§ 152.292 MINIMUM PARKING REQUIREMENTS.

   (A)   The following off-street parking spaces shall be required and maintained:

 

Anchor store within multi-use building	Shall have the proper number of spaces per the chart below.
Agricultural - livestock and vegetative	One (1) space per 400 square feet of gross floor area .
Art gallery	One (1) space per each 300 square feet of gross floor area .
Assemblies (auditoriums, assembly hall, armory, stadium, coliseum)	One (1) parking space or each four (4) spectator seats (one seat is equal to two feet of bench length)
Assisted living residence	One (1) space per four residents, plus one additional space for each employee.

 

Auction sales	One (1) space per two seats or two per 100 square feet of gross leasable area, whichever is greater.
Automatic teller machine	Two (2) spaces per machine.
Automobile laundry/car wash, full service	One (1) space for each two (2) employees on shift of greatest employment, plus one (1) space for the manager. Plus sufficient space for twelve (12) stacking/queuing spaces per day.
Automobile laundry/car wash, self service	Four (4) stacking spaces for each washing stall, plus two (2) drying spaces for each washing stall.
Automobile parts and accessory sales	One (1) space per each 400 square feet of leasable area, plus one space for each employee on the maximum work shift.
Automobile repair and/or body work	One (1) space for each service bay and mechanic.
Automobile service station operations	1.5 spaces for each fuel nozzle. In addition, one (1) parking space shall be provided for each 50 square feet of usable floor area in the cashier’s and office areas. In no instance shall such a facility provide less than three parking spaces. In no instance shall a required parking space or its maneuvering area conflict with vehicles being fueled or awaiting fuel.
Bank	One (1) parking space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area plus one (1) for each two (2) employees.
Barbering and hairdressing services	Two (2) parking spaces per beauty or barber chair.
Bed and breakfast accommodations, & inns	One (1) space for each room to be rented plus one (1) additional space for each three (3) employees
Bicycle sales and repair	Three (3) spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area .
Bingo parlor	One (1) space for three seats (based on design capacity) or one (1) per 100 square feet of total floor area , whichever is greater.
Books and printed matter, distribution	4.5 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area .
Bowling alley	Three (3) spaces per alley plus requirements for any other use associated with the establishment such as restaurant, etc.
Cemetery	One (1) space per full-time employee.

 

Churches	One (1) parking space for each three (3) seats in the sanctuary.
Clinic services, medical and dental	Five (5) parking spaces for each doctor plus one (1) parking space for each employee.
Day care facilities	One (1) space for each adult attendant and one (1) space for every six (6) children or fraction thereof
Drug and alcohol treatment center	One (1) space per two beds and one (1) space per staff member.
Dry cleaning and laundry	One (1) space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area used by the general public.
Dwelling, two-family and multi-family (including manufactured homes )	Two (2) parking spaces on the same lot for each dwelling unit.
Eating and drinking facilities	Six (6) spaces per 1,000 square feet including any outdoor seating area.
Eating and drinking facilities, fast food	Ten (10) spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor area including any outdoor area used for dining.
Exterminating services	Three (3) spaces per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area .
Fishing pier	One (1) parking space for each ten (10) feet of pier, plus additional parking for other uses in connection with the pier as required herein.
Funeral homes	One (1) parking space for each three (3) seats in the chapel or parlor, plus one (1) for each funeral vehicle.
Golf course	Three (3) parking spaces for each hole plus requirements for associates uses (i.e., restaurant) as stated herein.
Health club/gymnasium	One (1) space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area .
Home occupations	Two (2) spaces in addition to dwelling requirement.
Hospital or sanitarium care	Two (2) spaces for each bed.
Industrial use	One (1) parking space for each two (2) employees on the largest shift plus five (5) spaces for visitor parking.
Industries	One (1) space for every 1.5 employees during maximum employment, and one (1) space for every truck to be stored or stopped simultaneously.
Inn (see bed and breakfast accommodations, & inns )

