[Amended 4-22-2003 ATM, Art. 3; 5-26-2009 ATM, Art. 35]
A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this Article is to establish standards ensuring the availability and safe use of parking areas. It is intended that any use of land involving the arrival, departure, or temporary storage of motor vehicles, and all structures and uses requiring the delivery or shipment of goods as part of their function, be designed and operated to:
(1) 
Promote traffic safety by assuring adequate places for storing of motor vehicles off the street, and for their orderly access and egress to and from the public street;
(2) 
Prevent the creation of surplus amounts of parking spaces contributing to unnecessary development and additional generation of vehicle trips, resulting in traffic congestion and traffic service level deterioration on roadways;
(3) 
Reduce hazards to pedestrians and increase pedestrian connectivity between and within sites;
(4) 
Reduce unnecessary amounts of impervious surface areas from being created;
(5) 
Protect adjoining lots and the general public from nuisances and hazards such as:
a) 
noise, glare of headlights, dust and fumes resulting from the operation of motor vehicles;
b) 
glare and heat from parking lots; and
c) 
lack of visual relief from expanses of paving.
(6) 
Increase the mobility and safety for bicyclists; and
(7) 
Reduce other negative impacts such as carbon output.
B. 
Applicability. No building permit or certificate of occupancy shall be issued for the erection of a new building, the enlargement or increase in the net floor area of an existing building, the development of a use not located in a building, or the change from one type of use to another, unless off-street parking spaces, loading bays and bicycle parking are provided in accordance with this bylaw.
(1) 
Exception: Where the net floor area of an existing single or two-family residence is increased, no change in existing parking will be required if the building inspector determines that the increase is minor and will not affect the parking requirement.
C. 
Access
(1) 
Driveways for single and two-family residences shall have a minimum width of 9 feet.
(2) 
Driveways for all other uses shall have a minimum width of twelve (12) feet for one-way traffic, and eighteen (18) feet for two-way traffic, and shall meet the following requirements:
(a) 
Clearance: Traveled way shall have a two (2) foot shoulder on each side, and the entire way shall be maintained clear of any obstructions (e.g.; light poles, mailboxes, trees and limbs, shrubs, etc.).
(b) 
Grades: Centerline grade shall be no less than one (1) per cent[1] nor greater than fifteen (15) percent, except that no grade change shall exceed ten (10) percent over a distance of twenty (20) feet. Side shoulder grade shall not exceed five (5) percent, and shall slope away from the traveled way to direct water to the sides.
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(c) 
Curves: Minimum centerline radius shall be not less than one hundred (100) feet.
(d) 
Overhead Clearance: The space thirteen (13) feet, nine (9) inches above the driveway shall be maintained clear of wires, branches, or any other obstructions.
D. 
Parking
(1) 
One- and Two-Family Residential Parking
(a) 
A minimum space of eight (8) feet by eighteen (18) feet shall be provided for each vehicle.
(b) 
Required minimum parking spaces:
TYPE OF RESIDENCE
MINIMUM NUMBER OF SPACES
One- & two-family
2 per dwelling unit
Accessory apartment
1 per unit
Bed & Breakfast
1 per rental unit/guest room plus 2 spaces per dwelling unit
(c) 
For parking associated with developments requiring a special permit, the Planning Board by special permit may reduce the minimum required number of parking spaces by a maximum of twenty-five (25%) percent, based on a determination that the specific style of development requires fewer spaces than otherwise required by the general standards set out above.
(2) 
General Parking
(a) 
On site and off street parking and loading shall be provided in accordance with the table below, unless otherwise specified by special permit or elsewhere in this By-Law:
GENERAL PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS
USE1
PARKING SPACES
LOADING
Minimum
Minimum
Assembly:
0.3 per 1,000 s.f. Gross Floor Area (GFA) unless otherwise noted (u.o.n.)2
See Note 3 below
a)
Restaurant, nightclub, banquet hall, meeting hall, adult entertainment club, tavern and bar
0.3 per seat rated capacity, plus 1 per employee
b)
Church/places of worship, auditorium, theater
1 per 5 seats rated capacity
c)
Health Club
6 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
Business:
0.3 per 1,000 s.f. GFA u.o.n.
See Note 3 below
a)
Animal hospital/veterinary clinic
1 per doctor plus 1 for each employee plus 1 per examining room
b)
Bank
1 per 400 s.f. GFA
c)
Barber and beauty shop
2 per each practitioner plus 1 for each additional employee
d)
Civic administration
1 per 400 s.f. GFA
e)
Educational (above 12th grade)
1 per 400 s.f. GFA
f)
Medical/dental office
1 per doctor, plus one per employee, plus 1 per examining room
g)
Professional services office (attorney, architect, engineer, etc.)
1 per 400 s.f. GFA
h)
Motor vehicle repair/service station
1 per employee plus 3 per bay
Educational:
See Note 3 below
a)
Nursery School/Daycare
1 per 5 students, plus 1 per teacher and/or staff
b)
K-8
1.5 per classroom
c)
9-12
0.2 per student plus 1 per staff
Factory and Industrial:
2 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
See Note 3 below
Institutional:
See Note 3 below
a)
Nursing homes/ Rehabilitation Facilities
1 per 2 employees plus 1 per doctor plus 1 per 2 beds
b)
Adult care facility
1 per staff plus 1 per 2 residents
c)
Police Station/Fire Station
1 per staff on largest shift plus 2 per each official vehicle
Mercantile/Retail:
0.3 per 1,000 s.f. GFA u.o.n.
