§ 68-486. Off-street parking.

The purpose of this section is to ensure the provision of adequate off-street parking areas. Furthermore, it is the intent to avoid urban congestion on public streets to protect the level of service and capacity of existing streets to avoid unnecessary conflicts between pedestrian and vehicles and to promote the general health, safety, and public welfare. These regulations shall apply to all off-street parking areas, including driveways for single-family and duplex dwellings, established within the city. Any plans for re-striping an existing off-street parking area or modifying the number of parking spaces shall be approved by either the planning and zoning board or the city manager or designee as required by the land development regulations upon the submittal of a parking plan which complies with the land development regulations.

(a)

Number and description of parking spaces required. Proper parking spaces shall be provided at the time of the construction of any main building or structure, or at any time any main building or structure is increased in occupant capacity, or at the time any use or occupancy of an existing building is changed to a use or occupancy which increases the requirements for off-street parking facilities. Off-street parking lots may be allowed as provided for in chapter 68, article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(q). Such parking lots shall be subject to site plan review and shall adhere to all applicable land development regulations. Parking areas shall be surfaced by a dust free paving material such as asphalt, bitumen, concrete, turf block or other similar materials except for that portion of the parking area abutting the Gulf of Mexico or public beach. With the exception of single-family and two-family dwellings, parking lots shall have each parking space and aisle marked. All required parking spaces shall be located at grade level or above. The number of parking spaces required is specified in the following schedule of off-street parking requirements:

	Use	Minimum Spaces Required
(1)	Single-family, two-family, multifamily, and townhouse dwellings and group homes	2 spaces per unit.
(2)	Religious institution use	1 space for each 200 square feet in congregational seating area (including isles) in church proper and in Sunday school or other meeting rooms and classrooms.
(3)	Recreation, social, swimming, golf, tennis and yacht clubs	1 space per 200 square feet of total floor area, 2 spaces per each tennis court, 1 space per 200 square feet of pool area (including deck), 2 spaces per each hole of golf, 1 space per each 2 wet boat slips except for assembly occupancy areas which shall be the same as subsection (a)(6) below.
(4)	General business, retail, medical and dental offices and clinics, veterinarian offices, personal service establishments, commercial establishments, office buildings, financial establishments, libraries, art museums and similar cultural facilities	1 space per 375 square feet of gross usable area including any outdoor area used for retail trade or service purposes, including storage.
(5)	Hotels, motels and motor inns	2 spaces for the first unit and 1 space per hotel/motel unit. Restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms and other assembly areas: 1 space per 5 occupants, calculated at 20 square feet of net usable area per occupant.
(6)	Assembly occupancies, private clubs, theaters, auditoriums	1 space per 3 fixed seats, or 1 space per 4 occupants, calculated at 15 square feet of net usable area per occupant.
(7)	Restaurants, alcoholic beverage establishments	1 space per 150 square feet of gross usable indoor and outdoor area.
(8)	Marina facilities:
	Cruise ships/party boats	1 space per 4 passengers, including crew, as licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
	Charter boats	3 spaces per vessel.
	Boat rental	1 space per vessel.
	Personal water craft	1 space per 2 personal water craft.
	Marinas	1 space per each 4 rack storage slips.
	Boat slips as required parking	In the CG zoning district, boat slips may be counted as required parking if the slip is properly signed "for patrons only" and is not used for any other purpose.
(9)	Stacked parking	May be allowed for certain uses pursuant to Section 68-486(b)(1) or as part of a valet service pursuant to Section 68-486(k).
(10)	Determination for unlisted uses	In the case of uses not listed in this schedule, the city shall make a determination of the minimum required off-street parking spaces. In reaching the determination, the city shall be guided by the requirements for similar uses, the number and kind of vehicles likely to be attracted to the proposed use and studies of the parking requirements of such uses in other jurisdictions and nationally recognized parking standards.
(11)	Communications tower site	1 parking space for each site.

 

In addition to the above, certain parking credits may be allowed as identified as follows:

(12)	Parking credits:
	Walk-in credit	May be allowed pursuant to section 68-486(n).
	Bicycle credit	May be allowed pursuant to section 68-486(i).
	Motorcycle and scooter credit	May be allowed pursuant to section 68-486(j).
	Downtown Redevelopment Plan area credit (commercial uses only)	May be allowed pursuant to section 68-486(o).
	Landscaping credit	May be allowed pursuant to section 68-486(p).
	Maximum percentage of parking credits allowed	The maximum percentage of parking credits to be utilized by any given property shall be 30%.

 

(b)

Size and access.

