City of Haverhill, MA
Essex County
By using eCode360 you agree to be legally bound by the Terms of Use. If you do not agree to the Terms of Use, please do not use eCode360.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Chapter 255 Zoning
Article VIII: Off-Street Parking and Loading Regulations

§ 255-42 Compliance required.

[Amended 3-13-1979 by Doc. 299-C]
After the effective date of this chapter, off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided for every new structure, the enlargement of an existing structure, the development of a new land use or any change in an existing use in accordance with Table 1: Table of Use and Parking Regulations[1] and the requirements contained therein; excepting that any/all parking requirements shall be waived for any properties fronting upon either the northerly or southerly side of either the Merrimack Street, Washington Square and/or Washington Street right-of-way as bounded in total, easterly by Main Street and westerly by Railroad Square.
[1]
Editor's Note: Table 1: Table of Use and Parking Regulations is included at the end of this chapter.

§ 255-43 Parking spaces for the handicapped.

[Added 3-13-1979 by Doc. 299-C]
Handicapped parking spaces shall be provided in accordance with the Massachusetts Architectural Barrier Board Rules and Regulations.

§ 255-44 Parking Code.

[Amended 6-10-1992 by Doc. 52-C]
The Parking Code stipulated in the Table 1: Table of Use and Parking Requirements shall represent the respective requirements stated below:
PARKING CODE REGULATIONS
Parking Code
Requirements
A
1 1/2 spaces per dwelling unit
B
1 space for each 100 square feet of gross floor area
C
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
D
1 space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area
E
1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
F
1 space for each 600 square feet of gross floor area
G
1 space for each 800 square feet of gross floor area
H
1 space for each 4 seats at design capacity
I
2 per classroom in an elementary school; 3 per classroom in middle and junior high school; 4 per classroom, plus 1 space for every 4 seats of the total seating capacity of the auditorium or gymnasium, whichever has the largest capacity, in a senior high school
[Amended 2-18-1992 by Doc. 17-B]
J
1 space per unit for rent

§ 255-45 Off-street parking area design requirements.

[Amended 6-10-1992 by Doc. 52-C]
Off-street parking areas shall be designed to comply with one or a combination of the following minimum standards. (Up to 35% of required parking spaces shall be allowed to have a reduced width of not less than 7.5 feet to accommodate compact and subcompact cars, with corresponding aisle width reductions for such areas subject to a determination by the Building Inspector.)
A. 
Parallel parking.
B. 
One- to thirty-degree angle parking.
C. 
Thirty-one- to forty-five-degree angle parking.
D. 
Forty-six- to sixty-degree angle parking.
E. 
Sixty-one- to ninety-degree angle parking.

§ 255-46 Off-street loading and unloading requirements.

For every building hereafter erected for retail and service commercial, and wholesale, transportation and industrial, and community facility use, as specified in Table 1: Table of Use and Parking Regulations, and for every such use hereinafter established in an existing building or area, the following off-street loading and unloading requirements shall prevail:
LOADING REGULATIONS
Loading Spaces Required
Building Gross Floor Area
(square feet)
Retail and Service Commercial, Wholesale, Transportation and Industrial
Community Facility
0 to 3,000
1
0
3,001 to 25,000
2
0
25,001 to 50,000
3
1
50,001 to 75,000
4
2
75,001 to 100,000
5
2
over 100,000
5, plus 1 space for each 50,000 square feet or fraction thereof over 100,000 square feet
2, plus 1 for each 100,000 square feet or fraction thereof over 100,000 square feet

§ 255-47 Off-street loading space design.

The first off-street loading and unloading space herein required for a building shall be at least 12 feet in width, 35 feet in length and have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet. All additional required spaces shall be at least 12 feet in width, 55 feet in length and have a minimum vertical clearance of 14 feet.

§ 255-48 Existing spaces.

Parking or loading spaces being maintained in any district in connection with any existing use on the effective date of this chapter shall not be decreased so long as said use remains, unless a number of parking or loading spaces is constructed elsewhere such that the total number of spaces conforms to the requirements of the foregoing tables, provided that this regulation shall not require the maintenance of more parking or loading spaces than is required according to the tables, and further provided that this provision will not be applied when such space is acquired for public purposes.

§ 255-49 Computation of spaces.

When the computation of required parking or loading spaces results in the requirement of a fractional space, any fraction over 1/2 shall require one space.

§ 255-50 Combined facilities.

