§ 16-28.017. Design standards and other criteria for electric vehicle parking and charging facilities.

The following design criteria apply to electric vehicle parking and electric vehicle supply equipment ("EVSE") where provided for the use of the general public as a part of off-street parking:

(1)

Electric vehicle parking and charging stations, as defined in Section 16-29.001(56), should be equal to parking space size and performance standards as provided in these regulations. The installation of an EVSE should not reduce the electric vehicle charging station's length to below the size and standards required under Section 16-28.014.

(2)

Criteria for electric vehicle parking and charging stations in off-street parking facilities

(a)

Installation of EVSE shall meet National Electric Code Article 625 as it may be from time to time amended;

(b)

EVSE must be mounted on the wall or on a structure at the end of the space provided and shall be placed at least four and one-half feet above the parking surface of the space. No charging devices may be placed within the dimensions of a space on the sides or entrance to a space

(c)

EVSE mounted on structures such as pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other device shall be located as to not impede pedestrian travel or create trip hazards.

(d)

Way finding signs, if installed, shall be placed to effectively guide the motorists to the electric vehicle parking space and/or charging station. Private regulatory signage shall be placed in a manner that shall not interfere with any parking space, drive lane or exit.

(e)

Each electric vehicle charging stations and parking spaces for which any parking incentive was granted shall be reserved for use as an electric vehicle charging station or as electric vehicle reserved parking. If time limits or usage requirements for are to be enforced by vehicle immobilization or non-consensual towing, the posting of signage that complies with the requirements of the City Code applicable to vehicle immobilization or non-consensual towing shall be observed. Vehicle immobilization or non-consensual towing may be enforced for electric vehicle charging stations and parking spaces by the owner or operator of the parking spaces even which no parking incentive was granted.

(f)

Electric vehicle charging stations and parking spaces for which any parking incentive was granted shall be operational at all times. When an electrical vehicle parking station is not operational for 14 consecutive days, it shall be considered to have been removed from service. The failure to maintain the number of electric vehicle charging stations and parking spaces shall be cause to require the installation of the number of parking spaces required by the district regulations.

(g)

A phone number or other contact information shall be provided when the station is not functioning in a manner that allows electric vehicles to be charged.

(3)

Criteria for electric vehicle parking and charging stations on private streets

(a)

On-street parking spaces designated and equipped to be electric vehicle charging stations spaces for which any parking incentive was granted on private streets shall be for the exclusive purpose of electric charging.

(b)

For the purpose of reducing cable management issues and placing the electric vehicle charging station closer to crosswalks and curb ramps, such charging stations shall be installed to use the last space on a block face in the direction of travel wherever possible.

(c)

In perpendicular or angle parking configurations, electric vehicle supply equipment should be centered, or to the left, in front of the electric vehicle charging station for single connectors, and placed between two electric vehicle charging stations for dual connectors.

(i)

EVSE must be mounted on the wall or on a structure at the end of the space provided and shall be placed at least four feet above the parking surface of the space. No charging devices may be placed within the dimensions of a space on the sides or entrance to a space

(ii)

EVSE mounted on structures such as pedestals, lighting posts, bollards, or other device shall be located as to not impede pedestrian travel or create trip hazards

(d)

Where a variation is grated to allow the electric vehicle charging station in parallel parking configurations, EVSE should be installed near the front of the electric vehicle charging station based on the direction of travel.

(e)

When electric vehicle supply equipment is placed in a sidewalk or walkway adjacent to the on-street electric vehicle charging station, it should not interfere with the minimum pedestrian clearance widths as defined in Chapter 11B of the American Disability Act Standard as it may be from time to time amended.

(f)

When cords and connectors are not in use, retraction devices or locations for storage shall be located sufficiently above the pedestrian surface and the parking lot as to reduce conflicts with pedestrians and vehicle maneuvering. Cords, cables, and connector equipment shall not extend across the path of travel in any sidewalk or walkway.

(4)

Signage: The signage associated with electric vehicle charging stations and the reservation of parking spaces for electric vehicles shall be considered incidental signs as defined in the Sign Ordinance. Incidental signs may contain only information and directives concerning the use of the electric vehicle charging stations and the reservation of parking spaces for electric vehicles. No commercial message shall be allowed to be displayed on an incidental sign associated electric vehicle charging stations and the reservation of parking spaces for electric vehicles although the name of the manufacturer or installer of the station may be displayed on the equipment installed at the stations. Where any text or logo other than that contained in this subsection is necessary to provide the general public with information on the operation of the electric vehicle charging stations, a sign permit shall be required. The following signs are allowed without a sign permit:

(a)

General service signs .

An EV general service sign may be displayed without an associated advance turn and direction arrow but no advance turn and direct arrow may be displayed without an EV general service sign. These signs should be no smaller than 12-inch by 18-inch and no larger than 18-inch by 124-inch. The bottom of sign shall be seven feet above ground.

(b)

Private regulatory mounted signage.

One private regulatory sign may be located on each space and must be placed to conform to the design guidelines for parking spaces.

(c)

On-space striping: the following on space striping is permitted in lieu of or in addition to a mounted private regulatory sign.

(5)

Minimum landscaping requirements for surface electric vehicle parking and charging station lots. The requirements of City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances, Chapter 158 Vegetation, Article II, Tree Protection, Section 30, parking lot requirements shall apply to electric vehicle charging stations spaces in addition to the street tree planting requirements, with additional requirements as follows:

(a)

All parking bays shall be terminated with a landscape strip a minimum width of five feet and equal to the length of the parking bay.

(b)

All required landscaped areas shall be planted with evergreen groundcover or shrubs with a maximum mature height of 30 inches; and

(c)

All required landscaped buffer strips, regardless of length, shall have a minimum of one tree planted per 30 feet of length with a minimum caliper of two and one-half inches.

(d)

Existing parking lots shall not be required to reduce the number of parking spaces by more than three percent as a result of implementing the following surface parking lot landscaping regulations.

(6)

Where EVSE is being used exclusively for the charging of vehicles for commercial or industrial uses and is not being made available for the general public, the installation of such equipment shall not be required to meet the criteria for parking spaces made available to the general public but shall be required to be installed to meet National Electric Code Article 625 as it may be from time to time amended.

( Ord. No. 2014-53(14-O-1278), § 4(Attach. D), 12-10-14 )