Parking Minimum width of loading zone

[SW MI Planner]

Does your ordinance, or another source, list what is the minimum recommended width of a loading zone? An applicant is requesting a revision to an approved site plan that would reduce the loading zone from 12.5 feet to 9.5 feet wide in order to make the building larger.

The initial site plan had a 12.5 ft wide loading zone that ran parallel to the building, and was seperated from a service drive by 4' curbed islands. (The service drive also runs parallel to building and loading zone).

They are proposing to reduce the loading zone to 9.5 wide and no separation between it and the service drive.

I maintain that the loading zone has to be maintained separated from the service drive and that by allowing only 9.5 wide delivery trucks would extend into the drive. Now just looking for back up material - recommended width of loading zones, standard delivery truck widths, etc.

Thanks!

 

[Joe Iliff]

Most of the ordinances I have researched in the past six months have had loading zone minimum widths of 10, 12, and 15 feet, with 12 probably being the most common. 9½ wouldn't necessarily be awful, depending on what kind of trucks are expected to load & unload, and how easy it is to maneuver into the space from the drive. Having the loading zone in the service drive, so that a loading/unloading truck blocks the drive, kind of defeats the purpose of the zone, which is to get the truck out of everyone else's way.

 

[Chet]

9.5 isnt the end of the world, but i like to see 15. All depends on the geometry

 

[mendelman]

We require 10 feet wide as a minimum.

It might be ok to grant a variance if it is adjacent to a drive aisle that is 24 feet wide or more.

 

[KSharpe]

We require 15' wide, 60' long

 

[DPP]

Here's my 2 cents...

Our bylaw asks for:
3.1 metres x 9.2 metres, maintaining a minimum overhead clearance of 4.3 metres throughout.

in feet, that's approx. 10'-2" x 30'-2" with clearance of 14'-1"

Ask to see a sweep path for typical vehicles on site, to ensure trucks can actually get in and out of the stall. (include clearance on either side of the sweep (we ask for 2 feet). If they're only using small trucks or vans, then a narrower width might work. If a mistake is made though, and the stall is unusable, then loading will take place somewhere easier. Like on the road, or in the drive aisle, causing problems.


Make sure that when a truck is using the loading area, that trucks on the drive aisles aren't blocked.

A narrow aisle may be an issue also if the trucks load from the side and a clear aisle is needed to move product into and out of the truck from the side, especially if a forklift or similar is required at-grade. The architect or building owner may not have thought of this.

Is the development planning on using the loading stall as the garbage pickup area? If so, make sure garbage trucks have enough clearance, including overhead clearance... and make sure the stall is clear of loading vehicles when it's garbage pickup time.

 

[Richmond Jake]

Our jurisdiction has no loading standards. I pointed this out when we were adopting our land development regulations but my observation fell on deaf ears. :-s

 

[Seabishop]

15' X 50' here.

 

[solarstar]

10'x20' for those businesses that only have box-truck type deliveries (UPS, Fed Ex, etc.) 12'x60' for trailer-type deliveries.

 

[Plan 9]

10-12 feet is reasonable. 15 seems excessive since street travel lanes are 14 or less.

 

[gkruschke]

We require a 10' wide stall that is 55' deep. I believe that most are around this dimension

 

[JW Plans]

Are there any publications or sources regarding the width of loading zones you all used to determine your standards? 12' seems high, I'm wondering if there are any publications siting the need.

 

[Gedunker]

My ordinance requires 12'-0" minimum width. It makes sense to me as most trailers (including box trucks) are 108" wide (9'-0") and lateral clearance to open hinged doors would seem obvious.

 

[Maister]

My ordinance requires 12'-0" minimum width. It makes sense to me as most trailers (including box trucks) are 108" wide (9'-0") and lateral clearance to open hinged doors would seem obvious.

What he said.