Division 23. Off-street parking and loading.

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Section 23.1. Purpose and intent.

It is the intent and purpose of these regulations to provide accessible, attractive, secure, properly lighted, well maintained and screened off-street parking facilities for the citizens and the visitors of the City of St. Pete Beach. These regulations are also intended to reduce traffic congestion and hazards and to assure the maneuverability of emergency vehicles by requiring the adequate, appropriately designed and well placed provision of off-street parking and loading in proportion to the needs generated by varying types of land use. These requirements are also intended to protect residential neighborhoods from the adverse effects of vehicular noise and traffic generated by adjacent non-residential land use districts. It is the intent of these regulations that every structure and use erected or established shall be provided with adequate off-street parking facilities for the use of occupants, employees, visitors, customers or patrons. It is also the intent of these regulations that certain uses provide adequate off-street loading facilities. Such off-street parking and off-street loading facilities shall be maintained and continued so long as the permitted use continues.

Section 23.2. Residential parking restricted.

Residential parking restrictions shall apply within the RU-1, RU-2, RLM-1, RLM-2 and RM zoning districts. For the purpose of this section, the term “stored” shall be construed to include parking for a period exceeding 48 hours.

(a) Recreational vehicles. No recreational vehicle, as defined in Division 2, shall be used for living, sleeping or housekeeping purposes. Such vehicles may be stored in accordance with the following:

(1) Recreational vehicles may be stored in a rear or side yard; and

(2) No more than one recreational vehicle may be stored in a front yard, provided that such vehicle is located as follows:

a. On an improved surface; and

b. Such that the length of the vehicle is perpendicular to the front property line of the zoning lot; and

c. Located a minimum of 10 feet from the back of the curb on any public street.

(3) Recreational vehicles that are stored off-site may be parked anywhere on a residential lot for up to 48 hours for the purpose of loading or unloading.

(4) Visiting recreational vehicles shall be allowed to park temporarily provided the property owner notifies the city of such recreational vehicle within 24 hours.

(5) Right-of-way parking of recreational vehicles shall be in accordance with Section 82-136 of the St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances.

(b) Boats and trailers. Boats and trailers may be stored in accordance with the following:

(1) Boats and trailers may be stored in a rear or side yard; and

(2) No more than one boat and/or trailer may be stored in a front yard, provided that the following regulations are met:

a. On an improved surface or on an unimproved area adjacent to the side property line; and

b. Such that the length of the boat and/or trailer is perpendicular to the front property line of the zoning lot; and

c. Located a minimum of 10 feet from the back of the curb on any public street.

(3) Right-of-way parking of boats and trailers shall be in accordance with Section 82-136 of the St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances.

(c) Personal watercraft. Up to two personal watercraft may be stored in accordance with paragraph (b) preceding.

(d) Commercial vehicles. Overnight parking of commercial vehicles, as defined in Division 2, shall be prohibited.

Section 23.3. Applicability and scope.

(a) One and two-family residential uses shall have the required number of parking spaces set forth in the applicable district regulations and shall comply with Section 23.11(b) of this code.

(b) Every other use hereafter instituted, and every other structure hereafter erected or enlarged, shall have permanently maintained off-street parking areas pursuant to the provisions set out in this division.

(c) Where on-street parking is available, such on-street parking shall not be used as a substitute for any parking required by this code.

(d) Where an existing use has fewer parking spaces than the number of parking spaces that would be required by this code and the existing use is increased in density or intensity, additional parking spaces shall be required only as necessary for the increased units, square footage or intensity of the use.

(e) Wherever in any zoning district, off-street facilities are provided for the parking or display of any and all types of vehicles or boats, whether such vehicles or boats are self-propelled or not, such off-street facilities and all land upon which vehicles traverse the property as a function of the property use, including "drive-in" facilities, shall conform to the minimum requirements of these regulations.

(f) Where, upon the date of adoption of this code, a use exists whose parking, for any reason whatsoever, is less than that which was required by the zoning code in effect at the time a building permit was issued for the structure(s) thereon, such parking shall be deemed a lawfully existing characteristic of use and shall be deemed to be in conformity with these regulations and shall be allowed to continue. However, any expansion of the use shall comply with subsection (d) above.

Section 23.4. General parking requirements.

All off-street parking shall be provided in accordance with the following general requirements:

(a) No building or use shall be permitted or constructed unless off-street parking spaces are provided in accordance with the provisions of this code.

