19.21.130 - Loading and unloading requirements.

A.

General. Every commercial, industrial, or office land use shall provide adequate off-street loading areas to accommodate the delivery vehicles associated with operation of the use on that site. Loading space shall be situated to serve the site and buildings without blocking vehicular movement to a driveway, parking stall, street, or alley.

B.

Loading Space Dimensions. An individual loading space shall be at least twelve feet wide by forty-five feet long and shall have a minimum vertical clearance of fifteen feet.

C.

Required Loading Spaces. Loading spaces shall be provided as set forth in Table 19.21.130A.

D.

Additional Spaces. Additional loading spaces may be required at the time of project review if determined to be necessary to assure adequate loading and parking spaces.

Table 19.21.130A

Required Loading Spaces Gross Floor Area of Use Minimum Number Loading Spaces

Under 8,000 sf 1

8,001 - 25,000 sf 2

25,001 - 50,000 sf 3

50,001 - 100,000 sf 4

100,001 - 200,000 sf 5

Each additional 100,000 sf or fraction thereof above 200,000 sf 1

E.

Maneuvering and Queuing Areas.

1.

No loading dock or door shall be visible from a public right-of-way.

2.

Adequate area shall be provided to allow all maneuvering to occur on the site.

3.

Approaches shall be designed to preclude direct access to a loading dock or door from a street.

4.

Adequate queuing space shall be provided on site to ensure that vehicles waiting to access loading bays or spaces are not stopped on any public right-of-way. A minimum of one hundred fifteen feet of linear queuing space shall be provided between such bay or space and any adjacent public street or alley from which access is obtained.

F.

Loading from Alleys. For all commercial and industrial buildings on lots abutting an alley, a twenty foot long by twelve feet wide by fifteen feet high loading space shall be provided for every two thousand square feet of gross floor area. Vehicles shall not be permitted to park in any alley while loading or unloading.

G.

Markings.

1.

Each loading space shall be clearly marked. All such spaces shall be kept clear and unobstructed at all times.

2.

All loading areas must be appropriately striped and labeled with a minimum three-inch wide striping and lettering.

H.

Loading Doors. Loading doors shall be oriented either toward the rear or side property lines. Loading doors shall be designed and painted to blend with the exterior walls of the structure.

I.

Passenger Loading. Passenger loading areas shall be provided at schools, hospitals, clinics, and similar facilities where passengers are frequently loaded and unloaded. The loading area shall consist of a bay or similar feature that allows vehicles to load/unload passengers without impeding vehicle traffic flow on a public right-of-way.

J.

Within all Manufacturing Zones (as defined by Chapter 19.11) there shall be no loading or unloading, for any purpose, or as part of or related to any business activity, either in or within three hundred feet of properties located in the city's R-1 and R-2 zones after the hour of seven p.m., nor before the hour of seven a.m., seven days a week.

1.

Exceptions:

a.

The loading or unloading of any merchandise within a fully enclosed permanent building or structure of which all doors, windows and other potential openings are fully enclosed at the time of such loading and unloading; or

b.

The loading or unloading of any merchandise on any premises where the city has, either prior to or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, approved a conditional use permit setting forth permissible hours for such loading or unloading different from those contained in this chapter, and in such event, the hours stated in the conditional use permit, as such may be amended from time to time, shall control.

(Ord. 544 §1(part), 2000).

(Ord. No. 806, § 2, 3-14-2023)