§ 153.192 MISCELLANEOUS REQUIREMENTS.

   (A)   No off-premise sign may be located within 1,000 feet of any other off-premise sign. No off-premises signs may be located within 1,000 feet of any residential district unless all the following requirements are met:

      (1)   Said off-premise sign is to be located no less than 600 feet from a residential district;

      (2)   Said off-premise sign is advertising a non-residential development that has street frontage on a local street and desires off-premises signage on an arterial street that is within 400 feet of the development;

      (3)   Said non-residential development may erect one off-premise sign advertising said non-residential development;

      (4)   Said off-premise sign shall be calculated as part of the overall sign surface area for the development as enumerated in § 153.186;

      (5)   Said off-premise sign must be located on property owned by the requesting nonresidential development and/or community property owned by a Property Owners Association (POA) that the non-residential development is a member of such as a stormwater facility lot. Said off-premise sign may not be located more than 400 feet from the nonresidential development;

      (6)   Said off-premise sign shall not exceed the size restrictions as enumerated in § 153.187.

   (B)   No sign may be located so that it substantially interferes with the view necessary for motorists to proceed safely through intersections or to enter onto or exit from public streets or private roads.

   (C)   All signs must be constructed and erected in accordance with the Southern Building Code and its related State Building Code amendments.

   (D)   No sign may be erected on town-maintained or private rights-of-way so that by its location, color, size, shape, nature or message it would tend to obstruct the view of or be confused with official traffic signs or other signs erected by governmental agencies.

   (E)   Freestanding signs shall be securely fastened to the ground or to some other substantial supportive structure so that there is virtually no danger that either the sign or the supportive structure may be moved by the wind or other forces of nature and cause injury to persons or property.

   (F)   Outdoor advertising signs shall be located in such a way that they maintain horizontal and vertical clearance of all overhead electrical conductors in accordance with the National Electrical Code; provided that, in no case shall an outdoor advertising sign be erected closer than ten feet horizontally or vertically from any conductor or public utility guy wire.

   (G)   Whenever an outdoor advertising sign or structure becomes structurally unsafe, the Building Inspector shall give written notice to the owner of the sign, or the owner of the premises on which the sign is located, that such sign shall be made safe or removed within ten days of said notification. Further, whenever an outdoor advertising structure has outlived any useful purpose for which it was intended, it shall be removed forthwith.

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-01, passed 5-11-2021; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)

PARKING

§ 153.205 BOARD FINDINGS CONCERNING THE NEED FOR VEHICLE ACCOMMODATION AREAS.

    The Board of Aldermen finds the development of vehicle accommodation areas to be of public benefit and recognizes the importance of their design in achieving the following objectives:

   (A)   To conserve energy, reduce glare and pollution, and provide for heat abatement during summer months;

   (B)   To contribute to the preservation of open space and to provide maximum pervious areas to retard storm water runoff;

   (C)   To promote the safe and efficient flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic; and

   (D)   To contribute to the visual enhancement of a development.

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)

§ 153.206 DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this subchapter, unless otherwise specifically provided, or unless otherwise clearly required by the context, the words and phrases defined in this subchapter shall have the meaning herein set forth when used in this subchapter. If a word or phrase used in this subchapter is not defined by G.S. Ch. 160D or elsewhere in this chapter, to the extent such word or phrase is defined in G.S. Ch. 160D, that definition shall control.

   CIRCULATION AREA. The portion of the vehicle accommodation area used for access to parking or loading areas or other facilities on the lot. Essentially, driveways and other maneuvering areas (other than parking aisles) comprise the CIRCULATION AREA.

   DRIVEWAY. The portion of the vehicle accommodation area that consists of a travel lane bounded on either side by an area that is not part of the vehicle accommodation area.

   GROSS FLOOR AREA. The total area of a building measured by taking the outside dimensions of the building at each floor level intended for occupancy or storage.

   LOADING AND UNLOADING AREA. The portion of the vehicle accommodation area used to satisfy the requirements of § 153.216.

   PARKING AREA AISLES. The portion of the vehicle accommodation area consisting of lanes providing access to parking spaces.

   PARKING SPACE. A portion of the vehicle accommodation area set aside for the parking of one vehicle.

   VEHICLE ACCOMMODATION AREA. The portion of a lot that is used by vehicles for access, circulation, parking and loading and unloading. It comprises the total of circulation areas, loading and unloading areas, and parking areas.

