Regulation of off-street parking and loading spaces in the zoning code is to alleviate or prevent congestion of the public right-of-way and so to promote the safety and general welfare of the public by establishing minimum requirements for off-street parking, loading and unloading from motor vehicles in accordance with the utilization of various parcels of land and structures. All applications for an occupancy certificate shall be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale and dimensioned indicating the location of off-street parking and loading spaces in compliance with the following requirements:
(A) Exempted. Buildings or structures for which a permit has been issued prior to the effective date of the zoning code, but for which work has not been completed, shall be exempt from the stated parking requirements if the structure or building is completed within six (6) months after the above stated date.
(B) Existing parking not to be reduced. Existing off-street parking spaces and loading spaces on the effective date of the zoning code shall not be reduced in number unless said number exceeds the requirements set forth herein for a similar new use.
(C) Damaged or destroyed buildings. Should a building, structure or use in existence on the effective date of the zoning code be damaged or destroyed by fire or other cause, it may be reestablished except that in doing so any off-street parking or loading which existed must be retained and should plans be effected for enlarging the floor area, seating capacity or other facilities which would affect the parking or loading requirements, the parking lot or loading area shall be enlarged accordingly.
(D) Yards. Parking areas in B-2 districts shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of five (5) feet or as allowed per site plan approval. Other parking areas in other districts shall be subject to front yard setback requirements in accordance with the district in which the use is so located.
(E) Floor area. The term FLOOR AREA for the purpose of calculating the number of off-street parking spaces shall mean the sum of all floor areas in a building as calculated from the outside dimensions of the building. It shall not include areas used primarily for non-public purposes such as storage, incidental repair, offices of building management or maintenance, toilets or rest rooms, utilities, or dressing, fitting, or alteration rooms.
(F) Benches in places of public assembly. In stadiums, sport arenas, churches, and other places of public assembly in which patrons or spectators occupy benches, pews, or other similar seating facilities, each twenty-two (22) inches of such seating facilities shall be counted as one (1) seat for the purpose of determining requirements for off-street parking facilities under the zoning code.
(Ord. 395, passed 7-6-2010)