See Note 3 below
a)
Drug stores
3 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
b)
Markets
3 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
c)
Retail or wholesale stores
3 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
d)
Showrooms
0.5 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
Residential (other than one- and two-family dwellings):
See Note 3 below
a)
Hotel/motel/inn
1 per guest room or suite plus 1 per employee on largest shift, plus 50% of spaces required for accessory uses
b)
Multi-family dwellings
2 per dwelling unit for the first 2 units and 1.5 per unit for all subsequent units
c)
Dormitories
1 per teacher and staff plus 1 parking space for each sleeping room
d)
Assisted living residence
1.5 per unit
Warehouse/Storage:
1 per each employee on the largest shift
See Note 3 below
Utility and Miscellaneous:
1 per 1,000 s.f. GFA
See Note 3 below
Uses Not Otherwise Specified in this Table
Spaces sufficient to accommodate on site all users of the facility, as established through documentation submitted to satisfy special permit or site plan review, which ever may apply, or if no such requirements apply, documentation to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector
See Note 3 below
1.
For purposes of this table, Use refers to Use and Occupancy classifications in accordance with Massachusetts 780 CMR 3.00, Seventh Edition.
2.
Parking calculated per person or per Gross Floor Area (GFA) unless otherwise noted.
3.
Loading spaces: All uses indicated above and other uses with regular delivery and/or shipping activity shall provide loading spaces according to the following:
5,000-20,000 s.f. GFA
20,001-50,000 s.f. GFA
50,001-100,000 s.f. GFA
Every additional 100,000 s.f. GFA
1 space
2 spaces
3 spaces
1 space
(b) 
Maximum numbers of parking spaces No maximum limits have been included in the table in § D.(2).(a); above; however development plans which actively seek to keep both parking spaces and associated impervious surfaces to a functional and sufficient minimum will be strongly encouraged in order to reduce run off and heat retention. See § 97-7.A.(1) and –A.(4) above.
(c) 
Other parking area design The following shall apply:
01) 
Parking spaces: Each parking space shall be provided direct access to an aisle or driveway. Parking spaces shall each provide space adequate to park an automobile, plus means of access, with dimensions meeting standards for standard and compact automobiles established by the Planning Board in the Rules and Regulations which accompany this bylaw. Spaces shall be clearly delineated by signage, wheel stops, or lines on the pavement (if paved).
02) 
Size: Standard parking spaces shall be a minimum of 9 feet wide by 18 feet long.
03) 
All weather usability: All areas used for required parking and vehicular travel shall be provided with a base and surface that will support the intended use for all weather conditions, or unless, in performing Site Plan Review (see § 97-9.A), the Planning Board determines that, because of seasonal or otherwise limited use, an alternative surface will adequately prevent dust, erosion, water accumulation or unsightly conditions.
04) 
Location: All required parking shall be provided onsite, or in the same zoning district within 250' and in the same ownership of the subject property.
05) 
Backing prohibited: No parking space shall be located to require backing to or from a street.
06) 
For Parking Lots for ten (10) or more vehicles, the parking area design shall be subject to Site Plan Review (see § 97-9.A) and to the Stormwater Management By-Law (see § 87)[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 87, Stormwater Management and Illicit Discharge and Erosion Control.
07) 
Lighting: all lights illuminating a parking area shall be designed and located so as to direct light away from any street and adjacent property, shall be limited to no more than 10,000 lumens per fixture, and shall be restricted in height to a maximum of twenty (20) feet. No low-pressure sodium vapor lighting shall be permitted.
08) 
Grades: No area used for required parking shall exceed two (2) percent in grade in any direction.
09) 
Computation: When unit of measurement determining number of required parking spaces result in a fraction of a space, any fraction over one-half shall require an additional space.
10) 
For parking associated with uses requiring a special permit, the Planning Board by special permit may reduce the required number of parking spaces by a maximum of twenty-five (25%) percent, based on a determination that the specific use requires fewer spaces than otherwise required by the general standard.
11) 
Snow storage: One or more areas abutting the parking area(s) shall be provided, at the rate of forty (40) square feet per parking space, for the storage of plowed snow.
12) 
Multiple uses: When a lot includes more than one principle[3] use, parking shall be provided in an amount equal to the sum of the requirements of the individual uses, except where shared spaces may be possible in the case of distributive use times.
[3]
Editor's Note: So in original.
13) 
Handicapped parking shall comply with Massachusetts 521CMR and all applicable Federal laws and regulations which require additional or higher standards of compliance than Mass. 521CMR.
E. 
Loading
(1) 
Loading spaces: for provision of required spaces see table in D.(2) above.
(a) 
Each loading space shall measure a minimum of ten (10) feet in width by forty (40)) feet in length; shall not be an area designated for parking or other use; and shall not be located within twenty (20) feet of any single or two-family residential property or street.
(b) 
Other Loading Requirements: All loading shall be on the same lot as the principle[4] use.
[4]
Editor's Note: So in original.
(c) 
Backing prohibited: No loading space shall be located to require backing to or from a street.