1. Statement of Intent. It is the intent of this article to prevent traffic congestion and to provide for proper traffic safety by preserving the public thoroughfares for the unimpaired movement of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. In all districts, there shall be provided at the time any new building or structure is erected, off-street parking spaces in accordance with the requirements set forth herein. The requirements of this Article are minimum standards, and in certain uses these requirements may be inadequate. Where review of the site plans and intended land use indicate through the application of proven standards or experienced statistics that the requirements herein are inadequate for the specific land use adaptation, a greater requirement for off-street parking may be required to preserve the intent of this ordinance.
2. Off-Street Loading and Parking Spaces Required.
A. Off-Street Loading Spaces.
(1) In any district, in connection with every building or part thereof hereafter erected, having a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or more, which is to be occupied by manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display, retail store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital, mortuary, laundry, dry cleaning or other uses similarly requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building, at least one off-street loading space plus one additional such loading space for each 20,000 square feet, or major fraction thereof, of gross floor area, so used, in excess of 10,000 square feet.
(2) Each loading space shall be not less than 12 feet in width and 40 feet in length.
(3) Such space may occupy all or any part of any required rear or side yard, except where adjoining a residentially zoning property, and shall be setback and screened as required within this chapter and elsewhere within the Zoning Regulations.
(4) All loading yards and access drives to loading yards and loading docks shall be paved with asphaltic or Portland cement concrete pavement in accordance with surfacing requirements set forth in this section.
B. Off-Street Parking Spaces.
(1) All parking and storage of vehicles, trailers, recreational vehicles, campers, boats and similar recreation equipment shall occur only upon paved surfaces designed and constructed per the regulations contained herein this Chapter. Unlicensed or inoperable vehicles and equipment shall not be stored outside unless part of an approved storage area on a property located within the M-1 or M-2 zoning districts. In all zoning districts space for parking and storage of vehicles and trailers shall be provided in accordance with the Off-Street Parking Required Table and the standards contained herein this Chapter. Required off-street parking facilities shall be primarily for the parking of private passenger automobiles of occupants, patrons, or employees of the principal use served.
(2) Off-Street Parking Required Table: The following table identifies the minimum number of parking spaces required for the specified use. The intent of these standards is to provide the appropriate number of parking spaces on site for the given use and to accommodate changes in uses over time. No off-street parking shall be required in the C-3 Zoning District. At the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, the City may require the amount of parking required for a site be based on the parking standards contained within the latest edition of the ITE Parking Generation manual or by an alternative parking study and analysis.
OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES REQUIRED | |
USE | NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED |
OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES REQUIRED | |
USE | NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED |
RESIDENTIAL USES | |
Household Living | |
Single family dwelling, detached | 2 per dwelling unit |
Single family dwelling, semi-detached | 2 per dwelling unit |
Two family dwelling | 2 per dwelling unit |
Townhouse dwelling (3+ units) | 2 per dwelling unit |
Multiple family dwelling | 1 per bedroom |
Manufactured home park | 2 per dwelling unit |
Accessory dwelling | 2 per dwelling unit |
Dwelling units located above the ground floor (mixed use building) | 1 per bedroom |
Group Living | 1 per 4 residents plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Family home / Group care facility | " |
Elder group home | " |
Assisted living residential facility | " |
Nursing or convalescent home | " |
Supervised group residence | " |
PUBLIC AND CIVIC USES | |
College, university, or vocational school | 1 per 4 student desks or seats at max capacity plus 1 per employee at max shift, additional parking required for stadium/theater type facilities and dorms/student housing |
Cultural exhibit, museum, or library | 1 per 300 sq. ft. GFA, additional parking required for classroom, meeting space, and theater type facilities |
Membership or religions organization, social club or lodge, and other place of public assembly | 1 per 4 seats at max capacity in the main assembly area |
Public or private elementary, middle, or high school | 1 per 4 student desks or seats at max capacity plus 1 per max number of employees concurrently on site |
Public or private golf course, golf driving range, country club, swimming pool, and indoor or outdoor recreational facilities and fields | 4 spaces per hole or driving range tee, parking required for restaurant and meeting spaces |
Public Utilities (not including gas and electrical power distribution stations, storage or maintenance yards or buildings) | 1 per employee at max shift |
Government buildings and properties | 1 per 200 sq. ft. GFA |
Hospital | 3 per bed |
COMMERCIAL USES | |
Animal services | |
Kennel (including day kenneling) | 1 per 400 sq. ft. GFA |
Veterinary services (without overnight kenneling) | 1 per 200 sq. ft. GFA |
Art gallery | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Banks and financial services | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 3 vehicle queuing spaces per drive-up or ATM lane |
Body piercing studio or tattoo studio | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Child Care Center | 1 per employee at max shift plus 1 per 10 children |
Construction sales and service, contractor office, office for plumber, electrician, HVAC service or similar use | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Eating and drinking establishment | |
