In any district, if any structure is constructed, enlarged or
extended and any use of land is established or any existing use is
changed, parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance
with the following tables. An existing structure which is enlarged
or an existing use which is extended shall be required to provide
parking and loading spaces in accordance with the following tables
for the expanded area or use unless the increase in units or measurements
amounts to less than 25%, whether such increase occurs at one time
or in successive stages.
[Amended 6-20-1989 ATM, Art. 11]
A.
General standards. Parking or loading spaces existing and being maintained in any district in connection with any existing use on the effective date of this section shall hereafter remain so long as said use remains, unless an equivalent number of parking or loading spaces are constructed elsewhere conforming to the requirements of the following tables, provided that this regulation shall not require the maintenance of more parking and loading spaces than is required under the following provisions; provided further that § 173-27C through 173-27F shall not apply to retail and service uses in buildings constructed prior to November 7, 1967, and authorized additions thereto, if such buildings are located in a zoning district in which retail and service uses are permitted by right or by special permit.
[Amended 1-14-2014 STM,
Art. 2]
B.
DRIVEWAY
MANEUVERING AISLE
MANEUVERING SPACE
PARKING AREA
PARKING SPACE
Definitions. As used herein, the following words and phrases shall
have and include the following respective meanings:
An area on a lot, in addition to parking and maneuvering
spaces and aisles, which is designed or used to provide for passage
of motor vehicles to and from a street or way.
A maneuvering space which serves two or more parking spaces,
such as the area between two rows of parking spaces.
An open space in a parking area which is used or required
for maneuvering a motor vehicle into a parking space but not used
for the parking or storage of motor vehicles.
An open space either used or required for parking of five
or more motor vehicles, including necessary maneuvering space, but
not including parking on a lot for the passenger car of residents
and guests of a one-family dwelling on said lot.
An open space exclusive of maneuvering area and driveway
for the parking of one motor vehicle.
C.
Off-street and/or loading requirements. In any district, if any structure
is constructed, enlarged and/or extended and any use of land established
or any existing use changed after the effective date of this section,
parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the
following tables. An existing structure which is enlarged or an existing
structure which is extended after the effective date of these regulations
shall be required to provide parking and loading spaces, and landscaping
in accordance with the following tables for the entire structure or
use unless the increase in units or measurements amounts to less than
25% of the existing structure, whether such increase occurs at one
time or in successive stages.
|
Table of Off-Street Parking Standards
[Amended 5-3-2016 ATM,
Art. 29] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Use
|
Number of Parking Spaces
| |||
|
Residential
| ||||
|
Single-family, two-family and multifamily dwelling units
|
2 per dwelling unit
| |||
|
Community facilities
| ||||
|
Churches/religious establishments
|
1 per 300 square feet of nfs*
| |||
|
Places of public assembly
|
1 per 300 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Schools
|
1 per 300 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Commercial uses
| ||||
|
Professional/general office
|
1 per 250 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
General retail
|
1 per 225 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Banks/financial institutions
|
1 per 225 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Restaurants
|
1 per 100 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Theaters
|
1 per 275 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Home occupations
|
1 per 200 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Bowling alley
|
2 per lane
| |||
|
Industrial and institutional
| ||||
|
Wholesale industrial
|
1 per 1,000 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Manufacturing
|
1 per 750 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Hospital
|
1 per 3 beds
| |||
|
Convalescent or nursing home
|
1 per 3 beds
| |||
|
Medical offices
|
1 per 250 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
Contractor's yard
|
1 per 750 square feet of nfs
| |||
|
*For the purposes of this section of the Northbridge Zoning
Bylaws, net floor space (nfs) shall be the actual occupied area, not
including unoccupied areas or thickness of walls.
|
|
Table of Off-Street Loading Standards
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Use
|
Number of Loading Spaces
| ||
|
Business, industrial, commu- nity facility (school, church,
town building, recreation, etc.) or public utility establishments
|
1 per 7,500 square feet of nfs and an additional space per each
additional 15,000 square feet of nfs
| ||
D.
General parking and loading requirements.
(1)
The off-street permanently provided parking spaces required for the
uses listed in the above table shall be on the same lots as the use
they are intended to serve or, when practical difficulties prevent
their establishment upon the same lot, they shall be established no
further than 300 feet from the premises to which they are appurtenant.
