Off-Street Parking Standards for the M-2: General Industrial District in the City of Grass Valley
In the M-2: General Industrial district of the City of Grass Valley, new residential development is generally prohibited with the exception of caretaker quarters and accessory dwelling units on specific non-conforming lots. Nonresidential projects must meet various parking ratios based on the specific use, such as one space for every 500 square feet of industrial floor area and one space per 200 square feet for associated office areas. Parking facilities in this district are subject to significant setbacks, requiring a 20-foot distance from the back of the curb for front-facing parking areas.
Residential Parking Requirements in the M-2 District
While the City of Grass Valley Development Code prohibits most new residential development in the M-2: General Industrial district, certain housing types are permitted under restricted conditions, such as "Caretaker Quarters" or "Accessory Dwelling Units" (ADUs) on parcels with existing legally non-conforming single-family homes [Section 17.24.030, Table 2-10].
| Residential Use Type | Required Off-Street Parking Spaces |
|---|---|
| Dwelling - Caretaker | 1 space per unit (based on requirements for individual dwellings) [Table 3-3] |
| Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) | 1 accessible space per unit for studio/1-bedroom; 2 spaces for units with 2+ bedrooms. No parking is required if the unit is within 1/2 mile of public transit [Table 3-3, Section 17.44.190] |
| Live/Work Unit (Residential portion) | 2 spaces for each unit [Table 3-3] |
Commercial and Industrial Parking Requirements in the M-2 District
The City of Grass Valley requires that all industrial and commercial activities in the M-2: General Industrial district provide off-street parking based on the intensity and square footage of the use. If a single project contains multiple components (such as an industrial plant with a large administrative office), the developer must provide the sum of the parking required for each individual component [Section 17.36.040].
| Nonresidential Use Type | Vehicle Spaces Required |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing, Industrial, and Processing | 1 space for every 200 sf of office area; PLUS 1 space for every 500 sf of floor area used for other than office; PLUS 1 space for every 5,000 sf of open storage [Table 3-3] |
| Warehousing and Distribution | 1 space for each 500 sf of floor area [Table 3-3] |
| Wholesaling and Distribution | 1 space for each 500 sf of floor area [Table 3-3] |
| General Retail / Retail Trade | 1 space for each 250 sf of floor area, plus 1 space for each 300 sf of outdoor sales area [Table 3-3] |
| Service Station | 1 space for each 300 sf of floor area, plus 3 spaces for each service bay [Table 3-3] |
| Vehicle Services (Major and Minor) | 4 spaces for each service or wash bay, plus office spaces as required [Table 3-3] |
| Auto, RV, and Vehicle Sales/Rental | 1 space for each 400 sf of showroom/office area, plus 1 space for each 2,000 sf of outdoor display area, plus spaces for parts/service [Table 3-3] |
Design and Development Standards
The City of Grass Valley mandates specific dimensions and location standards for all parking facilities in the M-2: General Industrial district.
Parking Location and Setbacks
In the M-2: General Industrial district, parking areas must adhere to specific setbacks from the public right-of-way to maintain the visual character and safety of the industrial corridor [Section 17.24.040].
- Front Setback: Parking must be located at least 20 feet from the back of the curb [Table 2-13].
- Side-Street Setback: Parking must be located at least 15 feet from the back of the curb [Table 2-13].
- Interior Side and Rear Setbacks: Parking may be located within these setbacks provided it is separated from the property line by a minimum five-foot-wide landscaped area [Section 17.36.090.C].
Parking Space and Driveway Dimensions
Standard parking configurations in the City of Grass Valley are defined by the angle of the parking stall.
| Parking Angle | Space Width | Space Depth | Aisle Width (Two-Way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perpendicular (90°) | 9 ft. | 18 ft. | 24 ft. |
| Parallel | 9 ft. | 9 ft. (Length: 22 ft.) | 24 ft. |
| Compact Spaces | 8 ft. | 16 ft. | 24 ft. (for 90°) |
Source: [Table 3-4, Table 3-5, Table 3-7]
Special Provisions and Reductions
- Compact Vehicles: For nonresidential projects, up to 20 percent of the required parking spaces may be designated for compact cars. These must be clearly labeled and grouped together [Section 17.36.090.D].
- Bicycle Substitution: Nonresidential developments may substitute bicycle spaces for required vehicle spaces at a rate of eight bicycle spaces for one vehicle space, up to a maximum reduction of 10 percent of the total required vehicle spaces [Section 17.36.060].
- Shared Parking: If two or more uses in the M-2: General Industrial district have distinct peak usage periods, the Review Authority may approve a reduction in total required spaces through a minor use permit or use permit [Section 17.36.080].
Sections Cited
- Section 17.24.030 – Commercial and industrial zone land uses and permit requirements
- Section 17.24.040 – Commercial and industrial zone site planning and building standards
- Section 17.36.040 – Number of parking spaces required
- Section 17.36.060 – Bicycle parking
- Section 17.36.080 – Reduction of parking requirements
- Section 17.36.090 – Parking design and development standards
- Section 17.44.190 – Accessory dwelling units (ADU)
- Table 2-10 – Allowed Land Uses and Permit Requirements for Commercial and Industrial Zone
- Table 2-13 – M-1 and M-2 Zone Development Standards
- Table 3-3 – Parking Requirements by Land Use
- Table 3-4 – Minimum Standard Parking Space Configuration
- Table 3-5 – Standard Vehicle Space Requirements
- Table 3-7 – Compact Vehicle Space Requirements