HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Amending Front Yard Parking and Driveway Regulations i
ORDINANCE NO.4493
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY
OF AMES,IOWA,BY AMENDING SECTIONS 29.307(5),29.462,29.406,
29.1501,AND AMENDING RESPECTIVE TABLES 29.1202(5)-1,
29.1202(6),29.406(2),29.406(9)AND 29.406(14)THEREOF,FOR THE
PURPOSE OF AMENDING FRONT YARD PARKING REGULATIONS
AND DRIVEWAY SPECIFICATIONS REPEALING ANY AND ALL
ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE
EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT;PROVIDING A PENALTY; AND
ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council for the City of Ames,.Iowa,that:
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Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby
amended by amending Sections 29.307(5),29.402,29.406,29.1501, and respective tables 29.1202(5)-1,
29.1202(6),29.406(2),29.406(9)and 29.406(14)as follows:
"See 29.307 Nonconformities.
(5) Other Nonconformities.
(a) Examples of Other Nonconformities. The types of other nonconformities to
which this Section applies include:
(i) Fence height or location;
(ii) Lack of buffers or screening;
(iii) Lack of or inadequate landscaping;
(iv) Lack of or inadequate off-street parking;and
(v) Other nonconformities not involving the basic design or structural.aspects
of the building, location of the building on the lot, lot dimensions or land or building use.
(d) Development that is consistent with a Site Development-Plan approved before the
date that this Ordinance became effective shall be deemed to be in conformance with this Ordinance to the
extent that it is consistent with the approved plan and to the extent that such plan or conditions imposed
thereon directly addresses the specific issue involved in the determination of conformity. However,
redevelopment of a site or reconstruction of improvements must meet current zoning standards and remove
nonconformities to extent practicable for issuance of a new certificate of compliance. A building/zoning
permit or site development plan is required,as applicable, for a new certificate of compliance.
(e) Single-and Two-Family Home Driveways and Paving
I (i) Properties with existing front yard paving that do not meet requirements of this
ordinance and were established prior to January 1, 2023, are considered pre-existing and are not required to
be removed or replaced, unless a principal structure is constructed on a site or replaced with a new principal
structure and the location of required parking can be accommodated within the standards of this ordinance.
(f) Unpaved Driveway,Parking,Vehicle Maneuvering Areas
(i) Properties with an unpaved driveway, parking area, or any other vehicle
maneuvering area are considered nonconforming, but may continue to be used and maintained as an unpaved
vehicle maneuvering area for access and parking in accordance with this section.
(ii) An unpaved driveway, approach, vehicle maneuvering area, and/or associated
parking area must be paved when:
(a)It is lengthened or widened,
(b)It is required to serve a new use on the site as required parking,
(c) The parking area is moved or replaced, or
(d)Construction of a new garage or addition to a driveway, parking space, or reconstruction
of a garage or parking space.
The nonconforming unpaved area must be paved subject to approval of a Driveway Permit in conformance
with City standards of Article 4.
Sec. 29.402. SETBACKS
(c) Full projections allowed.
(vii)Driveways,patios,sidewalks,and similar at-grade surfaces;(see also Front
Yard Parking,Nonconfonnities, and Other Paving Standards)
Sec. 29.404. ON-SITE SIDEWALKS.
(1) General Standard. An on-site sidewalk shall connect the street to the main entrance of
the primary structure on the site. Sidewalks shall be composed of concrete,brick or other masonry pavers
and shall be at least 5 feet wide, except for those leading to Single Family and Two-Family Dwellings,
Community Residential Facilities, and Single Family Attached Dwellings, which shall be no less than 4
feet wide. Where sidewalks cross driveways, parking areas and loading areas,the crossing shall be clearly
i identifiable, through the use of striping, elevation changes, speed bumps, a different paving material or
other similar method. The primary sidewalk leading to the main entrance of the primary structure on the
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site shall be lighted.
(a) Sidewalks leading to the main entrance of a Single Family and Two-Family
Dwelling,Community Residential Facility,or Single Family Attached Dwelling,maybe four feet in width, no
lighted, and utilize the paved driveway for connection from the main entrance to the street.
Sec. 29.406. OFF-STREET PARKING.