The required parking spaces shall not be located on the other side
of a public street, unless a safe and sufficient road crossing exists
or will be provided.
(2)
The loading spaces required for the uses listed in the above table
shall in all cases be on the same lot as the use they are intended
to serve. In no case shall the required loading spaces be part of
the area used to satisfy the parking requirements of this section.
(3)
The minimum dimensions of parking spaces and maneuvering aisles shall
be in accordance with the following table:
|
Minimum Parking Space and Aisle Dimensions for Parking
Areas
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Angle of Parking
(degrees)
|
Width of Parking Space
(feet)
|
Depth of Parking Space
(feet)
|
Width of Maneuvering Aisle
(feet)
| |
|
61 to 90
|
9.0
|
18
|
24
| |
|
46 to 60
|
9.0
|
18
|
18
| |
|
45
|
9.0
|
18
|
15
| |
|
Parallel
|
8.0
|
22
|
12
| |
(4)
The number of driveways shall be limited to two per street line.
Driveways shall be located so as to minimize conflict with traffic
on public streets.
(5)
The width of a driveway for one-way traffic shall be not less than
15 feet as measured at its narrowest point. The width of a driveway
for two-way use shall be a minimum of 18 feet as measured at its narrowest
point and a maximum of 24 feet.
(6)
Driveways shall be arranged for the free flow of vehicles at all
times; and the maneuvering spaces and aisles shall be so designed
that all vehicles may exit from and enter onto a public street by
being driven in a forward direction.
(7)
All parking areas shall be so arranged and designed that the only
means of access and egress to and from such area is by driveway meeting
the requirements of this section.
(8)
All portions of all parking spaces and maneuvering aisles shall be
set back a minimum of five feet from any wall of any building. Each
off-street parking space shall be designed so that any motor vehicle
may proceed to and from said space without requiring the moving of
any other vehicle.
(9)
Loading spaces shall be at least 600 square feet in area for the
first 7,500 square feet of net floor space and 500 square feet for
each additional 15,000 square feet of net floor space.
(10)
Parking and loading areas shall be graded, surfaced with a durable,
all-season nondusting material, drained and suitably maintained to
the extent necessary to avoid the nuisance of dust, erosion or any
water flow onto streets or adjoining property.
(11)
The applicant may be required to provide curbing, wheel stops
or other devices to prevent motor vehicles from being parked or driven
into the required setback area or the landscaped area.
(12)
A sufficient number of handicapped spaces shall be conveniently
provided on site in accordance with local regulations and requirements.
(13)
Applicants using these regulations to design parking, loading
and landscaping areas are encouraged to locate parking areas in the
rear and on the sides of the primary use structure wherever possible.
E.
[1] Residential driveway requirements. For the purpose of
promoting the safety of the residents of the town, an application
for a building permit for a residential structure shall include a
plan, at a scale of one inch equals 20 feet, showing the driveway
serving the premises, and showing existing and proposed topography
at ten-foot or three-meter contour intervals. All driveways shall
be constructed in a manner ensuring reasonable and safe access from
the street serving the premises to the building site of the residential
structure on the premises, for all vehicles, including, but not limited
to, emergency, fire and police vehicles. The Building Inspector shall
not issue a building permit for the principal structure on the premises
unless all of the following conditions have been met:
[Added 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 16]
(1)
Except in access strips of less than 50 feet in width to rear lots,
no driveway shall be located within 10 feet of any side or rear lot
line except by special permit by the Planning Board after a determination
that said driveway will provide safe and reasonable access for all
vehicles.
(2)
The grade of each driveway shall not exceed 15% unless the Planning
Board shall grant a special permit after a determination that said
driveway will provide safe and reasonable access for a vehicles.
(3)
Driveways shall be surfaced with a durable, all-season nondusting
material, drained and suitably maintained to the extent necessary
to avoid any nuisance by reason of dust, erosion or water flow onto
streets or adjoining property.
