42-194. Design of Parking Areas

  1. Maneuvering Space.
    1. Single-Family Dwellings. Off-street parking for single-family dwellings which require backing into a residential service road shall be permitted provided that such movement can be made with reasonable safety and without interfering with other traffic.
    2. Nonresidential and Multifamily Development. Off-street parking for nonresidential and multifamily development shall not be designed in a manner which would require backing into a public road.
  2. Connectivity. Parking facilities shall be designed to connect with parking facilities on adjacent lots (where developed after the adoption date of this Chapter), where appropriate and approved by the adjacent property owner, to eliminate the need to use the abutting road(s) for cross movements.
  3. Handicapped Space. Handicapped spaces shall be provided as required by the North Carolina State Building Code.
  4. Lighting Standards. Lighting mitigation shall be required, as defined by this Chapter
  5. Landscaping. Parking lot landscaping shall be provided as set forth in Article V.
  6. Parking Island. Flat-curbed parking islands or islands with curb cuts designed for use as bio-retention areas for treating stormwater runoff are highly recommended.
  7. Fire Code. Nonresidential development and multifamily development parking areas shall comply with applicable fire code provisions as adopted by the State or the County.
  8. Entrances. Parking lot entrances shall be located at the furthest point from intersections as possible when the entrance is not part of an intersection.
  9. Drive-through Stacking Lanes. Access points for drive-through stacking lanes shall be located away from public roads and driveways so that queued vehicles do not block the traffic along public roads or the movement of other vehicles on site. The entrance and exit from a drive-through lane or designated drive-up parking space(s) shall be internal to the site and not a separate entrance/exit to or from the road. The total length of on-site stacking lane(s), taken together, shall be a minimum of 200 feet if site access is provided directly from a collector, thoroughfare, boulevard, or expressway; a minimum of 100 feet if site access is provided directly from a local road.