[Amended 1-22-2007 by Ord. No. 07-01; 10-13-2025 by Ord. No. 25-04]
A.
Intent and scope of application. Compliance with the off-street parking regulations set forth herein shall be required as follows:
(1)
General applicability. For all buildings and uses established after the effective date of this chapter, off-street parking shall be provided as required in this section prior to issuance of a land use permit. However, where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of the chapter and construction has been diligently carried on, compliance with the parking requirements at the time of issuance of the building permit shall be required.
(2)
Change in use or intensity. Whenever use of a building, structure, or lot is changed, parking facilities shall be provided as required by this chapter for the new use, regardless of any variance which may have been in effect prior to change of use. If the intensity of use of any building, structure, or lot is increased through the addition of dwelling units, increase in floor area, increase in seating capacity, or through other means, additional off-street parking shall be provided for such increase in intensity of use.
(3)
Existing parking facilities. Off-street parking facilities in existence on the effective date of this chapter shall not hereafter be reduced below, or if already less than, shall not be further reduced below the requirements for the use being served as set forth in this chapter. An area designated as required off-street parking shall not be changed to any other use unless equal facilities are provided elsewhere in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(4)
Additional off-street parking. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent voluntary establishment of off-street parking facilities to serve an existing use of land or buildings, or to prevent provision of additional parking facilities beyond what is required by the chapter, provided that all such parking is in conformance with the regulations set forth herein.
(5)
Review and permit requirements. In the event that new off-street parking is proposed as part of a development requiring site plan review, said proposed parking shall be shown on the site plan submitted to the Planning Commission for review. In the event that proposed off-street parking is not part of a development requiring site plan review, the applicant shall submit a site plan to the Planning Commission for review and approval. The site plan shall indicate the location of the proposed parking in relation to other uses on the site and on adjoining sites, the proposed means of ingress and egress, the number and dimensions of parking spaces, and the method of surfacing.
B.
General requirements. In all zoning districts, off-street vehicle parking facilities shall be provided and maintained as herein prescribed:
(1)
Location.
(a)
Proximity to building or use being served. Required off-street parking shall be located either on the same lot, or within 300 feet of the building or use it is intended to serve, measured from the nearest point of the building or use to the nearest point of the off-street parking lot.
(b)
Within the Macomb Street District. The Planning Commission may increase the three-hundred-foot distance up to 700 feet in the MSD if land for the required parking is not available within 300 feet. Public parking may be counted for meeting the existing floor area requirements of uses within the MSD, provided that if the floor area of the use or the intensity of the use is increased, the additional required parking for such increase must be provided by means other than public parking.
(c)
Within yards. Off-street parking may be located in required yards, provided that all landscaping and berm requirements in Article 13 are complied with. Further, off-street parking shall be set back a minimum distance of 10 feet from all property lines and shall neither be permitted in the front yard of R-2 or R-3 Multiple-Family Residential Districts nor in front setback area.
(2)
Residential parking. Off-street parking spaces in single-family residential districts shall consist of a parking strip, driveway, garage, or combination thereof, and shall be located on the premises they are intended to serve. No parking shall be permitted on a regular basis on lawns or other unpaved areas on residential lots, with the exception of approved gravel parking areas. Commercial and recreational vehicle parking in residential districts shall comply with the standards in Article 3.
(3)
Control of off-site parking. It shall be unlawful to park or store any motor vehicle on private property without the expressed or implied consent of the owner, holder, occupant, lessee, agent, or trustee of said private property. Where required parking is permitted on land other than on the same lot as the building or use being served, the land on which the parking is located shall be under the same ownership or control as the lot occupied by said building or use.
(4)
Access to parking. Each off-street parking space shall open directly onto an aisle or driveway of sufficient width and design as to provide safe and efficient access to or from a public street or alley in a manner that will least interfere with the smooth flow of traffic. Access to off-street parking which serves a nonresidential use shall not be permitted across land that is zoned or used for residential purposes.
(5)
Collective use of off-street parking. Off-street parking space for separate buildings or uses may be provided collectively subject to the following:
(a)
The total number of spaces provided shall not be less than the number which would be required if the spaces were provided separately. However, the Planning Commission may reduce the total number of spaces provided collectively by up to 25% upon making the determination that the parking demands of the uses being served do not overlap.
(b)
Each use served by collective off-street parking shall have direct access to the parking without crossing streets.
(c)
The collective off-street parking shall not be located farther than 500 feet from the building or use being served.
(d)
Written easements which provide for continued use and maintenance of the parking shall be submitted to the Township for approval.