(1)

All uses, except single-family. For all uses, except single-family and approved stacked parking, an off-street parking space shall consist of a parking space having minimum dimensions as required in the diagram for regular and compact car parking, or nine feet in width by 22 feet in length for the parallel parking of each automobile, exclusive of access drives or aisles thereto. The parking plan must be so arranged that each automobile may be placed and removed from the parking space assigned thereto and taken to and from the property without the necessity of moving any other automobile to complete the maneuver, except for a licensed and authorized rental car agency. Street and/or sidewalk areas may not be used for off-street parking purposes as herein defined. Individual ingress and egress drives extending across the public sidewalks and curbs and connecting the off-street parking spaces to the public street areas shall not exceed a minimum of 12 feet and a maximum of 15 feet for a one-way drive and a minimum of 24 feet and a maximum of 30 feet for a two-way drive. The design, number and placement of such drives is subject to site plan approval by the city before being constructed. Two or more owners and operators of commercial buildings or uses of the same type in the same zoning district requiring off-street parking facilities may take collective provision for such ingress and egress facilities provided that the combined facility is compatible with the zoning being served.

Exception: Stacked parking may be permitted for businesses in conjunction with legal off-street parking uses as provided for in chapter 68, article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(q) in accordance with the following conditions:

a.

An application for special exception to the planning and zoning board shall be submitted for review and approval.

b.

The application shall reflect that all parties acknowledge that the stacked parking facility is to be used only by the permitted business and is not currently required parking for any other use.

c.

Lots approved for stacked parking shall not be required to have each parking space and aisle marked unless such lot will be used for other than stacked parking.

(2)

Single-family uses. For single-family uses, off-street parking areas shall be a minimum of 324 square feet (equivalent to two nine-foot by 18-foot spaces).

(3)

Plan approval; permits required. The plan for ingress and egress to and from the off-street parking areas shall be subject to the approval of the city. No curbs or sidewalks may be cut or altered in any manner without a permit from the city and all other applicable county or state agencies.

(4)

Variances. Any variance to alter the number or size of parking requirements in any zoning district may only be granted pursuant to section 70-221.

(5)

Regular car parking. Regular car parking shall meet the following minimum dimensions:

Dimension	Diagram	0°	45°	60°	75°	90°
		(Measurements in Feet)
Stall width, parallel to aisle	A	9.0	12.7	10.4	9.3	9.0
Stall length of line	B	24.0	24.5	21.4	19.5	18.0
Stall depth to wall	C	9.0	17.0	18.5	19.0	18.0
Aisle width between stall lines	D	12.0	12.0	16.0	22.0	24.0
Stall depth, interlock	E	9.0	14.8	17.0	18.3	18.0
Module, wall to interlock	F	30.0	43.8	51.5	59.3	60.0
Module, interlocking	G	30.0	41.6	50.0	58.6	60.0
Module, interlock to curb face	H	30.0	41.8	49.4	56.9	58.0
Bumper overhang (typical)	I	0.0	1.5	1.8	2.0	2.0
Offset	J	—	6.3	2.7	0.5	0.0
Setback	K	24.0	11.0	8.3	5.0	0.0
Cross aisle, one-way	L	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0
Cross aisle, two-way	—	24.0	24.0	24.0	24.0	24.0

 

(6)

Compact car parking. Compact car parking may be provided for up to 20 percent of the required parking and shall meet the following minimum requirements and dimensions:

a.

Compact car parking may be provided only for parking areas that have ten or more spaces.

b.

Compact car parking may be provided for only nonresidential zoning districts.

c.

Compact parking spaces must be designated as being for the exclusive use of compact cars through the use of signs or pavement marking.

d.

The overall design must be reviewed and approved by the city.

Dimension	Diagram	0°	45°	60°	75°	90°
		(Measurements in Feet)
Stall width, parallel to aisle	A	8.0	11.3	9.2	8.3	8.0
Stall length of line	B	22.0	24.0	20.5	18.2	16.0
Stall depth to wall	C	8.0	17.0	17.8	17.6	16.0
Aisle width between stall lines	D	12.0	12.0	16.0	22.0	24.0
Stall depth, interlock	E	8.0	11.7	14.3	16.0	16.0
Module, wall to interlock	F	28.0	43.2	48.1	53.3	56.0
Module, interlocking	G	28.0	43.2	48.1	53.3	56.0
Module, interlock to curb face	H	28.0	43.2	48.1	53.3	56.0
Bumper overhang (typical)	I	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Offset	J	0.0	5.7	2.3	0.6	0.0
Setback	K	22.0	11.3	8.0	4.1	0.0
Cross aisle, one-way	L	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0	18.0
Cross aisle, two-way	—	24.0	24.0	24.0	24.0	24.0

 

(c)

Location of parking spaces. Parking spaces for all uses and structures which are provided as required parking in conformance with the schedule of parking, off-street and other applicable provisions shall be located on the same lot, and have the same zoning district, as the principal use or structure they are intended to serve unless otherwise allowed by article VI, Zoning district regulations. Those businesses participating in the downtown parking agreement or in a shared parking agreement identified in this section of the land development regulations may be exempted from the same lot requirements of this section per the specific agreement.

