Union City › Zoning Ordinance
Article 10 — Off Street Parking and Service Requirements
§ 10-1
Scope of Provisions.
Except as provided in this Article, no application for a building permit shall be approved unless there is included with the plan for such building, improvements, or use, a plat plan showing the required space reserved for off-street parking and service purposes. Occupancy shall not be allowed unless the required off-street parking and service facilities have been provided in accordance with those shown on the approved plan.
§ 10-2
Parking Spaces Shall Not be Reduced.
Off-street parking spaces shall not be reduced below the minimum required number for the use or facility to which they are assigned.
§ 10-3
Street Access - Curb Cuts in Other Than Residential Districts.
10-3. Street Access - Curb Cuts in Other Than Residential Districts. Curb cuts for service
drives, entrances, exits and other similar facilities on public streets in other than Residential Districts shall not be located within 50 feet of any intersection or within 40 feet of another curb cut. A curb cut shall be no greater than thirty 30 feet in width and no closer than 20 feet to any property line.
§ 10-4
Department of Transportation Approval.
All entrances or exits of any street or drive, public or private, from or to any state highway shall be approved by the Department of Transportation prior to the construction of such street or drive, or the issuance of any development permit for any improvement to be served by such street or drive, but permit approval shall not be held longer than 30 days.
§ 10-5
Corner Visibility Clearance.
In any District no fence, structure, sign, planting or other obstruction above a height of three (3) feet shall be maintained within 15 feet of the intersection of the right-of-way lines extended of two (2) streets, or of a street intersection with a railroad right-of-way.
§ 10-6
Off-Street Automobile Parking.
Off-street automobile parking shall be provided in accordance with all applicable provisions of this Section.
A.Design Standards. All parking facilities, including entrances, exits and maneuvering, shall comply with the following provisions:
1.Shall have access to a public street;
2.Shall be graded and paved, including access drive(s), and be curbed when needed for effective drainage control;
3.Shall have all spaces marked with paint lines, curbstones or other similar designations;
4.Parking Area.
a.Parking stalls shall have a minimum width of eight and one-half (8½) feet and length of 18 feet;
b.There shall be provided adequate interior driveways to connect each parking space with a public right-of-way;
c.Interior driveways shall be:
i.at least 24 feet wide where used with 90° angle parking;
ii.at least 18 feet wide where used with 60° angle parking;
iii.at least 12 feet wide where used with 45° angle parking;
iv.at least 12 feet wide where used with parallel parking, or where there is no parking;
v.at least 12 feet wide for one-way traffic movement; and
vi.at least 24 feet wide for two-way traffic movement.
5.Curb return radii shall not exceed 10 feet or be less than five (5) feet; (Revised Ordinance 10-12, 7/20/10)
6.Shall be drained so as to prevent damage to abutting properties or public streets;
7.If a parking area is established within a Residential District for a non-residential use permitted in a Residential District, a continuous visual buffer at least four (4) feet in height between the parking area and the abutting Residential property shall be provided on a strip of land at least 10 feet wide adjoining the lot used for residential purposes;
8.Adequate lighting shall be provided if the facilities are to be used at night. Such lighting shall be arranged and installed so as not to reflect or cause glare on abutting properties or streets;
9.No parking or loading area shall be established within the required front yard of any Residential Zoning District, provided, however, that governing authority may at the time of consideration of the application for rezoning include within the zoning or rezoning ordinance provisions for parking and loading in the front yard of such Districts upon a finding of fact that such front yard parking or loading would not adversely affect the safety of traffic upon the adjoining streets or detract from the appearance and aesthetic conditions and values of the particular property upon a further finding of fact that such front yard parking is necessary.
Said governing authority shall have the authority to determine the number of front yard parking or loading areas to be allowed in each particular case based upon the space available, safety, aesthetic conditions and any other provisions of this Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding;
10.No parking or loading area shall be established in the required front yard of any Residential District except for a single-family residential use; no more than 35% of the required front yard may be used for parking in such cases; and
11.The provisions of 2, 3, 7, 9, and 10 above shall apply to single-family residential uses where three (3) or less spaces are required.