 

Kennel operations	One (1) space per 400 square feet of shelter, but no fewer than four spaces plus one (1) space for each employee.
Libraries	One (1) parking space for each four hundred (400) square feet of gross floor area .
Mixed use	Two (2) parking spaces for each residential unit and one (1) parking space for every 300 square feet of gross non-residential building area.
Motel or hotel	One (1) parking space for each room to be rented plus one (1) additional space for each three (3) employees, plus one (1) space for every four (4) seats in restaurant, if applicable.
Multi-purpose buildings (i.e., strip malls)	One (1) space for every 300 square feet of gross building area.
Nursery operations (plant)	Two (2) spaces per 1,000 square feet of total sales area plus one (1) additional space per each two (2) employees.
Nursing home	One (1) space for each four (4) persons to be accommodated plus one (1) space for each employee.
Offices , general or professional	One (1) parking space for each three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor area .
Post office	One (1) space for each 400 square feet of gross floor area , plus one space per each two (2) employees on the shift of greatest employment.
Private recreation club	One (1) space for each five (5) members or one (1) space per family
Public or private clubs	One (1) parking space for each two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area .
Public utility buildings	One (1) space for each employee plus four (4) spaces for pick-up and drop-off.
Public utility stations and substations	One (1) space for each employee.
Recreation center	One (1) space for every 100 square feet of floor area plus one (1) space per employee on largest shift.
Retail and service uses not otherwise listed	One (1) parking space for every three hundred (300) square feet of gross floor space.
Schools , elementary and junior high	One (1) parking space for each classroom and administrative office, plus one (1) additional parking space for each 100 students.

 

Schools , senior high	One (1) parking space for each seven (7) students for which the building was designed plus one (1) parking space for each classroom and administrative office.
Senior housing/independent living	One (1.25) parking spaces for each residential dwelling unit.
Shopping center /malls	One (1) parking space for every 300 sq. ft. of gross floor space of the building.
Storage, self-service	One (1) space for each 225 square feet of gross floor area , plus one (1) space for each employee.
Swimming pool	Two (2) spaces for every 100 square feet of water area.
Telecommunication towers	Four (4) spaces per 1,000 square feet.
Theater productions, indoor	One (1) space for each four (4) seats in the largest assembly area.
Theater productions, outdoor	One (1) space for each 45 square feet of assembly or floor area .
Travel agency	Two (2) spaces per 250 square feet of office area.
Veterinarian	One (1) space per 500 square feet of office and examining room area, plus one (1) space per employee.
Wedding chapel	One (1) parking space for each four (4) seats within the chapel.
Wholesale establishments, warehouses, and other businesses not catering to retail or package trade	One (1) space for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area .
Wholesale uses	One (1) parking space for each two (2) employees on the largest shift plus five (5) spaces for visitor parking.
Yacht clubs /boat storage	One (1) space for each three (3) boat storage spaces (wet and dry) plus one (1) space for each employee plus requirements for associated uses (i.e., restaurant) as described herein.

 

   (B)   To promote alternative of modes of transportation within the town, one parking space for the development , as required by the above table, may be exchanged for bicycle facilities such as bike racks.

   (C)   Special situations which are not covered by the above shall be handled by the Board of Commissioners . The Board of Commissioners shall make the final determination as to the number of spaces to be required, but shall in all cases give due consideration to the needs therefore.

(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005) (Am. Ord. 2009-O6, passed 4-21-2009; Am. Ord. 2010-O14, passed, 5-18-2010; Am. Ord. passed 6-15-2010; Am. Ord. 2013-O7, passed 3-19-2013; Am. Ord. 2013-O13, passed 5-21-2013; Am. Ord. 2017-03, passed 1-24-2017)

§ 152.293 DRIVEWAYS.

   (A)   General. 