Restaurant (including fast food restaurants, coffee shops, and ice cream shops) | 1 per 150 sq. ft. GFA plus 10 vehicle queuing spaces per drive-up lane |
Micro-brewery, micro-distillery, or winery with on-site tasting/sampling and sales | 1 per employee at max shift plus 1 per 150 sq. ft. of patron space |
Tavern / Bar | 1 per 100 sq. ft. GFA |
Entertainment | |
Movie theater, performance hall, performing arts studio | 1 per 4 seats |
Indoor: waterpark, miniature golf, bowling, video game arcades, commercial driving range, go-carts, trampoline park, playground play space or similar use | 1 per 4 persons at max capacity |
Outdoor: drive-in theater, waterpark, miniature golf, commercial driving range, go-carts, trampoline park, playground play space or similar use | 1 per 4 persons at max capacity |
Funeral and interment services | 1 per 250 sq. ft. of office space plus 1 per 4 seats at max capacity |
Lodging | 1 per bedroom |
Bed and breakfast inn | 1 per bedroom |
Boarding or rooming house | 1 per bedroom |
Extended stay or apartment hotel | 1 per bedroom |
Hotel or motel | 1 per bedroom |
Short-term rental | 1 per bedroom |
Medical or dental clinic, pediatrician's office, outpatient surgery center, medical testing center, or similar use | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Mini warehouse or self-storage facility | 1 per 20 storage units or spaces plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Motor vehicle and motor equipment-oriented businesses | |
Automobile service center (auto parts sales) | 2 per service bay plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Automotive washing, car wash (auto, manual, or attended), does not include truck or trailer washing or trailer washout | 1 per employee at max shift plus 5 vehicle queuing spaces per wash bay or wash bay lane |
Gas station or service station with minor repair and services (brakes, batteries, tires, oil changes), including the dispensing of liquified propane | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA of retail space plus 2 per service bay plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Major motor vehicle repair (painting, body, fender, frame, transmission, engine overhaul) | 2 per service bay plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Automobile sales, rental, storage lot, and off-street parking | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area, plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Automobile, truck and equipment auction facilities | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area, plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Recreational vehicle, camper, boat, motorcycle, snowmobile, golf car, and similar sales, lease, and rental and ancillary repair and maintenance | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area, plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Light equipment sales, rental, or repair service | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area, plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Heavy equipment sales, rental or repair service | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of outdoor display area, plus 1 per employee at max shift |
Truck Stop, not including trailer washout | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA plus 1 pe 5,000 sq. ft. of lot area |
Personal and consumer service | |
Beauty salon, barbershop | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Dry cleaner and laundry service | 4 plus 1 per employee at max shift plus |
Laundry (self-serve laundromat) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Fitness center, gym, health spa | 1 per 150 sq. ft. GFA |
Tailor | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Print shop, copy center, retail shipping store | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Professional Office (corporate, law, engineering, architecture, real estate, insurance, accounting, bookkeeping or similar use) | 1 per 250 sq. ft GFA |
Television and radio broadcast studio, offices, and production facilities | 1 per 250 sq. ft GFA |
Retail sales (grocery store, pharmacy/drug store, office supplies store, bakery, clothing or department store, and similar retail use) | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Retail sale - intensive uses including multi-tenant commercial centers | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Convenience store with fuel sales | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Sexually oriented business | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Spectator sports | 1 per 4 seats at max capacity |
Sports and recreation, participant | 1 per 4 seats at max capacity |
INDUSTRIAL USES | |
Animal feedlots, processing of animals or animal by-products | 1 per employee at max shift |
Electrical power generation (utility scale for off-site use, distribution, or sale) | 1 per employee at max shift |
Manufacturing, production and industrial services | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Repair service | 1 per 250 sq. ft. GFA |
Research laboratory and testing | 1 per 1,000 sq. ft. GFA |
Storage of equipment, data and records, electronic data center, furniture and similar | 1 per 10,000 sq. ft. GFA or 1 per employee at max shift, whichever is greater |
Trucking/freight terminal | " |
Wholesale fuel storage, sales, or distribution | " |
Warehousing and wholesaling (outdoor storage limited to licensed and operable trailers, trucks, power equipment, and shipping containers) | " |
Waste related use | 1 per employee at max shift |
OTHER USES | |
Agricultural uses | 1 per employee at max shift |
Boarding stables and riding schools | 1 per employee at max shift |
Gas and electrical power distribution station | 1 per employee at max shift |
Mining operation, sand and gravel extraction or processing, gas or oil well, or similar mineral or earth resource extraction | 1 per employee at max shift |
Wireless facility | 1 per employee at max shift |
(3) Calculating of Parking Required. In computing the number of parking spaces required, the following rules shall govern:
a. Uses Not Specifically Mentioned. In the case of any building, structure or premises, the use of which is not specifically mentioned herein, the provisions for a use which is so mentioned, and to which said use is similar, shall apply.
