Shafter Zoning Code § 13.60 Design Standards

1. Dimensions of Parking Spaces

   • a. Automobile

     • (1) All Uses

All parking spaces shall provide an additional one (1) foot to the required parking space width where such parking spaces are adjacent to a wall, supporting column or post, garage wall, or other obstruction.

• (2) Covered/Enclosed Spaces

Covered parking spaces shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet in width and nineteen (19) feet in depth. The measurements shall not include the exterior walls or structural supports. Minimum width for private residential enclosed garage door openings shall be eight (8) feet for a one-car garage, and sixteen (16) feet for a two-car garage.

• (3) Uncovered Spaces, Full-Size

Each full-size uncovered space shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet in width and nineteen (19) feet in depth.

• (4) Uncovered Space, Compact

Each uncovered compact space shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet in width and sixteen (16) feet in depth.

• (5) Parallel Space

Each parallel parking space shall have a minimum dimension of eight (8) feet wide by twenty-two (22) feet long. However, if there is only one parallel space, and access is adequate to that space, the length may be reduced to twenty (20) feet.

(6) Tandem Space

Each tandem space shall be a minimum of nine (9) feet in width and twenty-two (22) feet in depth.

13-17

Parking Regulations

CHAPTER 13

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

• (7) Handicapped Parking Spaces, all applicable uses.

Each handicapped parking space shall be a minimum of fourteen (14) feet wide, lined to provide a nine (9) foot wide parking area and a five (5) foot wide loading area, and shall be a minimum of nineteen (19) feet in depth. If two handicapped spaces are located adjacent to each other, they may share the five (5) foot wide loading area, resulting in a width of twentythree (23) feet for the two spaces.

• b. Motorcycle Parking Spaces for All Applicable Uses

Each motorcycle parking space shall have a minimum usable area of fifty-six (56) square feet.

• c. Recreational Vehicle Spaces, Multifamily Residential Uses

Recreational vehicle spaces shall require a minimum of four-hundred (400) square feet of usable area.

2. Drive-Through Facilities

Drive-through facilities shall be designed to conform to the specific standards designated in Section 11.80 (Specific Use Development Standards) of this Title.

• Dimensions of Parking Bays and Aisles

The minimum dimensions of parking bays and maneuvering aisles shall be as set forth in Table 13.C. of this Chapter.

13-18

Parking Regulations

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

CHAPTER 13

Table 13.C Off-Street Parking Standards

(Image not reproduced in this text.)

13-19

Parking Regulations

CHAPTER 13

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

4. Standard Improvements

• a. Directional Arrows and Signs

  • (1) Within parking facilities containing 21 or more spaces, all aisles, approach lanes, and maneuvering areas shall be clearly marked with directional arrows to facilitate vehicular movement.

• (2) In addition to directional arrows, the City Engineer may require installation of signs to ensure safe and efficient vehicular movement.

• b. Drainage

All parking facilities, except those serving two or fewer dwelling units, shall be graded and provided with drainage facilities for the disposal of water without surface flow over sidewalks within public rights-of-way.

• c.

Lighting

• (1) All parking facilities, except those serving two or fewer dwelling units shall be provided with night time security lighting.

• (2) Parking area lighting shall be designed to confine emitted light to the parking area.

• (3) Parking area lighting shall be of an energy-efficient type, such as, but not necessarily limited to, high or low pressure sodium lamps.

• d. Safety Features

  • (1) Additional requirements and guidelines for parking facility safety, including design, internal layout, acceptable turning radii, pavement slope, vehicular and pedestrian circulation, and other design features may be imposed by the City Engineer when determined to be appropriate.

  • (2) The City Engineer may require cross-aisles within parking areas where necessary to prevent safety hazards and vehicular congestion on public streets which might otherwise be created by vehicles queuing, by utilizing public streets to travel between parking aisles, or by using the parking area as a “short-cut” between public streets.

  • (3) Visibility of and between pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists shall be assured when entering individual parking spaces, when circulating within a parking facility, and when entering or exiting a parking facility. To the extent possible, the parking facility shall be designed so that primary pedestrian traffic to

13-20

Parking Regulations

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

CHAPTER 13

and from building entrances is along, rather than across parking aisles.

• (4) Bicycle and automobile parking areas shall be separated by a physical barrier of sufficient identification and distance to protect parked bicycles from damage by cars.

e.

