(A) General Requirements.
(1) Location. All required loading berths shall be located on the same zoning lot as the use served.
(a) All motor vehicle loading berths which abut a residence district or an intervening alley separating a residence district from a commercial or industrial district shall be completely screened therefrom by building walls, or by a uniformly painted solid fence, wall or door, or any combination thereof, not less than eight feet in height.
(b) No permitted or required loading berth shall be located within 30 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets.
(c) No loading berth shall be located in a required front or side yard, and any loading berth located in a required rear yard may be open to the sky.
(2) Size. Unless otherwise specified in this Article, a required off-street loading berth shall be at least 12 feet in width by at least 40 feet in length, exclusive of aisle and maneuvering space, and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 15 feet.
(3) Access. Each required off-street loading berth shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to a street or alley in a manner which will least interfere with traffic movement, and shall be subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator.
(4) Surfacing. All open off-street loading berths shall be surfaced with a dustless all-weather material capable of bearing a live load of 200 pounds per square foot.
(5) Central loading. Central loading facilities may be substituted for loading berths on the individual zoning lots provided the following conditions are fulfilled:
(a) Each zoning lot served shall have direct access to the central loading area without crossing streets or alleys at-grade.
(b) Total off-street loading berths provided shall meet the minimum requirements herein specified, based on the sum of the several types of uses served. (Areas of types of uses may be totaled before computing number of loading berths).
(c) No zoning lot served shall be more than 500 feet removed from the central loading area.
(d) Any tunnel or ramp connecting the central loading area with the zoning lot served shall be not less than seven feet in width and have a clearance of not less than seven feet.
(B) Minimum Number of Loading Berths Required. Off-street loading spaces accessory to uses permitted in the commercial and industrial districts shall be provided in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
(1) Establishments containing less than 7,000 square feet of gross floor area, no off-street loading berth is necessary, provided there exist adequate facilities for loading and unloading, accessible by motor vehicle off any adjacent alley, service drive or open space on the same zoning lot.
(2) For banks, business and professional offices, and government uses:
(a) One loading berth shall be provided for buildings containing 7,000 to 100,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(b) For buildings containing 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof two loading berths shall be provided.
(c) For each additional 500,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof one additional loading berth shall be provided.
(3) For all other commercial and industrial uses in this chapter:
(a) One loading berth shall be provided for buildings containing 7,000 to 20,000 square feet of gross floor area.
(b) For buildings containing 20,000 to 50,000 square feet of gross floor area two loading berths shall be provided, plus one additional loading berth for each additional 50,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof
(c) Each such loading berth for buildings in excess of 100,000 square feet of gross floor area shall be not less than 12 feet in width by 55 feet in length.
(Ord. 05-2539, passed 10-11-05)