(6)
Storage and repair prohibited. The use of required parking and loading areas for refuse storage stations/dumpsters, storage or display of merchandise, sale of motor vehicles, storage of inoperable vehicles, or for vehicle or machinery repair or maintenance is expressly prohibited. The use of semitrailers for storage purposes on the premises for five or more consecutive days is prohibited. Emergency service required to start vehicles shall be permitted.
(7)
Duration. Except when land is used as permitted storage space in direct connection with a legitimate business, a twenty-four-hour time limit for parking in nonresidential off-street parking areas shall prevail, provided that it shall be unlawful to permit the storage of wrecked, inoperable, or junked vehicles in any parking area in any district for any period of time.
(8)
Parking structures. Parking structures shall be permitted as a special land use subject to the following standards:
(a)
Any parking structure shall comply with the required setbacks for the district in which it is located.
(b)
Parking structures shall be designed as integral elements of the overall site plan, taking into account the relationship to the principal building and other structures on the site.
(c)
The facade of the parking structure shall be compatible in design, color, and type of material to the principal building(s) on the site.
(d)
Landscaping shall be placed around the parking structure in accordance with an approved landscape plan. Any such landscaping shall be compatible with the overall landscape plan for the entire site.
C.
Schedule of off-street parking requirements. The amount of required off-street parking space shall be determined in accordance with the following schedule:
Use | Number of Spaces | |
|---|---|---|
Residential: | ||
Single- and two-family housing | 2 per each dwelling unit | |
Multiple-family housing | 2 for each dwelling unit, plus 1 per 300 square feet of floor area in community buildings | |
Mobile homes | In accordance with Michigan Mobile Home Commission Rules and Michigan Public Act 419 of 1976, as amended and Article 5 of this chapter | |
NOTE: In addition, multiple family and attached single-family developments shall be required to provide supplemental guest off-street parking equal to at least 20% of the space required by the above standards. | ||
Housing for the Elderly: | ||
Senior independent units | 1.5 per unit | |
Senior interim care and intermediate care units, retirement villages, etc | 1 per each room or 2 beds, whichever is less, plus 1 space per each employee expected during the peak shift | |
Congregate care and dependent care (convalescent/nursing home units) | 1 per each 4 beds or 2 rooms, whichever is less, plus 1 for each employee during peak shift | |
NOTE: Should units revert to general occupancy, the requirements for multiple-family housing shall be complied with. | ||
Institutional or Public Uses: | ||
Churches, temples, places of worship | 1 for each 3 seats or 6 linear feet of pews in the main hall of worship | |
Hospitals | 1 for every 2 beds plus 1 for each 5 outpatients plus 1 additional for each employee | |
Municipal office buildings | 1 per 250 square feet usable floor area | |
Elementary and junior high schools | 1 for each teacher, administrator, or other employee, plus additional spaces as may be required for an auditorium or other public meeting spaces | |
Senior high schools | 1 for each teacher, administrator, or other employee, plus 1 for every 10 students, plus additional spaces as may be required for an auditorium, stadium, or other public meeting spaces | |
Museum, library, post office, cultural center, or similar facility | 1 for each 300 square feet of usable floor space, plus 1 per employee | |
Group day-care homes, adult foster care group homes, and children's homes | 1 per 4 clients plus 1 per each employee plus designated dropoff spaces | |
Theaters and auditoriums, with fixed seating | 1 for each 3 seats, or 1 per 6 linear feet of benches, plus 1 per employee | |
Community centers | 1 for each 3 persons who may be legally admitted at one time according to the occupancy load established by local, county and state codes, plus 1 per employee | |
Public utility use | 1 per every employee on the maximum shift | |
Retail Uses: | ||
Bookstores | 1 per 200 square feet of usable leasable area | |
Furniture and appliance sales, household equipment repair shops, showrooms of plumber, electrician, or similar trade, or similar uses | 1 for each 800 square feet of usable floor space, plus 1 for each employee | |
General retail business/shopping centers | 1 per 250 square feet of usable floor area | |
Grocery store/supermarket | 1 per 200 square feet of usable floor area | |
Lumberyards | 2.5 for each employee, plus additional spaces as may be required for enclosed retail sales area | |
Motor vehicle sales (new vehicles) | 1 for each 200 square feet of usable floor area, exclusive of service areas, plus 1 for each auto service stall in the service area, plus 1 for every 500 square feet of outdoor sales area, plus 1 for each employee | |
Motor vehicle sales (used vehicles) | 1 for each 500 square feet of outdoor sales area, plus 1 for each auto service stall, plus 1 for each employee | |
Open air business | 1 for each 800 square feet of land area being used for display, plus 1 for each employee | |
Recreational vehicle, boat, mobile home and similar sales | 1 per 800 square feet of usable floor area, plus 2 per each vehicle sales service bay | |
Service Uses: | ||
Auto and vehicle repair facilities | 1 for each employee plus 3 for each service or repair bay | |