Shopping Cart/Hand Cart Storage

Parking facilities serving uses which make use of shopping carts/hand carts such as, but not limited to, supermarkets, drug stores, and lumber stores, shall contain shopping cart/hand cart storage areas. The dimensions and locations of such storage areas for the proposed use shall be approved by the Planning Director.

• f. Striping and Identification

  • (1) All automobile parking spaces shall be clearly outlined with painted lines not less than three (3) inches in width on the surface of the parking facility consistent with the dimensions specified in Table 13.C of this Chapter.

  • (2) In addition to the requirements of Section 13.60.1.a.(7) of this Chapter, all handicapped parking spaces shall be striped and marked according to applicable State standards.

• (a) Each parking space reserved for the handicapped shall be identified by a permanently affixed reflectorized sign, of a construction and material approved by the Public Works Director, displaying the international symbol of accessibility. The sign shall have a minimum size of seventy (70) square inches, and shall be centered at the interior end of the parking space at a maximum height of eighty (80) inches from the bottom of the sign to the finished grade of the parking space.

  • (b) At each entrance to a parking facility containing one or more parking spaces for the handicapped, a sign with a minimum size of seventeen (17) inches by twentytwo (22) inches shall be posted, stating clearly and conspicuously in letters with a minimum height of one (1) inch the following:

“Unauthorized vehicles not displaying distinguishing placards or license plates issued for physically handicapped persons may be towed away at owner’s expense. Towed vehicles may be reclaimed at ____ or by telephoning ________.”

• (c) Parking spaces reserved for the handicapped shall have, in addition to the requirements of Paragraph (2)

13-21

Parking Regulations

CHAPTER 13

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

above, a surface identification in blue paint of at least three (3) square feet in size, duplicating the international symbol of accessibility.

• (3) All parking spaces for compact cars shall be clearly identified as “Compact Car Only.”

• (4) All motorcycle parking spaces shall have bollards installed and appropriately spaced to prevent automobile usage. Motorcycle spaces shall be marked in a manner to be clearly identified as motorcycle use only.

• g. Surfacing

  • (1) All permanent parking spaces, as well as loading and maneuvering areas, shall be paved and permanently maintained with asphalt or concrete, or an alternative allweather surfacing material approved by the City Engineer.

  • (2) In order to prevent damage to pavement from motorcycle kick stands, required motorcycle parking areas shall be paved with concrete or equivalent surfacing material approved by the City Engineer.

  • (3) All bicycle parking and storage areas shall be surfaced to keep the area in a dust-free condition.

  • (4) Temporary parking facilities shall be provided with surfaces which prevent dust.

5. Location of Parking

   • a. All parking spaces shall be provided on the same site as the use requiring the parking spaces, except as authorized in Section 13.50 (Adjustments to Off-Street Parking Requirements) of this Chapter.

   • b. All automobile spaces required for multifamily residential uses shall be located a maximum of one hundred-fifty (150) feet from the dwelling units they are serving.

     • (1) Distances shall be measured from a dwelling unit’s entry to the parking space(s) serving that unit. For developments where a stairway or elevator provides access to a dwelling, the ground floor entry to that stairway or elevator shall be considered to be the dwelling entry for purposes of measuring distances to parking spaces.

• (2) Because design considerations may make it impossible or undesirable to meet the maximum distance requirement, a variation to this requirement may be approved pursuant to Section 13.50 (Adjustments to Off-Street Parking Requirements) of this Chapter.

13-22

Parking Regulations

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

CHAPTER 13

• c. All handicapped spaces shall be located as closely as possible to the entrance to the use they are intended to serve and shall be oriented so that the user of the handicapped parking space need not go past the rear of the parking space in order to reach said entrance.

• d. All car pool parking spaces shall be clearly marked “Reserved for Carpool” and shall be located as close as possible to the entrance of the use they are intended to serve.

• e. Permitted compact car spaces shall be dispersed throughout the parking facility in groups of five or more, if at least five compact spaces are provided. The location of compact parking facilities shall be approved by the Planning Director.

• f. All bicycle spaces shall be located as closely as possible to the entrance of the use they are intended to serve, but situated in a way that does not obstruct primary pedestrian circulation.

• g. Bicycle facilities shall be located in highly visible areas to minimize conditions conducive to theft and vandalism.

6. Landscape and Screening Requirements

   • a. Each unenclosed parking facility, excluding detached single-family residences, shall contain a minimum landscaped area in accordance with Table 13.D. of this Chapter. Where the total parking provided is separated by differences in grade or by at least ten (10) feet of nonpaved area, each such area shall be considered to be a separate facility for the purpose of this requirement.