      (1)   After the date of passage of this section, only driveways designed, approved, constructed, and surfaced in accordance with the provisions herein shall be allowed to provide motor vehicle access to or from any property upon which a building has been constructed, reconstructed, or physically altered. All driveways shall be paved with either asphalt or concrete, or with alternative paving material (e.g., concrete pavers, brick, “turf stone” or similar material) determined to exhibit equivalent wear resistance and load bearing characteristics as asphalt or concrete.

      (2)   Before a building permit is issued for the construction, reconstruction, or change in use of any building or land used for purposes other than a single or two-family residence, all driveways shall be reviewed and approved by the Administrator . Private driveways serving single-family and two-family  dwellings shall not be regulated by the provision of this chapter. “Construction, reconstruction, or change in use” refers to those improvements made to the site involving overall structure size or to changes in use which would require the addition of one or more parking spaces under the provision of §§ 152.290 through 152.296, Off-Street Parking and Off-Street Loading Requirements; it is not intended to refer to construction activities which merely involve changes to exterior architectural features (e.g., painting, addition of siding, roofing activities, and the like).

      (3)   When the use of any driveway has been permanently discontinued, the property owner of that driveway shall, at his expense, replace all necessary curbs, gutters aprons, sidewalks, and appurtenances thereto, within 60 days of receipt of a written notice from the Administrator .

      (4)   No driveway shall conflict with any municipal facility such as traffic signal standards, catch basins, fire hydrants, crosswalks, loading zones, bus stops, utility poles, fire-alarm supports, meter boxes, and sewer clean-outs or other necessary structures, except with the express approval of the Administrator . Any adjustments to municipal facilities to avoid such conflicts shall be at the expense of the driveway applicant.

   (B)   Permit requirements. A permit must be obtained from the Administrator prior to the removal, alteration, or construction of any curb, driveway, gutter, and/or pavement or prior to the performance of any other work in any public or private street. Conditions governing the issuance of such a permit are:

      (1)   A continuing indemnity bond with sufficient surety acceptable to the town may be required of the party performing the work. All work must be done in conformity with the standards established herein.

      (2)   The town shall be indemnified for any damages it might sustain as a result of the breach of condition above. The damages payable to the town shall be the amount required to make such improvement conform to town standards.

      NOTE: Based on the Town of Swansboro Schedule of Fees, a fee shall be paid to the town at the time the application for a driveway permit is made.

   (C)   Submission of plans. 

      (1)   Two copies of plans showing the location and dimensions of all proposed improvements shall be filed with the Administrator for his approval prior to the issuance of a driveway permit for uses other than single or two-family residential.

      (2)   All design and construction of driveways shall conform to the requirements of the North Carolina Department of Transportation or Town engineering guidelines whichever is greater.

   (D)   Driveway Location(s).

      (1)   Two driveways entering the same street from a single lot shall be permitted only if the minimum distance between the closest edges of the driveways equals or exceeds 50 feet.

      (2)   Three driveways entering the same street from a single lot shall be permitted only if the minimum distance between the closest edges of the driveways equals or exceeds 150 feet.

      (3)   Four or more driveways entering the same street from a single lot shall be prohibited.

      (4)   In no case may the total width of all driveways exceed 50% of the total property frontage .

      (5)   No driveway (nearest edge) shall be located within 10 feet of a side lot property line except in the case of a shared driveway (single curb/access point) utilized by two or more lots .

      (6)   No driveway (nearest edge) shall be located within 25 feet of an intersection or secondary road and 40 feet of a primary road except in the case where no other lot access to a public street or town-approved private road is available.

   (E)   Driveway permit inspection. Once the driveway permit is duly issued, the supervisor of the driveway construction site shall keep the permit available for on- the-job inspection by authorized personnel of the town. The Administrator or other authorized representative of the town shall have the authority to require the immediate stoppage of work not performed either in accordance with the approved plans or under the requirements of this section and may order the nonconforming installations be corrected and/or blocked.

(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005)

§ 152.294 OFF-STREET LOADING REQUIREMENTS.