Auto or vehicle service station | 2 for each service or repair bay, plus 1 for each gasoline pump, plus 1 for each employee. In addition, convenience stores operated in conjunction with an auto service station shall provide 1 for every 250 square feet of store area | |
Auto wash, full-service | 1 for each 2 employees, plus stacking equal in number to 16 spaces for each wash lane | |
Auto wash, self-service | 4 stacking spaces for each washing stall in addition to the stall itself, plus 2 drying spaces for each washing stall | |
Banks, financial institutions | 1 for every 200 square feet of usable floor area. In addition, financial institutions with drive-in windows shall provide 4 stacking spaces for the first window, plus 3 spaces for each additional window | |
Bars, lounges, taverns, nightclubs (majority of sales consist of alcoholic beverages) | 1 per 70 square feet of usable floor area or 0.5 per seat, whichever is greater, plus any spaces required for any banquet or meeting rooms | |
Beauty or barber shops | 3 per beauty or barber chair plus 3 per chairs used for other services, such as nail care and shoe shines | |
Child day-care centers, nursery schools | At least 1 dropoff/pickup parking space shall be provided for each 5 children for whom care is provided, with a minimum of 3 dropoff/pickup parking spaces, plus 1 parking space per employee (defined as the maximum number of staff on duty at a time). Each dropoff/pickup space shall be a minimum 8 by 20 feet. | |
Dry cleaners | 1 per 500 square feet of usable floor area | |
Laundromats and coin-operated dry cleaners | 1 for each 2 washing or dry-cleaning machines | |
Mini- or self-storage warehouse | Minimum of 6 | |
Mortuaries, funeral homes | 1 for each 50 square feet of usable floor area plus 1 for each employee | |
Motel, hotel or other commercial lodging establishments | 1 per guest room, plus 1 per 100 square feet of lounge, restaurant, conference or banquet rooms or exhibit space | |
Personal service establishments not otherwise specified | 1 per 300 square feet of usable floor area, plus 1 per employee | |
Restaurants, fast-food | 1 per 75 square feet of eating area, plus 1 for each employee | |
Restaurants, full-service | 1 per 70 square feet of eating area | |
Restaurants, takeout | 6 per service or counter station, plus 1 for each employee | |
Video rental establishments | 1 per 200 square feet of usable floor area, with a minimum of 8 provided | |
Office Uses: | ||
Business and professional offices, except as otherwise specified | 1 for each 250 square feet of usable floor area plus 1 for each employee | |
Professional offices of doctors, dentists, and similar medical professions | 1 for each 200 square feet of usable floor area with a minimum of 4, plus 1 for each employee | |
Industrial Uses: | ||
Manufacturing establishments or establishments for industrial production, processing, assembly, compounding, preparation, cleaning, servicing, testing, repair, plus accessory business offices and storage facilities | 5 plus 1 per employee on the largest working shift. Where the number of employees is not known, parking shall be provided at the rate of 1 space per 500 square feet of usable floor area. | |
Wholesale and warehouse establishments | 5 plus 1 per employee. Where the number of employees is not known, parking shall be provided at the rate of 1 space for every 1,700 square feet of usable floor area. | |
Recreation Uses: | ||
Batting cages | 3 per cage | |
Bowling establishments | 7 per lane, plus 1 for each employee and additional spaces as may be required for restaurants, bars, or other affiliated uses | |
Commercial outdoor recreation centers | 1 per 200 square feet of usable floor area | |
Dance halls, health spas, pool or billiard parlors, skating rinks, exhibition halls, and assembly hall without fixed seats | 1 for each 2 persons allowed by the maximum occupancy load as established by local, county, or state fire, building, or health codes | |
Football and soccer fields | 30 per field | |
Golf courses, public or private | 6 for each golf hole, plus 1 for each employee, plus parking space as may be required for clubhouse, restaurant, pro shop, or other affiliated facilities | |
Health fitness centers without swimming pool | 1 per 200 square feet of usable floor space | |
Ice/roller skating rink | 1 per 150 square feet of usable floor area | |
Marina/boat clubs | 1 for each boat berth, not to include area required for winter boat storage, plus additional spaces as may be required for other uses, such as clubhouse | |
Miniature or par 3 golf | 3 for each hole, plus 1 for each employee | |
Private clubs and lodges | 1 for each 2 persons who may be legally admitted at one time according to the occupancy load established by local, county and state codes, plus 1 per employee | |
Softball, baseball fields | 25 per playing field | |
Stadium, sports arena, or similar place of assembly | 1 for each 3 seats or 1 for each 6 linear feet of benches | |
Swimming pool clubs | 1 per 2 member families or individual members, plus 1 for each employee | |
Swimming pools | 1 per 4 persons in accordance with the occupancy load, plus 1 per employee | |
Tennis clubs and court-type recreation uses | 1 per person permitted based on the capacity of the courts, plus such additional spaces as may be required for affiliated uses such as restaurants, bars, or pro shops, plus 1 per employee | |
Theater, cinema | 1 per each 4 seats, plus 4 per screen or stage | |
Video arcades | 2 per machine, plus, 1 for each employee | |
D.
