Town of Bridgeville, DE Off-Street Parking and Loading

Relieve congestion and facilitate the movement of vehicular traffic.

Facilitate the movement of police, fire, and other emergency vehicles.

Promote the safety and convenience of pedestrians and shoppers by locating parking areas so as to lessen vehicle movements in the vicinity of intensive pedestrian traffic.

Protect adjoining residential neighborhoods from the negative effects of on-street parking.

Promote the general convenience, welfare, and prosperity of commercial and other uses that depend on off-street parking and loading facilities.

Scope.

When required. Off-street parking and loading facilities shall be provided as accessory uses under the following conditions:

When any use is established or changed.

When any building or structure is erected, altered, renovated, or expanded.

The parking and loading requirements in this part of this chapter are in addition to requirements in other parts of this chapter.

The parking and loading requirements in this part of this chapter do not limit requirements or conditions that may be imposed on development plan or conditional use approvals.

Parking and loading facilities may not be used for the sale, repair, servicing, or dismantling of any type of vehicle, equipment, material, or supplies.

§ 234-87 Off-street parking.

Definition. An "off-street parking space" is a permanently reserved, temporary storage area for one motor vehicle that is not located on, but is directly accessible to, a dedicated street right-of-way by a paved driveway that affords ingress and egress for an motor vehicle without requiring another motor vehicle to be moved.

Minimum required spaces.

Use		Parking Spaces Required
Car wash establishments
	Coin-do-it yourself	2 at waiting area for each lane; 1 at exit area for each lane
	Coin-operated automatic drive-through	4 at waiting area for each lane; 2 at exit area for each lane
	Employee-operated	8 at waiting area for each lane; 2 at exit area for each lane
Day-care centers		1 per 1,000 square feet of floor area, plus 1 per employee
Dwellings: multifamily dwellings and townhouses		3 per family unit
Dwellings: single-family dwellings, single-family mobile homes and apartments		2 per family unit
Eating places, taverns, bars, and nightclubs		1 for each 50 square feet assigned for patron use, plus 1 per 2 employees on the largest shift
Educational institutions: elementary, junior high, and middle schools		1 per classroom, plus 3 per room used for administrative purposes, plus 1 for each 5 seats in the auditorium or gymnasium or other facility open to the public
Educational institutions: senior high, trade and vocational schools, colleges, and universities		3 per room used for administrative offices, plus 1 for every 10 pupils enrolled, plus 1 for each 5 seats in the auditorium, gymnasium or other facility open to the public
Funeral homes		1 per 20 square feet of floor area used for seating accommodations, plus 1 per employee
Furniture and appliance stores		1 per 400 square feet of floor area used for sales or merchandise display
Hospitals		1 for each 3 patient beds, except bassinets, plus 1 per medical staff member, plus 1 per 2 employees on the largest shift
Hotels, motels or lodging inns		1 1/2 per rental room or suite, plus 1 per 3 employees, If a restaurant open to the public is operated in connection with such use, additional off-street parking space meeting the minimum requirements for a restaurant shall be provided.
Indoor commercial recreation		1 per 150 square feet of floor area or 1 per 4 seats for patron use, whichever is applicable to the particular use
Medical offices and clinics, dental offices and clinics, surgical centers, veterinary clinics and offices		1 for each 2 employees, plus 4 per doctor or dentist
Motor vehicle and marine sales establishments		2 per salesman during peak period of employment
Motor vehicle and marine service and repair		1 per 500 square feet of floor area, plus 1 per employee during peak period of employment
Motor vehicle filling stations		2 for employees, plus 1 for each service bay
Nursing and care facilities		1 for each 4 patient beds, plus 1 per 2 employees on the largest shift
Offices and personal service establishments not primarily related to goods and services		1 per 200 square feet of floor area
Places of assembly; stadiums, assembly halls, theaters, community centers		1 per 4 fixed seats in the assembly area or for each 50 square feet of floor area for rooms having movable seats
Places of worship		1 for each 4 seats
Public libraries		1 per 400 square feet of floor area for public use, plus 1 per 2 employees
Retail sales establishments including supermarkets		1 per 200 square feet of floor area used for sales or merchandise display, plus 1 for each 2 employees on the largest shift
Rooming, boarding, or tourist houses		1 per rental room, plus 2 for the resident owner or manager
Wholesale or manufacturing establishments		1 for every 2 employees on the major shift

Additional computational standards.

Fractional spaces. Where the computation of spaces results in a fractional space, the fractional space shall be counted as one additional required space.

Number of employees. The number of employees shall be based on the maximum number of persons employed on the premises at one time on a typical day or night, whichever is greater. Seasonal variations in employment may be considered in determining an average day or night.

Joint use. Where more than one land use occupies a single structure, the parking requirements shall be computed by adding together the number of required parking spaces for each use.

Shared facilities. Houses of worship, auditoriums, or educational institutions may make arrangements with business establishments which normally have various days or hours of operation, for sharing up to 100% of their required parking facilities.