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)

§ 153.207 NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES REQUIRED.

   (A)    All developments shall provide a sufficient number of parking spaces to accommodate the number of vehicles that ordinarily are likely to be attracted to the facility in question.

   (B)   (1)   The presumptions established by this subchapter are that:

         (a)   A development must comply with the parking standards set forth in division (F) below to satisfy the requirement stated in division (A) above; and

         (b)   Any development that does meet these standards is in compliance.

      (2)   However, the table of parking standards is only intended to establish a presumption and should be flexibly administered, as provided in § 153.208.

   (C)   Uses in the table of parking requirements (division (F) below) are indicated by a numerical reference keyed to the Table of Permissible Uses (§ 153.080). When determination of the number of parking spaces required by this table results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction of one-half or less may be disregarded, while a fraction in excess of one-half shall be counted as one parking space.

   (D)   With respect to any parking lot that is required to be paved (see § 153.212), the number of parking spaces required by this article may be reduced by one if the developer provides a bike rack or similar device that offers a secure parking area for at least five bicycles.

   (E)   The Board of Aldermen recognizes that the table of parking requirements set forth in division (F) below cannot and does not cover every possible situation that may arise. Therefore, in cases not specifically covered, the permit-issuing authority is authorized to determine the parking requirements using this table as a guide.

   (F)   Table of parking requirements.

Use	Parking Requirement
Adult day care	1 space per 8 participants
Amusement and recreation services, indoor	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Artists, commercial including silk screening	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Assembly Hall	1 per 400 sq. ft. min or 1 per every 4 seats, whichever is greater
Automobile and truck dealers	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Automobile renting and leasing	1 space per 100 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Automobile repair shop	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area and 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of display area
Automotive services, except repair and towing	Per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area and 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of display area
Banking services	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Bowling alleys and pool halls	1 space per alley, plus requirements for any other use associated with the establishment, such as a restaurant
Building material dealers	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Business services	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Carpet and upholstery cleaners	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area and 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of display area
Catalog stores	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area and 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of display area
Child daycare	1 space per 8 participants
Communications facilities	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Contractor’s equipment and supply dealers	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Contractor’s office	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Contractor’s storage yard	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Cultural arts center	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Dormitory, private	1 space per resident, plus 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Drive-in theater	1 per 1,500 sq. ft. or 1 per 1.5 employees
Duplex	2 spaces for each dwelling unit; except that, 1-bedroom units require only one space
Electric motor repair shop	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Family care home	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Farmer’s market, seasonal only	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Fraternity or sorority houses	1 space per resident, plus 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Golf course, private or public	50 spaces per 18 holes
Group day facilities	1 space per supervisor and staff person
Group home residential	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Group home supportive, small	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor
Group home supportive, large	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor
Group home supportive, medium	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor
Guest lodging	1 space per guest room and 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Guns sales, including repair	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area and 1 per 2,000 sq. ft. of display area
Hospitals, except animal hospitals	1 space per each 2 licensed beds intended for patient use, plus 1 space per each staff person, including medical and support staff based on the largest employee shift
Industrial	1 per 1,500 sq. ft.
Kennels (breeders and boarders)	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Laboratories, testing	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Launders, industrial	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Libraries	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Manufactured housing dealers	1 space per 100 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Medical, offices	1 space per 250 sq. ft.
Mini-warehousing	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Mini-warehousing	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Motels and hotels	1 space per guest room, plus 50% of the required space for any accessory uses
Motor freight companies	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of non-office floor area, plus 1 space per 300 sq. ft. office floor area
Motorcycle dealers	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Movers, van lines and storage	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Movie theaters, except drive-in	1 space per 4 seats
Multi-family residence	2-1/2 spaces per dwelling unit, plus 1 additional space for every 4 units in the development
Night clubs, not contained in restaurant, motels or similar business	1 per 4 seats
Nursing and personal care facilities	1 space per 4 beds and 1 space per supervisor and staff person
Offices, medical	1 space per 250 sq. ft.
Offices, professional	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Package delivery services, commercial	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Parks and recreation areas, municipal	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Personal services	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Recreation facility, private	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Religious institutions	1 space per 4 seats
Repair shops, not elsewhere classified	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Research and development laboratories	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Restaurant: standard and fast food carry-out	1 per 4 seats or 1 per 80 sq. ft. of gross floor area exclusive of kitchen and restroom facilities
Retail sales establishment	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Sales office, off-premises	1 per 1,500 sq. ft. or 1 per 1.5 employees
Schools: colleges and universities	1 space per 5 students, or 1 space for each 3 seats in auditoriums and other places of assembly or facilities available to the public, whichever is greater
Schools: correspondence and vocational	1 space per 5 students, or 1 space for each 3 seats in auditoriums and other places of assembly or facilities available to the public, whichever is greater
Schools: elementary and junior high	1 space per teacher and staff person
Schools: secondary schools	1 space per 5 students, or 1 space for each 3 seats in auditoriums and other places of assembly or facilities available to the public, whichever is greater
Schools: specialty training	1 space per 5 students, or 1 space for each 3 seats in auditoriums and other places of assembly or facilities available to the public, whichever is greater
Service stations	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Single-family residence	2 spaces, plus 1 per room rented (see “accessory uses”, § 153.084)
Skating rink, roller or ice	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Small engine repair, except automotive	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Social services, not elsewhere classified	1 per 300 sq. ft.
Swimming pool, private	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Tattoo and body piercing	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Telecommunication facility unattended	1 per 1,500 sq. ft.
Tire dealers and service	1 space per 500 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Towing services, automobile and truck	1 per 600 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Used merchandise stores, except automotive goods	1 per 400 sq. ft. min
Utility stations and plants outside public rights-of-way	1 per 1,500 sq. ft. minimum or 1 per 1-1/2 employees
Veterinary services	1 per 250 sq. ft.
Warehousing general	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Water transportation	1 per 1,500 sq. ft. minimum or 1 per 1-1/2 employees
Welding, repair	1 per 400 sq. ft.
Wholesale trade, durable goods	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Wholesale trade, non-durable goods, except liquefied bulk storage	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area
Wholesale trade, non-durable goods	1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area

