Off-Street Parking Standards for the GI (General Industrial) District in Mesa

Off-street parking for commercial and residential adaptive reuse projects in the City of Mesa’s GI (General Industrial) district is primarily calculated at a ratio of one space per 375 square feet for general commercial uses and 2.1 spaces per unit for typical multiple-residence developments. Most non-residential projects in the City of Mesa must provide a minimum of four on-site parking spaces, and those with more than ten required spaces may utilize compact stalls for up to 20% of the total requirement [Section 11-32-3].

Purpose of Parking Regulations in the GI District

The City of Mesa establishes parking and loading standards to ensure an adequate supply of parking for various land uses while minimizing the amount of land consumed by paved surfaces. In the GI (General Industrial) district, these standards are designed to facilitate efficient movement of vehicular traffic and support the transition of industrial areas through adaptive reuse [Section 11-32-1].

Required Parking Ratios

While the GI district is primarily intended for manufacturing and industrial uses, the Mesa Zoning Ordinance allows several commercial activities and residential adaptive reuse projects. The following table identifies the specific parking requirements for these uses:

Use Classification	Minimum Parking Standard
Residential (Adaptive Reuse)
Multiple Residence (Typical)	2.1 spaces per Dwelling Unit
Multiple Residence (Within 1/4 mile of BRT or Light Rail)	1.2 to 1.4 spaces per Dwelling Unit
Live-Work Unit	2.1 spaces per unit
Residential Care (e.g., Nursing Home, Hospice)	1.0 space per room/unit plus 2 additional spaces
Commercial
General Office, Retail, and Services	1 space per 375 square feet
Medical and Dental Offices	1 space per 200 square feet
Banks and Financial Institutions	1 space per 375 square feet
Restaurants, Bars, and Lounges (Indoor)	1 space per 75 square feet
Restaurants, Bars, and Lounges (Outdoor)	1 space per 200 square feet
Small Animal Day Care / Veterinary Services	1 space per 375 square feet
Automobile Repair, Sales, and Leasing	1 space per 375 square feet
Commercial Recreation (Small-Scale)	1 space per 100 square feet
Convenience Market	1 space per 375 square feet

Source: [Table 11-32-3.A]

General Parking and Design Standards

All off-street parking in the City of Mesa GI district must adhere to specific design and calculation rules:

Minimum Number: Unless otherwise stated, all uses (excluding single residences) must provide a minimum of four on-site parking spaces [Section 11-32-3(E)].
Rounding of Fractions: If a calculation results in a fractional number, any fraction of 0.5 or greater is rounded up to the nearest whole number, while fractions less than 0.5 are rounded down [Section 11-2-3(B)].
Compact Parking: For sites with at least 10 required parking spaces, up to 20% of the spaces may be compact-sized (8 feet by 16 feet) [Section 11-32-2(D)].
Standard Stall Dimensions: Standard parking stalls must measure 9 feet by 18 feet for 90-degree parking, with a minimum two-way drive aisle width of 24 feet [Table 11-32-2-H-1].
Paving Requirements: All required parking spaces, driveways, and maneuvering areas must be paved with asphalt, concrete, masonry, or paving stone [Section 11-32-2(C)].

Bicycle Parking Requirements

Commercial and multi-unit residential projects in the GI district are also required to provide on-site bicycle parking to encourage alternative transportation:

Non-Residential Uses: These must provide at least 3 bicycle parking spaces or a ratio of 1 space per 10 vehicle spaces, whichever is greater [Section 11-32-8(A)].
Design: Bicycle racks must allow for the locking of both the frame and the wheels using a standard U-lock and should be located within 200 yards of the building entrance [Section 11-32-8(A) and Section 11-21-3(B)].

Shared and Off-Site Parking

The City of Mesa allows for Shared Parking through an Administrative Use Permit if the various activities on a site have different peak parking demands. The parking facility must be located within 660 feet of the entrance of the use it serves [Section 11-32-5].

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