HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13 - Proposed Amendments to Section 58CC ITEM # l3 , q3
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TO: HONORABLE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
FROM: ROGER NELSON, CITY MANAGER
H.T. HARDY, DIRECTOR OF DEVEL PMENT SERVICES
DATE: JANUARY 15, 2002
SUBJECT: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SECTION 58, PARKING, LOADING
AND OUTSIDE STORAGE AREA DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS,
RELATIVE TO DRIVING LANE WIDTHS IN PRIVATE PARKING LOTS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council consider
amendments to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, relative to Section 58, Parking,
Loading and Outside Storage Area Development Standards, relative to driving lane
widths for private parking lots, and take any action necessary.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Section 58
Currently, Section 58 of the comprehensive zoning ordinance provides that all private
parking lots with 0 to 34 degree parking stalls have minimum 18 -foot wide driving lanes,
and that parking lots with 35 to 90 degree parking stalls have minimum 25 -foot driving
lanes. These requirements do not distinguish between one-way and two-way driving
lanes.
At the request of developers for Walmart and Sam's Club, who are proposing 60 -degree
parking with 20 foot one-way driving lanes and 25 foot two-way driving lanes, City Staff
has reviewed the current ordinance and how it compares with the requirements of other
nearby cities as well as the recommendations of the Institute of Transportation
Engineers (ITE). The general finding is that with a smaller parking angle, less driving
lane width is required. The narrower driving lane width is justified because of increased
visibility and a diminished need for maneuverability with the angular parking and one-
way drives.
Two-way drives are not typically used for angular parking; however, if necessary, they
should maintain the minimum 25 foot driving lane width. In a similar manner, 90
degree (or "head -in") parking is not used for one-way parking and also should maintain
the minimum 25 foot driving lane width.
Staff has drafted an amendment to Section 58 to allow for reduced minimum width
driving lanes (20 feet) for one-way parking aisles with angled parking. Please see the
attached memo from Public Works outlining their recommendation for the change as
well as a brief summary of nine other cities' requirements and ITE's recommendations
for driving lane widths.
R:\AGENDA\01-15-02\AM01-08.4.doc
E
12/28101 Draft - Section 58
Section 58. Parking, Loading and Outside Storage Area
Development Standards
A. The off-street parking facilities required for the uses mentioned in this ordinance,
and other similar uses shall be on the same lot or parcel of land as the structure
they are intended to serve, or upon a lot or parcel of land within three hundred (300)
feet of the lot or tract of land upon which the structure they are intended to serve is
located and shall be exclusive of landscaping requirements.
For hotels/motels in excess of five hundred (500) rooms with restaurants, clubs and
conference facilities in excess of 100,000 square feet which must comply with the
development requirements set forth in Section 29, "HCO" Hotel/Corporate Office
District, any required or additional off-street parking may be provided upon another
lot or parcel of land with no distance requirement between the off-site parking and
the principal use it is intended to serve. A site plan and a Conditional Use Permit
meeting all of the requirements of Section 48 shall be required.
B. All required off-street parking and loading and drives, vehicle (autos, trucks, trailers,
boats, etc.) sales, display areas and outside storage areas in all districts shall be
paved to a minimum standard equivalent to four (4) inch concrete slab with six (6)
inches by six (6) inches by six (6) gauge mesh wire or two (2) inch hot mix asphaltic
concrete over six (6) inch crushed rock base. Exceptions to these pavements must
be approved by the City Engineer, and be based on equivalency. All reinforcing in
concrete shall be suspended in the center of the slab.
For property with designation as a Historic Landmark Subdistrict, a six (6) inch
crushed limestone base or other approved base material with an approved granular
or other approved topping may be allowed.
For property with designation as a Historic Landmark Subdistrict, a ribbon driveway
may be used to provide access from the street to the off street parking area/garage.
The ribbon drive shall be composed of two, 30 -inch wide concrete strips separated
by a 36 -inch wide grass area.
C. Driveway design and placement standards shall be in accordance with Chapter 20,
Article III, of the City of Grapevine Code of Ordinances.
D. No loading space shall be located closer than fifty (50) feet to any other lot in any
R district, unless wholly within a completely enclosed building or unless enclosed
on all sides by a wall not less than eight (8) feet in height.
