[Amended 3-20-1989 by Ord. No. 218; 8-14-2001 by Ord. No.
347; 7-8-2008 by Ord. No. 448]
The purpose of this article is to establish
standards ensuring the availability and safe use of off-street parking
areas. It is intended that any use of land involving the arrival,
departure, or temporary storage of motor vehicles, and all structures
and uses requiring the delivery or shipment of goods as part of their
function, be designed and operated to:
A.
Promote traffic safety by assuring adequate places
for storing of motor vehicles off the street, and for their orderly
access and egress to and from the public street;
B.
Prevent the creation of surplus parking;
C.
Reduce hazards to pedestrians and increase pedestrian
access between and within sites;
D.
Reduce impervious surface areas and resultant stormwater
runoff;
F.
Promote shared parking opportunities where available;
G.
Protect the environment by promoting sustainable development.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any parking space that is not parallel or perpendicular to
the curb or aisle.
Single retail sales facility of up to 20,000 square feet
in size that is situated independently on a building lot and for which
associated parking serves exclusively that facility.
The total floor area of all floors of a building.
A ground cover such as cement, asphalt, or packed clay or
rock through which water cannot penetrate.
Structure or complex of structures used for manufacturing,
assembling, fabricating, warehousing, and related activities.
Single retail sales facility that has greater than 20,000
square feet of gross floor area and is contained in a single building.
Parking spaces provided outside of the right-of-way of a
street or highway.
Parking spaces provided within the right-of-way of a street
or highway.
That portion of a lot set aside, marked, posted, or intended
for parking. This includes circulation areas, loading and unloading
areas, parking spaces and aisles, landscaped areas, bikeways, and
walkways.
A space in which a single car may be parked.
Establishments primarily engaged in providing services involving
the care of a person or a person's personal goods or apparel. This
category includes uses such as barber shops, beauty salons, shoe repair
shops, and dry cleaners.
Ground cover through which water can penetrate at a rate
comparable to that of water through undisturbed soils.
When parking spaces are shared among different structures
or uses, or among mixed uses, and can include properties with different
owners.
The distance visible to a driver from his/her position to
other objects or vehicles, when at a point of turning or when stopping
a vehicle.
The driving portion of the parking area. The parking aisle
provides access to each space.
Any path or way which is specifically designated primarily
for pedestrian travel.
No building permit or certificate of occupancy
shall be issued for the erection of a new building, the enlargement
or increase in the net floor area of an existing building, the development
of a use not located in a building, or the change from one type of
use to another, unless off-street parking spaces and loading bays
are provided in accordance with this article.
A.
All off-street parking and loading facilities required
by this article for any use shall be maintained throughout the operation
of that use.
B.
Within the Main Street Revitalization Area as defined
by the Hampstead Main Street Revitalization Plan, the Planning and
Zoning Commission shall be empowered to determine the off-street parking
requirements of any permitted use. In making this determination, the
Commission shall consider the nature of the use, the number of employees,
the anticipated traffic and the availability of shared parking opportunities.
Within the Main Street Revitalization Area, parking areas should be
located to the side or rear of structures where practicable or in
a location consistent with contiguous developed properties.
C.
Outside the Main Street Revitalization Area, on-street
parking within public or private streets shall not be used to satisfy
the off-street parking or overflow requirements prescribed by this
article.
A.
The minimum number of parking spaces required for
uses not specifically listed below shall be the same as that required
for the most similar specified use as determined by the Zoning Administrator.
B.
For the following uses of buildings hereafter erected
or uses established, changed or enlarged after the effective date
of this article shall be provided per 1,000 square feet of gross floor
area unless otherwise indicated:
(1)
Bank: three spaces.
(2)
Large-scale ("big box") retail: five spaces.
(3)
Freestanding retail: four spaces.
(4)
General office building: four spaces.
(5)
Industrial plant: two spaces.
(6)
Medical office: eight spaces.
(7)
Nursing home: three spaces.
(8)
Restaurant: 10 spaces.
(9)
Planned business and shopping centers: five
spaces.
(10)
Bed-and-breakfast: one space per room.
(11)
Personal services: four spaces.
(12)
Day-care centers: one space per four children
at maximum capacity.
(13)
Churches and places of worship: one space per
three seats.
(14)
Museums and libraries: three spaces.
(15)
Social organizations: four spaces.
(16)
Public and private schools: one space per three
classroom seats.
(17)
Single- and two-family residences: three spaces
per dwelling unit.
(18)
Townhomes: two and one-half parking spaces per
dwelling unit.
[Amended 10-10-2023 by Ord. No. 550]
(20)
Automotive service garage: three spaces per
repair bay.
(21)
Tavern: 15 spaces.
(22)
Funeral home: 10 spaces.
(23)
Planned business center: five spaces.
(24)
Wholesale warehouse or distribution: one space.
D.
Where shared or cooperative parking opportunities
exist within 300 feet of the principal use, the Planning and Zoning
Commission may reduce the required number of parking spaces by up
to 15%. Such approval may be subject to specific terms and conditions.
In providing required parking facilities, the
minimum standard shall be:
A.
