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The one space per 250 square feet of gross floor area requirement has been enforced for car dealerships the same as with any other businesses within the same overall "retail and other uses" classification. Most other retail businesses, however, do not display their inventory in their parking lot. Because vehicle dealerships have different characteristics in this regard, staff and the Zoning Commission feel that is is an improvement to the ordinance to create a separate standard which is more appropriate by basing it upon the area of open sales lot as well as enclosed floor area used for display. Depending on the size and physical development of a specific dealership, this change may be more or less restrictive than the current standard. If the amendment is not approved, it simply means that vehicle dealerships will continue to be required to meet the currently enforced standard of one off-street parking space per 250 square feet of gross floor area. PART 15 - Section 37(B)(71 of the ZoninR Ordinance. Most of this provision is already in the Zoning Ordinance and has been enforced as such for years. The amendment involves only the two references which have been added pertaining to vehicle sales and rental. "All-weather surfaces" are specified in Article VI, Chapter 5 (not :15, as mistakenly typed in the amending ordinance considered on first reading) of the Code of Ordinances, and basically consist of asphalt, concrete, or a combination of asphalt and concrete. The purpose, historically, is to control drainage, and to prevent the unsightliness and general public nuisance caused by dust and mud or by high maintenance substances such as gravel which can develop ruts or be tracked into the public street. Although there are newer alternatives such as pervious pavers which are being considered by the Zoning Commission, these would involve a specific surface treatment. Dirt, grass, and gravel without those masonry "pavers" would still not be authorized as a parking area surface. By virtue of the words "All required or provided parking areas", the existing provision applies even for parking spaces which are provided in an amount exceeding the minimum required. The all-weather surfacing requirement has consistently been applied to all parking lots and areas without any distinction being made as to whether a vehicle is "parked", "stored", or "displayed", That interpretation has been based upon the common-sense theory that a vehicle blocks sunlight and rain from reaching the ground below the vehicle regardless of its purpose for remaining in one spot. In fact, vehicles which are stored or displayed for the purpose of sale may remain in one spot for a continuous period of time much longer than would "transient" vehicles in a normal parking lot. In any case, any grass or other such ground cover is not likely to survive under those conditions, thereby creating an aesthetic and environmental (erosion) problem. Page 2