041701 1 Section 58
12/28/01 Draft - Section 58
E. Lighting facilities. Refer to Section 55.A.5 for applicable lighting standards.
F. The parking area shall be used for passenger vehicles only, and in no case shall be
used for sales, repair work, storage, dismantling or servicing of any vehicles,
equipment, materials or supplies.
G. The off-street loading facilities required for the uses mentioned in this ordinance and
other similar uses, shall be on the same lot or parcel of land as the structure they
are intended to serve, or on a lot or parcel of land abutting the structure they are
intended to serve.
H. All parking, loading spaces and vehicle sales areas on private property shall have
a vehicle stopping device installed so as to prevent parking of motor vehicles in any
required landscaped areas, to prevent any parked vehicle from overhanging a public
right-of-way line, or public sidewalk. An overwide sidewalk on private property may
be permitted so as to allow encroachment of vehicle overhang while maintaining an
unobstructed three-foot minimum sidewalk width. This requirement shall apply only
where spaces are adjacent to the walks, right-of-way, and landscaping. Parking
shall not be permitted to overhang public right-of-way in any case.
Driving lane widths in all private parking lots shall conform to the following
standards:
All turning radii .....................................25 feet minimum
J. In nonresidential districts, surface parking may extend to the front property line,
except for required screening and landscaping as set forth in the various sections
of this Ordinance.
041701 2 Section 58
30 -degree
45 -degree
60 -degree
75 -degree
90 -degree
One -Way
18'
20'
20'
22'
Not Allowed
Two -Way
25'
25'
25'
25'
251
All turning radii .....................................25 feet minimum
J. In nonresidential districts, surface parking may extend to the front property line,
except for required screening and landscaping as set forth in the various sections
of this Ordinance.
041701 2 Section 58
0 12/28!01
Draft - Section 58
K. In determining the required number of parking spaces, fractional spaces shall be
counted to the next whole space. Parking spaces located within buildings used for
repair garages or carwashes shall not be counted in determining the required
minimum off-street parking.
L. Floor area of structures devoted to off-street parking of vehicles shall be excluded
in computing the floor area for off-street parking requirements.
M. Paving, marking, and signing shall be provided in accordance to the design
requirements as set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
N. Kindergartens, day schools and similar child training and care establishments shall
provide two (2) loading and unloading spaces on a private drive, off-street to
accommodate two motor vehicles for the first twenty (20) students or children, and
one (1) for each additional twenty (20) students.
O. Internal traffic cross access providing interconnecting access between
developments or lots, exclusive of public street access, shall be required between
all nonresidential developments to alleviate traffic hazards in the public right-of-way.
Cross access will not be required between industrial zoning and other non-
residential zoning districts. Specific exceptions are noted in the Driveway Design
and Placement Standards, Chapter 20, Article 111, of the City of Grapevine Code of
Ordinances. Exceptions to this requirement would require approval by the Planning
and Zoning Commission and City Council through either an approved concept plan
or a site plan. Internal cross access will not be required for properties having
driveways approved by a concept plan in accordance with Section 45, or a site plan
in accordance with Section 47, prior to June 21, 1994.
041701 3 Section 58
MEMORANDUM City of Grapevine, TX
TO: Tommy Hardy, Director of Development Services
FROM: Jerry Hodge, Director of Public Works
DATE: December 28, 2001
SUBJECT: Parking Lot Aisle Widths -Zoning Ordinance Requirements
Public Works recommends that the current parking lot aisle width requirements outlined
in Section 58 of the Zoning Ordinance be changed to the recommended aisle widths
shown in the following table. The recommended widths meet or exceed Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) recommended guidelines and the zoning requirements of
the nine DFW area cities surveyed.
Background
The developer for the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club development requested that the City
review the current City ordinances regarding allowable parking aisle widths. The
developer is proposing 60 -degree angle parking with 20 foot one-way aisles on a major
portion of the parking layout. This proposal does not meet the current City parking
requirements outlined in the Zoning Ordinance. Traffic Staff reviewed the current City
ordinance and compared it with national guidelines and requirements of other cities in the
Dallas -Fort Worth area. Findings are presented below.
Current City of Grapevine Requirements
Parking aisles perform three important functions: they provide access to the parking
spaces, facilitate circulation in the parking lot and serve as fire lanes (when designated as
such). The current City requirement for parking aisles is outlined in the table below.
Parking aisles designated as fire lanes are required to be a minimum of 25 feet. The
current City requirements do not make a distinction between one-way and two-way aisles.
