§ VI. Off-street parking and off-street truck loading.
(A)
Off-street parking.
(1)
Provision for off-street parking required. The off-street parking facilities herein required shall be provided in at least the amount and maintained in the manner herein set forth; provided, however, that off-street parking facilities in excess of the amounts heretofore required by law, need be neither provided nor maintained for land actually used or for structures actually existing (whether occupied or vacant) on the effective date of this ordinance unless, after the effective date of this ordinance such land, structures or uses are enlarged, expanded or changed in which event, the land, structures, and uses hereby excluded shall not be used, occupied or operated unless there is provided for the increment only of such land, structures, and uses, and maintained as herein required, at least the amount of off-street parking facilities that would be required hereunder if the increment were a separate land, structure, or use. The central business district of Gulfport, as shown on the official zoning map, as well as all parcels that front on the north side of 11th Street between the center line of 31st Avenue to the center line of 36th Avenue are exempt from these off-street parking requirements.
(2)
Size and location. Each off-street parking space, which shall be at least nine (9) feet wide and eighteen (18) feet long, exclusive of access or maneuvering area, ramps and other appurtenances, shall be located off the street right-of-way, and except for one-family and two-family dwellings, facilities shall be so planned that vehicles do not back into the roadway. All required spaces and access thereto must be paved.
(a)
Parking in transect zones:
i.
For one- and two-family dwellings located in zones T2, T3, T4L and T4+, parking areas shall be located beyond the front façade of the principal structure except that driveway aprons and drop-offs may be located within the front yard setback. Garages (attached or detached) that open to the primary street and are flush with the front façade shall have a garage door that is in harmony with the design of the primary structure and the surrounding neighborhood. Attached garages that open to a secondary street or alley can be flush with the front façade as long as the side of said garage is designed to look like the rest of the house (e.g. windows, articulation, etc.). View of parking areas and parking structures shall be masked from the frontage by a streetscreen. Parking accessed by alley or rear lane when such are available is optional as a primary or secondary access.
ii.
For all other uses in T2, T3, T4L, T4+, T5 and T6 zones, parking can be located flush with the front façade of the principal structure. View of parking lots and parking garages shall be masked from the primary frontage by a liner building, other building, or streetscreen. Parking accessed by alley or rear lane when such are available is optional as a primary or secondary access. Bicycle parking areas can be provided in the front provided it meets applicable design review standards and does not block required pedestrian access.
(3)
Layout and maintenance. Except for one-family and two-family dwellings, off-street parking facilities shall be constructed, maintained and operated in accordance with the following specifications:
(a)
Vehicular access to individual parking spaces shall be provided by aisles not less than twelve (12) feet wide for thirty-degree angle parking, fourteen (14) feet wide for forty-five-degree angle parking, eighteen (18) feet wide for sixty-degree angle parking and twenty-five (25) feet for ninety-degree (perpendicular) parking;
(b)
Pedestrian walks shall be located between every other (alternate) parking bay, a parking bay being the vehicular access aisle and parking spaces on one or both sides served by it. If parking bays exceed three hundred (300) feet in length without vehicular access to adjacent bays or to another drive or street, a pedestrian walk shall be provided between each parking bay. Required pedestrian walks shall have a four-foot clear width and such width shall be protected and maintained by curbs or wheel guards. All pedestrian walks shall be paved and maintained free of standing water; shall be protected and maintained by wheel guards subject to approval by staff;
(c)
Block of parking bays containing more than two hundred (200) parking spaces [shall] be established if the total number of parking spaces to be provided exceeds two hundred (200). Such blocks shall be defined by landscaped strips having at least a fifteen-foot clear width and such width shall be protected by curbs or wheel guards. Each such landscaped strip shall be raised and protected by curbs and shall contain a four-foot wide pedestrian walk extending the full length of the strip. Vehicular access aisles within the block shall be connected to one or more roadways at least twenty-four (24) feet wide or such greater width as may be required to accommodate the volume of traffic anticipated and along with no parking spaces shall be provided or allowed;
(d)
Surfacing of all parking facilities shall be concrete, asphaltic concrete or asphalt and all parking facilities shall be properly graded for drainage and maintained in good condition, free of weeds, dust, trash and debris. For residential uses, all ingress and egress within the required front yard setback shall be paved and the balance may be all-weather surface as defined herein, notwithstanding the required off-street parking shall be paved.