 

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021; Am. Ord. 2024-01, passed 2-20-2024)

§ 153.208 FLEXIBILITY IN ADMINISTRATION REQUIRED.

   (A)   The Board of Aldermen recognizes that, due to the particularities of any given development, the inflexible application of the parking standards set forth in § 153.207(F) may result in a development either with inadequate parking space or parking space far in excess of its needs. The former situation may lead to traffic congestion or parking violations in adjacent streets as well as unauthorized parking in nearby private lots. The latter situation results in a waste of money as well as a waste of space that could more desirably be used for valuable development or environmentally useful open space. Therefore, as suggested in § 153.207(E), the permit-issuing authority may permit deviations from the presumptive requirements of § 153.207(F) and may require more parking or allow less parking whenever it finds that such deviations are more likely to satisfy the standard set forth in § 153.207(A).

   (B)   Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the permit-issuing authority may allow deviations from the parking requirements set forth in § 153.207(F) when it finds that:

      (1)   A residential development is irrevocably oriented toward the elderly;

      (2)   A residential development is located in close proximity to the central business district and is committed to a policy of placing restrictions on the vehicle ownership of its tenants;

      (3)   A business is primarily oriented to walk-in trade; or

      (4)   A residential or non-residential development is located within one of the town's designated National Register historic districts.

   (C)   Whenever the permit-issuing authority allows or requires a deviation from the presumptive parking requirements set forth in § 153.207(F), it shall enter on the face of the permit the parking requirement that it imposes and the reasons for allowing or requiring the deviation.

   (D)   If the permit-issuing authority concludes, based upon information it receives in the consideration of a specific development proposal, that the presumption established by § 153.207(F) for a particular use classification is erroneous, it shall initiate a request for an amendment to the table of parking requirements in accordance with the procedures set forth in §§ 153.435 through 153.441.

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021; Am. Ord. 2024-01, passed 2-20-2024)

§ 153.209 PARKING SPACE DIMENSIONS.

   (A)    Subject to divisions (B) and (C) below, each parking space shall consist of a rectangular area 18 feet long by nine feet wide. Lines demarcating parking spaces may be drawn at various angles in relation to curbs or aisle, so long as the parking spaces so created contain within them the rectangular area required by this section.

   (B)   Wherever parking areas consist of spaces set aside for parallel parking, the dimensions of such parking spaces shall be not less than 22 feet by nine feet.

   (C)   Handicapped parking spaces shall comply with the dimensional requirements found in the Southern Building Code with North Carolina amendments.

(Ord. passed 4-9-2013; Ord. 2021-03, passed 6-8-2021)