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(1) Applicability. The off-street parking requirements set forth in this Section apply to all off-
Istreet parking improvements and uses,whether required by this Ordinance or in excess of the requirements of
this Ordinance,whether accessory to the principal use of a site,or operated as a commercial enterprise.
(2) Required Parking Spaces. Off-street parking spaces must be provided in accordance with
the minimum requirements set forth in Table 29.406(2) below,for any new building constructed and for any
new use established.
(b) Whenever a building or use lawfully existing on the effective date of this Ordinance,May
I,2000, is enlarged in floor area, number of employees, seating capacity,or otherwise to create a need for an
iincrease of 10%or more in the number of required parking spaces,such spaces shall be provided on the basis
Of such enlargement or change. However, any change to a household living use or changes to an existing
household living use requires conformance to current parking requirements for such change without allowing
for an increase of 10% of intensity.
i Table 29.406(2)
Minimum Ntunber ofRequired Off-Street
Parking Spaces
PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUS
DOWNTOWN AND CAMPUS TOWN
TOWN SERVICE CENTER SERVICE CENTER ZONES
ZONES
RESIDE NTIAL D W ELLING S
Ingle and Two-Family and 2 spaces/Residential Unit(RU) I space/RU
inglc Family Attached
j including Manufactured
Iomes outside RLP District)
Apartment Dwellings 1.5 space/RU;for one-bedroom DSC
i inits Developments with up to 18 units:
space/bedroom for units of 2 0-2 bedrooms units:NONE
edrooms or more 3+bedroom units: I space/RU
1.25 space/bedroom for units of
edrooms or more in University Developments with more than 18
npacted(O-UIE and OUIW) nits: 1 space/RU
1 space/residential unit for an
{ ndependent Senior Living Facility 2SC—All Developments
space/RU
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TRADE AND WHOLESALE
Fast food restaurant 12 paces/1,000 sf in dining and NONE
waiting area,or 1 space per
employee if no seating
INSTITUATIONAL AND
MISCELLANOUS USES
Heliport or-heli epteFIaa inn a er 2 NONE
area ,
of less,.w ces-
:gym•
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(3) Computation of Parking Spaces.
(b) When parking is required on the basis of square-Footage,gross square footage
shall be used to calculate parking unless otherwise stated.
(c) Where calculations yield a fractional result, only fractions of 0.5 or greater
shall be rounded to the higher whole number.
(7) Locating Parking Spaces and Paving in the Front Yard.
(a) Prior to the construction, expansion, conversion, or reconstruction of a
garage, driveway, or vehicular parking area(including paving adjacent to a driveway or parking
area),a Driveway Paving Permit,Site Development Plan,or Parking Lot Landscaping and Striping
f Plan,as applicable to the principal use, approval from the Planning and Housing Director must be
obtained by the property owner.
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The Planning and Housing Director can only approve a permit consistent with the standards of this
! section and the guidelines of the Driveway Manual, an administrative publication available from
j the Planning and Housing Department. Any such activity described above without prior approval
of a permit by the Planning and Housing Director is a violation of this Chapter.
( Front Yard Parking and Paving within the front yard is only permitted as allowed within this
Section.Front yard parking generally includes all area of a lot for the entire width of the lot between
the front lot line(s) and the closest principal building. Parking location standards found in other
i parts of the Code, such as between the Building and the Street is more narrowly applied to only
areas between the:Footprint of buildings adjacent to the front lot line.
(b) Commercial and industrial sites may have Front yard vehicular parking
areas unless prohibited by the base zone standards.
i (c) Hospital Medical District(S-L-IM)properties may use the front yard for the
location of vehicular parking, but only if setbacks of 15 feet from the front lot lines and 10 feet
from the side lot lines are maintained with respect to the front yard parking area,and a landscaped
berm is installed and maintained in said setback areas. The landscaped berm shall be so designed,
constructed,and maintained as to help screen from view from the front and sides,any and all.motor
vehicles parked on the parking lot in any season of the year.
(d) For Group Living uses in any "RL," "RM,""RH,""UCRM,""FS-RL,"
or"FS-RM"zone,no vehicular parking area shall be permitted between the primary fagade and the
street. In addition,any parking area between a recessed fagade and the street shall require a setback
of 50 feet. Parking is permitted in the side or rear yard. On a corner lot, no parking area is allowed
within the front yard related to the secondary fagade.
