§ 12.11. Special parking districts, payment in lieu of providing required parking.

The provisions and requirements as set forth in sections 12.7 and 12.10, above shall apply to all areas within the city except as modified by this section. The city recognizes that special provisions should be considered for the downtown area including the reduction of required parking spaces due to the availability of public parking. To this end:

1.

Portions of the City of Parchment shall be contained within areas described as special parking districts as established by the city commission with recommendation from the planning commission.

2.

The boundaries of areas classified as special parking districts are hereby established as shown on the Zoning Map [on file in the office of the city clerk]. Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the special parking districts as shown on the Zoning Districts Map [on file in the office of the city clerk] the rules as set forth in section 3.3 shall apply.

3.

The number of off-street parking spaces and the size of loading and unloading areas required for any new use, expanded or intensified use of property located within, or partially within a special parking district shall be determined as set forth in sections 12.7 and 12.12 except as herein provided for:

a.

Off-street parking. The determination of parking needs within a special parking district shall be based upon the standards specified below. For those uses not specified an adjustment may be made by the city commission, following planning commission recommendation, when it is found that a reduction from the standards set forth in section 12.7 would not adversely affect the retail, office and ancillary service facilities forming the commercial nucleus of these older core business areas. In this latter regard primary consideration shall be given to uses which are generally the object of special purpose trips and thereby have little or no interrelation with those business activities in the core business areas. The following standards reflect the gross floor area(s) actively used in day-to-day operations and shall exclude only vacant space and storage areas.

(1)

Retail stores except as otherwise specified. One for each 350 square feet of gross floor area.

(2)

Furniture and appliance stores. One for each 1,800 square feet of gross floor area.

(3)

Business and professional offices except as otherwise specified. One for each 500 square feet of gross floor area.

(4)

Medical and dental offices. One for each 175 square feet of gross floor area.

(5)

Banks (excluding drive-in stations). One for each 250 square feet of gross floor area.

(6)

Establishments offering food, beverages, or refreshments for sale and consumption on the premises. One for each 100 square feet of gross floor area.

(7)

Apartments. One for each dwelling unit plus one-quarter for each bedroom.

b.

Off-street loading. The planning commission shall have the right to modify or waive the requirement for off-street loading areas as specified in section 12.12. Any such modification or waiver shall be based upon a review of a site plan and/or the surrounding area and a determination that there is satisfactory loading space serving the building or that the provision of such loading space is physically and/or functionally impractical to provide.

4.

The owner or owners of the said new or expanded use may make application to the city clerk for the option of paying a dollar amount established by resolution of the city commission per required parking space and loading and unloading space in lieu of providing said required spaces as per the provisions and requirements set forth in sections 12.7 and 12.12, of this Ordinance. These monies would be paid in to the special parking district fund established by the city commission specifically for the purpose of constructing and improving off-street parking areas to serve uses located within the special parking districts. The timing of parking spaces provided and their location shall be at the sole discretion of the city commission.

5.

The amount paid into the parking fund described above shall not apply against any present or future special assessments levied by the city for parking improvements.

6.

This exception may only be granted by the city commission. Granting of the exception shall be based upon evidence presented by the property owner or owners showing that the reasonable ability to provide any or all of the required parking spaces and/or loading and unloading areas as required in sections 12.7 and 12.12, does not exist.

7.

A property owner or owners granted the exception of contributing to the parking fund will not receive an occupancy permit until said monies have been paid into said fund in full.

8.

The provisions of this section also apply to any change in use of property located within a special parking district that would require parking spaces in excess of those required for the previous use.