Uses not specifically listed. The required number of parking spaces for uses not specifically listed in § 234-87B shall be the same as for a similar listed use.

(6)

Modification of required spaces. The Planning and Zoning Commission may modify the parking requirements when the Planning and Zoning Commission determines that the requirements are clearly excessive and unreasonable.

Location.

General.

Parking facilities shall be located on the same lot with the building or use served.

Parking facilities may be located within required building setback areas.

Exception. Required parking facilities may be located within 300 feet of the building or use served when:

A change in use or an enlargement of a building requires an increase in the number of parking spaces.

Spaces are provided collectively to serve more than one building.

Design standards.

Parking space dimensions.

Vertical and diagonal parking: 10 feet by 20 feet.

Parallel parking: 10 feet by 22 feet.

Interior drive aisle width: 25 feet.

Entrances and exits.

The location and design of entrances and exits shall be in accord with the requirements of applicable state, county, or Town standards.

Landscaping, curbing, or approved barriers shall be provided along lot boundaries to control entrance and exit of vehicles or pedestrians.

Backing onto public road prohibited. Off-street parking areas that make it necessary for vehicles to back out directly onto a public road are prohibited, except for dwelling units having individual driveways.

Drainage. Off-street parking facilities shall be drained to eliminate standing water and prevent damage to abutting property and/or public streets and alleys.

(6)

Surface material. Off-street parking facilities shall be surfaced with erosion-resistant material in accordance with applicable state, county, or Town standards.

(7)

Separation from walkways and streets.

Off-street parking spaces shall be separated from walkways, sidewalks, streets or alleys by a wall, fence, curbing, or other approved protective device or by distance so that vehicles cannot protrude into publicly used areas.

Parking within front yard setbacks shall be prohibited but may be permitted upon development plan review and approval.

[Amended 4-12-2010 by Ord. No. A10-1]

(8)

Marking. Parking spaces in each lot of more than 10 spaces shall be marked by painted lines, curbs, or other means to delineate individual spaces. Signs or markers shall be used as necessary to ensure efficient traffic operation within the lot.

(9)

Lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided if off-street parking spaces are to be used at night. The lighting shall be arranged and installed to minimize glare into residential areas.

(10)

Connectivity required. Parking areas shall be designed to provide for connection to existing, adjacent commercial sites or to facilitate connection with adjacent sites that are planned for commercial development.

(11)

Screening and interior landscaping. See Article XX, Recreation, Open Space, Screening, Shade.

(12)

Maintenance. Off-street parking areas shall be maintained in a clean and orderly condition at the expense of the owner or lessee.

Handicapped parking spaces. All individuals and artificial entities are required by ordinances of the Town of Bridgeville, ordinances of Sussex County, or the laws of the State of Delaware to designate parking spaces or parking zones for use by vehicles operated by disabled persons.

§ 234-88 Off-street loading.

Definition. An "off-street-loading space" is a space or berth that is not on a dedicated street that is used for the loading or unloading of cargo, products, or materials from vehicles.

Minimum required spaces

Use or Category	Square Feet	Loading Spaces Required
Retail store, department store, eating and drinking establishment, wholesale establishment, warehouse, general service, manufacturing, or industrial establishment	2,000 to 10,000	1
	10,000 to 20,000	2
	20,000 to 40,000	3
	40,000 to 60,000	4
	Each additional 50,000	1
Apartment building, hotel, motel, offices, office building, hospital or similar institution, places of public assembly	5,000 to 25,000	1
	25,000 to 100,000	2
	100,000 to 200,000	3
	Each additional 50,000	1
Funeral home or mortuary	Not applicable	1 berth for each chapel

Additional computational standards.

Joint use. Where more than one land use occupies a single structure, off-street loading space shall be computed by assuming that the entire building is occupied by the use for which the most spaces are required.

Modification permitted. The Planning and Zoning Commission may waive the requirement for or reduce the number of required loading spaces for buildings containing less than 10,000 square feet under the following circumstances:

When the character of a particular use makes loading and unloading facilities unnecessary.

Where community loading facilities are available.

(c)

Where providing loading space is impractical.

Location.

Off-street loading spaces shall be located on the same lot as the building or use served.

They shall be situated on the lot served so as to minimize their visibility from public roads and adjacent residential areas.

Design standards.

Loading space dimensions.

Item	General Standard	Funeral Homes
Width	12.0 feet	10.0 feet
Depth	40.0 feet	25.0 feet
Vertical clearance	14.5 feet	8.0 feet

Entrances and exits. The location and design of entrances and exits shall be in accord with applicable state traffic regulations and standards.

Surface material. Off-street loading areas shall be surfaced with erosion-resistant material in accordance with applicable county specifications.

Drainage. Off-street loading areas shall be drained to eliminate standing water and prevent damage to abutting property and/or public streets and alleys.