Every parcel of land hereafter used as a public or private parking area, including a commercial parking lot and also an automobile or trailer sales lot, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements:
(a) Screening and Landscaping. Off-street parking areas for more than five vehicles shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins premises situated in any R District by a masonry wall or solid fence of acceptable design. Such wall or fence shall be between four and six feet in height and shall be maintained in good condition. Landscaping provided in lieu of such wall or fence shall consist of a strip of land not less than fifteen feet in width planted with an evergreen hedge, or dense planting of evergreen shrubs not less than four feet in height.
(b) Surfacing. Any off-street parking area for more than five vehicles shall be graded for proper drainage and surfaced so as to provide a durable and dustless surface.
(c) Lighting. Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises in any R District. All types of illumination shall be shaded or concealed so that the light will not interfere with the vision of motor vehicle operators or shine directly on residential property nor flash or simulate movement.
(d) Joint Use of Parking Areas. Parking spaces may be located on a lot other than that containing the principal use with approval of the Board provided a written agreement, approved by the City Solicitor and accepted by Council, shall be filed with the application for a zoning permit.
(e) Parking Area Modifications. The Board may authorize on appeal a modification, reduction or waiver of the foregoing requirements, if it should find that, in the particular case appealed, the peculiar nature of the residential, business, trade, industrial or other use, or the exceptional shape or size of the property or other exceptional situation or condition would justify such action. No action shall be taken by the Board unless and until it has first received the recommendation of the Planning Commission regarding the appeal. Additional green space may be substituted for parking spaces in reserve.
(f) Aisle. An aisle is that portion of the circulation area within a parking lot, excluding the driveway, that provides accessibility to parking, stacking or loading spaces. An aisle to serve adjacent loading spaces shall have a minimum width fifteen feet. No part of the loading space may be inlcuded in this calculation.
The minimium width permissible for an aisle to serve adjacent parking spaces shall depend on the smallest angle of parking as measured between the centerline of the aisle and the centerline of the adjacent parking space as illustrated.
Angle of Parking | Minimum Aisle Width |
80' degree or more | 20 feet - two way travel |
Less than 80' but 50' or more | 17 feet - one way travel |
Less than 50' | 13 feet - one way travel |
0' or parallel parking | 13 feet - one way travel |
0' or parallel parking | 20 feet - two way travel |
 |
(g) A driveway is any access corridor leading from a public right of way to a parking lot, aisle, parking circulation area, garage, off-street parking space or loading space. The division of building and zoning limits points of driveway access from residentially zoned lots abutting an improved alley and street.
Each driveway shall be located and designed in a manner that provides for the safety of motorists and pedestrians.
(1) A driveway serving a parking lot shall be designed so that vehicles entering or leaving parking lot will be traveling in a forward motion.
(2) A driveway serving a residential parking area containing one to eight parking spaces shall have a minimum width of ten (10) feet per direction.
(3) All other driveways shall have a minimum of twenty feet (20) feet.
(Ord. 2-00. Passed 3-20-00.)