(e) Household living and short-term lodging front yard vehicular parking
within any "RL", "RM", "RI-111, "UCRM", "FS-RL", or"FS-RM" zones is prohibited, except upon
an approved driveway that leads to a side or rear yard vehicular parking area or to a garage.
Specifications for driveways are stated below, no other installation at grade of any expanse of
asphalt, gravel, brick, concrete, or other form of paving is permitted without approval by the
Planning and Housing Department:
(i) No required parking for apartment buildings may be approved upon
a driveway within a front yard.
(ii) All newly constructed single and two-family dwellings shall provide
for at least one required parking space located outside of the Front Yard.
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f (f) Turnaround Areas. For single and two family dwellings with access only
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from either Grand Avenue,Thirteenth Street,Ontario Street,Duff Avenue,Lincoln Way,or other
arterial streets,and located on a segment of one of those streets where the Public Works Department
can confirm an average weekday traffic count of not less than 10,000 vehicles per day, or for
properties with narrow driveways exceeding 75 feet in length that create potentially hazardous
back out conditions to pedestrians and bicyclists on collector or arterial streets,there may be a
paved area appended to the driveway as a space in which a motor vehicle can be turned around to
avoid backing onto the street. The dimensions of the said turning space shall be no greater than
reasonably convenient to that purpose as described in the Driveway Manual. A driveway permit
' is required for a turnaround.
(g) As used in this section, front yard means the open space in that portion of
a yard between the street and the face of the structure and a line originating from the left side of the
lot and extending to the right side of the lot.The line,as viewed from the street,shall extend parallel
to the street to the nearest corner of the principal structure and then along the face of the principal
structure to the right corner,and from that point on a line parallel to the street to a point on the right
lot line. As used in this section,the face of a principal structure shall be any and all portions of the
structure fronting on a street. The front yard shall not include any portion of the city right-of-way.
A corner lot shall be deemed to have two front yards. When a lot has three or more street fronts, is
a through lot,or the lot is not a rectilinear shape to define a logical side and rear yards,the Planning
Director may approve a driveway and front yard parking that meets the intent of this section.
(8) Stacked Parking.
(a) Exception. Stacked parking is permitted by right for single family and
two-family dwellings; however,one of the required parking spaces per dwelling must be outside
of the front yard.
(10) Driveways. Driveways to all parking facilities shall be designed to promote safety
and access management while providing convenient access to adjoining properties. Drive Through
Facilities have additional standards within Article 13.The Planning and Housing Department shall
maintain a Driveway Manual to provide examples and diagrams of generally accepted practices for
conformance to front yard parking, paving,and driveway specifications for residential properties.
(a) Driveway width and design characteristics shall be as specified in the
Design Manual of the Statewide Urban Design and Specifications(SUDAS)as adopted by the
City of Ames unless specified differently in this Chapter.Driveway width shall be the specified
minimum to promote on street parking opportunities and pedestrian safety unless the City Traffic
Engineer approves a wider driveway width (not to exceed SUDAS maximum) based upon the
applicable following criteria:
I (i) The extra driveway approach width is necessary to accommodate
design dimension characteristics of non-residential vehicles that regularly use the site(does not
apply to properties with dwelling units);or
(ii) The extra driveway approach width is necessary to resolve concerns
over safe approach and volume of traffic entering and exiting the site.
(b) Additional driveways.
(i) Additional nonresidential driveways shall be limited to the
minimum number necessary for use and design characteristics of the site and in conformance
with SUDAS standards.
(i i) A second single or two-family driveway may be permitted by
the Traffic.Engineer if the lot has at least 150 linear feet of street frontage and can meet all other
specification and spacing requirements, including 75 feet of separation between drives.
(c) Dimensions Single and Two Family
(i) Single and Two-Family home driveway width onsite is intended
{ to be proportional to the curb cut and approach dimensions. The approach shall match the width
! of the approved driveway that leads directly to parking within an attached garage or vehicular
parking outside of the front yard.
(ii) Single and Two-Family home driveway width of the approach
in the right-of:--way shall be no less than 10 feet,the on-site driveway width shall be no less than
9 feet.
(iii) The maximum width of a driveway approach is 12 feet for a
one-car garage, carport,or uncovered parking spaces,20 feet for a two-car garage, and 24 feet
for a three-car garage. Driveway approaches that do not lead directly to a garage are limited
to the equivalent width of a one car garage.
(iv) On site driveway paving is limited to areas related to the width
l of the garage and exceptions described in this Section. In no event will additional paving
adjacent to a driveway be approved that would allow for an additional parking space to be created
in front of a home. Walkways adjacent to a driveway must be of a different decorative paving
material or separated by five feet of vegetative landscaped area from the driveway paving.
(v) Parking upon decorative paving,rock,gravel,or other material
that is not the approved driveway is illegal front yard parking.
(d) Exceptions. Single and Two-family homes may have additional
paving approved for a flared parking space within the front yard located towards these closest
interior property line, subject to the following:
(i) When a property has an approved driveway compliant with this
section that leads to at least one required parking space located outside of the front yard,additional
paving may be approved subject to the following limitations:
(a) The flared parking shall include a taper design either
angled or rounded that is a generally equal to a 45-degree angle between the sidewalk intersection
with the driveway and the outside edge of paving width for flared parking for a distance of not
less than 5 feet.See Driveway Manual for more detail.
(b) The flared parking space shall be contiguous to and
parallel to the existing driveway;and,
(c) The parking space shall. be located between the existing
driveway and the closest interior side property line.
(d) Flared parking is not permitted to the interior of a lot or
within the street side or front yard of a corner lot.
t (e) The design of the flared parking area is to allow for
parking of vehicles perpendicular to the street and not perpendicular to the driveway.
(f) No paving within the right of way that does not match the
SUDAS requirement of a driveway approach is permitted, i.e., paving between a sidewalk and
driveway approach radius or flare.
(g) Overall paving is limited by the lot coverage standards of
the zoning district.
(h) Not prohibited by easement.
(ii) Minimum Parking and Driveway Width. When a property with
an existing single-family dwelling does not have an attached garage or the ability to physically
situate a required parking space within the side or rear yard,a driveway width of up to 20 feet may
be approved to allow for two side-by- side parking spaces located adjacent to an interior side
property line.
(iii) The Planning Director may approve extra width of 4 feet to the
interior side of a driveway when the total width of the driveway with the exception does not exceed
20 feet. Flared parking area is included in the calculation of 20 feet of width.
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(11) Improvements of Off Street Parking Areas and Driveways.
(a) Surface Material Standards.
(i) Materials. All vehicular parking and maneuvering areas,
including driveways, and front yard parking areas described in Section 29.406(7), must be paved
with Portland Cement Concrete, Asphaltic Cement Concrete, or an equivalent as determined by
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I (ii) Material Thickness. All vehicle areas, including front yard
parking areas described in Section 29.406(7), must be paved with an approved material .no less
j than five inches thick. Use of bricks or pavers with a supporting base that provides for durability
equal to that of five inches of paved thickness may be approved by the City Engineer. Greater
thickness may be required by subsurface conditions or the type of vehicles using the parking area.
In all off-street parking areas where access will be provided for heavy trucks and transit vehicles,
the pavement thickness shall be adequate to accommodate such vehicles,as determined by the City
Engineer. When it is anticipated thattransit service will be extended to sites not presently served,
pavement thickness shall be adequate to accommodate transit vehicles, as determined by the
City Engineer.
(b) Existing single and two-family front yard parking and driveway area
configurations are considered pre-existing as of January 1, 2023, for purposes of maintaining
current paved areas and dimensions.New or expanded driveways and parking areas must comply
with all current standards.
(c) Unpaved parking areas and driveways must be paved as described in
Article 3 for other nonconformities.
(d) Striping. All parking areas must be striped in accordance with the
! dimension standards described in Figure 29.406(9)to clearly delineate parking spaces and drive
aisles for use by customer,employee,business, and other vehicles, except parking areas designed
for outdoor display of vehicles for sale or lease.
(e) Lighting. Illumination for parking and loading areas must be designed to
! be fu lly cut off from adjacent properties.
(12) Parking Structures and Decks.
(b) Screening or other improvements must be made so that parked vehicle
head Lights are shielded from view at each level of the parking structure.
(15) Standards for Accessible Parking Spaces.
(iii) Van-accessible spaces. One in every 6, but not less than one,
required Accessible Parking Spaces must be served by a passenger access aisle with a minimum
width of 8 feet and must be designated"Van-Accessible" by a sign mounted below the symbol of
accessibility. When exempt by ADA, no van-accessible spaces are required.
(18) Remote Parking. All parking spaces required by this ordinance shall be located
on the same lot as the use served,except as noted below:
(a) Parking spaces required for principal uses permitted in the CSC, I-10C,
CCN, CCR, NC, S-.I-.TM and S-SMD zoning districts may be located on the same lot as the
principal building or on a lot within 300 feet of the lot on which the principal building is located.
Parking within the DSC zoning district may be located on any lot within the DSC or DGC zoning
district,subject to approval by the City Council.
(b) Parking spaces required for uses permitted in the F-PRD zoning district
or a PUD Overlay may be located on a lot within 300 feet of the lot on which the use is located,
if the parking spaces to be used are within the boundary of the same zoning district.
Table 29.1.202(5)-1
Suburban Residential Floating Zone Residential Low Density (FS-RL)Supplemental Development
JStandards
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SUPPLEMENTAL F-S ZONE LOW DENSITY
DEVELOPMENT
STANDARDS
SINGLE TWO SINGLE FAMILY
FAMILY FAMILY ATTACHED
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++g-B et;;eG;�u444in� NO 1+1e ale
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Table 29.1202(6)
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Suburban Residential Floating Zone Suburban Regulations
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SUBURBAN REGULATIONS F-S ZONE
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Parking Location Parking in the front yard is limited per requirements of 29,406.
Additionally, no nonresidential use may have parking between the
primary and secondary fagade,however,as part of a Special Use Permit
review the Zoning Board of Adjustment may allow for parking between
a building and the street when a site has three or more street frontages,
See.29.1501. BUILDING/ZONING PERMIT.
(1) Permit Required.
(a) No Building/Zoning Permit shall be issued by the Building Official
for any building, building addition, structure or structural alteration, and no building or
structure shall be erected, added to, or structurally altered, and no change of use shall be
permitted or established unless the Zoning Enforcement Officer certifies that such proposed
building,structure,or use is in conformity with this Ordinance or is a valid nonconforming use.
(c) A Building/Zoning Permit shall be revoked if there are any substantial
changes or alterations to the plot plan, building plans and/or other supporting application
documents after the issuance of the permit.
(d) Zoning Permits for Driveways, Landscape Plans, and Parking Lot
Striping, Outdoor Storage/Display Areas, and other miscellaneous improvements and uses
require approval by the Planning and Housing .Department prior to their construction or
establishment of use. A Site Development Plan may be required per 29.1502. When a Site
Development Plan has been approved that addresses the above-described activities, no zoning
permit shall be required unless necessary for new activities or changes to approved activities. A
Building/Zoning permit would still be required.
(2) Submittal Requirements.
(v) Landscaping and pavement striping as applicable.
Sec.29.11502. SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN REVIEW.
(2) General Requirements for Site Development Plan Review.
(i) The development or redevelopment does not require the
construction of any additional parking spaces.
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(iii) The development or redevelopment does not exceed 150 square
feet of area, as calculated from the exterior dimension of a structure or an addition to a structure.
This includes impervious areas of paving and compacted rock or other similar impervious
surfaces.
(iv) Driveway, Sidewalk and Parking Lot Reconstruction is exempt
from the Site Development Plan submittal requirement when a site was previously approved with
! a Site Development Plan, there is no change in configuration of the parking lot to enlarge or
expand paving boundaries, and the amount of impervious area with replacement paving is less
than 1.0 acre in area as defined for redevelopment in Chapter 5B of AMC. The exception from
the Site Development Plan submittal requirements does not exempt the project from complying
with parking lot and landscaping standards of this Code and approval of a Zoning Permit. If
reconstruction is combined with any other changes to a structure on.site, it is not exempt.Changes
to Nonconforming improvements are subject to standards of Article 3.
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal
►nfi•action punishable as set out by law.
Section Three. All ordinances,or parts of ordinances, in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed to the extent of such conflict, if any.
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Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and afi.cr its passage
and publication as required by law.
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Passed this 28T11 day of March,2023.
Renee HR, City Clerk Jolm A.Haila,Mayor
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