for each 500 square feet of floor area over 1,000 square feet. |
Uses not specifically noted | Parking space requirements shall be determined by, but not limited to, characteristics for the most similar use. |