Town of Barrington, RI Article XV Off-Street Parking Requirements

§ 185-77 Applicability.

[Amended 1-10-2000 by Ord. No. 99-13; 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

No application for a permit for the erection of a new structure, development of a land use, change in use, or expansion of a structure shall be approved unless the off-street parking requirements as set forth in § 185-78, pertaining to minimum parking requirements, and in § 185-79, pertaining to parking lot and space requirements, are met and an approved driveway permit for the location and means of access to such area from the public streets and highways has been issued. When there is a mixed use within a building, each use shall be determined separately with the sum of the requirements being the total parking requirement. In all cases, the entire building shall be categorized for purposes of determining total parking requirements.

§ 185-78 Off-street parking requirements for specific uses.

A. Specific uses allowed in this chapter shall be required to provide a minimum number of parking spaces, as follows:

(1) Dwellings: two car spaces for each single- and two-family dwelling unit.

[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(2) Multifamily and mixed use.

[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(a) Accessory apartments, efficiency apartments: one-bedroom apartments: one car space for each dwelling unit, plus one guest space for every third unit in overall development.

(b) Two-bedroom units and larger: 1 1/2 spaces per unit, plus one guest space for every third unit in overall development.

(3) Hotels, motels, tourist homes and lodging houses: two car spaces for each unit.

(4) Convalescent center or nursing home: one car space for every four beds, plus one car space for every two employees based on the largest shift.

(5) Elderly housing: one car space for each efficiency or one-bedroom unit, 1 1/2 car spaces for each two-bedroom unit, plus one car space for every two employees based on the largest shift.

(6) Live-work space: One parking space is required for each live-work unit, with no fewer than two parking spaces per building.

[Added 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13]

(7) Convertible space: Required parking will be based on the applicable parking standards for the uses initially proposed for the convertible space, whether residential or commercial. If a use changes to another use that requires more parking, such additional parking must be provided on site or else the applicant must demonstrate proof of a shared parking arrangement with a neighboring property owner per the Town's standards for shared parking (§ 185-78.E). Additionally, an applicant may request that on-street/public parking be counted toward the required parking spaces where these spaces are located within 300 feet from the building entrance and have safe, direct pedestrian access to the building entrance, via sidewalks and/or crosswalks.

[Added 9-11-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-13]

(8) Office uses: one car space for every 350 square feet of gross floor area.

[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(9) Retail and service business: one car space for every 350 square feet of gross floor space in use.

[Amended 1-10-2000 by Ord. No. 99-13; 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(10) Restaurants, theaters and other buildings or places of public assembly: one car space for every four seats, or for every four persons of capacity, except, however, if a restaurant is a fast-food restaurant as defined in Article II, one car space for every three seats.

[Amended 1-10-2000 by Ord. No. 99-13; 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(11) Commercial and higher educational institutions: one car space for each four students, plus one car space for each instructor and one car space for every two employees or other staff members.

(12) Manufacturing or wholesale uses: one car space for every two employees based on the largest shift, plus one car space for each company vehicle operating from the premises.

(13) Marina or yacht club: one space per 350 square feet of gross floor area plus 1/2 space per boat or slip.

[Added 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection A(11) as Subsection A(12).

(14) Adaptive reuse: Must be exempt from off-street parking requirements over one space per dwelling unit.

[Added 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-12[2]]

[2] Editor's Note: This ordinance also redesignated former Subsection A(14) as Subsection A(15).

(15) All other uses: three car spaces, one car space for every 350 square feet of gross floor area.

[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

B. No part of a minimum front yard, nor any land physically inaccessible for the actual parking of a car because of a structure or for any other reason, shall be used to satisfy the above off-street parking requirements, except that the restriction against parking in the minimum front yard shall not apply to residentially used lots within Residence 10 Districts.

C. No parking provided for any individual business or community shopping center located along County Road within the Business District shall be placed within 25 feet of County Road, as measured from the edge of the property line.

[Added 1-10-2000 by Ord. No. 99-13]

D. The number of parking spaces provided for any individual business or community shopping center located along County Road within the Business District shall not exceed the minimum number of parking spaces required above by more than 15%.

[Added 1-10-2000 by Ord. No. 99-13]

E. Shared parking.

[Added 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

(1) Applicability. The permitting authority may permit all or part of the required parking spaces to be located on any other lot owned or leased by the owner of the building, subject to meeting applicable requirements and criteria [§ 185-78E(2)].

