A. Number of Loading Spaces Required. Nonresidential uses with less than five thousand (5,000) square feet of gross floor area shall provide one off-street loading space, which may be combined with an off-street parking space. Nonresidential uses with five thousand (5,000) square feet of floor area or more shall provide off-street loading space(s) in compliance with Table 3-10. Requirements for uses not specifically listed shall be determined by the director based upon the requirements for comparable uses and upon the particular characteristics of the proposed use.
TABLE 3-10
REQUIRED LOADING SPACES
REQUIRED LOADING SPACES
Type of Land Use | Total Gross Floor Area | Loading Spaces Required |
Manufacturing, research and development, institutional, and service uses | 5,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. | One |
20,001 + sq. ft. | One for each additional twenty thousand (20,000) sq. ft., plus additional as required by director. | |
Office uses | 5,000 to 35,000 sq. ft. | One |
35,001 + sq. ft. | One for each additional thirty-five thousand (35,000) sq. ft., plus additional as required by director. | |
Commercial and other allowed uses | 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. | One |
10,001 + sq. ft. | One for each additional ten thousand (10,000) sq. ft., plus additional as required by director. |
B. Standards for Off-Street Loading Areas. Off-street loading areas shall be provided in the following manner:
1. Dimensions. Loading spaces shall be not less than fifteen (15) feet in width, twenty-five (25) feet in length, with fourteen (14) feet of vertical clearance;
2. Lighting. Loading areas shall have lighting capable of providing adequate illumination for security and safety. Lighting standards shall be energy-efficient and in scale with the height and use of adjacent structure(s) in compliance with Section 16.18.100 (Lighting);
3. Loading Doors and Gates. Loading bays and roll-up doors shall be painted to blend with the exterior structure wall(s) and be located on the rear of the structure only. Bays and doors may be located on the side of a structure, away from a street frontage, where the director determines that the bays, doors, and related trucks will be adequately screened from view from adjacent streets;
4. Loading Ramps. Plans for loading ramps or truck wells shall be accompanied by a profile drawing showing the ramp, ramp transitions and overhead clearances;
5. Location. Loading spaces shall be located and designed as follows:
a. As near as possible to the main structure and limited to the rear two-thirds of the parcel, if feasible;
b. Loading facilities shall be fully screened from view from adjacent public streets and freeways with architectural elements, landscaping or a combination of both.
c. Situated to ensure that loading and unloading takes place on-site and in no case within adjacent public rights-of-way or other traffic areas on-site;
d. Situated to ensure that vehicular maneuvers occur on-site; and
e. Situated to avoid adverse impacts upon neighboring residential properties.
6. Screening. Loading areas abutting residentially zoned parcels shall be screened in compliance with Section 16.18.120 (Screening and Buffering); and
7. Striping. Loading areas shall be striped indicating the loading spaces and identifying the spaces for "loading only." The striping shall be permanently maintained by the property owner/tenant in a clear and visible manner at all times. (Ord. 343 § 3, 2005; Ord. 182 § 2 (part), 1997)