Standards for parking space requirements. The following standards shall be used in determining the required number of parking spaces:
(1)
Definition of floor area. For the purposes of determining the required number of parking spaces, "floor area" shall be measured in accordance with the definition of “usable floor area” provided in § 285-1.3.
(2)
Units of measurement.
(a)
Fractional spaces. When calculations for determining the required number of parking spaces results in a fractional space, any fraction of less than 1/2 may be disregarded, while a fraction of 1/2 or more shall be counted as one space.
(b)
Employee parking. Parking spaces required for employees shall be based on the maximum number of employees on the premises at any one time.
(c)
Bench seating. In calculating bench seating for places of assembly, each 24 inches of benches, pews or other such seating shall be counted as one seat.
(d)
Stacking space. Each required drive-through waiting or stacking space shall be 24 feet long and nine feet wide.
(3)
Uses not cited. For those uses not specifically mentioned, the requirements for off-street parking for a similar use shall apply, subject to review by the Planning Commission.
(4)
Parking during construction. Temporary off-street parking shall be provided for workers during construction at a rate of one space per employee. Gravel surfacing may be permitted for such temporary parking.
(5)
Accessible parking. Each parking lot that serves a building, except single- and two-family dwelling units, shall have a number of accessible parking spaces as set forth in the following table, and identified by an above-grade sign which indicates the spaces are reserved for physically handicapped persons. Parking for the handicapped shall comply with the State of Michigan Barrier-Free Rules, Michigan Public Act No. 1 of 1966, as amended, and the adopted Township Building Code.[1] The number of barrier-free spaces required is as follows. For uses where there may be a higher number of persons with disabilities, such as medical uses or senior housing, the Planning Commission may require a larger proportion of the parking spaces be barrier-free.
Total Spaces in Parking Lot | Required Number of Barrier-Free Spaces | |
|---|---|---|
Up to 25 | 1 | |
26 to 50 | 2 | |
51 to 75 | 3 | |
76 to 100 | 4 | |
101 to 150 | 5 | |
151 to 200 | 6 | |
201 to 300 | 7 | |
301 to 400 | 8 | |
401 to 500 | 9 | |
501 to 1,000 | 2% of total | |
Over 1,000 | 20, plus 1 for each 100 over 1,000 |
(6)
Parking deferment. Where the Planning Commission finds that the required amount of parking is excessive, the Planning Commission may approve a smaller parking area, provided that the area to meet the full parking requirement is retained as open space. The site plan shall note the area where parking is being deferred with a dotted parking lot layout. If within a two-year period following issuance of a certificate of occupancy the Zoning Administrator determines based on observed usage that the deferred parking is needed, then such parking shall be constructed by the applicant within six months of being informed of such request in writing by the Zoning Administrator. The Planning Commission may require posting of a performance bond to cover the estimated construction cost of the deferred parking with a refund in two years if the additional parking is not found to be necessary.
(7)
Limits on excessive parking. In order to minimize excessive areas of pavement which depreciate aesthetic standards and contribute to high rates of stormwater runoff, exceeding the minimum parking space requirements shall only be allowed with approval by the Planning Commission. In granting such additional space, the Planning Commission shall determine that such parking will be required, based on documented evidence, to accommodate the use on a typical day.
(8)
Carports and garages. Carports and garages for dwellings shall be calculated as parking spaces on a one-to-one basis. Carports shall be screened on the sides or front end facing any public or internal street or drive by a minimum four-foot high wall or landscape hedge.
E.
Layout and construction. Off-street parking facilities shall be designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the following requirements.
(1)
Review and approval requirements.
(a)
Plans for the construction of any parking lot in conjunction with a new development shall be submitted for review and approval according to the normal site plan review procedures. Plans for expansion of an existing parking lot that is not associated with other new development shall be submitted to the Community Development Department for review and approval prior to the start of construction. Upon completion of construction, the parking lot must be inspected and approved by the Community Development Department before a certificate of occupancy can be issued for the parking lot and for the building or use the parking is intended to serve.
