Parking area design standards

A. Parking Layout.

1. Generally parking areas shall have the minimum required widths for drive aisles as described in the table below. The design of parking areas shall generally conform to ITE's "Guide for Parking Facility Location and Design, 1990" as amended. The city's traffic engineer may require the dimensions of parking spaces and drive aisles to be adjusted if traffic and safety considerations so warrant.

Required Widths of Drive Aisles
Aisle Width	Parking Angle (in degrees) 0	Parking Angle (in degrees) 30	Parking Angle (in degrees) 45	Parking Angle (in degrees) 60	Parking Angle (in degrees) 90
One-way traffic	13'	11'	15'	18'	24'
Two-way traffic	20'	20'	21'	23'	24'

2. Pedestrian and vehicular areas shall be designed to provide safe and efficient site circulation. Conflicts between pedestrian and vehicular traffic shall be minimized by providing physical and visual separation between pedestrian ways and drive aisles. Parking areas shall be ADA compliant.
3. Parking aisles shall be a maximum of twenty (20) parking spaces in length which shall be separated with cross drive aisles.
4. The placement of all directional and street level signage shall be reviewed and approved by the city's traffic engineer to ensure safe and efficient site circulation and adequate sight distances both in the public ROW and the development's parking area.
5. No landscape materials shall be planted at curb cuts that will impair the line of sight at said cuts.
6. A storage area shall be provided on site to accommodate snow removal from a six-inch snow storm.
7. A six-inch curb or Cape Cod berm, designed to be compliant with the Rhode Island Stormwater Design and Installation Standards Manual, shall be installed around the perimeter of all parking to serve as wheel stops and protection. Where curbs are not installed adjacent to sidewalks, wheel stops shall be installed to prevent vehicles from encroaching into or onto said sidewalks.

B. Reduction in Construction of Off-Street Parking.
- 1. A reduction in the construction of the number of off-street parking spaces required by Chapter 17.64 may be granted as a condition of approval provided that the following criteria have been met:
  - a. The intent of this chapter and Chapter 17.64 shall be preserved.
  - b. The amount of off-street parking to be provided shall be sufficient to serve the development.
  - c. The decrease in required off-street parking shall be based on a parking study prepared by a RPE which addresses the following:
    - i. Size and type of uses or activities on site;
    - ii. Composition of tenancy on site;
    - iii. Rate of parking turnover;
    - iv. Peak traffic and parking loads to be encountered;
    - v. Local parking habits;
    - vi. Availability of public transportation.
- 2. Should a reduction in the amount of required off-street parking to be constructed be allowed, the DPRC shall require that a portion of the site be reserved to construct said parking should it be needed. This reserved area shall not contribute towards the minimum landscape requirements as set in Section 17.84.140(C).
C. The design and choice of paving materials used for parking areas shall consider function, climate, characteristics of users, availability, maintenance costs, glare, drainage, noise, appearance and compatibility with surroundings. Acceptable materials may include, but are not limited to concrete, brick, asphalt, asphalt pavers, cement pavers and stone.
D. Walls and fences may be erected to provide privacy, screening, separation, security, erosion control or as required by the site conditions. The design and materials used shall be compatible with a development's design. No fence or wall shall be erected so as to create a hazard to traffic or safety.
E. Street furniture, such as trash receptacles, benches and phone booths, shall be located and sized in accordance with proposed use and shall be similar in style, material and finish. Design and materials shall be compatible with a development's design.

(Ord. 2012-23, § 1, 9/24/2012)