b. Unknown Uses. Where new buildings are proposed but the owner or developer does not wish to designate the type of use that will occupy the building, the most intensive use possible (recognizing the use imitations of the zoning on the property) shall determine the parking requirements.
c. Fractional Spaces. Any space 0.5 or more shall be considered a whole space.
d. Seating Capacity. When the unit of measurement determining the number of required parking spaces is based upon the seating capacity of a structure or use, each 24 inches of pew, bench or other seating shall count as one seat.
e. Employees. When the unit of measure determining the number of required parking spaces is based on the number of employees, the maximum shift or employment period during which the greatest number of employees is present at the structure or use shall be used in the computation.
f. Two or More Different Uses. If a building contains two or more differing uses, the parking requirement shall be determined by the addition of the parking requirements for each use. This calculation may be modified at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator.
(4) Accessibility parking. Accessibility parking (handicapped parking) shall be provided in accordance with State and Federal law requirements, the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) as maintained by the Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University, and provided spaces shall count towards the total parking requirement.
(5) Gross Floor Area. The term "gross floor area" (GFA) means the area included within the exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shaft and courts and any portion of a structure above or below ground used for off- street parking, loading areas, or mechanical equipment.
(6) Off-Site Parking. Off-street parking areas for residential uses shall be provided on the same lot. Non-residential uses may be permitted off-site parking areas at the discretion of the Zoning Administrator.
(7) Garages and Structured Parking. Each parking space within a residential garage that is directly connected to an individual dwelling unit may count towards the fulfillment of the parking space requirement. In all other situations, each parking space within a residential garage or parking structure shall count as 0.5 (one-half) of a parking space for the purposes of calculating the fulfillment of the parking space requirement.
(8) Tandem Parking. Tandem parking spaces, defined as a parking space that is only accessed by passing through another parking space from a street, lane, drive aisle or driveway, are not permitted and shall not be counted towards the fulfillment of the parking space requirement except when within the individual driveway of a single-family residence or manufactured home, within the individual driveway that is directly in front of a garage that is connected to an individual townhome or apartment unit, or within a parking facility when an attendant is on duty during the hours when the facility is being used. The minimum required depth of a tandem parking space is 20-feet.
(9) Alternate Calculations and Deferrals. At their full discretion, the Zoning Administrator may approve an alternate method for calculating the required parking for a given site including credit for shared parking between off-peak uses and parking shared at multi-tenant retail centers. The Zoning Administrator may further defer the construction of required parking to a date certain, as part of a future phases, or upon determination of need. Deferred parking must be identified upon the site plan and accommodated as part of the site plan design including storm water management.
(10) Bicycle Parking. Every building greater than 5,000 square feet in gross floor area that contains a retail or office use shall provide or have access to a shared or common bike parking facility, such as a bike rack or bike lock boxes or an indoor bike storage area.
3. Parking Area Design Requirements. Every lot or parcel of land hereafter used as a public or private parking area, including a commercial parking lot, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with the following requirements. At the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, any design standard contained herein may be superseded by the standards contained in the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications (SUDAS) as maintained by the Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University.
A. Access Drive and Driveways. An access drives (or driveway) is required to provide access to all off-site parking areas and to any garage.
(1) Location and Spacing. All access drives, driveways, driveway approaches shall be located and designed according to the standards as established in this Chapter and elsewhere within City Code.
(2) Width. The widths of all driveway approaches shall comply with the standards as established in the City Code. The widths of all access drives and driveways shall comply with the following:
a. Single Family, Two-Family, and Townhouse or Row Dwellings where each individual unit directly fronts on a public or private street, all driveways shall be no less than 8-feet wide and no greater than 24-feet wide or the width of the garage opening(s) that face the street. One additional wing-style parking space no greater than 10-feet in width may be added to the edge of a driveway. Driveway tapers, as may be necessary to transition the driveway to meet the maximum allowable driveway width as measured at the right-of-way line, shall begin no less than 10-feet from said right-of-way line. The design of the driveway apron within the public street right-of-way shall be in accordance with the design standards as established by the City.
b. All other access drives and driveways shall be a minimum 24-feet wide for two-way drives and 16-feet wide for one-way drives.