   (A)   (1)   In any district in which a building hereafter erected is to be occupied by any manufacturing, processing , assembly , wholesaling, retailing, laundering, dry cleaning, or similar activity requiring the receiving or distribution by vehicles of material or merchandise, there shall be provided and maintained on the same lot with such building at least one off-street loading space plus one additional space for every 20,000 square feet or major fraction thereof of gross floor space in excess of 10,000 square feet.

      (2)   Each such loading space shall be at least ten feet in width, 25 feet in length, and shall have a height clearance of at least 14 feet.

   (B)   All off-street loading areas shall be arranged and marked to provide for orderly and safe unloading and loading, and shall not hinder the free movement of vehicles and pedestrians. All loading and unloading maneuvers shall take place on private property. No backing in from a road or maneuvering on the road right-of-way shall be permitted.

(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005)

§ 152.295 PARKING LOT INTERCONNECTIONS.

   Vehicle drive connections are required to connect adjacent property when the proposed development is adjacent to a commercial property, public amenity site, public park, public open space and/or residential public street:

   (A)   Connections shall be constructed and stubbed to accommodate future development of adjacent properties;

   (B)   Connections shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width;

   (C)   The requirement for a vehicle drive connection to an adjacent commercial property may be waived by the Zoning Administrator upon a written finding that there is no means due to pre-existing development features, structures, or topographical conditions, to establish such a connection; and

   (D)   The requirement for interconnectivity to town amenities may be waived by the Zoning Administrator for any reason or for no reason.

(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005; Amended 1-18-2011; Am. Ord. 2020-O8, passed 6-22-2020)

§ 152.296 DESIGN STANDARDS FOR OFF-STREET PARKING AND OFF-STREET LOADING.

   Parking facilities shall be designed and constructed so as to:

   (A)   Allow unobstructed movement into and out of each parking space without interfering with fixed objects or vehicles;

   (B)   Minimize delay and interference with traffic on public streets and access drives;

   (C)   Maximize sight distances from parking lot exits and access drives; and

   (D)   Allow off-street parking spaces in parking lots to have access from parking lot   driveways and not directly from streets .

   (E)   Required parking spaces and loading areas shall be paved and maintained with masonry, concrete, asphalt, or alternative paving surface such as turf stone which allows greater stormwater runoff . All parking, drive and loading areas must be of sufficient thickness and consistency to be able to support anticipated traffic volumes and weights. Gravel, crushed stone asphalt shall not be considered as optional paving surfaces for minimum off-street parking facility requirements.

   (F)   All facilities shall be graded, properly drained, stabilized and maintained to minimize dust and erosion.

   (G)   All parking spaces and loading areas shall be clearly identified with paint lines, bumper guards, curbs or similar treatment.

   (H)   All parking spaces adjacent to a property line, vegetative buffer or planting area shall be provided with wheel guards or curbs located so that no part of the parked vehicle will extend beyond the property line or encroach more than two feet into a vegetative buffer or required planting area.

   (I)   Parking lots shall be designed and constructed such that walkways shall maintain a minimum unobstructed width of five feet.

   (J)   Parking lots shall be designed and constructed that allows for the safe movement of pedestrians to and from vehicular parking areas .

   (K)   All parking, loading, and service areas shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks, and streets by curbing or other suitable protective device to prevent vehicles from intruding into these areas.

   (L)   Access ways, walkways, and parking areas shall be lighted by lighting fixtures which shall be so installed as to protect the street and neighboring properties from direct glare of hazardous interference and provide full illumination at all access ways, walkways, and parking areas .

   (M)    Curbs or other similar devices shall be located along the perimeter of parking lots , when safety requires it, except at entrance and exits. Such barrier shall be located to prevent parked vehicles from extending or rolling beyond the boundaries of parking lots .

(Ord. 2005-O3, passed 3-15-2005) (Am. Ord. 2013-O13, passed 5-21-2013)