Parking Angle
30 -degree
45 -degree
60 -degree
75 -degree
90 -degree
One -Way
18'
20'
20'
22'
Not Allowed
Two -Way
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
Background
The developer for the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club development requested that the City
review the current City ordinances regarding allowable parking aisle widths. The
developer is proposing 60 -degree angle parking with 20 foot one-way aisles on a major
portion of the parking layout. This proposal does not meet the current City parking
requirements outlined in the Zoning Ordinance. Traffic Staff reviewed the current City
ordinance and compared it with national guidelines and requirements of other cities in the
Dallas -Fort Worth area. Findings are presented below.
Current City of Grapevine Requirements
Parking aisles perform three important functions: they provide access to the parking
spaces, facilitate circulation in the parking lot and serve as fire lanes (when designated as
such). The current City requirement for parking aisles is outlined in the table below.
Parking aisles designated as fire lanes are required to be a minimum of 25 feet. The
current City requirements do not make a distinction between one-way and two-way aisles.
Parking Angle
Minimum Aisle Width
0 degrees — 34 degrees
18 feet
35 degrees — 90 degrees
25 feet
Parking Lot Aisle Widths -Zoning Ordinance Requirements
12128/01
Page 3
0 Analysis and Recommendations
These are some of the general findings that Staff can summarize from a study of the
parking requirements of other cities and the ITE guidelines.
The steeper (smaller) the parking angle, the easier it is to get in and out of the space
and the less aisle width required. The current City minimum required aisle width of 25
feet for parking angles of 35 to 90 degrees, although appropriate for two-way aisles,
is very conservative for one-way aisles. The aisle width for two-way aisles can be much
smaller for angles less than 90 degrees.
One-way aisles are typically used and work well with parking angles that are less than
90 degrees (30 -degree, 45 -degree, 60 -degree and 75 -degree) while two-way aisles are
normally used with 90 -degree parking. Two-way aisles are not generally convenient
to use with parking angles less than 90 degrees, as it is difficult to make left turns into
the parking spaces. The smaller the angle, the greater the degree of difficulty.
However, two-way aisles are commonly used with 60 -degree parking in many shopping
centers, especially when the aisles are used as fire lanes. It is recommended that
when two-way aisles are used with angle parking, the aisle width be a minimum of 25
feet.
• One-way aisles are not recommended with 90 -degree parking, as it is difficult for
motorists to figure out the correct aisle direction, especially when exiting parking
spaces. Therefore the current City Ordinance should be modified so that for 90 -degree
parking, only two-way aisles should be used.
The current City standard of 25 -foot minimum width for two-way aisles with 90 -degree
is appropriate and conforms to ITE recommended guidelines. For one-way aisles with
parking angles less than 90 degrees, a minimum width between 18 feet to 22 feet
(depending on the parking angle) should be used. This width allows large vehicles to
easily enter and exit the parking spaces. Large vehicles require a larger turning radius,
especially when making a right -turn into a parking space. A width less than 25 feet for
parking angles less than 90 degrees also serves as a visual reminder- that a narrow
aisle is a one-way aisle and discourages motorists from traveling the wrong way.
Parking Lot Aisle Widths -Zoning Ordinance Requirements
12128/01
Page 2
Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Guidelines
The ITE sets the national standard for traffic and transportation engineering practice.
Many local agencies develop their own standards using the ITE guidelines as a basis. The
ITE guidelines classify parking lots into low, medium and high turnover depending on the
use they serve. For example, a shopping center parking lot would be classified as high
turn over. The following table shows the recommended aisle widths for large size vehicles
on high turnover lots. The guidelines allow for a one -foot decrease in aisle widths if
needed.
Parking Requirements for Other Cities in DFW Area
The cites that were surveyed include Allen, Bedford, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Haltom City,
Keller, Lewisville, Mesquite and Piano. The survey indicates a wide variation of aisle
widths that range from 10'2" to 24'. Typically, the minimum aisle width was found to be
a function of the parking angle -the smaller the angle, the smaller the aisle width. The aisle
width was also a function of the circulation -it was generally smaller for one-way aisles and
wider for two-way aisles. For angles less than 90 degrees, the minimum aisle width
requirement in all the cities that were surveyed (except the City of Carrollton) was 20 feet
or less, regardless of whether the aisle was one-way or two-way. The City of Carrollton
requires minimum aisle widths of 22'-23' for 75 -degree angle parking. A representative
sample of minimum aisle widths is presented in the table below.
