A. 
It is the intent of this article is to assure that all development provide for safe and adequate access to a lot proposed for development. This intent is furthered by the requirement that all development that proposes to contain a new City street, private street and/or internal drive be designed to provide for:
(1) 
Convenient traffic access and circulation;
(2) 
Traffic control and safety;
(3) 
Access for firefighting, snow removal, and street maintenance equipment;
(4) 
Stormwater drainage; and
(5) 
Utility location.
B. 
The provisions of this article are also intended to help protect the public health, safety, and general welfare by achieving the following objectives:
(1) 
Protect the users of adjacent properties from nuisances caused by the noise, fumes, and glare of headlights which may result from the operation of vehicles;
(2) 
Minimize further expansion of impervious surfaces within the City and reduce loss of green space;
(3) 
Facilitate the implementation of sustainable design practices and development of green infrastructure to protect natural resources and improve the City's resiliency in the face of climate change;
(4) 
Help to avoid and mitigate traffic congestion, traffic hazards, and vehicle and pedestrian interaction; and
(5) 
Encouraging multimodal transportation options and enhanced pedestrian safety.
A. 
The term "vehicle," as used in this article, shall include, but not be limited to automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, recreational vehicles, campers, and trailers, including recreational and boat trailers.
B. 
No site plan shall be approved and no permit shall be issued for the erection or occupancy of a building or structure unless the use conforms to the requirements of this article.
C. 
For any off-street parking facility as required by this article, a layout plan showing entrances, drives and parking stalls, and snow storage and removal provisions shall be submitted as part of site plan review.
D. 
Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided and kept available as an accessory use to all permitted and specially permitted uses of buildings, structures, and lots.
E. 
Areas that may be considered as off-street parking space include any private garage, carport, or other area available for parking other than a street, entrance or exit lane, vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle accessway, or driveway.
F. 
The provision and maintenance of private off-street parking areas is a continuing obligation of the property owner.
A. 
General requirements. Off-street parking and driveways for single-, two-, and multifamily dwellings up to four units shall conform to the following:
(1) 
Parking is prohibited on grass and yard space that is not hard-surfaced and properly designated for such use.
(2) 
No required front or side yard area, except designated driveway space, shall be used for the open-air parking or storage of motor vehicles, boats, trailers, campers, recreation vehicles, or parts thereof.
(3) 
No more than one commercial vehicle per dwelling unit may be parked in a residential district. Such vehicles shall be limited to no more than 3/4 tons.
(4) 
No more than one unlicensed vehicle shall be parked or stored on a lot in a residential district.
(5) 
Paving the area which fronts the front line of a building in a residential area is prohibited.
(6) 
Vehicles parked in violation of Subsection A shall be issued a parking violation notice. The failure to remove said vehicle from the restricted or prohibited area within 24 hours of receiving a parking violation notice will result in said vehicle being towed at the owner's expense and a fine of $100.
B. 
Residential driveways.
(1) 
Residential driveways are exempt from minimum side setback requirements.
(2) 
There shall be no more than two curbcuts providing access to a lot.
(3) 
All newly constructed driveways shall require the issuance of a building permit in accordance with this chapter.
C. 
Neighborhood or municipal parking lots.
(1) 
In highly congested areas where there are very limited or no off-street parking facilities in residential districts, a neighborhood parking lot may be designated at the direction of the Traffic Advisory Committee. The purpose of these lots is for use by the affected properties to eliminate front yard parking.
(2) 
The designation, use, and permitting of neighborhood or municipal parking lots shall be in accordance with Chapter 183 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the City of Lockport Code.
(3) 
No unlicensed or abandoned vehicles are to be parked in neighborhood lots.
A. 
Location in all districts. Off-street parking and loading spaces are prohibited in the front yard in all districts. However, parking in front yard space shall be allowed for single-, two- and multifamily dwellings up to four units on an approved, designated driveway.
B. 
Side yard parking. Side yard parking is prohibited in the MU-D District. Parking areas located in the side yard may be permitted in the MU-GC, MU-N, MO, MLI, and GI Districts when in compliance with the following standards:
(1) 
The overall width of the parking area frontage does not exceed 30% of the lot width (see Figure 32.1).
(2) 
The paved parking area is at least 10 feet behind the front building line. Where no primary structure is provided on a lot, the parking area shall meet the minimum setback requirements or be located at least 10 feet behind the front building line of an adjacent property, whichever is greater (see Figure 32.1).
(3) 
The parking area is screened from the public right-of-way with landscaping or other visual buffer measuring at least three, but no more than five feet in height.