(e)
Wheel guards. Based upon the design and layout of the parking lot, wheel guards and/or curbs shall be provided around the perimeter of any structure or pedestrian way and so located that no part of a parked vehicle will encroach on the pedestrian way or adjacent property line.
(f)
Lighting shall be provided in all parking facilities accommodating ten (10) or more vehicles and such lighting shall be so arranged that the source of light does not shine directly into adjacent residential properties and does not interfere with traffic;
(g)
Entrances and exits to parking facilities shall be so located as to minimize traffic congestion;
(h)
Prohibition of other uses. Parking spaces shall not be used for the sale, repair, dismantling, or storage of any vehicles, equipment, materials, or supplies;
(i)
On-street parking. In R-1, R-2, R-O and R-B districts, on-street parking shall be used only by vehicles up to eight thousand (8,000) pounds gross vehicle weight (manufacturer's capacity rating) and having wheels not to exceed seventeen (17) inches in diameter;
(j)
Multiple-level parking facilities. Parking facilities on more than one level shall be designed in accord with those standards set out herein for grade level parking facilities insofar as they are reasonably applicable. The design of such a multiple-level facility shall be subject to approval of the planning commission with respect to layout, circulation, accommodations for pedestrians, ingress and egress and other characteristics affecting safety and convenience.
(4)
Number of parking spaces required.
(a)
At least the following amounts of off-street parking spaces shall be provided. The classification of uses shall be deemed to include and apply to all uses, and if the classification of any use for the purpose of determining the number of parking spaces to be provided is not readily determinable hereunder, the classification of the use shall be fixed by the board of adjustment.
(b)
Handicapped spaces shall be provided in accordance with the Standard Building Code.
(c)
Reserved.
(d)
Any parking area which provides over fifty (50) spaces shall provide five (5) percent van accessible spaces. Such spaces shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet by twenty (20) feet. Van accessible spaces shall not be counted as the handicapped space requirement.
_____
Bed and breakfast inn class A 1 space for each guest room plus 1 space for the owner Bed and breakfast inn class B 1 space for each guest room and 1 space for the owner, plus 1 space for each 250 square feet of floor area devoted to receptions and other social gatherings Off-street parking for bed and breakfast inns may be on-site or within a reasonable walking distance of the bed and breakfast provided that parking facilities do not distract from the residential character of the neighborhood. Proof of parking off-site must be provided annually to the office of planning division (lease agreement, deed, etc.) Child care center 1 space for each 5 children, plus adequate loading and unloading space in an "off the street" drive, approved by the staff of the planning division Dwelling, one-family 2 spaces per dwelling unit Dwelling, two family 2 spaces per dwelling unit Dwelling, multiple-family 2.0 spaces per dwelling unit plus 2 visitor's spaces for each 8 units or fraction thereof Gaming 1 space for each 50 square feet of gaming floor space plus 1 space for each employee at maximum employment on a single shift Hotels, full service 1.5 spaces per guest room plus the required spaces applicable to each additional use connected to the hotel (lounge, restaurant, etc.) Hotels, limited service 1 space per guest room plus 1 space for each 2 employees on the largest shift Hotels and rooming houses 1.5 spaces per guest room Mobile home parks and trailer parks 1.5 spaces per mobile home or trailer Mobile/manufactured homes 2 spaces per mobile home or manufactured home Hospitals and sanitariums 2 spaces per bed Institution for children or the aged; nursing homes 1 space per 2 beds Theaters; auditoriums, gymnasiums, convention halls, stadiums 1 space per 3 seats Churches 1 space per 4 seats Funeral homes 1 space per 3 chapel seats Schools, elementary 1.5 spaces per teaching station Schools, junior high 1 space per teaching station Schools, senior high 1 space per 4 students Colleges; universities 1 space per 4 students Business colleges; trade schools 1 space per 4 students Restaurants 1 space per 50 square feet of space used for customer service plus 1 space for each 2 employees Furniture or appliance store, machinery, equipment, automotive or boat sales and services 1 space per 900 square feet of gross floor area Retail stores; personal service establishments; commercial amusements; office; repair shops; medical and dental clinics; libraries; art galleries; clubs; lodges 1 space per 300 square feet of gross floor area General services or repair establishments; printing; publishing, plumbing; heating; electrical and broadcasting 1 space per 2 employees Industrial and manufacturing establishments; warehouse and distribution establishments; creamery and bottling plant 1 space per 2 employees on the maximum shift Free standing lounges/taverns 1 space per 50 square feet of space used for "customer service area" or 1 space for every 2 customers or non-employee occupants, whichever number of spaces is larger, plus 1 space for each employee at maximum employment on a single shift Night clubs/dance halls 1 space per 50 square feet of space used for "customer service area" or 1 space for every 2 customers or non-employee occupants, whichever number of spaces is larger, plus 1 space for each employee at maximum employment on a single shift Restaurants 1 space per 50 square feet of space used for "customer service area" plus 1 space for each employee at maximum employment on a single shift. _____
(5)
Special plan for sharing of facilities. Under the foregoing provisions of this ordinance, off-street parking spaces are required to be provided individually for each use or structure. Pursuant to the procedure hereinafter set forth and subject to certain limitations, two (2) or more uses may share off-street parking facilities, with each of such uses being considered to have provided the parking spaces individually.