(3) Parking lot interconnections required. In order to provide mutually beneficial cross circulation and access, the parking lots for adjoining similar commercial and office uses shall be interconnected unless impractical due to topography or other physical constraints of either site.
(4) Paving. All driveways, access drives, and off-street parking and loading areas shall be paved with hot mix asphalt (HMA), Portland cement concrete (PCC), or pavers (including permeable pavement and paver systems). The design and construction of said pavement or pavers shall be of sufficient thickness, reinforcement, and sub-base necessary to provide a durable, dustless surface designed and rated for the traffic it is anticipated to carry. All paved areas shall be so graded and drained as to dispose of all surface water accumulation within the area and shall be so arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe loading or unloading and parking and storage of self-propelled vehicles. No vehicles or trailers shall be parked or storage upon an unpaved surface except as may be permitted within a designated and approved outdoor storage area. See Section 165.06, Section 4 for specific design standards.
(5) Curbing. Except for the individual driveways for Single-Family, Two- Family, and Townhouse or Row Dwellings, an integral six-inch Portland cement concrete (PCC) curb shall be provided along the edges of all parking lots, drive aisles, loading area, access drives, and driveways. Openings within the required curbing may be permitted for the purposes of conveying storm water. Prefabricated curbs or wheel stops are prohibited unless specifically approved by the Zoning Administer at their discretion.
(6) Sidewalks. Sidewalks shall be required as necessary to connect parking areas to the building entrances. In addition, at least one sidewalk connection shall be made to the public sidewalk. All sidewalks shall be a minimum 5-feet in width. Sidewalk adjoining parking stalls shall be widened a minimum 2-feet in width as necessary to accommodate vehicle overhang.
(7) Parking Lot Markings and Traffic Control Signage. Parking lots, drive aisles, and driveways shall be marked and signed per the standards within the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The location of each parking space shall be identified by surface markings or other effective means and shall be maintained so as to be readily visible at all times.
(8) Maintenance Required. All paved areas shall be properly maintained at all times, including pavement markings and traffic control signage, to permit the safe access of the site by customers, visitors, and emergency services.
(9) Parking Lot Dimensional Standards. All parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the SUDAS design standards and the following requirements. Should a conflict between these standards arise, the more restrictive standard shall be applied.
The standard-size parking space or stall shall be at least 9 feet wide and 19 feet long. The length of the parking stall may be reduced by up to two-feet when overhanging open space or a sidewalk that is not less than 7-feet in width.
Required Parking Stall Dimensions | ||
Degree of Angle | Stall width | Stall length |
0 (Parallel) | 10.0 feet | 23 feet |
30 | 9.0 feet | 34 feet |
45 | 9.0 feet | 28 feet |
60 | 9.0 feet | 24 feet |
90 | 9.0 feet | 19 feet |
At the discretion of the Zoning Administrator, alternate parking stall dimensions may be approved for structured parking.
B. Setbacks.
(1) No parking or loading area shall be constructed within a required buffer.
(2) Parking is prohibited within the required parking lot setback areas. However, parking is permitted upon the individual driveway of a Single Family, Two-Family, or Townhouse or Row Dwelling, provided no vehicle or trailer overhangs, crosses, or encroaches upon a sidewalk or street right-of-way.
(3) Parking Setback Table. The following table identifies the setback requirements for all parking and loading areas. All setbacks are measured from edge of paving.
OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING AREA SETBACK TABLE | ||||||||||
REQUIRED SETBACKS | ZONING DISTRICT | |||||||||
A-1 | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | C-1 | C-2 | C-3 | M-1 | M-2 | |
OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING AREA SETBACK TABLE | ||||||||||
REQUIRED SETBACKS | ZONING DISTRICT | |||||||||
A-1 | R-1 | R-2 | R-3 | R-4 | C-1 | C-2 | C-3 | M-1 | M-2 | |
Front Yard Setback | 30 ft | 30 ft | 30 ft | 30 ft | 30 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft | 5 ft | 15 ft | 15 ft |
Side Yard Setback1
| 10 ft2 | 10 ft2 | 10 ft2 | 10 ft2 | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 5 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft |
Rear Yard Setback3 | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft | 10 ft |
¹No side yard setback required between adjoining parcels that share a driveway or have interconnected parking lots. | ||||||||||
²Side yard setback is 1 ft for individual driveways of Single Family, Two-Family, and Townhouse or Row Dwellings. | ||||||||||
³Rear Yard Setback is required from any alley line. A 20 ft setback is required for garages that face an alley. | ||||||||||