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PARKING <br /> <br />Parking on public streets often creates congestion which leads to unsafe condi- <br />tions for both vehicles and pedestrians. To alleviate these conditions, off-street <br />parking facilities are required. Parking facilities must be carefully designed to <br />conserve valuable land and also to make sure that these facilities function well. <br /> <br />Each use, building or structure which is established, erected, enlarged or struc- <br />turally altered is required to meet the city's parking standards. This section <br />offers information and guidance to developers and property owners who are involved <br />in designing off-street parking facilities. <br /> <br />General Standards <br /> <br />Outdoor surface parking lots are the least expensive method of providing <br />required parking spaces; however, they consume valuable site area and <br />require landscaping to be visually attractive. Parking structures <br />require a greater initial expense, but generally provide a more econo- <br />mical use of the land. They are often a necessity to achieve an <br />economically feasible development because of high land costs. <br /> <br />Generally, the most efficient parking patterns are achieved with spaces <br />located off both sides of each parking aisle and with the spaces aligned <br />at 90 degrees. Deviation from the 90 degree parking angle may add to the <br />ease of entering and backing Out of parking spaces, but requires addi- <br />tional area to achieve the same number of parking spaces. <br /> <br />Entrances and exits to parking facilities should be limited in number <br />and should be designed and located to minimize any interference with <br />the flow of street traffic and maximize efficient internal parking lot <br />circulation. <br /> <br />To reduce intrusion into residential neighborhoods, parking lots must <br />take access from other than residential streets except when a lot is <br />serving a residential use. <br /> <br />Be <br /> <br />Unlandscaped and unbuffered parking bots are unsightly and detract from <br />the overall quality of a development project. Parking areas must be <br />located and designed to minimize direct exposure to public view. These <br />areas should be buffered and landscaped to reduce the visual impact and <br />when possible located at the rear of buildings. By taking advantage of <br />natural topography or planned grading created in areas which are above <br />or below adjacent street and property grades, attractive parking buffer- <br />ing can occur. <br /> <br />- 15 - <br /> <br /> <br />