Parking required for two or more buildings or uses may be provided in combined facilities on the same or adjacent lots, subject to approval by the Building Inspector, where it is evident that such facilities will continue to be available for the several buildings or uses and the total number provided is consistent with the combined requirement of the respective uses.

§ 255-51 Continuance.

Required off-street parking or loading spaces which after development are later designated as, and accepted by the City for, off-street parking or loading purposes shall continue to serve the uses or structures to meet these requirements so long as said use or structure remains.

§ 255-52 Location of parking and loading spaces.

A. 
Required off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided on the same lot as the principal use they are required to serve or, when practical difficulties as determined by the Board prevent their establishment upon the same lot, they shall be established no further than 300 feet from the premises to which they are appurtenant.
B. 
No off-street parking space for a use permitted in any C or I District shall be allowed in any R or S District except within 100 feet of and with driveway access from such C or I District and when screened as in § 255-24 and only when permitted by the Board.
C. 
For residential uses (one-, two- or three-family), parking in the front yard shall be allowed only in the driveway or in a backup strip adjacent to the driveway. Any paved areas including the driveway shall not cover more than 50% of the front yard.
[Added 6-10-1992 by Doc. 52-C]
D. 
For nonresidential uses, a fifteen-foot-wide landscaped strip shall be provided between the parking area and the street right-of-way except in a CC District and a CM District where a minimum of an eight-foot-wide landscaped strip shall be provided.
[Added 6-10-1992 by Doc. 52-C; amended 8-14-2001 by Doc. 97-CC]

§ 255-53 Parking and loading space standards.

All parking and loading areas containing over five spaces, including automotive and drive-in establishments of all types, shall be either contained within structures, or subject to the following:
A. 
The parking area and access driveways thereto shall be surfaced with bituminous or cement concrete material and shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of all surface water accumulation.
B. 
A substantial bumper of masonry, steel, granite or heavy timber, or a concrete curb or berm curb which is backed, shall be placed at the edge of surfaced areas except driveways in order to protect abutting structures, properties and sidewalks and screening materials.
C. 
Any fixture used to illuminate any area shall be so arranged as to direct the light away from the street and away from adjoining premises used for residential purposes.
D. 
There shall not be any vehicle repair or gasoline or oil service facilities or any repair made to any motor vehicles except on a lot occupied by a permitted automotive use. Any gasoline or oil facilities shall be at least 25 feet from any lot line.
E. 
There shall not be any storage of materials or equipment or display of merchandise within required parking area except as part of approved building operations or by approval of the proper authority.
F. 
Parking shall not be located within the required front yard area in any R or S District and must be set back from the front property line at least five feet in any CN District and 20 feet in any CH or BP[1] District.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended in conjunction with Doc. 17-GGG, adopted 8-10-2010.
G. 
Parking and loading spaces other than those required for single- and two-family dwellings shall be so arranged as not to permit backing of automobiles onto any street.
H. 
Any portion of any entrance or exit driveway shall not be closer than 50 feet to the curbline of an intersecting street.
I. 
Any two driveways leading to or from a street to or from a single lot shall not be within 30 feet of each other at their intersections with the front lot line.
J. 
Any entrance or exit driveway shall not exceed 30 feet in width at its intersection with the front lot line.
[Amended 8-14-1974 by Doc. 188]

§ 255-54 Line-up spaces.

All line-up spaces shall be at least nine feet wide and 18 feet long and may be arranged end to end, and located off the street.

§ 255-55 Common driveways.

[Added 10-28-1997 by Doc. 147-B]
No driveway shall be used to provide access to more than two residential dwellings. Any driveway used to provide access to more than one residential dwelling shall not exceed 200 feet in length.

§ 255-55.1 Parking requirements in Waterfront District (WD).

