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City of East Providence
City of East Providence Zoning Ordinance
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§ 19-283

Plans, construction and maintenance of off-street parking areas

  • (a) The following requirements establish minimum acceptable standards for alleviating the visual and environmental effects associated with parking facilities. The application of these standards will serve to improve the compatibility and attractiveness of such facilities, provide relief from un-shaded paved areas, and minimize noise and glare from lights associated with off-street parking facilities. In addition, these requirements will improve pedestrian safety, and optimize traffic circulation patterns with better-defined space.

  • (b) [Reserved].

  • (c) Construction standards. Every parcel of land which after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter was derived is changed to a parking area for five vehicles or more, shall be developed as follows, subject to the review and approval of the required plans by the city engineer/deputy director of public works and subject to the approval of the zoning officer and building official:

    • (1) Such area where subject to wheeled traffic shall be paved, drained, lighted and arranged and marked for convenient access and safety of pedestrians and vehicles;

    • (2) Any light used to illuminate the parking area shall be so arranged as to reflect the light away from adjoining premises and streets;

    • (3) Suitable separation shall be made between the pedestrian sidewalk and the vehicular parking or moving area with the use of appropriate bumper or wheel guards or traffic islands;

    • (4) Where the portion of the property used for vehicular traffic abuts a street, such portion shall be separated from the street line by a curb at least six inches high;

    • (5) The location and extent of the appropriate curb cuts shall be determined by the city engineer/deputy director of public works, subject to the approval of the zoning officer, and wherever state jurisdiction exists, all curb cuts shall be subject to the approval of the state department of transportation as evidenced by submission of an approved physical alteration permit. In order to minimize vehicular conflicts, curb cuts shall be placed at the maximum feasible distance from intersections or from curb cuts for adjacent properties. Except where peculiar site or safety conditions warrant, only one curb cut shall be permitted for each development. Where a lot has more than one street frontage, all curb cuts for multifamily, commercial, or industrial uses shall be located on the primary (arterial or collector) street. This condition may be waived only, if in the determination of the city engineer/deputy director of public works, particular site or safety conditions so warrant.

    • (6) A plan that identifies changes in drainage associated with the construction of paved parking areas, and the method(s) proposed to address site drainage, shall be submitted and subject to the review and approval of the city engineer/deputy director of public works in accordance with city standards and requirements.

  • (d) Commercial or industrial areas. Where any parking area containing five parking spaces or more and located in a commercial or industrial district adjoins or abuts a residential district or a lot or premises used for residential, educational, recreational or religious purposes, there shall be provided a five-foot wide landscaped strip containing a wall or fence of solid appearance or tight evergreen hedge having a height of not less than five and one-half feet maintained in a neat and attractive manner between the parking area and the residential district or residential, educational, recreational or religious premises, subject to the approval of the zoning officer.

  • (e) Residential areas. Where any parking area containing five parking spaces or more and located in a residential district adjoins or abuts a lot or premises used for residential purposes, a wall or fence of solid appearance or tight evergreen hedge having a height of not less than five and one-half feet shall be erected and maintained in a neat and attractive manner between the parking area and the lot or premises, subject to the approval of the zoning officer.

  • (f) Landscaping. Any parking area established, expanded, or required to be altered because of building alteration or reuse of premises, after the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter was derived, shall provide a minimum five foot wide planting strip between the parking area and the street. The planting strip may be interrupted to allow for entrances and exits, but in no portion may the planting strip be less than ten feet in length. The planting strip shall be planted with trees, shrubs, plants or other live vegetation. Such other landscaping treatment as hereinbefore required and practicable to enhance the premises and make the parking area acceptable and attractive to the adjoining neighborhood shall be provided, subject to the approval of the zoning officer.

  • (g) Maintenance. Any parking space or area shall be kept by the owner in a neat and attractive manner in accordance with specifications and ordinances of the city. The owner shall be responsible for maintenance of landscaping, including the removal and replacement of all dead or diseased plantings. The parking area shall be plowed and/or sanded within 24 hours after the end of any snow or sleet storm.

(Rev. Ords. 1987, § 19-283; Ch. 53, § VI, 2-3-99; Ch. 146, § XIII, 10-23-00; Ch. 944, § I(Att.), 9-2-25)