(A) Design standards.
(1) Site plan. A site plan for any proposed parking lot for five or more required spaces shall be submitted to the Department of Planning and Neighborhood Services for review and approval at the time of application for a building permit for the building to which the parking is accessory, or at such time any land is to be used for a parking lot.
(2) Minimum parking space dimensions. All parking spaces shall conform to the following minimum dimensions:
(a) Minimum space length: 19 feet;
(b) Minimum space width: 10 feet, except for employee parking which can be 9 feet when clearly identified (pavement marking, signs, or other method);
(c) Compact parking: 16 feet by 9 feet. Compact parking may be utilized in commercial and high-density residential zoning districts where there are 10 or more parking spaces. Up to 20% of proposed parking may be compact. Compact parking must be clearly identified (pavement markings, signs, or other method);
(d) Parking space overhang: Parking space dimensions can utilize an overhang of up to 24 inches when located adjacent to an internal walkway/sidewalk or a landscape area provided that:
i. The overhang does not interfere with the base of any structure, raised planter, seating bench, fence, utility equipment, light pole or base, or the trunk of a tree; and
ii. The unobstructed width of the walkway/sidewalk, exclusive of the 24-inch overhang, is not less than 3 feet.
(e) Single-family residential parking shall provide parking space dimensions each measuring 10 feet in width by 20 feet in depth.
(3) Site plan. The site plan shall be drawn according to the following requirements and shall show these items detailed herein:
(a) Zoning, setbacks and statement of use;
(b) North arrow and scale;
(c) All adjacent streets, alleys, sidewalks and curbs, with dimensions;
(d) Ownership of the parcel being developed;
(e) Use, total floor area and location of each existing and proposed structure;
(f) Complete dimensions of parking lot;
(g) Grading and drainage plan of parking lot;
(h) Landscaping, walls, and irrigation system;
(i) Lighting, including a parking lot light coverage plan;
(j) Type and thickness surface and base of parking;
(k) If applicable, number of employees in proposed business;
(l) If public assembly, number of seats and/or occupant capacity; and
(m) If applicable, the number of rooms or beds.
(4) Entrance and exit driveways. Separate entrances and exit driveways shall be so located as to minimize traffic congestion on the site and in the public street. Said entrances and exits may be combined in a single driveway where adequate safeguards are provided to minimize congestion and to protect pedestrian and vehicular traffic upon the approval of traffic flow plans on the site and in the public street by the Department of Engineering.
(5) Arrangement of parking spaces. Parking spaces shall be so arranged as not to require the moving of any vehicle on the premises in order to enter or leave any other stall, or to require the backing of any vehicle across any sidewalk or onto any street.
(6) Landscaping and irrigation. Landscaping and irrigation shall be provided in the manner set forth in Article 20 of this chapter except that when required to comply with development standards following the loss of a nonconforming status or change of use a landowner or tenant shall not be required to reduce the parking area by more than 10% or reduce the parking area to a size which would not satisfy the minimum parking requirements for any lawful use of such lot, parcel or land.
(B) Improvement of parking lots (five or more required spaces). All parking lots shall be improved as follows:
(1) Designed in compliance with Chapter 192 of this code;
(2) Surfaced with a hard-faced material;
(3) Parking stalls shall be clearly indicated by a four-inch stripe of white traffic paint or other method approved by the Department of Engineering;
(4) Wheel-stops for vehicles shall be provided and so located that no part of a parked vehicle shall extend beyond the property line;
(5) A barrier shall be constructed between all parking lots and adjacent residential uses or districts so that the adjacent residents are not unreasonably disturbed, either by day or night, by the operation of vehicles. These barriers shall be required along any property line or required setback line for that portion of the lot which adjoins or lies across the street, alley or other public way from said residential area, except for necessary driveways. The barrier shall be a solid wall or fence, or permanently maintained dense vegetation, and shall be three feet in height within the front yard area and not less than four feet in height within said side and rear yard area. In all cases, the visibility triangle and fence requirements of this code shall be applicable; and
(6) Lighting standards shall be placed so as to reflect the light away from the adjacent areas, and so as not to interfere with traffic movement or control. Illumination of the parking area shall be required for all parking areas with five or more parking spaces. Open parking lots shall incorporate the requirements of Article 18 and shall illuminate parking stalls with an average of 0.5 footcandles with a minimum 0.2 footcandles over the parking spaces and seven feet vertical between sunset and sunrise.
(C) Vehicular access required.
(1) Each required off-street parking space shall open directly upon an aisle of such width and design as to provide safe and efficient means of vehicular access to said space. Each parking lot shall be designed with appropriate means of vehicular access to an improved public or private street on which the lot or building site has frontage. If a secondary means of permanent vehicular access is provided, such as a paved alley or service road, such means of access shall be improved to city standards.
(2) All vehicular accessways shall be located as far as feasible and in any case not less than 30 feet from the ultimate curb line of intersecting streets.
(3) Along any highway, major or minor arterial street, each building or group of buildings, together with its parking or service areas, shall be physically separated by a vertical curb, maintained planting strip or other suitable barrier to channel and direct vehicular ingress and egress, except for necessary accessways.
('80 Code, App. A, § 160) (Ord. 583, passed 9-16-1952; Ord. 800, passed 5-17-1960; Ord. 1812, passed 2-7-1979; Ord. 2399, passed 4-20-1988; Ord. O2000-25, passed 5-3-2000; Ord. O2004-53, passed 8-18-2004; Ord. O2010-32, passed 7-7-2010; Ord. O2017-016, passed 5-17-2017; Ord. O2023-040, passed 1-3-2024; Ord. O2024-034, passed 10-16-2024) Penalty, see § 154-999