(a) A plan, drawn to scale, indicating how the off-street parking, loading and internal circulation requirements are to be met, shall accompany an application for a building permit for parking. The plan shall show all elements necessary to indicate that the parking requirement is being fulfilled, and shall include at least the following:
(1) Delineation of individual parking spaces;
(2) Circulation area necessary to serve spaces;
(3) Access to streets and property to be served;
(4) Curb cuts and driveways;
(5) Grading, drainage, and surfacing details;
(6) Delineation of obstacles to parking and circulation in finished parking area;
(7) Specifications as to signs and bumper guards; and
(8) Landscaping and screening details.
(b) General Design Principles.
(1) All parking areas and driveways must be constructed in accordance with approved plans. No certificate of occupancy for a building shall be issued unless all parking areas and driveways are constructed in accordance with approved plans. The location, design and improvement standards of this section shall apply to all off-street parking.
(c) Layout.
(1) There shall be safe, adequate, and convenient arrangement of pedestrian pathways, bikeways, roads, driveways, and off-street parking spaces within off-street parking areas, if these are provided. Streets, pedestrian walks, parking areas, and open space shall be designed as integral parts of an overall site design which shall be properly related to existing and proposed buildings, adjacent uses and landscaped areas.
(d) Appearance.
(1) The materials used in the design of paving, lighting fixtures, retaining walls, fences, curbs and benches shall be of good appearance and easily maintained.
(e) Maintenance.
(1) Parking lots shall be maintained in a safe operating condition so as not to create a hazard or nuisance. Grass and weeds shall not be allowed to grow between cracks and around the perimeter of lots. The provision and maintenance of required off-street parking facilities are continuing obligations of the property owner or tenant. Required parking spaces shall be properly marked and improved as required and made available for use before final inspection is completed.
(f) Surfacing.
(1) Areas used for off-street parking, circulation or vehicle display shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, masonry, or other solid paving materials with sufficient strength to support the vehicle loads imposed.
(2) All off-street parking and other vehicle circulation areas shall be continuously maintained and designed to preclude free flow of storm water onto adjacent lots, properties, or public streets or ways. In addition, existing non-conforming graveled parking lots or parking spaces must be continuously maintained so that dirt, mud, and gravel shall not be tracked onto adjacent lots, properties, or public streets or ways. All land areas that are not covered with buildings or paved for off-street parking and circulation of vehicles shall be appropriately landscaped with grass or other vegetative ground cover, decorative mulch planting beds, trees or shrubs.
(g) Traffic Flow on Public Rights-of-Way.
(1) Driveways and areas for parking, and maneuvering of vehicles shall meet the requirements of the City Traffic Engineer with regard to traffic flow on public streets and alleys. Parking spaces shall be designed so that no backward movement of a vehicle onto a public right-of-way, other than an alley, will be necessary, except for single family or duplex dwellings.
(h) Drainage.
(1) A parking area shall be designed to dispose of all surface water accumulation within the area in such a manner as to prevent drainage onto and across a sidewalk or onto adjoining property. In addition, all such areas and driveways shall be designed, graded, constructed and drained as required by the City Code. No such area or driveway shall be built over or interfere with the flow of an existing drainage channel unless adequate drainage facilities are provided to accommodate said channel. No certificate of occupancy for a building shall be issued unless all parking and loading areas and driveways are constructed in accordance with the approved plans.
(i) Configuration of Parking Spaces.
(1) No parking space shall be located in a manner so as to block access to any other parking space, except on a parking lot with a parking attendant having access to each vehicle's keys. Bumper guards or wheel barriers shall be secured to the ground surface and shall be so installed that no portion of a vehicle will project onto a public right-of-way, over adjoining property or over a sidewalk, or into a required setback, landscaping, the required parking spaces do not overhang nor impede a public right-of-way in any manner.
(j) Lighting.
(1) Lighting of a parking area shall not interfere with surrounding areas or traffic flow. Lighting shall be arranged and designed so that no source of light is directed toward any lots used or zoned for residential use. Lighting shall be designed to shield public streets and all other adjacent lands from distracting glare, or hazardous interference of any kind. Vehicular use areas shall not be lighted at any time other than the hours of operation of the use that the parking is intended to serve, except for necessary security lighting.
(k) Maximum Grade.
(1) The maximum grade for a driveway shall be seventeen percent (17%). The grade shall be measured along the path of the driveway from the property line toward the parking area.
(l) Common Driveways.
(1) A common driveway shall be permitted for adjacent residential lots. A least one-half (½) the minimum width of the service driveway shall be located on each lot. Legal evidence shall be presented to the City in the form of deeds, leases, or contracts to establish the joint use prior to zoning approval. If driveway adjoins State owned road (DOH) the owner must first obtain a permit with the WV Department of Highways and have the property inspected by a state engineer prior to making permit application to the City. Owner must submit evidence of a boundary survey.
(m) Abandoned Curbs and Sidewalks.
(1) When the use of property is changed, the curb and sidewalk area of abandoned driveways shall be constructed to the sidewalk and curb standards of the City, except that such construction shall not be required where there is no existing sidewalk adjoining the abandoned driveway.
(Ord. 2023-02. Passed 4-17-23.)