A.    Special Exclusions.  Properties having a completed parking lot and/or loading area on the property as of the         3rd day of May, 2004 are exempt from the change in the standards for construction of off-street parking             and loading areas provided in this chapter of the City's Municipal Code, but shall not be exempt from the             maintenance requirements of this chapter.  Further, property located in an R-1 (One-Family Dwelling Zoned         District) in the City shall be exempt from the construction standards provided in this chapter of the City's     Municipal Code for off-street parking and loading areas, but shall not be exempt from the maintenance             requirements of this chapter.  Except in an R-1 (One-Family Dwelling Zoned District), any addition to an             existing parking lot and/or loading area will result in the requirement to comply with the off-street parking             and loading construction and maintenance requirements of this chapter (with regard to the existing lot and/or         loading area and the addition.)

    B.    Procedure. An application for a building permit for a new or enlarged building, structure, or use shall include         therewith a plat plan, drawn to scale, and fully dimensioned, showing any off-street parking or loading             facilities to be provided in compliance with the requirements of this title.

    C.    Extent of Control. The off-street parking and loading requirements of this title shall apply as follows:

        1.    All buildings and structures erected and all land uses shall provide accessory off-street parking or                 loading facilities as required hereinafter for the use thereof, excepting subsection A of this section.

        

        2.    When a building or structure erected or enlarged prior to or after the effective date of the city’ s                 new zoning code shall undergo a decrease in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating                 capacity, number of employees, or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-            street parking or loading facilities, and, further, when the decrease would result in a requirement for             fewer total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of these                 standards thereto, off-street parking and loading facilities may be reduced accordingly; provided,     that existing off-street parking or loading facilities shall be decreased only when the facilities                 remaining would at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting                 from application of the provisions of these standards to the entire building or structure as modified.

        3.    When a building or structure undergoes any increase in number of dwelling units, gross floor area,             seating capacity, or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking             or loading facilities, and further, when the increase would result in a requirement for greater total                 off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of these standards thereto,             off-street parking and loading facilities shall be increased so that the facilities would at least equal                 or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements.

    D.    Existing Off-Street Parking and Loading Spaces. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in             existence on the effective date of the standards of this zoning code shall not be reduced in number unless             already exceeding the requirements of this chapter for equivalent new construction; in which event, the             spaces shall not be reduced below the number required herein for such equivalent new construction.

    E.    Schedule of Requirements.

        1.    Tables for Required Off-Street Parking and Loading. Requirements governing the number and                 location of off-street parking, off-street loading facilities in relation to the use of property are                 established hereinafter in this title. The off-street parking and loading requirements for any use not             specified in this title shall be the same as for a similar specified use, as determined below.

        2.    Floor Area. The term "floor area," as employed in this off-street parking and loading chapter, in the             case of office, merchandising or service types of use, means the gross floor area of a building or                 structure used or intended to be used for service to the public as customers, patrons, clients,                 patients or tenants, including areas occupied by fixtures and equipment used for display or sale of                 merchandise.

            "Floor area," for the purposes of this chapter, shall not include any area used for:        

    

            a.    Storage accessory to the principal use of a building;

            b.    Incidental repairs;

            c.    Processing or packaging of merchandise;

            d.    Show window, or offices incidental to the management or maintenance of a store or                     building;

            e.    Restrooms;    

            f.    Utilities;

            g.    Dressing, fitting or alteration rooms. (Ord. 743 § 1 (part), 1989: prior code § 40-10-3(A))