[Added 1-7-2014]
A. 
The parking requirements in Sub-Zone B shall follow the regulations as set forth in § 255-144 of the Merrimack Street Gateway Renaissance Overlay District.
B. 
There is no off-street parking requirement in Sub-zones A, C, and D except for the following:
Use
Parking Requirement
Multifamily residential
1 parking space per unit
Artist live/work unit
1 parking space per unit
C. 
The parking requirements in Sub-zones E, F, G, and H are as follows:
Use
Parking Requirement
Multifamily residential
1.5 parking spaces per unit
Artist live/work unit
1.5 parking space per unit
Galleries
1 space for every 250 square feet of gross floor area
Retail use primarily serving the local retail businesses or service the needs of the neighborhood, including but not limited to barber/beauty shop, shoe repair shop, self-service laundry, pickup or delivery station of laundry or dry cleaning, or tailor shop
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Retail use selling one or more of the following, but not limited to: food, baked goods, groceries, clothing, dry goods, books, art, flowers, paint, hardware, and minor household appliances
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Retail uses exceeding 50,000 square feet of gross floor area
1 space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area
Restaurant, coffee shop, diner, luncheonette and/or sandwich shop (non-drive-through) with outdoor seating oriented toward the river where applicable
1 space for every 3 seats
Bar (no live entertainment and/or dancing)
1 space for every 3 seats
Dairy or ice cream bar (non-drive-through window)
1 space for every 3 seats
Bank and/or other financial institutions (with or without a drive-through)
1 space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area
Inn, hotel, or bed-and-breakfast establishment
1 space per unit
Marinas
0.6 space per recreational slip and 1 space per commercial slip
General office uses unless otherwise specified
1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
Professional offices - accountant's office, architect's and/or engineer's office, attorney's office, dentist's office, insurance office, medical clinic, real estate office
1 space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area
Churches and other places of worship
1 space for each 4 seats at design capacity
Nonprofit educational facility which is religious, sectarian, denominational or public, not to include any student living quarters or any type of trade school or nursery school
2 per classroom in an elementary school; 3 per classroom in a middle and junior high school; 4 per classroom, plus 1 space for every 4 seats of the total seating capacity of the auditorium or gymnasium, whichever has the largest capacity, in a senior high school
City governmental building (unless otherwise specified)
1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
City auditorium
1 space for each 4 seats at design capacity
Historical association or society
1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
Hospital
1.25 per bed at design capacity
Membership clubs, lodges and/or societies
1 space for every 3 seats
Indoor recreational facility or sports facility
1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area
Cultural uses such as a library, museum, gallery, concert hall, theater, auditorium, performance space, aquarium, or historical exhibit open to the public generally
1 space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area
Professional and/or business schools for profit (includes dance, music, art, other professional and/or business schools)
2 per classroom in an elementary school; 3 per classroom in a middle and junior high school; 4 per classroom, plus 1 space for every 4 seats of the total seating capacity of the auditorium or gymnasium, whichever has the largest capacity, in a senior high school
(1) 
The parking requirements may be accommodated by either providing parking on site or off site or a combination of on-site parking and/or parking at municipal or other parking facilities in the vicinity of the proposed use.
(2) 
If the required parking is provided on site, the design of the parking shall conform to the specifications as set forth in § 255-45 the Zoning Ordinance. In addition, on-site parking areas shall meet the following requirements:
(a) 
Parking and loading areas shall be hidden from view from public ways. Parking lots are not permitted in the front of buildings and should be located at the side or rear of a lot or in concealed structures, wherever possible.
(b) 
Parking and loading areas shall be suitably screened visually from the street and abutters. Any views into parking areas shall be minimized through use of landscaping or architectural treatment.
(c) 
Parking areas shall provide pedestrian walkways and connections to the sidewalk system.
(3) 
If the required parking is provided at municipal or other parking facilities, the following requirements must be met:
(a) 
The parking facility must be less than 1,000 feet from the proposed development, the distance to be measured in a straight line from the two closest points between the proposed use and the parking facility.
(b) 
If using a municipal facility, the owner must purchase parking stickers from the City if available or lease the required number of spaces to satisfy the parking requirement.
D. 
Reduction in the parking requirement.
(1) 
The required amount of parking may be reduced at the discretion of the PAA upon showing that the lesser amount of parking will not cause excessive congestion, endanger public safety, or that the lesser amount of parking will provide positive environmental or other benefits. The Plan Approval Authority may consider:
(a) 
The availability of surplus off-street parking in the vicinity of the use being served and/or the proximity of a bus or a MBTA transit station.
(b) 
The availability of public or commercial parking facilities in the vicinity of the use.
(c) 
Shared use of off-street parking spaces serving other uses having peak user demands at different times.
(d) 
Age, income or other characteristics of the likely applicants which are likely to result in a lower level of auto usage.
(e) 
Such other factors as may be considered by the Approval Authority, including whether the reduction of the parking requirement is likely to encourage the use of public transportation or encourage a proposed development to be more pedestrian friendly.
(2) 
If one or more is applicable and the PAA determines it is in the best interest of the City, a reduction in the parking requirements can be approved.
E. 
Shared parking in Sub-Zone E. Any off-street parking required by this section in Sub-Zone E for any building or use may be included as part of any off-street parking area similarly required for another building or use on the same site only when the type of buildings or uses indicate that the usage of such parking area would not occur simultaneously, as determined by the Economic Development Director.