The purpose of this chapter is to achieve the following:
1. 
Provide off-street loading facilities in proportion to the needs of the associated use;
2. 
Provide increased traffic safety while reducing congestion and hazards;
3. 
Provide accessible, attractive secure and well-maintained loading and delivery facilities; and
4. 
Protect adjacent parcels and surrounding neighborhoods from the effects of noise and traffic generated from the anticipated land use.
(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 866-NS, eff. July 6, 2011)
Each use which requires the delivery or loading of goods and supplies shall have permanently maintained off-street loading areas in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 866-NS, eff. July 6, 2011)
Off-street loading spaces shall be provided in compliance with the following minimum standards:
1. 
General commercial uses:
Gross Floor Area
Spaces Required
Less than 10,000 s.f. of gfa
1
10,001—25,000 s.f.
2
25,001 + s.f.
3 + additional spaces as required by the Planning Commission
2. 
Industrial/manufacturing uses:
Gross Floor Area
Spaces Required
Less than 5,000 s.f. of gfa
1
5,001—25,000 s.f.
2
25,001 + s.f.
3 + additional spaces as required by the Planning Commission
3. 
Institutional, hospital, hotel, group housing, and similar uses:
Gross Floor Area
Spaces Required
Less than 10,000 s.f. of gfa
1
10,001—50,000 s.f.
2
50,001 + s.f.
3 + additional spaces as required by the Planning Commission
4. 
Office uses:
Gross Floor Area
Spaces Required
Less than 25,000 s.f. of gfa
1
25,001 + s.f.
1 + additional spaces as required by the Planning Commission
Requirements for uses not specifically listed shall be determined by the Director based upon the requirements for comparable uses and upon the particular characteristics of the proposed use.
(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 866-NS, eff. July 6, 2011)
Off-street loading spaces shall be provided in compliance with the following standards:
1. 
Dimensions. Loading spaces shall be not less than 10 feet in width, 25 feet in length, with 14 feet of vertical clearance.
2. 
Access.
A. 
Loading spaces shall have adequate ingress and egress so that trucks do not back in from or out onto a public right-of-way when loading/unloading.
B. 
Access to loading spaces shall be provided so that the maneuvering, loading or unloading of vehicles does not interfere with the orderly movement of traffic and pedestrians on the site or any street/alley.
C. 
Whenever an alley abuts a site where loading spaces are to be provided, access shall be from the alley.
D. 
Exemptions from the above requirements may be granted by the Director if the dimensions of the property cannot provide adequate turnaround area for vehicles and the loading area is accessible to a minor street. In that case, vehicles may be allowed to back into the loading area if the entrance is at least 100 feet from the nearest intersection and the end of the loading space is at least 50 feet from the curb on the opposite side of the street.
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3. 
Lighting. Loading spaces shall have lighting capable of providing adequate illumination for security and safety. Lighting fixtures shall be energy-efficient and in scale with the height and use of the structure(s). Any illumination, including security lighting, shall be directed away from adjoining parcels and public rights-of-way.
4. 
Location. Loading spaces shall be located and designed as follows:
A. 
Adjacent to, or as close as possible to, the main structure;
B. 
Situated in a location and adequately screened to ensure that the loading facility is not visible from any public right-of-way; and
C. 
Situated to ensure that all loading and unloading takes place on-site and not within other on-site traffic/circulation areas.
5. 
Screening. Loading spaces abutting property in a residential zoning district shall have a minimum six foot high decorative masonry wall, approved by the Director, to adequately screen the loading area(s) from view and noise impacts. All wall treatments shall occur on both sides.
6. 
Striping. Loading spaces shall be striped and marked to identify the spaces for "loading only." The striping shall be permanently maintained in a clear and visible manner at all times.
7. 
Surfacing. Loading spaces shall be surfaced with a minimum thickness of four inches of asphaltic concrete over a minimum thickness of six inches of an aggregate base material or an appropriate structural section to be approved by the City Engineer.
8. 
Curbing. Continuous concrete curbing at least six inches high and six inches wide shall be provided for all loading spaces. Wheel stops shall not be used in lieu of curbing.
9. 
Loading ramps and truck wells. All plans involving loading ramps (or wells) shall be accompanied by a profile drawing showing the ramp, ramp transitions and overhead clearances.
(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 866-NS, eff. July 6, 2011)
The provision of off-street loading spaces shall be subject to the applicable regulations of this Code, including provisions located in the following Articles:
1.
Article 11 of Chapter 4
Conditional Use Permits
2.
Article 8 of Chapter 4
Minor Conditional Use Permits
3.
Article 7 of Chapter 4
Minor Variances
4.
Article 10 of Chapter 4
Development Permits
5.
Article 9 of Chapter 4
Variances
(§ 1, Ord. 666-NS, eff. September 15, 2001, as amended by § 1, Ord. 866-NS, eff. July 6, 2011)