[Amended 12-4-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-12]

(2) Requirements and criteria. Approval is subject to the following requirements and criteria:

(a) This option is available where two different uses occur at nonsimultaneous times (e.g., a church with Sunday services and evening events together with a business that is closed evenings and on Sunday).

(b) Submission of a reciprocal agreement executed by the owners and operators of the different sources or uses ensuring the long-term joint use of such shared parking, and defining the terms upon which the parking is shared. The agreement for off-site parking in the form of a written lease [or deed restriction?] is to be recorded in the Land Evidence room at Town Hall and identify the number and location of shared parking spaces and the businesses those spaces serve.

(c) A determination shall be made by the Building Official or applicable board that the shared parking:

[1] Is no more than 500 feet from each use sharing the parking facility;

[2] Will have a safe and well-defined pedestrian connection from the parking area to the subject parcel.

[3] Hours of operation and peak demand of the uses involved shall not conflict; and

[4] Will provide an adequate number of spaces for the applicable uses.

(d) Information concerning the following also may be requested:

[1] The hours of operation and parking demand for each use;

[2] The hours of peak demand for parking;

[3] A description of the character of the land use and the parking patterns of adjacent uses;

[4] An estimate of the anticipated turnover in parking space use over a twenty-four-hour period of time;

[5] A site plan showing all proposed parking spaces, including the shared use spaces in the lot and the walking distance to the uses sharing the lot; and

[6] Any other information concerning parking deemed necessary by the approving official or review board to render a decision.

(3) Decision.

(a) Once a leased lot is approved to provide parking for any building, an agreement acceptable to the Town that guarantees the required parking will be provided at the termination of the lease must be recorded in Land Evidence before any permit may be issued for the building. Once a privately owned lot is approved for parking for any building, it shall not be converted to any other use without approval of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Review after the Building Official makes a finding that the required parking is otherwise provided in accordance with this chapter.

F. Combined parking. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the combined use of off-street parking or off-street loading areas by two or more buildings or uses if the total number of spaces provided is not less than the requirements for each use computed separately in accordance with this article. In no case shall off-street loading space be considered as required off-street parking space, or vice-versa.

[Added 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

G. In the case of single-family and duplex two-family residences, the car space size requirements will be deemed satisfied by the provision of two such spaces end-to-end without the necessity of provision for access aisles.

[Added 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

§ 185-79 Site improvement requirements.

A. Parking areas. The following requirements are intended to ensure that new and renovated off-street parking areas, for commercial, mixed use, institutional and multifamily uses, are constructed in accordance with the Town's desired design character, the provisions of this section, and other Town regulations pertaining to parking.

(1) Such area shall have a dust-free hard surface, be provided with bumper barriers where needed and include facilities for managing stormwater runoff.

(2) Where such a parking area lies within or adjoins a Residence District, there shall be provided a five-foot-wide landscaped strip containing an opaque fence not less than four feet in height nor more than six feet in height, or a double-row compact evergreen screen not less than four feet in height, which shall be maintained in a neat and attractive manner between the parking facility and the adjoining Residence District.

(3) Parking lots for new construction shall be located to the side and rear of the lot.

(4) Parking is prohibited within the front yard.

(5) Parking lots that abut public rights-of-way or grade parking under the building shall be screened with one or a combination of the following:

(a) Where the portion of the property used for such parking abuts a street, such portion, excepting approved curb cuts, shall be separated from the street line by a granite curb at least six inches high.

(b) A low wall made of concrete, masonry or other suitable material, such as a picket fence, not exceeding a height of three feet.

(c) Raised planters planted with a minimum of 80% evergreen shrubs not to exceed a total height of five feet (including planter).

(d) Landscaping consisting of a mix of trees and shrubs, provided that 80% of the shrub plantings are evergreen.

(6) Walls, fencing and architectural details shall complement the materials of adjacent architectural styles and the character of the development as a whole.

(7) Where walls are provided, planting areas shall be a minimum width of four feet and should be located adjacent to the public right-of-way.

(8) Where possible, parking areas shall be interconnected in a manner that allows the unobstructed flow of pedestrians between uses and parking areas.

B. Minimum size of spaces.

(1) Each parking space shall be marked by painted lines and contain the following minimum dimensions affecting the width and length of individual parking stalls and the width of aisles in all districts, exclusive of necessary drives and other accessways.

