By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWright City has completed an overhaul of its off-street parking regulations aimed at streamlining the requirements for staff and residents.All four aldermen voted in favor of the updated ordinance at last Thursday’s meeting. A public hearing was held at the start of the meeting.The city’s planning and zoning commission recommended approval of the regulations at its April 20 meeting.The new 22-page ordinance consolidates and clarifies many of the regulations that were already in place. Elected officials and staff first started working on the project about 1 ½ years ago, officials said.“Sometimes you had to look at three, four places to see what you needed,” said Karen Girondo, Wright City economic development director/treasurer. “This puts it in one section to make it easier to find.”Previously, the parking requirements were listed by zoning district. With each building permit application, a site plan for parking and landscaping is required, except for detached single-family residences. Parking and landscaping plans are also required for new, enlarged or remodeled parking lots that serve existing buildings.Under the new regulations, the number of required parking spaces is established for property uses, such as residential and lodging, commercial, industrial and transportation-related, cultural and recreational, and institutional.Landscaping is now required for commercial, industrial and public facility properties.“We wanted to provide some green space,” Girondo said. “A good example is a Kohl’s parking lot. They have areas with trees and shrubs in the parking lot.”Temporary or seasonal businesses, such as fireworks stands or Christmas tree lots, are exempt from landscaping requirements as long as they are not open more than 30 consecutive days in a calendar year.Officials noted that the regulations are very similar to what other municipalities in the area have adopted.“We looked at other cities before we started this and see what they are requiring,” Girondo said. “Most of it is being done by the other cities.“It is really comprehensive.”City of Wright City logo