Watertown Massachusetts Bicycle Parking Ordinance

Joan Blaustein, 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

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.