Rules for building and landscaping surface parking lots

(a) Surface parking location and configuration. Setbacks. (1) Surface parking, except that in the residential and country districts, must be set back a minimum of 5 feet from all side and rear property lines that adjoin lots in the country, residential, apartment, or apartment mixed use zoning districts. (2) Parking and loading are not permitted in any required yards, except as follows: (A) In the country, agricultural, and residential districts, parking and loading may encroach into the required yards; (B) For lots that are split zoned and have nonresidential parking, the parking and loading spaces may encroach entirely into the side yard created by the zoning boundary that splits the lot. (b) Surface parking lot landscaping and screening. Parked vehicles in surface parking lots must be screened from view from all streets and public spaces. (1) Surface parking lots of five or more parking spaces must provide a minimum 5-foot landscape strip adjacent to any adjoining street right-of-way. If wheel stops are provided, parking spaces may overhang the 5-foot landscape strip (but not the required yard) by 3 feet (see Figure 21-6.2 ); provided that hedges and other landscape elements, including planter boxes over 6 inches in height, are not permitted within the overhang space. This 5-foot strip must contain a continuous screening hedge a minimum of 36 inches in height with plantings a maximum of 18 inches on center. A minimum 36 inch high wall or fence may be placed outside the yard in lieu of a hedge. If a wall or solid fence is erected, either a vine or shrub must be planted at the base of the wall or solid fence on the side fronting the property line. One canopy form tree, a minimum of 2-inch caliper, must be planted in the landscape strip for each 50 feet or major fraction of adjacent lineal street frontage. (2) To provide shade in surface parking lots and minimize visibility of paved surfaces, parking lots with more than 10 parking spaces must provide one canopy form tree, a minimum of 2-inch caliper, for every 6 parking spaces or major fraction thereof, or one canopy form tree of 6-inch caliper or more for every 12 parking spaces or major fraction thereof (see Figure 21-6.1 ). Each tree must be located in a planting area or tree well a minimum of 9 square feet in area. The minimum width of an area for a tree is 3 feet. If wheel stops are provided, continuous planting areas with low ground cover, and tree wells with trees centered at the corner of parking spaces may be located within the 3-foot overhang space of parking spaces (see Figure 21-6.2 ). Hedges and other landscape elements, including planter boxes over 6 inches in height, are not permitted within the overhang space of the parking spaces. Trees must be sited so as to evenly distribute shade throughout the parking lot. As an alternative to the above described planter areas for trees, a tree box specifically designed to treat stormwater runoff may be used on a one-for-one basis in place of the landscaped area. Tree boxes must be approved for compliance with the rules related to stormwater quality. (3) All service areas and loading spaces must be screened from adjoining lots in the country, residential, apartment, and apartment mixed use districts by a wall 6 feet in height. (4) All plant material and landscaping must be provided with a permanent irrigation system. Figure 21-6.1 Canopy Tree Replacement Figure 21-6.2 Permitted Vehicle Overhangs (c) Surface parking lot lighting. Lighting or illumination for surface parking lots must be designed or shielded to prevent any direct illumination toward any other zoning lot or street.