(b)
Plans shall be prepared at a scale of not less than 50 feet equal to one inch. Plans shall indicate existing and proposed grades, drainage, water mains and sewers, surfacing and base materials, and the proposed parking layout. The plans shall conform to the construction and design standards established by the Township Engineer.
(2)
Dimensions. Off-street parking shall be designed in conformance with the dimensions in the following off-street parking chart. (See parking layout diagram.)
Off-Street Parking Standards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Parking Angle | Stall Width (feet) | Stall Depth1 (feet) | Aisle Width2 (feet) | |
0° (parallel) | 9.0 | 23.0 | 12.03 | |
45° | 9.5 | 18.5 | 13.03 | |
60° | 9.5 | 18.5 | 15.03 | |
75° | 9.5 | 18.5 | 15.03 | |
90° | 9.5 | 18.5 | 24.0 | |
Notes pertaining to off-street parking chart: | ||
|---|---|---|
1 | If parking lot is designed with a six-inch curb, deduct 1.5 feet for angled parking and two feet for ninety-degree parking. | |
2 | Measured between ends of stall lines limited by vehicle corner positions. | |
3 | Aisles shall be one-way. | |
 | ||
(3)
Ingress and egress. All spaces shall be provided with adequate access by means of clearly defined maneuvering lanes or driveways. Backing directly onto a street shall be prohibited. Entrances and exits from off-street parking lots shall be located at least 25 feet from the nearest point of any property zoned for single-family residential use.
(4)
Surfacing and drainage.
(a)
Surfacing. All off-street parking areas, access lanes, driveways and other vehicle maneuvering areas shall be hard-surfaced with concrete, asphalt, or plant-mixed bituminous material. Grading, surfacing, and drainage plans shall be subject to review by the Township Engineer. Requirements for concrete or asphalt may be modified by the Planning Commission upon making the determination that such surfacing would not be feasible or practical because of inadequate drainage in the area or if the property owner provides sufficient evidence that a paved surface could not support the heavy machinery without being damaged.
(b)
Drainage. Off-street parking areas, access lanes, and driveways shall be graded and drained so as to drain away from buildings in a manner that will not have a detrimental impact on neighboring properties. The Planning Commission shall require on-site underground detention unless it is not feasible, as determined by the Township Engineer. The drainage must tie into county drainage as approved by the Wayne County Department of Public Services or other facilities as approved by the Township Engineer.
(5)
Curbs; wheel stops. Off-street parking shall be provided with curbs, wheel stops, or bumper guards where necessary to protect landscaped areas, sidewalks, buildings, or adjacent property from vehicles that might otherwise extend beyond the edge of the parking lot. Sidewalks abutting parking spaces shall be seven feet wide. Plantings shall be set back a sufficient distance from curbs to allow for bumper overhang.
(6)
Striping. All parking spaces shall be demarcated with three-to-four-inch wide painted striping. For any retail, commercial service or office use, double (or looped) striping, spaced 18 inches to 24 inches apart, shall be utilized.
(7)
Lighting. All parking areas, driveways and walkways shall be illuminated to ensure the security of property and the safety of persons using such areas, in accordance with the requirements set forth in Article 19. Parking lot entrances shall be illuminated. The Planning Commission may place limitations on lighting at night and after business hours. Lighting used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be directed on the parking area only and away from nearby residential properties and public streets.
(8)
Buildings. No building or structure shall be permitted on an off-street parking lot, except for a maintenance building/attendant shelter, which shall not be more than 50 square feet in area and not more than 15 feet in height.
(9)
Signs. Accessory directional signs shall be permitted in parking areas in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article 16. For parking lots which are not adjacent to the use being served, one sign which identifies the intended users or operator of the parking lot shall be permitted. Such sign shall not exceed 15 square feet in area and 10 feet in height.
(10)
Screening. All off-street parking areas, except those serving single- and two-family residences, shall be screened from adjoining residential property, unless otherwise indicated in the specific requirements for each district. Such screening shall consist of a continuous obscuring wall or landscaped screen in accordance with Article 13, subject to approval by the Planning Commission.
(12)
Maintenance. All parking areas shall be maintained free of dust, trash, and debris by the property owner. Surfacing, curbing, lighting fixtures, signage, and related appurtances shall be maintained in good condition.
(13)
Snowplowing. All parking areas shall be maintained in a safe condition by the property owner, free of snow and ice. The parking lot design shall provide a location for snow storage.