(b) Computation of required spaces.

(1) Fractional space requirements shall be rounded up to the next whole space.

(2) In houses of worship and other places of public assembly in which occupants utilize benches, pews or similar seating arrangements, each eighteen (18) linear inches of such seating facilities shall be counted as one seat for the purpose of determining the required number of parking spaces.

(3) In multistory buildings having vertical penetrations including, but not limited to elevators, mechanical closets, air shafts, stairways and other similar penetrations, and large retail establishments in excess of 5,000 square feet in area having "backroom" storage or working space may deduct these spaces from the gross square footage in calculating parking space needs.

(4) In the case of mixed uses, the total requirements for off-street parking shall be the sum of the requirments of the various uses computed separately and the off-street space for one use shall not be considered as providing the off-street parking for any other use, except as provided for in the shared parking criteria in this Division.

(c) Off-street parking areas shall not be used for sales, dead storage, repair, dismantling or servicing of any type or kind, nor shall areas devoted to such activities count toward meeting off-street parking requirements.

(d) Off-street parking areas for five or more automobiles shall have individual spaces that are designed, maintained and regulated so that no parking or maneuvering incidental to parking shall be on any public street or sidewalk and so that any automobile may be parked and un-parked without moving another automobile.

(e) Except as provided in Section 23.7, all off street parking areas shall be surfaced with asphalt, bituminous or concrete material, clay brick or concrete paving units, and maintained in a smooth, well-graded condition.

(f) If artificially lighted, such lighting shall be so designed and arranged that light is directed away from any adjoining property used or zoned for residential purposes and so designed and arranged as to shield public roadways and all other adjacent properties from direct glare or hazardous interference of any kind.

(g) Be arranged for the convenient access and safety of pedestrians and vehicles.

(h) Be so arranged that no vehicle shall be required to back from such facilities directly onto public streets.

(i) Have curbs, motor vehicle stops or similar devices so as to prevent vehicles from overhanging on or into public rights-of-way or adjacent property.

Section 23.5. Number of parking spaces required.

Regardless of any other requirement of these regulations, each and every separate or individual store, office or other business shall be provided with at least one off-street parking space, excluding required handicap parking, unless specific provision to the contrary is made herein.

The following minimum off-street parking requirements are applicable to all districts:

(a) In instances of new construction of facility expansion involving the establishment of outdoor seating areas or other accessory of supplemental uses, the number of required parking spaces shall be increased in accordance with the above table such that parking is adequate to accommodate the entire area of seating or use, both internal and exterior to the structure.

(b) Parking spaces that are in excess of the number of spaces required by this Division shall be constructed as grass parking, turf block or in a parking structure.

(c) Where a project is intended to be developed in phses, the City Manager may approve the development of a parking area intended to serve each phase as it is developed.

(d) All projects shall be required to provide a minimum of five (5) bicycle rack spaces, or a number of bicycle rack spaces equal to ten (10) percent of the rquired vehicle parking space, whichever is greater.

Section 23.6. Handicap parking requirements.

Handicapped parking shall be provided consistent with the requirements of Florida Statutes, as may be amended.

Section 23.7. Grass and turf block parking.

(a) Grass parking. Grass parking is allowed in the following instances:

(1) For any land use where excess parking is provided, that portion of parking which exceeds required parking may be grass in any zoning district.

(2) For houses of worship, up to fifty (50) percent of required off-street parking facilities and any parking provided in excess of required number of spaces.

(3) For parks and recreation facilities in a R/OS District.

(4) For public and private schools offering academic courses.

(5) For child care and family day care facilities, private clubs, and assisted living facilities, up to thirty (30) percent of their required parking facilities.

(b) Turf block. When off-street parking facilities surfaced with turf grid systems [turf block] are permitted for either required parking or excess parking or both, the parking facilities shall be constructed in accordance with the following:

(1) Access aisles shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete material, clay brick or concrete paving units.

(2) Parking areas shall be maintained such that the grass does not constitute a nuisance by virtue of its appearance or condition and is graded in a level condition. Access aisles shall be maintained in accordance with Section 23.11.

(3) Comply with the drainage requirements for storm water runoff set forth in Chapter 106, St. Pete Beach Code of Ordinances.

(4) Comply in all other respects with the requirements of this code.

Section 23.8. Off-site parking, when allowable.

(a) Required off-street parking facilities shall be located on the same lot as the use they are intended to serve. However, required off-street parking facilities may be located on an off-site lot if approved under the provisions of Division 4 of this code at a public hearing. Such off-site parking facilities, if approved, shall be within 300 feet of the premises they are intended to serve and an off-site parking agreement meeting the requirements of the City Attorney shall be required. The applicant for an off-site parking agreement shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the appropriate board of authority:

(1) Practical difficulties prevent the location of the parking facilities on the same lot; and,

(2) A safe pedestrian route exists, or will be provided, for the safety of pedestrians traveling between the premises and the off-site parking facilities.

(b) Parking agreements in a form acceptable to the City Attorney shall provide:

(1) The land comprising the parking facilities shall not be disposed of except in conjunction with the sale of the premises which the parking area serves, so long as the facilities are required;

(2) The owner(s) agrees to bear the expense of recording the agreement and agrees that the agreement shall bind their heirs, successors and assigns; and

(3) The owner(s) shall agree to be responsible for the cost of any required pedestrian safety devices or improvements. The written agreement shall be voided by the city if other off-street facilities are provided in accord with these regulations.

Section 23.9. Shared off-street parking.

(a) Two or more owners or operators of buildings or uses requiring off-street parking facilities may make collective provision for such facilities, provided that the total of such parking spaces when combined or used together shall not be less than the sum of the requirements computed separately, except in accordance with the requirements of this Section. Any arrangement for combined off-street parking shall be subject to the filing of a legal instrument satisfactory to the City Manager ensuring that such off-street parking will be maintained in the future so long as a use or uses requiring such off-street parking continue.

(b) No part of an off-street parking area required for any building or use shall be included as a part of an off-street parking area similarly required for another building or use except as shared parking as set forth below.

(c) The City Manager may approve shared parking facilities for developments or uses with different operating hours or different peak business periods if the shared parking complies with the all of following standards:

(1) Shared parking may not be used to satisfy the off-street parking standards for upper-story residential uses.

(2) Shared parking spaces must be located within 600 feet of the primary entrance of all uses served. Required parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities shall meet all requirements of the Florida Accessibility Code.

(3) Shared parking areas for uses located in a nonresidential district shall not be located in any residential district.

(4) Those wishing to use shared parking as a means of satisfying off-street parking requirements must submit a shared parking analysis to the City Manager that clearly demonstrates the feasibility of shared parking. The study must be provided in a form established by the City Manager and made available to the public. It must address, at a minimum, the size and type of the proposed development, the composition of tenants, the anticipated rate of parking turnover and the anticipated peak parking and traffic loads for all uses that will be sharing off-street parking spaces.

(5) A shared parking plan shall be enforced through written agreement among all owners of record. The owner of the shared parking area shall enter into a written agreement with the County with enforcement running to the County providing that the land comprising the parking area shall never be disposed of except in conjunction with the sale of the building which the parking area serves so long as the facilities are required; and that the owner agrees to bear the expense of recording the agreement and such agreement shall bind his or her heirs, successors, and assigns. An attested copy of the agreement between the owners of record shall be submitted to the City Manager for recordation in a form established by the City Manager. Recordation of the agreement must take place before issuance of a building permit or certificate of occupancy for any use to be served by the shared parking area. A shared parking agreement may be revoked only if all required off-street parking spaces will be provided on-site in accordance with the off-street parking schedules in this Section. The written agreement shall be voided by the City if other off-street facilities are provided in accord with these zoning regulations.

(6) Where the uses subject to a shared parking agreement change, the City Manager shall have the authority to require a revised shared parking study and a new shared parking agreement when the revised shared parking study indicates additional parking is required.

Section 23.10. Utilization of boat slips as required parking.

Eating and drinking establishments and water oriented retail businesses may utilize boat slips to meet off-street parking requirements subject to approval by the City Manager in accordance with the following standards:

(a) All slips must be under the ownership or long-term control of the subject business.

(b) Boat slips must be available on a first come, first served basis, with no fee assessed for use.

(c) Boat slips must be reasonably designed to accommodate customer boats.

(d) The dock facility must be properly accessible in accordance with the regulations governing the maneuvering of watercraft on the adjacent waterway.

(e) Boat slips must only be used for transient mooring and no overnight storage of vessels shall be allowed.

(f) Dock facilities must be compliant with applicable regulations governing handicap access and other accessibility or safety concerns.

(g) Dock facilities must meet all other provisions of the City’s Land Development Code related to commercial docks.