Size. Each parking space shall be at nine feet wide
by 20 feet long and rectangular in shape. The length may be reduced
to 18 feet where the width of the parking space abuts a landscaped
area to allow vehicle overhang.
B.
Markings. All parking spaces shall be delineated by
appropriate fixed curbing, painted lines (a minimum of four inches
wide), or other fixed markers. All off-street parking areas shall
be arranged and marked as to provide for orderly and safe loading,
unloading, parking and storage of vehicles. Individual parking spaces
shall be clearly defined. Directional arrows and traffic signs shall
be provided for safe and convenient traffic flow. Each space or area
for the handicapped or other special parking shall be clearly marked
to indicate the intended use, and shall be so located as to facilitate
its use. All markings and traffic signs shall be maintained through
the duration of the use.
C.
Surface. All parking lots should be constructed of
concrete or asphalt and have concrete curbs on the perimeter. The
Commission may approve paving blocks or a similar porous surface determined
to be durable and dust-free by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Any such surface must allow for durable surface markings such as paint.
D.
Angle. The preferred parking angle is 90°. Angled
parking (60° or 45°) is permitted when one-way circulation
is required or on narrow lots that will not accommodate ninety-degree
parking.
E.
Public rights-of-way. No parking space shall force
vehicles to back into a public right-of-way.
F.
Ingress and egress. All parking spaces shall allow
for reasonable and convenient ingress and egress. All required parking
spaces shall be available and accessible at all times for vehicular
parking purposes. With the exception of residential driveways, no
parking spaces shall be located so as to require the moving of any
vehicle on the premises in order to enter or leave any other space.
G.
Parking aisles. The parking aisle width shall be 15
feet for one-way traffic using angle parking or parallel parking.
The parking aisle width shall be 25 feet for two-way traffic and for
traffic using ninety-degree (perpendicular) parking. All circulation
lanes, private roads and parking aisles shall have minimum turning
radii of 20 feet. Parking aisles may not be obstructed except by emergency
or public utility vehicles in the performance of official duties.
H.
Access road. An access road connecting roads and/or
parking areas shall be 15 feet for one-way traffic and 20 feet for
two-way traffic. Access roads may not be obstructed except by emergency
or public utility vehicles in the performance of official duties.
I.
Parking area setbacks. Parking spaces, aisles and
access drives which are generally parallel to abutting roads shall
be set back a minimum of 10 feet from any public street right-of-way
line.
J.
Landscaping. Landscaping shall be installed where
required by Town or Carroll County Code or where required as a condition
of approval. For those parking facilities where landscaping is not
required, the developer is encouraged to install landscaping to improve
the appearance of his premises and of the general neighborhood. Landscaping
shall be perpetually maintained.
K.
Lighting. Adequate lighting shall be provided for
all parking facilities and access roads and the light source shall
be shaded or shielded to direct the light, including glare or reflection,
away from adjoining or facing properties premises and from public
streets.
L.
Handicapped spaces. Parking spaces for the physically
handicapped shall be provided in accordance with any applicable codes
pertaining thereto.
M.
Pedestrian access. Parking lots shall be designed
to allow pedestrians to safely move from their vehicles to the building.
On small lots, this may be achieved by providing a sidewalk at the
perimeter of the lot. On larger lots, corridors within the parking
area should channel pedestrians from the car to the perimeter of the
lot or to the building. These corridors may be delineated by a paving
material which differs from that of vehicular areas and planted to
provide shade. Small posts or bollards may be included.
N.
Non-parking uses. Off-street parking areas may not
be used for non-parking activities. This includes but is not limited
to the display, storage or sale of goods or the long-term (greater
than 24 hours) storage of vehicles, including trailers.
O.
Calculations. When measurements of the number of required
spaces result in fractions, the space requirements shall be rounded
upward to the next highest whole number.
In all districts, uses that involve deliveries,
shipments or removal of goods, materials, supplies or waste by truck
shall provide adequate off-street loading and unloading facilities.
For every building having a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet
or more, to be used for manufacturing, storage, warehouse, goods display,
retail store, wholesale store, market, hotel, hospital or other similar
use, there shall be provided and maintained at least one off-street
loading space, plus one additional loading space for each 20,000 square
feet or major fraction thereof of gross floor area so used in excess
of the first 10,000 square feet. Each loading space shall not be less
than 12 feet in width, 45 feet in length and 14 feet in clear height.
Such space may occupy all or any part of any required yard except
a front yard. No such space shall be located closer than 30 feet to
any lot located in any R district, unless the loading space is within
a completely enclosed building.
All businesses which provide drive-through facilities
for serving customers within their automobile shall provide adequate
off-street stacking spaces and lanes which meet the following requirements.
A.
Each stacking space shall be computed on the basis
of nine feet in width and 20 feet in length. Each stacking lane shall
be a minimum of 12 feet in width.
B.
Clear identification and delineation between the drive-through
facility and parking lot shall be provided. Drive-through facilities
shall be designed in a manner which promotes pedestrian and vehicular
safety.
C.
All drive-through facilities shall provide an escape
lane which allows other vehicles to pass those waiting to be serviced.
D.
The number of stacking spaces per service lane shall
be provided as follows:
