The purpose of this section is to establish criteria and standards for driveways, parking and loading areas.
The intention of this section is to ensure that the amount and design of driveways, parking and loading spaces will be sufficient to accommodate the motor vehicles of all occupants, essential services, emergency vehicles and others normally visiting the premises at any one time.
These regulations are applicable to:
(a)
All new buildings erected;
(b)
All existing buildings which are enlarged to an extent cumulatively exceeding 20% of the floor area which existed on June 15, 1972;
(c)
All buildings erected after June 15, 1972, and subsequently enlarged, and all premises where the use is changed.
8.03.210 
All driveways shall meet the following standards:
8.03.211 
Driveway design. Driveways shall be designed and constructed to:
(a) 
Accommodate essential service and emergency vehicles with minimum disturbance or alteration of the natural terrain and the indigenous character of the land;
(b) 
Have any culverts and bridges located under a driveway carry H2O live loads;
(c) 
Not cast water on the surface of any existing or proposed street; and
(d) 
Comply with the permitting, sight distances and construction requirements of Article IX of the Newtown Road Ordinance adopted December 1989[1] and the regulations set forth herein.
[1]
Editor's Note: See now Ch. 185, Art. IX, adopted 9-6-2017.
8.03.212 
Common driveways.
(a) 
The Commission may allow common driveways for lots with frontage pursuant to Section 595-8.02.420.
(b) 
Common driveways are required for adjacent rear lots in subdivisions and resubdivisions pursuant to the Section 595-8.02.420.
(c) 
The Commission may require the use of common driveways for two or more adjacent lots in order to reduce the number of curb cuts on the street, to lessen traffic congestion or to avoid a wetland crossing.
(d) 
The Commission may allow a common driveway for certain lots with road frontage that require a wetlands crossing for driveway construction provided that a written request has been provided by the Inland Wetlands Commission.
(e) 
Once a common driveway has been constructed, no driveway serving only one of the two lots shall be constructed unless a special permit is issued by the Commission after a hearing at which it is proven that:
1. 
Both lot owners have agreed to construct separate driveways; and
2. 
Circumstances have changed since the common driveway was constructed, or through experience are shown to exist, which make the separate driveways safer within the lot and/or at the entrance to the highway than a common driveway.
[Effective 11-13-1989]
3. 
And divisions of land pursuant to Section 595-7.04.900 and 595-8.02.420.
[Added 7-26-2010]
8.03.220 
Driveways serving single-family dwellings shall meet the following standards:
8.03.221 
Driveway intersection. All driveways shall intersect the street.
(a) 
In a location having the sight distance required by the Newtown Road Ordinance[2];
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 185 of this Code.
(b) 
Consistent with the access management section[3] of these regulations;
[3]
Editor's Note: See Article VIII, Section 2, of this chapter.
(c) 
At right angles when possible.
8.03.222 
Driveway grade.
(a) 
The driveway grade shall be 5% or less for the first 30 feet measured in from the edge of the street. For the purpose of this regulation, the term "street" shall apply to both public and private roadways.
(b) 
Driveways grades shall not exceed 15% and shall not exceed an average of 12%.
(c) 
Driveway sections having grades of 12% or more shall be paved with bituminous concrete or other equal all-weather surface, including 10 feet preceding and following the 12% or more grades.
8.03.223 
Turning radius.
(a) 
The minimum center turning radius on the primary driveway curves shall not be less than 37 feet.
(b) 
Based on driveway configuration, the Town Engineer may determine that a turning radius.
(c) 
Greater than 37 feet is required for proper accessibility and safety.
8.03.224 
Travel width.
(a) 
The minimum driveway travel width of a residential driveway shall be 10 feet.
(b) 
Common driveways serving more than one single-family dwelling shall at no point be less than 16 feet wide.
8.03.225 
Parking area.
(a) 
An area for parking shall be provided in the driveway within 30 feet of the dwelling.
(b) 
Such parking area shall have a minimum length of 35 feet and a grade of not more than 5%.
8.03.226 
Pull-off areas.
(a) 
Driveways longer than 250 feet shall include a pull-off area to accommodate emergency vehicles.
(b) 
The minimum driveway dimensions at pull-off areas shall be 16 feet wide and 25 feet long.
(c) 
The maximum distance between pull-off areas shall be 250 feet.
(d) 
A common driveway of 16 feet in width shall be deemed as to having met the requirements of this section.
8.03.230 
Driveways serving commercial, industrial, and multiple-family dwellings shall meet the following standards:
8.03.231 
Driveway intersection.
(a) 
All driveways shall intersect the street.
1. 
In a location having the sight distance required by the Newtown Road Ordinance;[4] and
[4]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 185 of this Code.
2. 
At an angle never less than 85° for a distance of at least 45 feet.
(b) 
Driveways providing access to a parking area of more than 10 parking spaces shall not enter a public highway less than 75 feet from the center line of the nearest intersecting street on the same side of the street as the driveway.
(c) 
Driveways shall be consistent with Article VIII, Section 2, Access Management and Traffic Analysis, of these regulations.
8.03.232 
Driveway grade.
(a) 
The driveway grade shall be 5% or less running from the centerline of the street for a distance of no less than 45 feet.
(b) 
Driveways grades shall be less than 15% and shall not exceed an average of 12%.
8.03.233 
Turning radius.
(a) 
The minimum center turning radius on driveway curves shall be not less than 37 feet.
(b) 
Based on driveway configuration, the Town Engineer may determine that a turning radius greater than 37 feet is required for proper accessibility and safety.
8.03.234 
Driveway travel width.
(a) 
Driveways providing access to a parking area from the street shall be at least 12 feet wide if one-way and 20 feet wide if two way.
(b) 
The dimension of driveways contiguous to parking spaces and designed to be used for one-way travel, shall not be less than the following widths, whether or not the parking spaces are on one or both sides of the driveway:
1. 
Twelve feet for parallel and 30° angle parking.
2. 
Fifteen feet for 45° angle parking.
3. 
Eighteen feet for 60° angle parking.
4. 
Twenty feet for 90° angle parking.
(c) 
Driveways contiguous to parking spaces and designed to be used for two-way travel shall not be less than 20 feet wide no matter what the angle of parking.
(d) 
Common driveways shall meet the following design criteria.
1. 
Each one-way travel lane is at least 12 feet wide; and
2. 
A landscaped median that is not less than three feet wide for at least 20 feet shall separate the travel lanes.
8.03.240 
Driveway widths.
Driveway Type
Minimum Width of Driveway
Single-Family Driveway
One dwelling
10 feet
Two or more dwellings (common driveway)
16 feet
Commercial, Industrial, Multiple-Family Access from Street
One-way
12 feet
Two-way
20 feet
Common Driveway
12 feet (each lane)
Median
3 feet
Commercial, Industrial, Multiple-Family One-Way w/Parking
Parallel and 30° angle parking
12 feet
45° angle parking
15 feet
60° angle parking
18 feet
90° angle parking
20 feet
8.03.310 
Each parking space shall be capable of containing a rectangle nine feet in width and 20 feet in length. All parking spaces shall be contiguous to a driveway permitting access to a street.
8.03.320 
No parking space or driveway shall be permitted.
(a) 
Within the front yard setback in any design district, business, professional, elderly housing, or industrial zone or for an affordable housing development,
(b) 
Closer than 20 feet from the street line if serving a single-family dwelling in any farming and residential zone and without an accessory use requiring parking.
8.03.330 
Except for the parking required for a single-family dwelling or community residence without an accessory use requiring parking, all parking spaces and driveways shall have:
(a) 
Concrete, bituminous concrete or equivalent surfacing;
(b) 
Adequate drainage so that water doesn't collect or stand on the surface;
(c) 
Each parking space clearly marked and driveways marked to indicate the direction of travel.
8.03.340 
The Commission may require a pervious surface for parking areas to reduce runoff and increase stormwater infiltration.
8.03.350 
All artificial lighting used to illuminate any parking space or area shall be so arranged to meet the Performance Standards and Article VIII, Section 5, Exterior Lighting, of these Zoning Regulations.
8.03.410 
All parking areas having 20 or more parking spaces shall meet the following standards:
8.03.411 
Circulation routes and rows of parking spaces shall be defined by curbed islands distributed throughout the parking lot.
(a) 
Such islands shall, at a minimum, equal in area 225 square feet per 10 parking spaces.
(b) 
Such islands shall be landscaped to provide shade and shall be maintained in a healthy and growing condition.
(c) 
The area of the islands shall be considered structural area for purposes of applying the structural coverage ratio required for the zone in which parking area is located.
8.03.412 
Parking areas shall meet the site design and access management criteria set forth herein.
8.03.420 
Required parking shall be provided on the same lot with the use except that in business, design districts, and industrial zones the required off-street parking facilities may be provided on a different lot, provided that:
(a) 
The nearest boundary of the paved portion of the parking area is within 400 feet of the lot use being served;
(b) 
Said lot is under the same ownership as the use served; or
(c) 
A long-term instrument, acceptable to the Commission, assures that the use of such off-site parking remains available to the user and such instrument for parking is filed in the land records.
(d) 
If the written agreement for the parking is no longer in effect then the use shall immediately conform to these parking regulations.
8.03.430 
Shared parking.
8.03.431 
In an effort to reduce lot coverage and nonpoint pollution from parking areas, the Commission may allow up to 50% of the required parking to be shared between certain uses provided that.
(a) 
Their operations are conducted at different hours; and
(b) 
Their parking areas are located within 500 feet of each other; and
(c) 
A long-term instrument, acceptable to the Commission, assures that the use of such shared parking remains available to the users and such written agreement is filed in the land records.
8.03.432 
If the written agreement to share parking is no longer in effect then the uses shall immediately conform to these parking regulations.
8.03.510 
Loading areas shall be located.
(a) 
To the rear or side of any building;
(b) 
Behind the minimum building setbacks; and
(c) 
To permit ease of circulation within the lot.