City
45 -degree
60 -degree
75 -degree
90 -degree
One -Way
15'
18'
22'
Two-way
Two -Way
Two-way
26'
18,
26'
Parking Requirements for Other Cities in DFW Area
The cites that were surveyed include Allen, Bedford, Carrollton, Fort Worth, Haltom City,
Keller, Lewisville, Mesquite and Piano. The survey indicates a wide variation of aisle
widths that range from 10'2" to 24'. Typically, the minimum aisle width was found to be
a function of the parking angle -the smaller the angle, the smaller the aisle width. The aisle
width was also a function of the circulation -it was generally smaller for one-way aisles and
wider for two-way aisles. For angles less than 90 degrees, the minimum aisle width
requirement in all the cities that were surveyed (except the City of Carrollton) was 20 feet
or less, regardless of whether the aisle was one-way or two-way. The City of Carrollton
requires minimum aisle widths of 22'-23' for 75 -degree angle parking. A representative
sample of minimum aisle widths is presented in the table below.
City
Parking Angle
45 -degree
60 -degree
90 -degree
One -Way
Two-way
One -Way
Two-way
One -Way
Two-way
Allen
18,
18,
20'
20'
24'
24'
Bedford
20'
24'
20'
24'
20'
24'
Carrollton
11'-12'
20'
15'-16'
20'
23'-24'
23-24'
Fort Worth
12'
14.5'
24'
Haltom City*
12'
16'
20'
Keller
18,
20'
18,
20'
18,
20'
-7 -
Lewisville
18'
18'
20'
20'
24'
24_
Mesquite
Minimum required width is 24' but may be reduced for angle parking
Plano
10' 2"
1
1 171 6'7
1
1 24'
1 24'
*No distinction made between one-way and two-way aisles
Shaded blocks indicate that the parking combination is not allowed or not indicated in code.
A� i
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE, TEXAS
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 82-73, THE
COMPREHENSIVE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY,
SAME BEING ALSO KNOWN AS APPENDIX "D" OF THE
CODE OF ORDINANCES, BY PROVIDING FOR
AMENDMENTS AND CHANGES TO ZONING REGULATIONS
BY AMENDING SECTION 58, PARKING, LOADING AND
OUTSIDE STORAGE AREA DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS;
PROVIDING A PENALTY OF FINE NOT TO EXCEED THE
SUM OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($2,000.00) FOR
EACH OFFENSE AND A SEPARATE OFFENSE SHALL BE
DEEMED COMMITTED EACH DAY DURING OR ON WHICH
AN OFFENSE OCCURS OR CONTINUES; PROVIDING A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAPEVINE,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That Ordinance No. 82-73, the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance of
the City of Grapevine, Texas same being also known as Appendix "D" of the Code of
Ordinances of the City of Grapevine, Texas is hereby amended in the following particulars,
and all other sections, subsections, paragraphs, definitions, words and phrases of said
Appendix "D" are not amended but are hereby ratified, verified and affirmed:
A. That Section 58, Parking, Loading and Outside Storage Area Development
Standards, is hereby amended by amending Section I to read as follows:
"l. Driving lane widths in all private parking lots shall conform to the
following standards:
All turning radii.....................................25 feet minimum"
30 -degree
45 -degree
60 -degree
75 -degree
90 -degree
One -Way
18'
20'
20'
22'
Not Allowed
Two -Way
25'
25'
25'
25'
25'
All turning radii.....................................25 feet minimum"
Section 2. Any person violating any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in an sum not
to exceed Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each offense and a separate offense shall
be deemed committed each day during or on which an offense occurs or continues.
Section 3. If any section, article, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase or word in
this ordinance, or application thereto any person or circumstances is held invalid or
unconstitutional by a Court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect the
validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance; and the City Council hereby declares
it would have passed such remaining portions of the ordinance despite such invalidity,
which remaining portions shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. The fact that the present ordinances and regulations of the City of
Grapevine, Texas are inadequate to properly safeguard the health, safety, morals, peace
and general welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Grapevine, Texas, creates an
emergency for the immediate preservation of the public business, property, health, safety
and general welfare of the public which requires that this ordinance shall become effective
from and after the date of its passage, and it is accordingly so ordained.
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS on this the 15th day of January, 2002.
ATTEST:
ORD. NO. 2