(a)
Limitations on sharing facilities. No use shall be considered as individually having provided off-street parking facilities which are shared with one or more other uses unless the schedules of operation of all such uses are such that none of the uses sharing the facilities require the off-street parking facilities at the same time as any other sharing them.
(b)
Application for approval of special plan. An application for approval of a special plan hereunder shall be filed with the building official by the owner or owners of all land and structures for which shared off-street parking spaces are to be provided. The application shall contain such information as is required by this ordinance or reasonably deemed necessary by the building official and shall include plans showing the proposed shared facilities in relation to the uses for which they are to be provided.
(c)
Review of application. Applications hereunder shall be reviewed by the building official and either approved or disapproved within thirty (30) days; approval may establish conditions and limitations.
(d)
Filing of special plan. Upon approval of a special plan, a copy of such plan shall be filed among the records of the building official and shall thereafter be binding upon the applicants, their heirs, successors and assigns, shall limit and control the issuance and validity of permits and certificates and shall restrict and limit the use and operation of all land and structures included within such special plans to all conditions and limitations specified in such plans and the approvals thereof.
(e)
Amendment or withdrawal of special plan. Pursuant to the same procedure and subject to the same limitations and requirements by which the special plan was approved and filed, any special plan may be amended or withdrawn, either partially or completely, if all land and structures remaining under such special plan comply with all the conditions and limitations of the special plan and all land and structures withdrawn from such special plan comply with all regulations established by this ordinance and unrelated to the special plan.
(6)
Towing and wrecker yard.
(a)
Provision for off-street parking required. The off-street parking facility herein required shall be provided in at least the amount and maintained in the manner herein set forth for all uses and buildings established after the effective date of this ordinance and to all additions, expansions enlargement or reconstruction thereafter.
(b)
Size and location. Each off-street parking space, which shall be at least nine (9) feet wide and eighteen (18) feet long, exclusive of access or maneuvering area, ramp and other appurtenances, shall be located off the street right-of-way, and shall be so planned that vehicles do not back into the roadway. Office and yard are separate uses with separate parking. No required yard spaces and access need to be paved. Buildings may be placed within the confines of the fenced area but shall be considered separate from the towing and wrecker yard. Such buildings shall conform to the paving provisions so stated with this ordinance.
(c)
[Parking aisles.] Parking aisles for automobiles shall be of sufficient width to allow a minimum turning in and out of parking spaces. The minimum width of such aisles shall be as follows:
1)
For ninety-degree perpendicular parking, the aisle shall not be less then twenty-five (25) feet in width.
2)
For sixty-degree parking with one-way traffic flow, the aisle shall not be less than eighteen (18) feet.
3)
For forty-five degree parking with one-way traffic flow, the aisle shall not be less then fourteen (14) feet in width.
(d)
[Drainage.] All off-street parking areas shall be drained so as to prevent runoff onto abutting properties and shall be constructed of material which will have a dust-free surface resistant to erosion and comply with the following:
1)
Lighting shall be provided in all parking facilities accommodating ten (10) or more vehicles and such lighting shall be so arranged that the source of light does not shine directly into adjacent residential properties and does not interfere with traffic;
2)
Entrances and exits to parking facilities shall be located so as to minimize traffic congestion;
3)
Fence height of at least ten (10) feet high and a maximum opacity to obstruct view, noise and passage or persons; chain link or similar fence will be permitted if screen planting which provides maximum opacity is provided.
(e)
Buffer planting strips. Wherever the boundary of an outer perimeter of the required ten-foot fence is located, there shall be provided a buffer planting strip. This buffer-planting strip can be counted as part of the required ten (10) percent landscaping requirement.
