(A) Scope of loading space requirements. Compliance with the leading space regulations set forth herein shall be required in order to avoid interference with the public use of streets, alleys, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, and other public areas.
(1) General applicability. On the same premises with every building, or part thereof, erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage, warehousing, display and sale of goods, including department stores, wholesale stores, markets, hotels, hospitals, mortuaries, laundries, dry cleaning establishments, and other uses involving the receipt or distribution of materials, merchandise, or vehicles, there shall be provided and maintained adequate space for loading and unloading as required in this section.
(2) Change in use or intensity. Whenever use of a building, structure, or lot is changed, loading space shall be provided as required by this chapter for the new use, regardless of any variance which may have been in effect prior to change of use.
(B) General requirements.
(1) Location. Required loading space shall be located to the rear or side of the building being served to the maximum extent possible such that it is screened from view from adjoining roads. Loading/unloading operations shall not interfere with vehicular traffic circulation on streets, alleys, or within off-street parking areas. Loading/unloading areas shall not be placed in required fire lanes.
(2) Dimensions. Unless otherwise specified, each required loading space shall be a minimum of ten feet in width and 50 feet in length, with a minimum vertical clearance of 15 feet.
(3) Surfacing and drainage. Loading areas shall be hard-surfaced with concrete or plant-mixed bituminous material. Leading areas shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of surface waters. Grading, surfacing, and drainage plans shall be subject to review and approval by the City DPS Director. Surface water shall not be permitted to drain onto adjoining property, a public easement, a public right- of-way, or into the city sanitary sewer system, except in accordance with a city-approved drainage plan.
(4) Storage and repair prohibited. The storage of merchandise, sale of motor vehicles, storage of inoperable vehicles, or repair of vehicles is prohibited in required loading space.
(5) Use of loading space. A required loading space shall be dedicated to loading and unloading purposes and shall not be counted or used for required parking.
(6) Central loading. Central loading facilities may be substituted for individual loading spaces serving businesses on separate lots provided that all of the following conditions are fulfilled.
(a) Each business served shall have direct access to the central loading area without crossing a public street or alley.
(b) Total loading space provided shall meet the minimum requirements specified herein, in consideration of total floor area of all businesses served by the central loading space.
(c) No building served shall be more than 300 feet from the central loading area.
(7) Minimum loading space. The amount of required loading space shall be determined in accordance with the schedule which follows. In a Planned Development District, the Planning Commission may modify the minimum requirements. In other districts, the Zoning Board of Appeals may reduce or modify the standards upon making the determination that another standard would be more appropriate in consideration of the number or type of deliveries expected or experienced for a particular use or site.
(8) Schedule of loading space requirements.
Gross Floor Area | Number of Loading Spaces |
0 - 5,000 sq. ft.
|
See footnote
|
5,001 - 20,000 sq. ft.
|
1 space
|
20,001 - 100,000 sq. ft.
|
1 space, plus 1 space for each 20,000 sq. ft. in excess of 20,001 sq. ft.
|
100,001 and over
|
5 spaces, plus 1 space for each 50,000 sq. ft. in excess of 100,000 sq. ft.
|
Footnote to schedule of loading space requirements:
Establishments containing less than 5,000 square feet of gross floor area shall provide adequate dedicated off-street loading space that is accessible by motor vehicles but which does not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The size of any loading space shall be based on the types of delivery vehicles typically utilized by the establishment
(C) Modification of loading space requirements.
(1) In a Planned Development District, the Planning Commission may modify the minimum requirements.
(2) The Planning Commission may modify or waive the requirements for off-street loading areas, upon determining that adequate loading space is available to serve the building or use, or that provision of such loading space is unnecessary or impractical to provide.
(3) The Planning Commission upon determination that the modified size and/or number of spaces are appropriate for the use may modify the size of loading spaces and the number of spaces for a use.
(Ord. 92-005, passed 2-17-92; Am .Ord. 10-009, passed 10-5-09) Penalty, see § 154.999