§ 6-7. Off-street parking and loading requirements

Whenever any ordinance, regulation, or plan, enacted or adopted by the city council is for the purpose of providing off-street automobile parking spaces or of establishing requirements that such spaces be provided within any section or sections of the city, then such plan or requirements shall govern within such sections. Otherwise off-street automobile parking spaces shall be provided as follows, applicable to buildings hereafter erected and uses hereafter established, to such nonconforming uses as may be required to conform to the regulations hereof, and to extensions and enlargements of buildings and uses.

A. Parking table. Except as otherwise provided in this section, off-street parking spaces shall be provided as follows:

Schedule of Parking Requirements
Land Use	Requirements	Additional Requirements
Residential
Single-Family Detached Units	2/unit	Must be located in an enclosed garage
Single-Family Attached Units	2/unit
Duplex	2/unit	None
Townhouse, Condominium, Triplex, Quadruplex or Row	2½/ unit	None
Multi-Family	1.5/1 bed unit 2/2 bed unit 2.5/3 bed unit	None
HUD Code Manufactured Home	2/unit	None
Boarding or Rooming House, Hotel or Motel / Residence Motel or Inn	1 / residential unit	1 additional space for 200 sq. ft. of Exhibit or Ballroom space, plus 1 space per 100 sq. ft. of Meeting Rooms, plus 1 space per 2.5 seats in Restaurant and Lounge
Retirement Housing: Ambulatory Independent Residents	1.5/unit	None
Retirement Housing: Nursing Home Facilities	1/2 beds	None
Dormitory	1.5/2 occupants	None
Fraternity, Sorority, or Lodge	1/125 sq. ft.	none
Civic
Religious Institution	1/4 seats in the sanctuary or auditorium	None
Community Center	1/4 persons	None
Library	1/300 sq. ft.
Museum	1/300 sq. ft.
Public Assembly Hall/Auditorium	1/3 seats	None
Education
College or University	1/3 day students	None
Schools
Elementary	1/25 students
Junior High	1/18 students
Senior High	1/5 students
Trade	1/4 students
Amusement
Ballpark or Stadium	1/4 seats	None
Bowling Alley	6/ lane	None
Dance Hall, Exhibition Hall w/out fixed seats	1/100 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Outdoor Commercial Amusement	1/500 sq. ft. of site area exclusive of building	None
Pool Hall, Arcade, Other Indoor Commercial Amusement	1/100 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Theater, auditorium	1/4 seats	None
Automotive
Auto Parts Accessory Sales	1/300 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Auto Parts Repair Garage or Shop	1/350 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Auto Sales	1/300 sq. ft. sales floor or 1/1000 sq. ft. lot area
Car Wash (full-serve)	3 stacking spaces
Car Wash (self-serve or automatic)	3 stacking spaces/ wash bay	None
Service Station	Minimum of 6 + 2/employee	None
Vehicle or Machinery Sales (indoors)	1/500 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Wash Bay	None
Commercial, Retail, Service
Barber/Beauty Salon	2/chair	None
Coin- Operated or Self- Service Laundry or Dry Cleaner	1/200 sq. ft. of floor area	Coin- Operated or Self- Service Laundry or Dry Cleaner
Day Care or Day Nursery	1/5 pupils + 1/employee	1 space for drop-off /3 pupils
Driving Range	1/10 linear ft. of designated tee area	None
Eating or Drinking Establishment (no drive-through service)	1/2.5 seats	None
Eating or Drinking Establishment (with drive-through service and all others)	1/150 sq. ft.	None
Furniture, Appliance Sales or Repair	1/600 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Indoor Retail Store or Shop	1/250 sq. ft. of floor area up to 5000 sq. ft., then 1/200 sq. ft.	None
Lodge or Fraternal Organization	1/125 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Miniature Golf	1 / tee	None
Mortuary or Funeral Home	1/2 seats in chapel	None
Outdoor Retail Sales	1/500 sq. ft. of site area, exclusive of building	None
Personal Service Shop	1/250 sq. ft. of floor area up to 5000 sq. ft., then 1/200 sq. ft.	None
Shopping Center, Malls & Multi-occupancy uses (3-50 acres)	1/250 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Shopping Centers, Mall and Multi-occupancy use (over 50 acres)	1/300 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Veterinary Clinic	1/300 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Medical, Professional
Bank and Savings & Loan or Other Similar Institution	1/300 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Hospital	1.5/ bed	None
Medical, Dental Clinic or Office	1/150 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Other Office or Professional Business	1/250 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Sanitarium, convalescent home	2/6 beds
Manufacturing, Industrial
Manufacturing or Warehousing	1/3 employees or 1/1,000 sq. ft. of floor area (whichever results in more spaces)
Mini-warehouse	1/3,000 sq. ft. of floor area	None
Storage Yard	1/3 employees or 1/1,000 sq. ft. of floor area (whichever results in more spaces)

 

B. Rules for computing number of parking spaces. In computing the number of parking spaces required for each of the uses in this section, the following rules shall govern:

1. Floor area shall mean the gross floor area of the specific use.

2. Where fractional spaces result, the parking spaces required shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.

3. The parking space requirement for a use not specifically mentioned herein shall be the same as required for a use of similar nature.

