(a) Commercial Off-Street Loading and Unloading Facilities: The requirements for commercial off-street loading facilities shall be provided in accordance with the following standards for any new structure which requires the receipt or distribution of materials or merchandise by trucks or similar commercial vehicles.
(1) Commercial buildings with greater than 40,000 square feet of GFA shall have three loading and unloading berths.
(2) Commercial buildings between 15,000 square feet of GFA and 40,000 square feet of GFA shall have two loading and unloading berths.
(3) Commercial buildings with less than 15,000 square feet of GFA shall have not less than one loading and unloading berth.
(b) The following requirements shall pertain to the location of loading berths:
(1) All required loading berths shall be located on the same lot as the use served;
(2) In no case shall a loading berth be located in such a manner as to require loading/ unloading vehicles to back into or maneuver within a public right-of-way or overhang adjacent property;
(3) A plan shall be submitted and approved during the review process that shows how the loading will occur; and
(4) No permitted or required loading berth shall be located within 50 feet of the nearest point of intersection of any two streets.
(5) Loading or unloading may not interfere with or encroach on fire and emergency vehicle lanes, parking areas, sidewalks, bike lanes, drive aisles or queuing areas.
(6) Loading areas are not permitted within 100 feet of a residential dwelling.
(7) Loading areas may not block required parking, or the associated circulation for required parking.
(8) Loading areas must be located to the side or the rear of the building and may not be placed between the street and the building or any front facade of a building.
(c) Unless otherwise specified, a required off-street loading berth shall be as follows:
(1) For local pickup and delivery trucks: 12 feet in width by 30 feet in length with a 45-foot maneuvering apron and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 12 feet. Maneuvering apron shall be at least 20 feet from the centerline of the street.
(2) For over-the-road tractor-trailers: 12 feet, six inches in width by 60 feet in length with a 70-foot maneuvering apron and shall have a vertical clearance of at least 15 feet. In no case, shall the loading berth be less than 145 feet from the centerline of the street.
(d) 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.
(e) All off-street loading berths shall be surfaced with concrete or other appropriate material meeting the durability requirements. Bituminous asphalt may be used on the portions of the apron outside of the landing/parking space.
(f) Loading spaces that are constructed below grade shall have a stormwater drainage system that complies with City engineering standards.
(g) Space allocated for off-street loading use shall not, while so allocated, be used to satisfy the space requirements for any off-street parking facilities or portions thereof.
(h) Uses for which off-street loading facilities are required herein, but which are located in buildings of less floor area than the minimum prescribed, shall provide adequate receiving facilities accessible by motor vehicles off any adjacent alley, service drive, or open space on the same lot.
(i) Vehicle loading areas shall be screened from adjacent uses with a 25-foot buffer area that is inclusive of the setback distances required in this Zoning Code. Within the required setback, the buffer area shall consist of six-foot-high landscaped earthen berm planted with eight trees and 15 shrubs per 100 linear feet of buffer or a six-foot-tall opaque fence. A minimum of 50% of the buffer area plants shall be evergreen.
(Ord. A-3075. Passed 1-24-22.)