FIGURE 32.1 SIDE/REAR YARD PARKING
(4) 
Special restrictions. Parking and loading spaces shall never be located at the corner of any street, in front of any building, or between a building and the public right-of-way.
A. 
Materials and markings.
(1) 
All spaces shall be hard surfaced with dustless material and shall be maintained in smooth and well-graded condition. Such surface shall be permanent and capable of being kept free of snow, dust, and dirt.
(2) 
The use of pervious pavement material is highly encouraged. Areas comprised of permeable pavement shall be excluded from the calculation of maximum lot coverage.
B. 
Landscaping and screening. All off-street parking and loading areas shall be landscaped and screened in accordance with Article 33.
C. 
Lighting. All off-street parking and loading areas shall be illuminated in accordance with the requirements of Article 35.
D. 
Grading and stormwater. All spaces and their access driveways shall be graded so as to provide for the proper mitigation of stormwater and runoff.
E. 
ADA conformance. All new or reconstructed off-street parking areas must conform to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
F. 
Snow removal. All off-street parking areas must include a dedicated area independent of required parking and loading spaces for the placing and storage of snow.
G. 
Dimensions.
(1) 
Off-street parking space and aisle dimensions shall be in conformance with the table below:
Angle of Parking Space
Width
(feet)
Length
(feet)
90°
9 MIN
18 MIN
60°
9 MIN
18 MIN
45°
8 MIN
18 MIN
180° (parallel)
8 MIN
22 MIN
(2) 
Aisles intended for the maneuvering of vehicles within parking areas shall be no more than 24 feet in width.
H. 
Parking garages.
(1) 
Parking garages that front Main Street shall have commercial space on the first floor along street frontages or a comparable design.
(2) 
The materials and architectural detailing must be coordinated with surrounding buildings.
A. 
Determination of requirements. The requirement for a single use (e.g., a retail store) shall be determined directly from this section. The requirements for a combination of uses made up of multiple permitted or specially permitted uses (e.g., a retail store with an office building) shall be determined by establishing the requirement for each single use and adding them together, unless otherwise provided for in this article.
(1) 
If the use is not specifically listed in the schedule of such requirements, the requirement shall be the same as the most similar listed use, as determined by the CEO.
(2) 
Any use requiring 1/2 or more of a parking space shall require the full space.
(3) 
The number of parking spaces provided for any use, except residential, shall not exceed 125% of the minimum requirement, unless otherwise approved as part of site plan review. The need for additional parking must be demonstrated by a quantifying analysis and determined not to create adverse impacts to neighborhood character, quality of life, or environment.
(4) 
The minimum parking requirement may be reduced as part of site plan review if the applicant can make permanent arrangements for shared parking (in accordance with § 190-32.7) with other uses or can otherwise prove that the parking standards are excessive for the use.
(5) 
The minimum parking requirement may be increased as part of site plan review if it is deemed necessary to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.
(6) 
If the use of the building or structure erected on or after the effective date of this chapter is changed to another use which requires more off-street parking spaces than required for the original use, additional off-street paved parking spaces shall be provided in the amount necessary to conform to this section, unless waived by the Planning and Zoning Board.
B. 
Mixed Use Downtown (MU-D) and Mixed Light Industrial (MLI) Districts. There shall be no minimum parking requirements for existing development within the MU-D and MLI Districts, nor any change in use for existing structures. Any expansion of a structure or floor area of existing development and all new development shall provide off-street parking spaces in accordance with the following table:
Land Use
Minimum Spaces (MU-D District)
Residential
1 per dwelling unit
Lodging
1 per room
Other
3 per 1,000 square feet of gross floor area
C. 
All other districts. Off-street parking spaces shall be provided in all other districts in accordance with the following table:
Land Use
Minimum Spaces
Residential
Single- or two-family dwelling
1 per dwelling unit
Multifamily dwelling
1.5 per dwelling unit
Upper floor dwelling unit
1 per unit
Bed & breakfast
1 per room
Hospice, nursing home, or assisted living
0.5 per bed + 0.5 per employee1
Short-term rentals
Dwelling Type Requirement + 1
Short-term rentals over 4 bedrooms
Dwelling Type Requirement + 2
Commercial
Retail operation
3 per 1,000 square feet2
Service operation
2 per 1,000 square feet2
Restaurant, bar, or tavern
4 per 1,000 square feet2
Office, administrative, or professional
2 per 1,000 square feet2
Office or clinic, medical
3 per 1,000 square feet2
Lodging
1 per guest room + 0.5 per employee1
Other commercial use
3 per 1,000 square feet2
Industrial
All uses
1 per employee1
Other
Licensed daycare facility
1 per classroom + 1 per employee1
Public use/place of public assembly
0.5 per occupant, based on max occupancy
School, public or private
1 per classroom + 1 per employee1
Place of worship
1 per 3 seats3
Home occupation
1 per nonresident employee, in addition to residential use requirement4
NOTES:
(1)
Based on the maximum shift.
