Article VIII: Off-Street Loading and Parking
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Section 8.3 Requirements by Use Section 8.4 Parking Space Locations Section 8.5 Potential Adjustments Section 8.6 Parking Space and Maneuvering Area Dimensions Section 8.7 Accessibility to Parking Areas Minimum off-street parking and loading spaces required by this Article shall be provided whenever: (a) Any principal structure is erected on a lot. (b) Any principal structure is enlarged by the addition of floor area or increased by the number of dwelling units, guest rooms, etc. (c) There is any change in use of a principal structure to a use that increases the number of parking spaces required by Table 8.1 by greater than five (5) additional spaces. The Zoning Administrator may, on application and after review, exempt the erection of a structure replacing an existing structure, or the extension or enlargement of an existing structure, from providing the off-street parking spaces required by this Article, where it finds that such exception will not be detrimental to the public welfare or contrary to the Town’s adopted comprehensive plan and that: (a) Street frontage before extension or enlargement is so limited that accessibility to a parking area or additional parking spaces would have an adverse impact on adjacent properties; or (b) The composition of existing structures in the immediate neighborhood and diverse ownership make impossible or impractical the creation of off-street parking areas for existing or contemplated uses; or (c) There are a sufficient number of on-street parking spaces adjacent to, and accessible from, the site that will compensate for the additional spaces required as a result of such replacement or enlargement. Section 8.3 Requirements by Use The computation of minimum off-street parking and loading requirements for each permitted use shall be based upon the standards in the following table, subject to any adjustments or exemptions allowed in this Article and approved by the Zoning Administrator. Table 8.1
§8.3.1 Requirements for Other Uses A use, by virtue of its being delineated in Table 8.1, shall not be construed to mean that such use is allowed. The Zoning Administrator shall determine the required parking and loading facilities for uses not specifically listed in the table, based upon comparison with requirements for the most similar use(s) listed and accepted planning and land use standards. §8.3.2 Rules of Calculation When the calculation of the number of required parking spaces results in a fractional number of spaces, the number of spaces shall be rounded to the next highest whole number. §8.3.3 Commercial Vehicle Spaces In addition to spaces required in Table 8.1, one (1) off street parking space shall be required for each commercial vehicle which is directly associated with a permitted or conditional use, and which is to be parked on the premises during normal business hours. Required loading spaces may be credited as part of the total space needed for commercial vehicles. Section 8.4 Parking Space Locations (a) Parking spaces may be provided in a garage or properly surfaced area meeting the dimensional requirements set forth in this Article. (b) All off-street parking facilities and loading spaces shall be provided on the same lot or parcel of land being served. (c) If required parking spaces cannot reasonably be provided on the same lot on which the principal use is conducted, such spaces may be provided on other off-street property provided that: (1) All such property used for parking lies within four hundred (400) feet of the main entrance to such principal use; (2) The association of such parking spaces with the principal use they are designated to serve shall be identified by signage; and (3) The zoning classification of such lots are the same or the zoning classification of the lot proposed for parking is less restrictive than that of the lot upon which the use is to be located. Section 8.5. Potential Adjustments The Zoning Administrator may approve an adjusted number of spaces for any site if one or more of the following conditions apply. In no case shall the adjustment exceed 25% of the total sum of spaces otherwise required. (a) A single site with more than one activity or principal use, whether located on the same or separate lots, may utilize a common area in order to comply with off-street parking requirements, provided that the total number of individual spaces available in such common area is no less than (80%) of the sum total of spaces for the individual uses as separately computed in accord with Table 8.1 and provided the owner of said parking area relinquishes his right to develop or use such area until such time parking spaces are provided elsewhere. (b) The number of parking spaces required for churches, theaters, or assembly halls, whose peak attendance hours are at night or on weekends, may be satisfied by those which are partially or wholly assigned to another use that will be closed during such peak hours, provide such parking is located within four hundred (400) feet of the main entrance to the proposed principal uses. (c) Off-street parking requirements may be wholly or partially met by on-street parking spaces abutting the frontage of a structure or use or where a sufficient supply of existing under-utilized public parking spaces in off-street parking lots are accessible and where the applicant demonstrates that such availability will continue in the future. (d) Where a development is designed to accommodate cyclists, pedestrians and residents and is accessible to such using the site, the Zoning Administrator may approve an adjustment to develop no less than 75% of the total required number of spaces, provided: (1) Uses eligible shall be those offering local services directly to the community, such as personal goods and services consumed on-site or of such sizes and weights easily carried. (2) Parking areas and drive through services shall not be located in any required or provided front yards and not within ten (10) feet of such. (3) The primary entrance to the building of each use shall be accessible by a hardscaped walkway of at least five feet (5’) wide. The walkway shall run continuously across the width of the property, roughly parallel to the public right of way and shall either connect to the existing walkway of adjacent lots or stub out at lot lines so as to be extended in the same manner. Section 8.6 Parking Space and Maneuvering Area Dimensions All parking spaces established after the adoption of this Ordinance shall be no less than the following dimensions: Table 8.2