4. In the case of mixed uses, the parking spaces required shall equal the sum of the requirements of the various uses computed separately.

C. General parking regulations.

1. Reduction. In cases where the applicant can provide documentation that parking spaces exceed the amount necessary for the use and that a reasonable alteration of spaces may be provided. Said reduction shall not represent more than 15 percent of the total required spaces and shall require a special exception.

2. Mixed use buildings. Where a building or a site contains two or more uses, the off-street parking requirement shall be computed as the sum of the required off-street parking spaces for each individual use with the exception of shopping centers and multi-use purposes.

3. Drive lane widths and parking space sizes. Drive lanes and parking space sizes shall be required as shown in the following illustration. A driveway for access to any non-residential, single parking space or to a parking lot shall not measure less than that shown in the parking layout illustration. All drive approach widths shall be no less than those indicated in the below graphic. All two-way drive lanes shall be a minimum of 24 feet in width. Parking spaces shall be nine feet wide by 18 feet deep for all 90 degree parking spaces. Angled spaces shall be as shown in the graphic.

Angled parking spaces

4. On-premise parking required. All required commercial and residential parking spaces shall be located on the premises to which such requirement applies or within an off-street space of which the distance is not more than 100 feet from such premises.

5. Residential parking development standards. The following regulations shall apply to all resident

(a) All vehicles, including RV's, campers, boats, or other trailer, which are parked or stored on private property in residential areas are to be on a concrete paved surface or pavers.

(b) Residences located on properties two acres or greater in size may have an alternate surface material upon authorization of the city council or their designee.

(c) Pavers are not to exceed one-half-inch above the surface of the yard in which they are placed to allow them to be properly mowed and trimmed around.

(d) Vehicles are to be completely resting on such surfaces from the point they leave the public streets to the point upon which they are parked or stored.

(e) All vehicles shall be so parked in relation to the street and dwelling at right angles and not to extend over any walkway or be closer than eight inches from the back of the curb so they will not obstruct the pedestrian ways.

(f) Any vehicle found in violation of this provision must be made operable or moved to an enclosed building within 30 days from the notification of such condition existing. All repeat violations which occur at the same address within any subsequent 30 day period shall be subject to immediate penalties and/or fines as allowed by law.

(g) Parking spaces located on existing single-family residentially zoned lots that were deemed to conform at the effective date of this ordinance shall still be deemed to be legal. This includes parking spaces not located in enclosed garages but shall not permit any enclosed garage to be eliminated.

6. Non-residential parking development standards. The off-street parking or loading facilities required for nonresidential uses mentioned in these regulations shall be approved by the city engineer.

7. Maintenance requirements. To insure that all requirements set forth in this section are carried forward, it will be the responsibility of the owner of the parking area to maintain the facility. All off-street parking areas shall be kept free of trash, debris, vehicle repair operation or display and advertising uses. At no time after initial approval of the parking area layout can changes be made in the location and number of provided spaces without approval of the city council.

D. Parking regulations for special events and other one-time events.

1. Special event means a festival, celebration, performance or other such special event which occurs no more frequently than once per year, and which will or should be reasonably anticipated to attract patrons or visitors in such numbers as to exceed the capacity of the permanent parking spaces required and provided under other provisions of this section for the property upon which the special event is to be held. Events which are conducted more frequently than once per year are not considered "special events" under the provisions of this subsection, and the property upon which these events are conducted must conform to the other provisions of this article concerning parking requirements.

2. The persons or entities conducting any such special event shall submit to the mayor or his/her designee at least 45 business days prior to said event a plan for the accommodation and parking of vehicles of persons reasonably expected to attend such event. The plan must include, at a minimum, the following information:

(a) A description and the address of the premises where the event is to be held;

(b) A description and the address of any property, other than the premises described in (a) above, where parking is to be provided for patrons or visitors to the event;

(c) The name and address of the owner of the premises upon which parking for the event is to be provided, and a statement describing the terms and conditions of the agreement whereby the owner of such premises has authorized their use for parking;

(d) The dates and times that the event is to be held;

(e) The measures which will be taken by the persons or entities conducting the special event to ensure safe and orderly traffic flow to and from the event site and any parking area;

(f) A plan or diagram of the proposed layout of the parking scheme upon the property to be used for parking for such event.

(g) All parking for any such special event shall be provided off-street and on an area and surface reasonably anticipated to be dry and safe for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. No public property or rights-of-way may be utilized or included in such parking areas except upon express, prior written permission by the city council.

3. Subject to the above requirements, the surface of such parking areas need not be paved or otherwise surfaced as required by the other provisions of this article for permanent parking areas, but it must be suitable for the type and amount of vehicular and pedestrian traffic reasonably anticipated for the special event at issue.