(2)
As measured by the gross floor area of the primary structure of the proposed use.
(3)
18 linear inches of pews, benches, or other similar seating shall be counted as one seat.
(4)
No more than 2 additional spaces shall be allowed.
The following alternative arrangements may be employed to satisfy off-street parking requirements, conditional of site plan review approval.
A. 
On-street and municipally owned parking. On-street and municipally owned parking spaces may be used to satisfy up to 20% of the requirements for off-street parking provided such spaces are no more than 1,000 feet from the use. The use and permitting of these spaces shall be subject to the requirements of Chapter 183 (Vehicles and Traffic) of the City of Lockport Code, as applicable.
B. 
Public transit access. A public transit stop or station may be used to satisfy up to 15% of the minimum off-street parking requirement, provided the transit stop or station is located within 1,000 feet of the use.
C. 
Parking demand analysis. The number of off-street parking spaces required for any use may be adjusted with the completion of a parking demand analysis by the applicant. When parking will be shared with other functions, the parking demand analysis may be used to determine the sharing factor. Such analysis shall include, at a minimum:
(1) 
An estimate of the number of spaces needed to accommodate the proposed use;
(2) 
A summary and map of the proposed location and/or configuration of spaces (on-site, public lots, on-street, etc.);
(3) 
A market study and/or other supporting information and rationale behind the requested number of parking spaces; and
(4) 
An analysis of existing parking conditions in the surrounding area, to include a radius of at least 500 feet.
D. 
Joint and shared parking facilities.
(1) 
Benefit. Joint and shared off-street parking areas that extend across property lines are encouraged as parking can be more efficiently organized between uses in larger areas, resulting in more parking capacity with less land devoted to parking.
(2) 
Joint parking. Joint off-street parking areas by two or more buildings or uses located on the same lot or adjacent lots is permitted, provided that the total of such facilities shall not be less than the sum required of the various buildings or uses computed separately. The land upon which the joint parking spaces are located shall be owned or leased by one or more of the collective users.
(3) 
Shared parking. Shared off-street parking areas for two or more uses that are located on the same lot or adjacent lots is permitted, provided they have differing peak parking demands or operating hours. Shared parking areas shall conform to the following:
(a) 
The minimum number of spaces provided is at least that of the use with the greatest parking requirement.
(b) 
The parking area is located within 1,000 feet of the building(s) or use(s) it is intended to serve.
(c) 
The applicant demonstrates that the uses have different peak hour parking demands or that the total parking demand at one time would be adequately served by the total number of parking spaces proposed.
(d) 
A shared parking agreement is executed documenting the shared uses and property owners and must be reflected in a deed, lease, contract, easement, or other appropriate legal document.
(e) 
A maintenance agreement is executed documenting the responsibility of each user in the maintenance and upkeep of said shared parking facilities.
A. 
Bicycle parking. The provision of bicycle parking is encouraged with all multifamily and nonresidential development at a rate of at least 10% of vehicle parking requirements.
B. 
Pedestrian connectivity.
(1) 
Off-street parking areas of five or more spaces shall include a clearly identified pedestrian network from the parking spaces to building entrances and uses on site. Pedestrian connections to the public sidewalk shall also be required, where applicable (see Figure 32.2).
(2) 
Sidewalks shall be provided for the full length of all street frontages on a lot.
(3) 
Applicants should cooperate with adjoining properties in creating a pedestrian network with mid-block connections, public courtyards and small plazas.
(4) 
Crosswalks should highlight points of potential conflict between vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclist with signs, changes in texture or color, pavement materials, etc.
FIGURE 32.2 ON & OFF-SITE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIVITY
A. 
General requirements.
(1) 
No person, firm or corporation shall construct or locate any driveway entrance into or exit from a road in the City of Lockport without having first met the provisions of this section.
(2) 
Access from streets to parking areas shall be clearly defined. In order to minimize the number of curb cuts, shared access drives and the development of rear service lanes for access to parking and loading areas are required.
(3) 
All parking spaces, except those required for single-, two-, or multifamily dwellings up to four units, shall have access to a public street or alley in such a manner that any vehicle leaving or entering the parking area from or into a public street or alley shall be traveling in a forward motion.
(4) 
Shared access roads and driveways may be required where vehicular ingress and egress can be more efficiently organized and result in fewer potential pedestrian and vehicle traffic conflicts.