§8.6.1 Provision of Maneuvering Areas All minimum space dimensions are exclusive of driving lanes, maneuvering areas and walkways, and in addition shall have a minimum 23-foot maneuvering area. §8.6.2 Separation from Rights-of-ways All parking areas shall be adequately separated from public rights of way so that such rights of way are not used for maneuvering of any kind. Section 8.7 Accessibility to Parking Areas §8.7.1 Maximum Points of Access No more than two (2) points of access shall be provided along the frontage of any parking area. §8.7.2 Curb Cut Widths Parking lot entrance and exit drive curb cuts shall be no less than 12 feet and no more than 26 feet in width, unless a greater width is required by SC DOT for development in the Highway Commercial District. Entrances or exits that include a median strip to separate traffic flow in opposite directions may be expanded to 60 feet in width. §8.7.3 Distances Between Curb Cuts and Intersections (a) Curb cuts shall not be less than 25 feet apart provided, however, that this distance shall be increased wherever the lot frontage on a street permits such increase or should the lot front on US 17 in the Highway Commercial District. (b) Entrance and exit drives shall be located at least 25 feet from any street intersection. (c) Suitable provisions shall be made to prevent ingress or egress at locations other than designated entrance or exit drives. §8.8.1 Barriers (a) Except where a greater setback is required in a particular zoning district, wherever outdoor parking space is established for six (6) or more vehicles and such space or the maneuvering space associated therewith abuts or lies within five (5) feet of the street, alley, or another property, a suitable barrier shall be provided in such manner that no vehicle using such space shall encroach upon or overhang such street, alley, or other property; such barrier may consist of posts, bumpers, or wheel stops. (b) All off street loading spaces shall be provided with adequate off street maneuvering areas. Where a loading space is adjacent to a public sidewalk or other public pedestrian way, it shall be located, arranged and improved with curbs, walls or other barriers to adequately protect pedestrians. §8.8.2 Screening (a) Wherever outdoor parking space for six or more vehicles is established and such space or the maneuvering space associated therewith abuts or lies within five (5) feet of a street or other public right of way, a planting strip not less than five (5) feet wide shall be provided between such space and such street or alley. (b) Wherever outdoor parking space for six (6) or more vehicles is established and such space or the maneuvering space associated therewith abuts a residential lot, a planting strip not less than ten (10) feet in width shall be provided between such space and the adjoining lot. (c) Planting strips shall be protected from encroachment by wheels or vehicles and shall be planted with suitable materials such as grass, ground cover, shrubs, or trees as required in §8.8.3 below and; such planting shall be maintained in good condition for so long as such space is used for off-street parking. (d) Off street loading areas shall be screened in accordance with Article VII. §8.8.3 Landscaping Wherever ten (10) or more parking spaces are provided in a single location, such parking areas shall be landscaped as follows: (a) Planting strips provided between the parking area and street or other public right of way shall include one (1) shade tree per linear foot, or part thereof, of such planting strip. The distance between such trees shall not be greater than 25 feet on center. Wherever possible, groupings of trees are encouraged. No less than six (6) shrubs per forty (40) linear feet of a planting strip shall be provided. All shrubs within the planting strip shall be at least two (2) feet in height at the time of installation. (b) Interior parking lot landscaping islands shall interrupt every ten (10) parking spaces. Such landscaping islands shall be no less than ninety (90) square feet in area and shall be no less than six (6) feet in width. All landscaping islands shall be planted with no less than one (1) shade tree and two (2) shrubs. Remaining areas of a landscaping island shall be covered with vegetative materials such as grass or groundcovers. (c) Landscaping materials planted within a landscaping island shall be protected from vehicular traffic. §8.8.4 Surfacing (a) All parking areas for more than (10) parking spaces shall be surfaced with an all-weather material that will support expected parking and traffic loads such that no more than one (1) inch of standing stormwater may accumulate in pockets or cracks wider than one-quarter inch at the surface. (b) Surface materials may consist of decorative hardscapes, such as brick or tabby, or pervious materials, including pervious concrete, gravel, crushed oyster shells, a steel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||