(4)
Common driveways serving not more than three lots may be allowed on special permit by the Planning Board, after consideration of the criteria set forth in § 173-47 herein. A common driveway must satisfy all of the following conditions:
(a)
The center line intersection with the street center line shall
not be less than 45°;
(b)
A minimum width of 15 feet shall be maintained over its entire
length;
(c)
The common driveway shall be paved;
(d)
The driveway shall be located entirely within the boundaries
of the lots being served thereby;
(e)
Proposed documents shall be submitted to the Planning Board
demonstrating that, through easements, restrictive covenants or other
appropriate legal devices, the maintenance, repair, snow removal and
liability for the common driveway shall remain perpetually the responsibility
of the private parties or their successors-in-interest.
F.
Landscaping requirements. All nonresidential parking lots shall
be effectively landscaped to reduce the visual impact of glare, headlights
and parking lot lights from the public right-of-way and from adjoining
properties. In addition, parking lots shall be adequately shaded to
reduce the amount of reflected heat.
[Amended 1-23-1996 STM, Art. 10]
(1)
Landscaping adjacent to street right-of-way. A landscaped area shall
be provided between parking areas and any adjacent public street,
sidewalk or right-of-way as follows:
(2)
Landscaping adjacent to contiguous properties. Landscaping shall
be provided between parking areas and contiguous properties as follows:
(a)
A landscaped area at least 10 feet wide.
(b)
A masonry wall, solid fence, earth berm, hedge or combination
thereof at least five feet high may be required if abutting property
is a residential use. When contiguous properties are located within
a business or industrial district, only a naturally vegetated or landscaped
buffer shall be required to the rear and sides of the lots when not
abutting a public right-of-way.
(3)
Landscaping in interior areas. Landscaping areas shall be provided
for interior parking areas so as to provide visual and climactic relief
from broad expanses of pavement and to channelize and define logical
areas for pedestrian and vehicle circulation.
(a)
Interior parking areas shall be deemed to be all parking areas.
(b)
At least 5% of the gross area of the interior parking area shall
be landscaped. These landscaped areas shall include trees sufficient
to provide shading of parking areas.
(c)
Interior landscaped areas shall be dispersed so as to define
aisles and limit unbroken rows of parking to a maximum of 100 feet.
Landscaping between rows of parking shall be at least eight feet in
width.
(4)
Trees required by the provisions of this section shall be at least
two inches in diameter measured at one foot above ground level and
a height of five feet at the time of planting; and shall be of a species
characterized by rapid growth and by suitability and hardiness for
location in a parking lot. To the extent practical, existing trees
shall be retained and used to satisfy the provisions of this section.
(5)
No landscaping, tree, fence, wall or similar screening shall be maintained
in the vicinity of any corner, street, intersection or accessway intersecting
a public right-of-way that is determined to be an obstruction to visibility.
G.
Exceptions. For the purposes of this section, the Planning Board
may grant relief via a special permit from the requirements of this
section either upon appeal or upon written request of the applicant,
where, after a public hearing thereon, one or more of the following
situations occur: it shall find that literal enforcement would cause
a substantial hardship; or that literal compliance is impractical
because of the size, width or grade of the lot or the use to which
it is to be put or because a lesser area would, except in unusual
circumstances, accommodate the motor vehicles of all persons using
the building at any time; or less stringent requirements would carry
out the other purposes of this section; or because of factors peculiar
to the lot or building involved not generally affecting the zoning
district in which it is located.
All parking or loading areas containing over five spaces, including
automobile service and drive-in establishments, shall be either contained
within structures or subject to the following:
A.
The area shall be effectively screened on each side which adjoins
or faces the side or rear lot line of a lot situated in any R District.
The screening shall consist of a solid fence or wall not less than
three feet nor more than six feet in height or shrubbery planted not
less than three feet apart on center, at least two feet from the lot
line, and all maintained in good condition. The screening required
by this subsection shall be set back from each street the same as
if it were a main building wall.
B.
The area and access driveways thereto shall be surfaced with a durable
and dustless material and shall be graded and drained so as to dispose
of all surface water accumulation.
C.
A substantial bumper of masonry, steel or heavy timber or concrete
or macadam curb stop shall be placed at the edge of surfaced areas,
except driveways, in order to protect abutting structures, properties
and sidewalks.
D.
Any fixture used to illuminate any area shall be so arranged as to
direct the light away from the street and away from the adjoining
premises used for residential purposes.