(5) 
In no case shall there be permitted unrestricted access along the length of the street or alley upon which the parking area abuts.
B. 
Location requirements.
(1) 
Direct vehicular access driveways and curb cuts to public streets shall be minimized to the greatest extent practicable. Curb cuts and driveways to nonresidential uses shall be spaced a minimum of 50 feet apart. Minimum spacing is to be measured from the closest edge of the driveway to the closest edge of the nearest driveway on the same side of the street.
(2) 
No access road or driveway shall be located closer than 40 feet to the intersection of public streets.
(3) 
All driveways, access roads, and buildings shall have designated pedestrian walking paths providing connections between entrances and existing sidewalks.
(4) 
Access from side streets rather than arterials should be obtained to maintain mobility and minimize conflict points, unless such access would abut a residential use. The development of secondary access roads behind developments is encouraged, where feasible.
C. 
Design requirements.
(1) 
The minimum and maximum width of an access driveway for all nonresidential uses shall be determined by the table below:
Land Use
Required Width
(feet)
Other - one-way access
10 Min
16 Max
Other - two-way access
20 Min
24 Max
(2) 
No more than two driveways shall be permitted to a single lot entering/exiting on one street.
(3) 
All driveways shall be constructed with a suitable crown so as to lessen the erosion effect of surface runoff as approved by the City Engineer. In addition, as specified by the City Engineer, a catch basin at a point near the intersection of the driveway and the street may be required. This will prevent surface water and debris from being discharged onto the street.
(4) 
A traffic study or analysis may be required to support design considerations and/or to validate the mitigation of any traffic impacts associated with the development of a street or driveway.
D. 
Construction.
(1) 
The developer shall furnish all materials and bear the costs of all construction, and shall pay the cost of all work done and materials furnished as required to meet the conditions set by the City Traffic Advisory Committee, and the County and State Highway Departments.
(2) 
No new driveway, or alteration, or relocation made to an existing driveway, shall be made without first securing permission from the City Traffic Advisory Committee.
(3) 
All drives shall be constructed in accordance with Chapter 158 (Streets and Sidewalks).
A. 
Loading spaces required. In all districts, except the MU-D District, any lot or structure thereon which is to be occupied by a nonresidential use exceeding 4,000 square feet in gross floor area and requiring the receipt and/or distribution of materials or merchandise by vehicles shall provide off-street loading spaces in accordance with this section.
B. 
Minimum space requirements. Loading spaces shall be provided for uses in accordance with the table below:
Gross Floor Area (SF)
Min #
Min Area
Min Clearance Height
Less than 4,000
0
-
-
4,000 to 10,000
1
12 x 60 ft
14 ft
10,000 to 50,000
1
12 x 60 ft
14 ft
Each additional 50,000
+1
12 x 60 ft
14 ft
C. 
Loading spaces shall be located in the side or rear yard only.
D. 
Off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot or parcel as the structure or use for which it is provided.
E. 
Loading spaces and maneuvering areas shall be designed so that loading operations:
(1) 
Do not encroach upon any sidewalk, street, public right-of-way, or fire lane; and
(2) 
Do not occupy any required off-street parking spaces or access driveways.
F. 
No loading space shall be located closer than 10 feet from a lot line abutting any residential zoning district.
G. 
All loading areas shall comply with the landscaping and screening standards in Article 33 of this chapter.
H. 
All outdoor lighting intended to illuminate loading areas shall be in conformance with the requirements of Article 35 of this chapter.
Every parcel of land hereafter used as a public or private parking area or loading area, including a commercial parking lot and also an automobile or trailer sales lot, shall be developed and maintained in accordance with standards adopted by the Planning Board entitled "Standards for the Development and Maintenance of Off-Street Parking and Loading Areas."
The following requirements shall apply to charging stations and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) established as part of a nonresidential or mixed use off-street parking area.
A. 
Permitted EVSE shall include Level 1, 2, and 3 charging stations.
B. 
Battery charging station outlets and connector devices shall be mounted to comply with local and state building and energy codes and must comply with all relevant Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.
C. 
Equipment mounted on pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other devices shall be designed and located as to not impede pedestrian travel or create trip hazards on sidewalks.
D. 
Cords shall be retractable or have a place to hang the connector and cord keeping them off the ground.
E. 
EVSE pedestals shall be designed to minimize potential damage by accidents, vandalism and to be safe for use in inclement weather.
F. 
EVSE shall not encroach into the required dimensions of a parking space (length, width, and height clearances).
G. 
EVSE shall be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of the equipment. A phone number or other contact information shall be provided on publicly accessible equipment for reporting problems and customer support.