(a) Standard parking spaces:

[1] Minimum width: nine feet.

[2] Minimum length: 18 feet.

(b) Parallel parking spaces:

[1] Minimum width: eight feet.

[2] Minimum length: 21 feet.

(c) Minimum aisle widths:

[1] Ninety-degree angle: 24 feet.

[2] Sixty-degree angle: 18 feet.

[3] Forty-five-degree angle: 13 feet.

[4] Thirty-degree angle: 11 feet.

[5] Zero-degrees (parallel parking): 12 feet.

(2) For parking areas with more than 30 spaces, the painted lines for each parking stall shall be double-line striped, such that there is a minimum of two feet between each stall. This two-foot area shall be included in calculating the overall width of the parking space stall, provided that at least eight feet of width shall be provided between the inner edges of the stall.

(3) For parking areas with more than 20 spaces, up to 25% of the spaces may be reduced in size for compact cars, provided that such spaces shall be prominently signed for compact cars only. The painted lines for each compact-car parking stall shall also be double-line striped, such that there is a minimum of two feet between each stall. This two-foot area shall be included in calculating the overall width of the parking space stall, provided that at least seven feet of width shall be provided between the inner edges of the stall. The overall size of the compact car space may be reduced to nine feet wide by 16 feet long.

(4) Handicapped-accessible spaces shall be provided as required by any other applicable law.

(5) Each loading space shall be marked by painted lines and contain the following minimum dimensions affecting the width, length and height.

(a) Minimum width: 14 feet.

(b) Minimum length: 60 feet.

(c) Minimum vertical clearance: 15 feet.

(6) Setbacks. Parking spaces less than 10 feet from any building shall be separated from such building by raised curb, bumper or wheel guards. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to detached single- or two-family dwellings.

(7) Entrance and exit. Each parking and loading space shall be designed with adequate off-street area for approach, turning and exit without the need or ability to use any part of a street. All driveways on County Road and all one-way driveways shall have a minimum width of 12 feet for each lane of traffic using such driveway. All two-way driveways on public streets other than County Road shall have a total minimum width of 20 feet. The width of any driveway shall not exceed 25 feet. The requirements of this subsection shall not apply to detached single- or two-family dwellings.

(8) Curb cuts. Developments shall be designed in a manner that minimizes the number of curb cuts on primary streets. To the extent feasible, access to businesses shall be provided through one of the following methods: from an existing side or rear street or public alley, thus avoiding the principal thoroughfare, or from a common driveway serving one or more adjacent properties. Curb cuts shall not be greater than 25 feet long and comply with design standards for driveway curb cuts as detailed in the Land Development and Subdivision Regulations (§ 200-87.1., Curb cut standards).

§ 185-80 Plans and specifications.

[Amended 2-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]

Plans and specifications for any required parking facility and its access drives shall be submitted at the time of the application for the building permit for the principal use.

§ 185-81 Parking and storage of commercial vehicles in residence districts.

Except where such parking or storage is directly related to a permitted or lawful nonresidential nonconforming use on that premises, no commercial vehicles having a capacity of more than two tons or having three or more axles, or tractors for hauling trailers, shall be stored, parked or garaged in a Residence District. The parking, storage or garaging of vans, trailers or semitrailers, or similar vehicles designed to be propelled by a separate means of locomotion, or vehicles designed to be used for moving said vans, trailers or semitrailers, as well as all self-propelled machinery designed for commercial use, shall be prohibited in Residence Districts. Customized vans used principally as pleasure or recreational vehicles are exempt from the provisions of this section.

§ 185-82 Parking and storage of recreational equipment in residence districts.

The storage of major recreational equipment owned by the occupant must comply with the following requirements in Residence Districts:

A. Not more than one such item may be stored on a lot, and no such item may be stored in any required front yard. For the purposes of this section, a boat resting on a boat trailer shall be considered as one item of equipment.

B. No major recreational equipment while stored shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes, either temporarily or permanently.

C. No major recreational equipment shall be stored out-of-doors unless it is in condition for the performance of the function for which it is customarily used or intended, or can be brought to such condition within a six-month period. In the event that major recreational equipment remains unused for a continuous period of longer than 18 months, it will be presumed that this requirement is not satisfied.

§ 185-83 Special use permit.

The Zoning Board of Review may hear and grant a special use permit from the requirements of the provisions of this article, as provided in Article XIV and subject to the prerequisite contained therein.