12.Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary herein, in industrial zoning districts, the establishment of unpaved parking lots for storage may be permitted by the Zoning Administrator provided:
a.The parking lot and drives are packed and covered with aggregate gravel and confined by concrete curbing, landscaping timbers, railroad cross-ties, brick or rock wall; and
b.A minimum six-foot screening, opaque fence or enclosure made of wood, metal, shrubbery or trees shall be constructed and maintained to conceal from public view parking area; and
c.The parking lot shall not be located in the front yard of the building or visible from the main roadway. (Added Ordinance 10-12, 7/20/10)
B.Location. All parking facilities shall be located in accordance with the following provisions:
1.The required space shall be provided on the same plot with the use it serves, except as provided herein;
2.If vehicular parking or storage space required cannot be reasonably provided on the same lot on which principal use is conducted, the Planning Commission may permit such space to be provided on other off-street property provided such space lies within 400 feet of the main entrance to such principal use. Such vehicular parking space shall be associated with the permitted use and shall not hereafter be reduced or encroached upon in any manner; and (Ordinance No. 2023-01, 05/16/23)
3.The required parking space for any number of separate uses may be combined in one lot but the required space assigned to one may not be assigned to another use at the same time, except that one-half (½) of the parking space required for churches, theaters or assembly halls whose attendance will be at night or on Sundays may be assigned to a use which will be closed at nights or on Sundays.
C.Landscaping Requirements. Whenever off-street parking is required, excepting areas serving single-family or single-family attached, they shall conform to the minimum landscaping requirements hereinafter provided.
1.Applicability.
a.In a Landscape Strip at least 10 feet wide in which adjacent to any street right-of-way abutting the property and running the length of the entire property frontage; and
b.In areas adjacent or internal to off-street parking lots that are required by the Zoning Ordinance to contain more than 5 off-street parking spaces.
2.Landscape Strip Planting Requirements.
a.Landscape Strips which are required to be 10 feet shall contain landscaping and plantings within said strip as follows:
i.Two (2) overstory trees and five (5) understory trees for each 100 linear feet of strip length shall be provided, three of which shall be evergreen. Overstory trees shall be a minimum of three (3)-inch caliper DBH and understory trees shall be a minimum of two (2)-inch caliper DBH when planted.
ii.Fifteen (15) shrubs for each 100 linear feet of strip length shall be provided, five of which shall be evergreen. Shrubs shall be a minimum of five (5) gallons when planted.
iii.For developments that hve 50 linear feet or less right-of-way frontage, every 50 linear feet of landscape buffer must include a minimum of one (1) overstory tree, three (3) understory trees; two of which must be evergreen, and eight (8) shrubs; three of which must be evergreen.
iv.Trees and shrubs required herein may be planted and spaced singly or in groups as authorized by the City Engineer as long as the total number of plantings is achieved.
v.The remaining ground area shall be sodded, seeded or hydro seeded with grass, and/or planted with groundcover species and/or provided with other landscaping material, or any combination thereof.
b.Required Landscaped Strips shall not be encroached upon by parking spaces or stormwater detention facilities except that driveway crossings may traverse such strip as near to a perpendicular alignment as practical.
3.Off-Street Parking Lot Planting Requirements.
a.Off-street parking lots which are required to contain more than 5 off-street parking spaces shall contain landscaping and plantings as follows:
i.One (1) tree for each 5 spaces around the perimeter of the parking lot.
ii.One (1) tree for each 10 spaces on the interior of the parking lot.
iii.Each tree shall be at least two (2)-inch caliper DBH and 8 feet in height at time of planting and shall be a species native or suitable to this region.
iv.The minimum planting area or space for each tree shall be at least 25 square feet.
v.Trees shall be planted in areas surrounding the perimeter of the parking lot and/or shall be planted in planting areas or islands internal to the parking lot. Trees may be planted and spaced singly or in groups.
vi.Ground areas shall be sodded, seeded or hydro seeded with grass and/or planted with groundcover species, and/or provided with other landscaping material, or any combination therof. (Amended 8/22/23; Ord. No. 2023-04)
§ 10-7
Number of Parking Spaces.
In order to assure a proper and uniform development of public parking areas throughout the area of jurisdiction of this Ordinance, to relieve traffic effects on adjacent properties, off-street parking space shall be provided and maintained as called for in the following schedule, the requirements shall be the same as a similar use as mentioned herein. Parking requirements for additions to existing uses shall be based upon the new addition even if the existing use is deficient.
A.Apartments and multi-family dwellings. 2 spaces per dwelling unit plus 1 space for each 200 square feet of clubhouse, etc.
B.Automobile fueling station; convenience store. 1 space per 200 square feet of floor area plus 1 space for each employee during shift of greatest employment.
C.Automobile sales and maintenance facilities. 1 space per regular employee plus 1 space for each 150 square feet of floor area.
