[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Farmington 4-24-1984
by Ord. No. 32. Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the purpose of this chapter to provide standards and controls
for the layout and maintenance of parking lots so as to ensure the safe movement
of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, protect abutting properties from potential
nuisances arising from parking lots and generally promote the public health,
safety and welfare.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Any vehicle which is self-propelled.
Any real estate, whether a lot, parcel, yard or enclosure, used in
whole or in part for the storing or parking of motor vehicles, where the available
space for such parking, including driveways, exceeds 10 parking spaces and
where any exit or entrance leads on to or off of any Town or state highway
or street; provided, however, that parking areas incidental to any one- or
two-family residence used solely for residential purposes, with no business
or commercial use incidental thereto, shall not be deemed to be a parking
lot.
An individual, firm, partnership or corporation.
A.Â
No person shall maintain a parking lot after the effective
date of this chapter without first having obtained from the Town Manager a
permit to operate such lot. Such permit shall be issued by the Town Manager
only upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter and shall be of indefinite
duration; provided, however, that it may be revoked at any time by the Town
Manager for failure of the person owning or maintaining such lot to comply
with any of the provisions of this chapter.
B.Â
In cases where the Zoning Regulations of the Town of
Farmington[1] require Town Plan and Zoning Commission approval of the layout
of a parking lot, a separate permit application under this chapter shall not
be required. Approval of plans by the Commission shall constitute compliance
with this chapter, and a permit shall be issued under the terms of this chapter
at the time a certificate of occupancy is issued.
[Amended 7-28-1992]
No person shall construct or maintain a parking lot after the effective
date of this chapter, and no permit to excavate within a highway or street
shall be granted unless such person has filed with the Town Clerk a site plan
of the proposed parking lot, approved and signed by the Town Engineer of the
Town of Farmington. Additionally, each lot shall contain a landscaped area
as required by the Zoning Regulations of the Town of Farmington.
Areas reserved for parking as shown on the site plan required above
shall be separated from abutting properties and public highways and sidewalks
through either areas of landscaping, curbing or other substantial barriers.
Barriers, curbing and landscaped areas shall be so designed as to ensure that
no portion of any vehicles parked on the lot shall extend over the property
lines.
All parking lots shall have an adequately drained, smooth and durable
surface. Additionally, each lot shall, as required by the Zoning Regulations
of the Town of Farmington, contain at least 10% landscaped area.
Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking shall be so arranged
as to reflect the light away from any adjoining property.
[Amended 7-28-1992]
The layout and design of a parking lot shall be subject to the review
and approval of the Town Manager upon recommendation of the Town Engineer.
A.Â
Signs identifying the parking lot and/or the location
of entrances and exits may be required if the Town Manager deems that necessary.
In making such determination the Town Manager shall be guided by:
(1)Â
The volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in the
vicinity.
(2)Â
The nature of surrounding property uses.
(3)Â
The proposed hours of operation of such parking lot.
(4)Â
The shape and size of such parking lot.
(5)Â
The visibility into and from such parking lot.
(6)Â
The number and purpose of nearby driveways.
B.Â
Control signs and devices may also be required by the
Town Manager where appropriate. Traffic control signs may consist of either
detached signs or markings on the pavement. Traffic control devices may include
both lane markings, one-way markings, posted speed limits, no-through-traffic
signs, curbing and speed bumps.
[Amended 7-28-1992]
Parking lots shall not be used as a shortcut or to avoid a traffic control
sign or signal. Persons who violate this section shall be issued a parking
violation now utilized by the Farmington Police Department.
[Amended 7-28-1992]
Owners of parking lots which are in existence or for which plans have been approved as of the date of adoption of this chapter and for which compliance with §§ 140-5 and 140-6 of this chapter would constitute unreasonable hardship or expense when compared to the resulting benefit to the property may apply to the Town Manager to be exempted from said sections. In reaching a decision on such applications, the Town Manager shall consider the cost of improvements as compared to the resulting increase in the value of the property and the improvement of the aesthetic qualities of the property.
