Watsonville Municipal Code Art. 1 General

The purpose of this chapter is to reduce street congestion and traffic hazards in the City by incorporating safe, adequate, attractively designed facilities for off-street parking and loading as an integral part of every use of land in the City requiring such facilities.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

At the time any building is constructed or erected, or at any time any use is made of land, there shall be provided on the same site therewith, for the use of the occupants, guests, clients, customers, or visitors thereof, off-street parking spaces for vehicles in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

(a) When a building or use presently meeting the requirements of this chapter is enlarged in area, increased in capacity, or changed to a use having a higher parking requirement, additional parking spaces in accordance with the schedules set forth in this chapter shall be provided for such enlarged area, increased capacity, or changed use. This subsection shall not apply in any residential district.

(b) When an existing building or use not now meeting the requirements of this chapter is enlarged in area or increased in capacity in excess of ten (10%) percent or changed to a use having a higher parking requirement than the existing use, then off-street parking spaces in accordance with the schedules set forth in this chapter shall be provided for the entire building or use. This subsection shall not apply in any residential district.

(c) When any existing residential unit not now meeting the requirements of this chapter is remodeled or enlarged in area or new rooms are added, the minimum parking requirements of Article 2 of this chapter need not be met, as long as at least two (2) uncovered parking spaces are provided that are not either in tandem or are in the front yard setback for each dwelling unit.

(d) Conversions of existing buildings to multi-dwelling units or to specialty housing shall require meeting the minimum parking requirements in accordance with the schedule set forth in Article 2 of this chapter.

(e) The construction of additional attached or detached dwellings on a lot containing existing residential units shall require meeting the minimum parking requirements only for the new building provided the site contains two (2) parking spaces for each existing dwelling unit and that these spaces are not in tandem or in the front yard setback.

(f) In residential districts, a den within a dwelling unit shall be considered a bedroom. For the purposes of this subsection, “den” shall mean a small secluded room for study or relaxation, with or without a clothes closet.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Where the computation of required parking spaces produces a fractional result, fractions of one-half or greater shall be rounded up to require one full parking space.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

The off-street parking and loading requirements set forth in this chapter shall not apply in Agricultural Districts.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

The off-street parking requirements of this chapter shall be considered satisfied if:

(a) The property being occupied is a part of a parking district which has been duly formed under the provisions of this Code;

(b) The required parking for Commercial Districts is permanently provided within 150 feet of the site; or

(c) The required parking for Industrial Districts is permanently provided within 400 feet of the site; and

(d) Existing or proposed commercial buildings located in the Central Commercial District which do not meet the current parking requirements for new businesses may request a variance from the Redevelopment Agency or its successor agency.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Up to thirty (30%) percent of the total uncovered parking spaces may be designed for compact or small cars. Compact or small car spaces shall be sixteen (16') feet long and eight (8') feet wide and clearly designated for small cars as provided in the Public Improvement Standards.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Floor area shall be determined according to the following standards:

(a) For offices, merchandising, or service uses, the floor area, for the purposes of computing required parking, shall be the gross area.

(b) Industrial and commercial floor space may be calculated at eighty-five (85%) percent of the gross floor space for the purposes of determining the number of parking spaces.

(c) For the purposes of this section, “gross floor area” shall mean the floor area within a building or complex as measured within the walls, whether covered or uncovered, and any outdoor area used as a part of the business purpose.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Except as provided in Sections 14-17.106 and 14-17.110 of this chapter, all required off-street parking spaces shall be located on the same site with the building or use they are to serve. No indoor parking in enclosed buildings, excluding parking structures, shall be counted for required parking.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

In the Commercial Districts, the requirements for the provision of parking facilities, with respect to two (2) or more establishments on the same or different sites, may be satisfied by the permanent allocation of the requisite number of spaces for each use in a common parking facility located not farther than 150 feet, measured along the shortest available route of pedestrian access, from the site of any such participating use.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Parking shall comply with State accessibility standards.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

The minimum parking spaces may be further reduced by not more than fifty (50%) percent if the Zoning Administrator makes written findings, subject to approval by the Planning Commission, that such reduction will be commensurate with the reduced parking demand created by the facility, including visitors and accessory facilities. Land area required for providing deferred parking spaces shall be maintained in reserve and shall be landscaped according to approved landscaping plans.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

Except for residential (MLU-0) and agricultural (MLU-9) areas, bicycle parking facilities shall be provided, in addition to automobile parking spaces, equivalent to five (5%) percent of the automobile parking requirement where twenty (20) or more spaces are required. Each bicycle parking space shall be no less than six (6') feet long by two (2') feet wide and shall have a parking rack capable of supporting bicycles of various sizes in a vertical position. Parking racks shall be securely fastened to the lot surface and shall be of sufficient structural strength to resist vandalism and theft, together with an adequate device to permit locking the bicycle to the rack. Parking spaces shall be clustered in lots, not to exceed ten (10) spaces each.

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)

The parking requirements are established by referencing land uses to the Land Use Classification Code numbers as listed in the districts set forth in Chapter 16 of Title 14 of this Code and in the Land Use Classification Manual.

The coding system is structured in three (3) categories, MAJOR LAND USE (MLU) using one digit, GENERALIZED LAND USE (GLU) using two (2) digits, and DETAILED LAND USE (DLU) using three (3) or more digits, thus providing a comprehensive range of land uses which provides absolute control within various use parameters.

The numerical codes have been established for use in this Title as follows:

MAJOR LAND USE (MLU)

0 = Residential

1 = Industrial — Retail, wholesale, dealers, warehousing, research, and the like

2 = Industrial — Manufacturing

3 = Industrial — Manufacturing

4 = Transportation, Communications, and Utilities

5 = Commercial

6 = Services

7 = Public and Quasi-Public Buildings

8 = Public and Quasi-Public Open Space Uses

9 = Agricultural, Extractive, and Nonurban Open Land

(§ 1, Ord. 1201-06 (CM), eff. October 26, 2006)