     • (1) The parking area shall be computed by including the areas used for access drives, aisles, stalls, maneuvering areas, and landscaping areas within that portion of the project site that is devoted to vehicular parking and circulation.

Table 13.D Minimum Parking Area Landscaping

• b. No more than twelve (12) parking spaces shall be permitted in a single row unless separated by a landscaped island. Should anyone submitting a development proposal be either unwilling or unable to comply with this provision, that person may appear before the Planning Commission for its determination as to whether or not this provision shall apply.

13-23

Parking Regulations

CHAPTER 13

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

• (1) Landscaped islands shall have the following minimum dimensions, exclusive of curbing, and shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the growth of trees.

  • (a) Five (5) feet wide by nineteen (19) feet long for a single row of full size parking spaces

  • (b) Five (5) feet wide by thirty-eight (38) feet for a double row of full size parking spaces.

• (c) Five (5) feet wide by sixteen (16) feet long for a single row of compact parking spaces.

  • (d) Five (5) feet wide by thirty-two (32) feet long for a double row of compact parking spaces

  • (2) Within each landscaped island, a minimum of one canopy-type tree, at least fifteen (15) gallons in size, shall be provided.

  • c. All landscaped areas shall be provided with an automatic irrigation system, which shall be continuously maintained.

  • d. In addition to the preceding landscape standards, parking facilities containing more than 3,600 square feet of uncovered parking area shall include landscape islands at the ends of all parking lanes.

  • e. The parking area landscape standards, contained herein, shall not apply to temporary parking facilities; however, minimum landscaping may be required for temporary parking facilities as part of the issuance of a temporary use permit.

7. Access

   • a. Parking Access from Streets

     • (1) Access to parking spaces, other than four (4) or fewer spaces serving a residential use, shall not require backing onto a public or private street.

     • (2) All spaces within a parking facility shall be accessible without entering a public right-of-way or private street.

   • b.

• Driveway Widths and Clearances

For purposes of this Section, a driveway shall be defined as an access leading from a public street, a right-of-way, or a private street to a parking area, or from one parking area to another, but shall not be defined to include any aisle, or maneuvering area. All driveways shall comply with the following standards.

• (1) Driveways for single family structures shall not be less than ten (10) feet in width for a one-car garage and sixteen (16) feet in

13-24

Parking Regulations

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

CHAPTER 13

width for a two-car garage, and shall be maintained free and clear of all obstructions.

• (2) Driveways for multifamily dwelling units and nonresidential uses shall be in accordance with the requirements of Table 13.E of this Chapter.

• (3) Driveways which serve a single family development shall be defined as the paved area leading from a public street, or rightof-way, or a private street to the designated parking area.

• (4) All abandoned or unused existing driveway approaches, within a street right-of-way, shall be removed and shall be replaced with sidewalk, curb, and gutter at the expense of the lot owner in accordance with the standards adopted in this Title and the City’s Subdivision & Engineering Design Standards.

• c.

Gated Entries

Gates which serve to limit or control access to parking facilities require special consideration and regulation since their design may significantly impact parking demand and usage, as well as vehicular circulation into and within the parking area. Requests for gated entries shall be submitted to the Planning Director and shall be accompanied by a study addressing the following issues.

• (1) Type and operation of gate,

• (2) Adequacy of vehicle stacking area,

• (3) Effect of gated entry on parking usage and distribution on the site, and

  • (4) Effect of gated entry on parking for surrounding or adjacent areas.

8. Loading Area Design Requirements

   • a. Loading areas shall be designed to provide adequate area for backing and maneuvering on-site, and shall not require maneuvering within public rights-of-way or backing onto or from a public street.

   • b. Loading doors fronting a public street shall not be located closer than seventy (70) feet from the property line, and shall not encroach into side or rear setback areas.

   • c. Screen walls and wing walls for screening loading areas shall have a maximum height of twelve (12) feet.

13-25

Parking Regulations

CHAPTER 13

CITY OF SHAFTER DEVELOPMENT CODE

Table 13.E Driveway Dimensions for Multifamily Dwellings and Nonresidential Uses

1 On side of driveway exposed to entry or exit by right turning vehicles. Applicable only to driveways with curb radius.

2 Minimum spacing is measured along the curb line from the top of driveway “x” to the side property line, or the beginning of the intersection curb return.

• 3 Unless a larger dimension is required for emergency vehicle access.

13-26

Parking Regulations