(d)

Parking or storage of rental vehicles. Parking or storage of rental vehicles in connection with a licensed and authorized rental car agency shall be located on the same lot or parcel of property as the licensed office of the rental car agency or such lot or parcel shall be contiguous to the lot or parcel on which the main rental agency or office is located. The storage of rental cars does not require standard parking spaces.

(e)

Handicapped parking. Handicapped parking shall meet the requirements of the State Handicapped Access Code, F.S. § 553.501 et seq.

(f)

Utilization of parking structures. When off-street parking facilities are located within a separate parking structure, the following conditions and restrictions shall apply:

(1)

The structure shall conform to all lot, yard and bulk requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.

(2)

The parking facilities shall be designed so as to conform to all other provisions of this chapter and all other ordinances of the city.

(3)

Parking structures shall be architecturally compatible with abutting structures and shall be screened with ornamental grillwork, artwork, or similar architectural features.

(4)

Vehicular access shall be designed in a manner that minimizes disruption to pedestrian corridors and the streetscape.

(5)

All lighting relating to parking structures shall conform with section 68-466 and sections 72-161 through 72-164.

This subsection shall not apply to or be construed to prohibit the construction of freestanding carports or garages as accessory structures to single-family or two-family residential dwellings.

Nothing in this section is intended to prohibit the installation of a fully automatic parking facility in which the placement and removal of automobiles are accomplished wholly by machinery. However, such mechanism shall be completely shielded from public view.

(g)

Utilization of yards.

(1)

In all residential zoning districts, required parking spaces for single-family and two-family dwellings may be permitted in any setback areas or yards, except in a waterfront yard, and shall be counted as meeting off-street parking requirements, except that within a required front yard all parking shall be located in a driveway or turnaround.

(2)

In all zoning districts, for all other permitted uses, approved permitted uses with site plan review or approved special exception uses, required front, side or rear yards may be used for off-street parking except as limited herein. A maximum of 80 percent of a required front yard may be used for off-street parking. All parking areas shall have each parking space and aisle marked and shall be landscaped in conformance with the paved area landscape requirements in chapter 72, article II.

(3)

In all zoning districts, parking area surfaces shall not extend closer than three feet from any abutting property line.

(4)

All parking spaces shall be considered impervious for the purpose of calculating required pervious area pursuant to section 68-226.

(h)

Shared parking. Parking facilities may be used jointly with parking facilities for other uses when operations are not normally conducted during the same hours, or when hours of peak use vary. Requests for the use of shared parking are subject to the approval of the city manager and must meet the following conditions:

(1)

The applicant must demonstrate to the city manager's satisfaction that substantial conflict shall not exist in the principal hours or periods of peak demand for the uses for which the joint use is proposed.

(2)

The number of parking stalls which may be credited against the requirements for the structures or uses involved shall not exceed the number of parking stalls reasonably anticipated to be available during different hours of operation.

(3)

Parking facilities designated for joint use should not be located further than 600 feet from any structure of use served.

(4)

A written agreement shall be drawn to the satisfaction of the city attorney and executed by all parties concerned assuring the continued availability of the number of stalls designated for joint use.

(5)

The applicant shall post a sign at the business indicating the location of the shared parking facility for the customer's benefit in the event overflow parking is needed.

(i)

Bicycle parking. Bicycles are a clean, energy-efficient, alternative means of transportation, especially for those whose access to motorized transportation is limited. Therefore, it is the policy of the city to encourage the use of bicycles by requiring that development and redevelopment provide adequate and properly located bicycle parking facilities, in accordance with the following standards:

(1)

Each commercial, institutional, or recreational development or redevelopment which requires site plan approval shall provide off-street bicycle parking, sufficient to park at least five bicycles, for each freestanding building. In addition, the provision of additional area sufficient to park at least five additional bicycles shall qualify the development for a parking credit of one parking space. The planning and zoning board shall have the option of increasing this requirement as a condition of site plan approval, based upon the type and characteristics of the specific development under review. Only the following type(s) of development shall be exempt from this requirement:

a.