4. Upon submittal of the required parking plan to the city, the mayor or his/her designee shall review it and shall advise the applicants whether any changes or modifications to said plan will be required. The mayor or his/her designee has the sole discretion to approve or reject, or require modifications to, any parking plan required hereunder. No vehicles may be parked in any location not otherwise allowed under other subsections of this section, in connection with any special event, unless and until the mayor or his/her designee has issued a written approval of the parking plan of the special event.

5. Such written permission may be revoked at any time by the mayor or his/her designee if it is found that false or misleading information was contained in the proposed parking plan.

E. Handicapped spaces.

1. All areas of newly designed or newly constructed buildings and facilities required to be accessible under federal and state law shall comply with the standards set forth in the Texas Accessibility Standards of the Architectural Barriers Act, Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Art. Ann. §9102 (Vernon Supp 2000.)

2. The dimensions of each "H" parking space shall be 12 feet wide and 18 feet long.

3. Each and every "H" parking space required by this section of the parking regulations or by other applicable regulations shall be clearly identified as reserved for the handicapped.

4. The number of "H" parking spaces required shall be determined by the following table:

Total Parking Spaces Provided	Number of Accessible Spaces
1 to 25	1
25 to 50	2
51 to 75	3
76 to 100	4
101 to 150	5
151 to 200	6
201 to 300	7
301 to 400	8
401 to 500	9
501 to 1,000	2% of total
More than 1,000	20 plus one for each 100 over 1,000

 

F. Single-family attached and multi-family parking facilities. Common parking facilities for single-family attached and multi-family structures shall meet the following criteria:

1. Each dwelling unit shall have its required parking spaces provided within 100 feet of a principal entrance to a single-family attached structure and 150 feet of a principal entrance to a multi-family structure.

2. The parking facility shall be arranged so that a minimum of five feet shall separate any parked car from a solid building wall and 20 feet from a principal entrance.

3. In any residential district off-street parking provided at the rear of the lot shall be permitted to occupy any paved portion of the rear yard except that a minimum distance of 20 feet shall separate the enclosed off-street parking spaces from an alley at the rear lot line.

G. Parking access requirements. Parking areas which would require the use of public right-of-ways for maneuvering shall not be acceptable for the furnishing of required off-street parking spaces other than for single-family detached and duplex dwelling structures. Parking parallel at the curb on a public street shall not be substituted for off-street requirements.

H. Non-residential off-street loading requirements. Provisions for loading and unloading in non-residential districts shall be provided on the site according to the following regulations:

1. To facilitate the movement of traffic on the public streets, all retail, office and service buildings shall provide and maintain off-street facilities for the loading and unloading of merchandise and goods within the building or on the lot adjacent to a public alley or private service drive:

2. Individual loading space dimensions shall be required as a minimum to be 35 feet in length, 12 feet width with a height clearance of 15 feet.

3. The number of off-street loading spaces shall be placed according to the following table:

Square Feet of Gross Floor Area in Structure	Maximum Required Spaces or Berths
0 to 10,000	None
10,000 to 50,000	1
50,000 to 100,000	2
100,000 to 200,000	3
Each additional 200,000	1 Additional

 

I. Additional regulations. Nothing in this section shall require the furnishing of additional parking spaces for buildings existing and used on the date of adoption of this article. However, any enlargement or addition to an existing building shall not be approved unless such building and addition or enlargement shall be brought into full compliance with the provisions of this section.

When the occupancy of any building is changed to another use, parking shall be provided to meet the requirements for the new use.

J. General design standards for parking structures.

1. In all districts, above grade parking structures shall conform to height restrictions for zoning districts in which they are located.

2. The distance from parking structure entry and exit points to a corner of a street intersection shall conform to standards contained in the subdivision ordinance.

3. Ramps shall not be constructed with slopes exceeding 15 percent and single lane entrances shall not be less than 16 feet wide at the street.

4. A minimum of one car length shall be provided between an exit control gate and the inside edge of a sidewalk to minimize conflicts between exiting cars and pedestrians.

5. Parking structure facades shall be left 50 percent open and interior light levels shall be maintained at ten footcandles to enhance security and safety. All parking structure lighting shall be designed so as not to reflect or shine on adjacent properties.

6. Full enclosure of any level of a parking structure may be permitted only if such structure is fully sprinklered and mechanically ventilated.

K. Stacking requirements for drive-through facilities.

1. A stacking space shall be an area on a site measuring eight feet by 20 feet with direct forward access to a service window or station of a drive-through facility which does not constitute space for any other circulation driveway, parking space, or maneuvering area.

2. For financial institutions with drive-through facilities, each teller window or station, human or mechanical, shall be provided with a minimum of five stacking spaces (from the right-of-way line).

3. For each service window of a drive-through restaurant, a minimum of seven stacking spaces (from the right-of-way line) shall be provided.

4. For kiosks, a minimum of two stacking spaces (from the right-of-way) for each service window shall be provided.

5. For drive-in cleaners, three storage spaces for each drive-in/drive-through window.

L. Exemptions. Commercial uses located in the Heritage Preservation Overlay District, when the underlying zoning district is commercial, shall be exempt from this section.