D.Churches, theaters, auditoriums, funeral homes, gymnasiums, stadiums and other places of assembly. 1 space per 4 seats in the main auditorium (18 inches per bench seat).
E.Club or lodge. 1 space per 100 square feet of gross floor area.
F.Combined uses. Parking spaces shall be the total of the spaces required for each separate use established by this schedule.
G.Dance school. 1 space per employee plus 1 space per 150 square feet of gross floor area plus safe and convenient loading and unloading of students.
H.Data centers. 1 space per 600 square feet of gross floor area of the data center’s office component. (Amended February 18, 2025; Ordinance No. 2025-Z-__)
I.Day care centers and nursery schools. 1 space per employee, plus safe and convenient loading of students.
J.Grocery and food stores. 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area.
K.General retail or personal service establishment. 1 space per 200 square feet of gross floor area.
L.Hospitals, care homes and similar institutions. 1 space per 2 beds plus 1 space for each staff member or visiting doctor, plus 1 space for each employee, including nurses.
M.Hotels and motels. 1 space for each 1 guest rooms, suites or unit, plus 1 space for each 200 square feet of accessory uses such as convention halls, banquet rooms, lounges, restaurants and the like.
N.Industrial or Manufacturing Establishment. 1 space for each employee on shift of greatest employment, plus 1 space for each vehicle used directly in the conduct of the business.
O.Manufactured Homes Park. 2 spaces per lot.
P.Office, Professional Building or similar use. 1 space for each 300 square feet of gross floor area. (Ordinance 2005-02, 2/15/05)
Q.One-and Two-Family Dwellings. 2 spaces per dwelling unit.
R.Personal service establishment. See general retail and personal service.
S.Places of amusement and assembly without fixed seats. 1 space for each 100 square feet of floor space devoted to patron use. Examples include but are not limited to bowling alleys, skating rinks, drive-in theaters, paintball facilities, water slides, miniature golf courses, driving ranges, arcades, shooting ranges, etc.
T.Public and private elementary schools. 1 space per employee, and 1 space for each classroom plus safe and convenient loading and unloading of students.
U.Public and private high schools, trade schools, exam preparation and tutoring, colleges and universities. 1 space for each employee, and 10 spaces for each classroom plus safe and convenient loading of students. (Amended 5/20/03, Ordinance 03-09)
V.Restaurant or place dispensing food, drink or refreshments providing patron use area.
1 space for each 75 square feet of gross floor area.
W.Restaurant, drive-in without area provided for patron use. 1 space per employeeof greatest shift of employment plus 2 spaces for each 100 square feet of gross floor area, but not less than 10 spaces.
X.Shopping centers. 1 space for every 200 square feet of gross floor area.
Y.Wholesale establishment and warehousing. 1 space for each employee plus1 space for each company vehicle operating from the premises.
§ 10-8
Off-street Loading Requirements.
Where required, off-street loading spaced shall be provided on the same or adjoining lot with the facility it serves, either inside or outside a building. A loading berth shall have a minimum dimension of 12 feet by 35 feet by 14 feet overhead clearance. Such facilities must be designed so that no truck or vehicle maneuvering occurs on the public right-of-way nor in areas designated for the parking of vehicles.
A.Required loading spaces. The number of loading spaces shall be as follows:
1.Bus and Truck Terminals. Sufficient space to accommodate the maximum number of buses or trucks to be stored or to be loaded or unloaded at the terminal at any one time.
2.Hospitals, Nursing Homes and Similar Institutions. 1 off-street loading and unloading space at least 10 feet wide and 30 feet long for each 5,000 square feet of gross floor area or fraction thereof.
3.Industrial, manufacturing, warehouse and distribution uses. 1 per 50,000 square feet of gross floor are (or fraction thereof).
4.Office buildings and hotels. 1 per 100,000 square feet of gross floor area (or fraction thereof).
5.Retail operations, including accessory uses within hotels or office buildings. 1 per 20,000 square feet of gross floor area (or fraction thereof).
K.Ingress and Egress. Ingress to off-street loading spaces shall conform to driveway entrance regulations of the Union City Subdivision Regulations.
1.Along State Highways, ingress and egress may be limited in order to provide for safe access to the development and to provide for maintenance of adequate sight distances. Where frontage drives are required, these may be extended to the side property line in order to permit joint use by adjacent properties.
ARTICLE XI
SIGN ORDINANCE
(Ordinance No. 2016 – 02, May 17, 2016)