Freestanding uses which require the presence of motor vehicles, such as automobile or motorcycle repair shops, filling stations, body repair shops, and similar uses, provided, however, that should the occupancy of a building change to a non-exempt use, bicycle parking facilities may be required as a condition of reoccupancy. Shopping centers and other multiple-tenant developments which may contain the above uses are not exempted.

(2)

The following design standards shall apply to all bicycle parking facilities:

a.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be separated from automobile parking, conveniently located near the main entrance of a building without obstructing pedestrian walkways, and sufficiently visible to minimize the potential for theft or vandalism.

b.

Bicycle parking facilities shall be placed over paved or otherwise stabilized surfaces not subject to erosion or rutting.

c.

Each bicycle parking space shall provide sufficient area to store a full-sized bicycle, and a rack or other means to support and lock the bicycle in a stable, upright position without damage to wheels, frame, or components.

(j)

Motorcycle/scooter parking. Motorcycle and scooter parking may substitute for required parking spaces, for non-residential uses. Existing parking may be converted to take advantage of this provision for non-residential uses.

(1)

Ratios. Motorcycle and scooter parking may substitute for up to five automobile spaces or five percent of the required parking spaces, whichever is less. For every four motorcycle or scooter parking spaces provides, the automobile parking requirement is reduced by two spaces.

(2)

Identification. Motorcycle and scooter parking spaces must be identified or designated.

(k)

[Remote parking.] Remote parking may be allowed as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(q). The owner of a site utilizing a remote parking facility shall provide evidence of the owner's right to use the remote parking area either by license, deed, easement, or by long term lease. Such remote parking facility must be located within the city and must be more than 600 feet in distance of the site serving the principal use and shall be measured from the nearest point of the principal use lot line to an entrance to the remote parking facility. Such separated parking areas shall be usable without causing unreasonable traffic congestion, detriment to any residential neighborhood, or hazard to pedestrians. Such remote parking facilities shall be subject to site plan review and shall be upgraded to meet current city codes for required parking and landscaping as required by chapter 72, article II, of the land development regulations for vehicular use areas. Staff or the planning and zoning board as applicable shall consider specific restrictions pertaining to hours of operation, noise, and lighting among other considerations in the review of such remote parking request. In addition, the owner of the principal use utilizing the remote parking facility shall have a transportation plan to shuttle people between the principal use and the remote parking facility.

(l)

[Valet parking.] Valet parking is a service which may be allowed in conjunction with legal off-street parking uses citywide as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(q). This service constitutes a manner of use wherein administrative review is appropriate and may also allow the stacking of parking in the configuration outlined in section 68-486(b)(1). The following criteria shall apply:

(1)

Such use receives administrative approval from the city manager or designee.

(2)

At a minimum, all such valet parking facilities shall be subject to in-house site plan review. Required upgrades to meet required city codes pertaining to parking and landscaping vehicular use areas may also require site plan review by the planning and zoning board unless exempted by section 70-33.

(3)

The city manager or designee may consider specific restrictions pertaining to hours of operation, noise, and lighting among other considerations in the review of such off-site parking request.

(4)

Specific on-site or off-site parking facilities for the exclusive use of valet parking may be provided subject to administrative approval by the city manager or designee.

(5)

The following standards shall apply to all valet parking facilities:

(a)

Property used for valet parking may be allowed as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations, (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r).

(b)

Public parking spaces shall not be utilized for valet parking unless approved through a valid license agreement with the city.

(6)

In addition to the above, the following conditions shall apply to stacked valet parking requests:

(a)

A letter of request and a site plan shall be submitted to the city manager or designee for approval.

(b)

The letter shall reflect that all parties acknowledge that the stacked parking area is to be used only by the permitted business and is not currently required parking for any other use.

(c)

Parking areas approved for stacked parking shall not be required to have each parking space and aisle marked unless such parking area will be used for other than stacked parking purposes.

(m)

Temporary parking review and permit. The following types of temporary parking facilities may be allowed as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r). The power and authority to grant special exceptions and related site plan review for temporary parking will be solely within the jurisdiction of the city commission.

(1)

Temporary, non-recurring parking may be allowed as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r) for a maximum of 90 days. Temporary parking shall not be permitted in the RU-75 or RM-15 zoning districts.

(2)

Temporary, 90 days to one year in duration, as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r). Such review shall include possible reduction or relaxation of specific land development requirements such as paving surface, buffering, and landscaping for vehicular use areas as may be applicable to the specific request. The applicant has the burden of proof to demonstrate the temporary nature of the request which shall include an anticipated date of expiration. Temporary parking shall not be permitted in the RU-75 or RM-15 zoning districts.