(f)
[Signs.] In an area easily seen, a sign shall be placed measuring two feet by two feet (2'x 2') with six-inch reflective lettering noting the name of company, address of site, day and night contact number(s).
(g)
Number of parking spaces required.
Towing and wrecker office 1 space per 900 square feet of gross floor area Towing and wrecker yard 1 space for every employee on the maximum shift, plus 1 space for every vehicle customarily used in operation of the use or stored on the premises. (B)
Off-street truck loading.
(1)
Provisions of off-street truck loading required. The off-street truck loading facilities herein required shall be provided in at least the amount and maintained in the manner herein set forth; provided, however, that off-street truck loading facilities in excess of the amounts heretofore required by law need be neither provided nor maintained for structures actually used, occupied, and operated on the effective date of this ordinance unless, after the effective date of this ordinance, such structures are enlarged or expanded, in which event the structures hereby excluded shall not be used, occupied, or operated unless there is provided for the increment only of such structures, and maintained as herein required, at least the amount of off-street truck loading facilities that would be required hereunder if the increment were a separate structure.
(2)
Size and location. For the purpose of this ordinance, each truck loading space shall have an overhead clearance of at least sixteen (16) feet, shall be at least twelve (12) feet wide, and shall be at least fifty (50) feet long, exclusive of access or maneuvering area, platform and other appurtenances. Off-street truck loading facilities shall be located on the same building site on which the structure for which they are provided is located. Access, maneuvering area, ramps and other appurtenances shall be furnished off the street right-of-way and so arranged that vehicles are not required to back from the area into the street.
(3)
Construction and maintenance. Off-street loading facilities shall be constructed, maintained and operated in accordance with the following specifications:
(a)
Drainage and surfacing. They shall be properly graded for drainage, surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, or asphalt and maintained in good condition, free of weeds, dust, trash, and debris;
(b)
Lighting. Lighting facilities shall be so arranged that the source of light does not shine directly into adjacent residential properties or into traffic;
(c)
Entrances and exits. They shall be provided with entrances and exits so located as to minimize traffic congestion;
(d)
Circulation. Where access and drives to off-street loading facilities occur in conjunction with off-street parking facilities that provide parking at street level for more than three hundred (300) cars, provision shall be made to maintain separate circulation routes within such facilities.
(4)
Number of loading spaces required. On the same premises with every building, structure, or part thereof, erected and occupied for manufacturing, storage warehouse, food processing or wholesale distribution plant, hotel, hospital, or other uses similarly involving the receipt or distribution by vehicles of materials, merchandise, goods and service, there shall be provided and maintained on the lot adequate space for the loading and unloading services, in order to avoid undue interference with the public use of the streets and/or alleys. One space shall be required for every twenty thousand (20,000) square feet or fraction thereof in excess of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet of gross floor area used for purposes mentioned herein, or at the discretion of the planning division administrator or his designated representative. Access, maneuvering area and ramps shall be furnished off the street right-of-way and so arranged that vehicles do not have to back into the street.
(5)
Cooperative establishment and use of facilities. Requirements for the provisions of off-street truck loading facilities with respect to two (2) or more structures may be satisfied by the permanent allocation of the requisite number of spaces for each use in a common truck loading facility, cooperatively established and operated; provided, however, that the total number of spaces designated is not less than the sum of the individual requirements unless, in the opinion of the building official, a lesser number of spaces will be adequate, taking into account the respective times of usage of the truck loading facilities by the individual users, the character of the merchandise, and related factors. In order to eliminate a multiplicity of individual facilities, to conserve space where space is at a premium, and to promote orderly development generally, the building official is hereby authorized to plan and group off-street truck loading facilities cooperatively for a number of truck loading generators within close proximity to one another in a given area, and especially in the general business districts, in such manner as to obtain a maximum of efficiency and capacity, provided consent thereto is obtained from the participants in the cooperative plan.
(Ord. No. 1580, § 1, 11-3-81; Ord. No. 1684, § 1, 11-20-84; Ord. No. 2048, 5-7-96; Ord. No. 2357, § 1, 6-17-03; Ord. No. 2513, § 1(4), 12-5-06; Ord. No. 2538, § 1, 5-22-07; Ord. No. 2746 , § 1, 4-17-12; Ord. No. 2796 , § 1, 10-7-14; Ord. No. 2985, § 1, 1-23-19 )
Cross reference
Method of parking, § 6-301 et seq.