The number of parking spaces set forth in the following schedule of requirements will be considered as the minimum required for each such use
(a)
The schedule is intended to be representative and not inclusive, and the minimum parking required for permitted uses not specified herein shall be determined by reference to the most similar use for which a requirement is given.
(b)
A different number of parking spaces may be required where the Commission reasonably determines that the nature of the use is such that more vehicles than the minimum number of spaces specified herein are likely to be parked in connection with such use at one time.
8.03.610 
Parking schedule of minimum requirements.
Use or Facility
Parking Requirements
Residential
Affordable housing developments and dwelling units for elderly families
1.5 spaces for 1 bedroom units, 2.0 spaces for 2- & 3-bedroom units, PLUS 1 space for every 4 units
Assisted living facility
1 space per 6 assisted units, PLUS 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Community residence
2 spaces (which may be provided by the use of an enclosed garage or carport)
Congregate housing for elderly families
1 space per unit containing not more than 1 bedroom and 1.25 spaces per 2 bedroom unit
Parking spaces for units may be provided by use of a garage or carport
In addition, there shall be 1 space per 6 assisted living units and health care units, PLUS 1 space per employee on the largest shift
Residential dwellings within a commercial structure located in a commercial, professional or design district
1 space per dwelling in addition to the commercial spaces
Roomers or boarders kept by a family pursuant to § 3.01.450
Single-family residential requirements PLUS 1 space per roomer or boarder
Single-family residential dwellings
2 spaces (which may be provided by the use of an enclosed garage or breeze way)
Commercial/Industrial
All industrial uses, public utilities, printing establishments, storage in bulk and warehouses
1 space per employee on the largest shift PLUS 1 space per industry or business vehicle usually kept on the premises
Bowling alleys
5 per alley
Commercial recreational facilities, tennis, paddle tennis/platform tennis, racquet ball, handball and squash and/or swimming recreational facility, and similar physical and recreational uses
40% of the maximum number of members or occupants permitted to use such facility at any one time
Home occupation which is neither a professional office nor devoted to retail sales
2 spaces PLUS 1 space per employee not residing on the premises
Horse farms and riding academies providing horse lesson programs or horse day camps
1 space per employee PLUS 1 space per 3 horse lesson students or horse day campers which will be utilizing the parking facilities during peak hours of operation
Hotels or motels
1 space per bedroom, PLUS 1 space per 2 employees on the largest shift
Professional and general offices, banks, motor vehicle salesrooms, wholesale business, kennel, and professional offices carried on as an accessory use to a single-family residence
1 space per 350 square feet of gross floor area (limited in the case of residences to the areas of the residence actually devoted to the accessory use)
Restaurant, bar, grill or tavern
1 space per 2 seats (or 1 space per 4 linear feet of bench), PLUS 1 space for each 2 employees on the shift with the largest number of employees
Retail businesses, personal service establishments, medical offices, any single building with multiple use tenants
1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area or part thereof
Roadside stands for a sale of agricultural produce or nursery stock
1 space per linear foot measured on the longest dimension of the stand or 10 spaces, whichever is more
Institutional/Health Care
Child day-care centers
1 space per employee in the largest shift, reserve parking for visitors, and adequate space for the pickup and dropoff of children
Family or group day care home
2 spaces PLUS 1 space per employee or other supervising parent
Hospitals or extended care facility
1 space per 6 patient beds plus, there shall be 1 space per employee or on-site worker on the largest shift
Places of assembly with fixed seats, such as a theater, church, auditorium, or funeral parlor
1 space per 6 seats
Where pews or benches are used as fixed seats, 1 space per 9 linear feet
Places of assembly without fixed seats such as banquet halls and club houses, including volunteer fire departments
1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area (limited in the case of volunteer fire departments to the area of the firehouse used for meetings or banquets)
8.03.710 
Permitted vehicle storage.
8.03.711 
Boats, boat trailers and unoccupied recreational vehicles having a current State of Connecticut registration to use the public highways may be parked or stored outdoors only if parked or stored in a rear or side yard as far from the lot line as possible.
8.03.712 
Plumbers, electricians and similar artisans and tradesmen using vans, pickups or similar trucks in their trade or business may park said trucks on the same lot as the dwelling they occupy in any zone provided that no more than one such truck is so parked or stored on the lot per occupant engaged in such a trade. Parking of pickups and vans or similar vehicles not in excess of one to capacity used for transportation by occupants of the lot is also permitted.
8.03.720 
Prohibited vehicle storage.
8.03.721 
Except for operable motor vehicles used for farming activities, vehicles without valid State of Connecticut registration shall not be parked or stored on any lot unless completely enclosed within a building.
8.03.722 
Outside storage of any piece of construction equipment, dump truck, garbage truck or other heavy truck of a type not ordinarily used as a means of transportation for people is prohibited in all zones.
8.03.723 
Except for operable motor vehicles used on farms, storage or parking of any piece of construction equipment, dump truck, garbage truck or other heavy truck of a type not ordinarily used as a means of transportation for people is prohibited in farming/residential and BPO zones, unless there is a valid building or construction permit issued for the property.
[Added effective 5-26-2008]