(h) No more than 20 percent of required off-street parking can be provided as boat slips.

(i) Boat slips are allowed to meet off-street parking requirements strictly on a one space per slip basis.

Section 23.11. Parking construction and design requirements.

(a) General construction requirements.

(1) All driveway and off-street parking areas shall be constructed of asphaltic concrete, concrete, pavers or equal on a properly constructed and compacted base unless an alternative is approved by the city.

(2) No slag, rock, pea gravel or other loose type of material shall be used.

(3) All driveway aprons within the public rights-of-way shall be constructed of concrete.

(4) All points of ingress/egress from parking areas to public rights-of-way shall be constructed only upon approval from the city or other public agency having jurisdiction over the right-of-way.

(b) Single family and two-family residential.

(1) For each single family and two-family zoning lots there shall be no more than two driveways providing access to one street, and there shall a minimum separation of 20 feet between the edges of two driveways on the same lot measured along the property line; however, in the case of corner lots, no more than three driveways shall be permitted for any lot.

(2) The minimum width of any driveway shall be 12 feet, and the maximum width of any driveway shall be 24 feet measured along the property line.

(c) All other uses.

(1) In additional to meeting the general construction requirements of paragraph (a) above, all off-street parking areas shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the dimensional requirements illustrated below.

a. Parallel. The dimensional requirements for parallel parking spaces are nine feet in width and 24 feet in length.

b. Perpendicular - 90-Degree. The dimensional requirements for this configuration are:

Description Dimension Parking space width 9 feet Parking space length 20 feet Driving aisle width (2-way) 24 feet Two rows plus aisle width 64 feet

c. Angled 60-degree. The standard dimensions for this configuration are:

Description Dimension Parking space width 9 feet Parking space length 20 feet Driving aisle width (2-way) 18 feet Two rows plus aisle width 62 feet

d. Angled 45-degree. The standard dimensions for this configuration are:

	Description Dimension Parking space width 9 feet Parking space length 20 feet Driving aisle width (2-way) 15 feet Two rows plus aisle width 57 feet

Section 23.12. Off-street loading spaces.

All transient accommodation uses having food service, convention and/or meeting room facilities that in total floor area exceed 10,000 square feet and all nonresidential uses exceeding 10,000 square feet in floor area shall be required to provide one off-street loading space for the first 10,000 square feet and one additional off-street loading space for each additional 10,000 square of floor area or part thereof as follows:

(a) Dimensions. The minimum dimensions of any required off-street loading space shall be a clear horizontal area of 12 feet by 30 feet, exclusive of platforms and piers, and a clear vertical space 14 feet high. For vehicle sales facilities, the loading space shall be large enough to accommodate at least one full size vehicle transport truck.

(c) Changes in Uses. When the use of a structure or land or any part thereof is changed to a use requiring off-street loading facilities, the full amount of off-street loading spaces required shall be supplied and maintained. When any structure is enlarged or any use extended so that the size of the resulting occupancy requires off-street loading space, the full amount of such space shall be supplied and maintained for the enlarged structure or extended use.

(d) Accessibility. Each off-street loading space shall be directly accessible from a street or alley without crossing or entering any other required off-street loading space. Such loading space shall be accessible from the interior of the building it serves and shall be arranged for convenient and safe ingress and egress by motor truck or motor truck and trailer combinations, and so no truck or trailer shall be required to back from such facilities directly onto public streets.

(e) Construction. All off-street loading areas shall be constructed of asphaltic concrete, concrete or equal on a properly constructed and compacted base unless an alternative is approved by the city.

(f) Use restricted. Off-street loading areas shall not be used for sales, dead storage, repair, dismantling or servicing of any type or kind.

(g) Shared off-street loading. Collective, joint or combined provisions for off-street loading facilities for two or more buildings or uses may be made, upon the approval of the city, provided that such off-street loading facilities are sufficient in size and capacity to meet the combined requirements of the several buildings or uses and are designed, located and arranged to be usable thereby.

Section 23.13 Maintenance of off-street parking and loading areas and driveways.

All off-street parking and loading areas and driveways shall be properly maintained as to surface condition, striping and drainage to ensure that such facilities can continue to serve in a similar fashion as for they were originally approved. The failure to adequately maintain off-street parking and loading areas and driveways, resulting in a nuisance or unsafe condition for pedestrians or motor vehicles, shall be considered a violation of this code.