Watertown Massachusetts Bicycle Parking Ordinance
Joan Blaustein
(JBlaustein@MAPC.ORG)
Metropolitan Area Planning Council bicycle planner and member of the
Watertown Bicycle Committee, forwarded this law requiring provision
of bicycle parking within the town zoning laws. It was passed on
March 10, 1998.
ORDINANCE #011
0-98-011
WHEREAS, Mass. General Laws Chapter 40A, Section 5 provides that a
Zoning Ordinance and map may be amended;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of
Watertown that Chapter XII of the Watertown Ordinances, the Zoning Map,
is hereby amended as follows (changes in italics):
AMEND SECTION 1.00 PURPOSE OF ZONING ORDINANCE
(d) lessening congestion of traffic including, but not limited to,
providing adequate operating area for bicycles and secure bicycle
parking.
AMEND ARTICLE VI AUTOMOTIVE AND BICYCLE PARKING REQUIREMENTS
ADD SECTION 6.07
- (a) Off street bicycle parking shall be provided as follows:
- (1) One bicycle parking space for every 15 automobile
parking spaces, with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 50 spaces, must be
provided. No bicycle parking is required where fewer than 15 automobile
parking spaces are required.
- (2) Each bicycle parking space shall be sufficient to
accommodate a bicycle 7 feet in length and 2 feet in width. Inverted U
frame racks that support the bicycle at two or more points above and on
either side of the bicycle's center of gravity are required. An
alternative style of rack that, in the opinion of the Zoning Board of
Appeals, provides a comparable level of security and convenience may be
provided. Racks must be secured to the ground.
- (3) It is recommended that half shall be provided as long
term parking, safe and secure from vandalism and theft, and protected
from the elements. The other half shall be provided as short term
(customer or visitor) parking, and it is recommended that the spaces be
visible and convenient to building entrance.
- (4) Any property owner required to have bicycle parking may
elect to establish a shared bicycle parking facility with any other
property owner within the same block to meet the combined requirements.
- (5) The following uses are exempt from these requirements:
Funeral parlor, undertake, automobile repair or body shop, gas station,
and car wash.
- (6) These requirements may be varied by the Board of Appeals
by Special Permit, based upon a determination that the proposed bicycle
parking facilities will adequately address the purposes of this section.
- AMEND SECTION 9.03 SITE PLAN REVIEW OF CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL AND
NON-RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
- (a) Five (5) copies of the preliminary site plan for the proposed
development shall be submitted to the Planning Board; two copies shall
be submitted to the DCDP; one copy shall be submitted to the Board of
Appeals, Inspector of Buildings; Zoning Enforcement Officer,
Superintendent of Public Works, Chief Fire Inspector, Chief of Police,
the Health Department, Conservation Commission, Bicycle Committee, and
the Licensing Board when appropriate...Said site plan shall show, among
other things, all existing and proposed building structures, existing
and proposed grades, automobile and bicycle parking spaces, driveway
openings, services areas...
- (b) Following its review of a plan, the Planning Board shall prepare
a written report on the proposal considering, among other things, the
ten criteria listed below...
- 4. Circulation. With respect to vehicular
(including bicycle) and pedestrian circulation, including entrances,
ramps, walkways, drives and parking, special attention shall be given to
location and number of access points to the public streets (especially
in relation to existing traffic controls and mass transit facilities),
width of interior drivers and access points, general interior
circulation, separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, provision
of adequate operating area for bicycles, access to community facilities,
and arrangement of parking areas that are safe and convenient and,
insofar as practicable, do not detract from the use and enjoyment of
proposed buildings and structures and the neighborhood properties.
[Bike Parking Regulations]