(3)

Temporary, off-street or off-site parking facilities, may be allowed as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see also the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r). In addition to the special exception and/or site plan approval requirements, the following conditions shall apply:

(a)

Temporary parking may be approved for a period not to exceed one year. One-year extensions may be allowed by the city commission under the following conditions:

1.

No extensions shall be granted for such parking which is not in compliance with the design standards, maintenance plan, or any conditions of the original approval.

2.

Included but not limited to any adverse impacts to such parking, changes in the land development regulations affecting the parking, crime statistics for such parking, and Code violation history shall be considered in determining whether to grant an extension. Any extension may be conditioned on mitigation of impacts caused by the use of the subject parking.

(n)

Special event parking review and permit. There shall be two tiers of special event parking facilities which may be permitted following administrative review and city commission approval as provided for in article VI, Zoning district regulations (see also the illustrative parking use table in section 68-486(r).

(1)

Special event, non-recurring; maximum duration two weeks within a continuous 12-month period.

(2)

Special event, recurring, less than one week duration per episode with limited frequency within a 12-month time period.

(o)

Walk-in credit. Within the CG zoning district, a parking credit for up to 25 percent of the required parking may be allowed provided the following conditions are met:

(1)

A letter of request shall be filed with the city manager or designee containing the following information:

(a)

Name, address, and phone number of the owner of the business requesting the parking credit.

(b)

Number of required parking spaces prior to receiving credit.

(c)

Three copies of a walk-in customer survey, prepared and conducted by a land use consultant, describing the average daily number of customers who walk or ride a bicycle or other non-motorized mode of transportation to the business from their homes or transient accommodation and do not require the use of a parking space. The report shall describe the methodology used and list who conducted the survey and their credentials. The report shall document no less than eight days where this daily customer survey was conducted during peak hours of operation and should have duration of at least four hours.

(2)

The city manager or his designee shall review such survey and make a finding within 30 days of the receipt of a complete application, including the allowable credit of zero to 25 percent of the otherwise required parking. If the applicant agrees with the finding of the city manager, the credit shall be approved.

(3)

If the applicant disagrees with the recommendation of the city manager, the applicant can appeal to the city commission based on the procedures established in section 70-181.

(p)

Downtown redevelopment area credit. An overall reduction of the total minimum off-street parking requirements of up to 20 percent shall be granted to any business participating in a downtown parking agreement. Such document shall be a legal instrument wherein the business agrees to share its parking with other downtown users. Property utilizing this credit must be either commercial or mixed use in nature and shall be located within the downtown redevelopment planning area. The language and legal provisions of this agreement shall be approved by the city manager and the city attorney prior to its initiation and the use of such credits along with a copy of the signed agreement shall be recorded in the public records of the county.

(q)

Landscape credit. A reduction of the required on-site parking by up to ten percent may be allowed in order to enhance on-site landscaping that would be visible from the public right-of-way. Such a reduction requires the review and approval of the city manager or his designee. The decision would be appealable to the city commission following the procedures outlines in section 70-181, Procedures to appeals of administrative decisions, found in the land development regulations. (Does not apply to residential parking requirements.)

(r)

Illustrative parking use table (for illustrative purposes only).

ILLUSTRATIVE PARKING USE TABLE
(for illustrative purposes only)

Parking lot	District	RU-75	RM-15	RFM -30	RFH -50	CG	RO/S and I	P	T/U
Special Event (Non-recurring)		SE	SE	P	P	P	P	P	P
Special Event (Recurring)	SE	SE	P	P	P	P	P	P
Temporary (Max 90 days; non-recurring)		NO	NO	P	P	P	P	P	P
Temporary, Off-site (90 days - 1 year;)		NO	NO	SE	SE	SE	SE	NO	P
Temporary, Off Street (1 year max; stand alone)		NO	NO	SE	SE	SE	SE	NO	P
Off-Street (Stand Alone)		NO	NO	SE	P	P	P	NO	P
Off-Site		NO	NO	SE	SE	P	P	NO	P
Shared		NO	NO	P	P	P	P	NO	P
Remote		NO	NO	SE	SE	P	NO	NO	P
Accessory		P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

 

(Ord. No. 95-10, § 36-291, 9-19-95; Ord. No. 96-16, § 1, 9-24-96; Ord. No. 97-4, § 10, 4-22-97; Ord. No. 00-08, § 29, 1-9-01; Ord. No. 01-03, §§ 2—5, 8-28-01; Ord. No. 11-10, § 7, 8-2-11; Ord. No. 11-08, § 13, 11-1-11; Ord. No. 15-03, § 3, 7-7-15 )