Chapter 17.84
PARKING AND LOADING

Sections:

17.84.010    Parking spaces required.

17.84.020    Parking spaces.

17.84.030    Driveways.

17.84.040    Parking lots.

17.84.050    Parking space location.

17.84.060    Joint use of parking lot.

17.84.070    Truck parking/loading.

17.84.080    Parking lot lighting.

17.84.090    Drive-up/drive-through service facility.

17.84.010 Parking spaces required.

A. Every use hereafter created on any private property within the city, and every change of use or occupancy, shall provide for the parking and maneuvering of motor vehicles as specified in this chapter, except this chapter shall not apply to any change in use or occupancy in the downtown historic district.

B. The required number of on-site parking spaces for every use of property shall be as identified in CMC 17.78.020, Use chart adopted, and shall occur on the same tax lot or leased area as the development proposal, except as identified in CMC 17.84.060.

C. No development permit shall be issued for any new construction or addition to an existing structure if the required number of on-site parking spaces for the subject use or occupancy is not provided.

D. The DRC may consider reducing the required number of on-site parking spaces for any change of use or occupancy, or any addition to an existing structure, if all of the following are found to apply:

1. The applicant has submitted an engineering report, published study, or other bona fide documentation demonstrating that the required number of spaces may be reduced without impacting any public right-of-way;

2. The documentation submitted by an applicant has been determined by the DRC to be relevant and appropriate for the subject proposal;

3. The DRC has attached any conditions of development it determines appropriate to protect the public’s interest in any associated right-of-way; and

4. The DRC has found that the listed number of on-site parking spaces could not be physically provided without reducing the nature or scope of the proposal to an unreasonable development proposal.

E. Provisions for handicapped accessible parking spaces shall be as required in WAC 51-50-1106 or as otherwise required by the state. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.020 Parking spaces.

A. The size of parking spaces required for handicapped accessibility shall be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 51-40 WAC or as otherwise required by the state.

B. Each parking space shall be designed consistent with the minimum dimensions and configuration identified in Table 17.84A; provided, a maximum of 50 percent of the spaces provided may be reduced in width only by not more than six inches. Each such reduced width space shall be marked or stenciled on the parking surface near the entrance to the parking space with the word “compact.”

C. The surface of each parking space shall be improved such that a 6,000 pound gross vehicle weight (GVW) vehicle can remain undisturbed for a 24-hour period under any normal weather conditions (temperature range -20 degrees Fahrenheit to +102 degrees Fahrenheit; 100 percent ground water saturation of pervious surfaces) without damage to the parking surface by such a vehicle. Such improved surface may be gravel, asphalt, concrete, or any other properly engineered material.

D. Each parking space shall be accessible from a public right-of-way or alley, and shall provide for the required maneuvering of vehicles such that no vehicle is required to back up onto a street right-of-way. Such access may be provided through approved private roads, driveways, or adjacency to an alley.

E. Nonresidential parking spaces located adjacent to any residential zone, including alleys, shall provide a minimum five-foot-high, 85 percent opaque fence or landscape such that the residential zone is buffered from the parking space. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.030 Driveways.

A. Portions of access driveways located upon private property shall comply with the requirements of this section. Portions of access driveways located upon any public right-of-way or any alley shall comply with the requirements of the development engineering standards.

B. Access driveways, when provided, shall be designed to provide required access to required parking spaces. Driveway width dimensions shall be consistent with the applicable design configuration identified in Table 17.84A, and in no case less than 12 feet in width. Where “two-way” driveways are provided, the minimum width requirement shall apply to each direction, except: if parking spaces are designed using the 90-degree configuration, only the stated driveway width (Table 17.84A, Column D) need be provided.

C. Where a city alley is utilized as the driveway approach to a parking space, the driveway width may include the alley right-of-way in its calculation; provided, that the remainder, if any, of the required width is provided on the developed property.

D. The design and configuration of driveways shall be subject to the requirements of the development engineering standards.

[Ord. 819B § 13, 2007; Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.040 Parking lots.

A. The provisions of this section shall apply to the development of two or more nonresidential parking spaces, or five or more residential parking spaces.

B. All regulated parking lots shall provide for on-site storm water management consistent with the development engineering standards.

C. Nonresidential parking lots shall provide a minimum five-foot-high, 85 percent opaque fence or landscape separating the parking lot from any abutting residential zone.

D. Driveways serving nonresidential parking lots shall not occur from any alley serving any residential zone. An exception to this requirement may be granted by the DRC if:

1. The applicant demonstrates that consumer parking is not likely to occur from the subject driveway;

2. The driveway shall be signed “employees only”; and

3. The DRC has attached conditions to the development permit sufficient to cause the driveway to function as anticipated.

E. Driveways serving residential parking lots with seven or more parking spaces shall not occur from any alley serving any residential zone. An exception from this requirement may be granted by the DRC if:

1. There is no possible physical opportunity to construct a complying driveway on the subject property because of existing dimensions or topography;

2. The limitations on the property have not been created by action or acquiescence of the property owner or the applicant; and

3. The DRC has attached conditions to the development permit sufficient to cause traffic in the subject alley to not become a public nuisance.

F. Nonresidential parking lots shall construct and maintain a continuous border at least three feet in width consisting of any type of evergreen plants to visually enhance the site. Such border shall not create any visibility obstruction on any public way or any internal driveway. Driveways, pedestrian walkways and storm water management devices may penetrate such a border.

G. Whenever the parking space configuration for any nonresidential parking lot provides for unusable space at the end of any parking row, or any lot corner, and such space is not part of a required driveway, such space shall contain landscape plantings of any type of evergreen materials to visually enhance the site.

H. Nothing herein shall preclude the use of any other landscape materials for parking lots; provided:

1. At least 20 percent of the landscape area is covered with evergreen plants;

2. No traffic visibility obstruction is created by such plantings or landscape;

3. No impact or obstruction to a public way is created by such proposal unless approved by the public works director; and

4. Such proposal is not otherwise prohibited by any agency with jurisdiction (e.g., utilities – root systems; wetland – invasive species, etc.). [Ord. 819B § 13, 2007; Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.050 Parking space location.

A. No required parking space shall be located within any required street setback in any zone.

B. Nothing herein shall preclude any required parking space from being located within a building, provided the building complies with all applicable regulations of this title.

C. Nothing herein shall require that any parking space be covered or within a building, except:

1. A minimum of one parking space assigned to each residential unit within a PUD proposal shall be covered with a roof structure complying with the building code and covering the entire parking space.

2. Any vehicle used in the conduct of a home occupation or home-based industry within any residential zone shall be required to be garaged within a carport or building, unless such vehicle is used also as the domestic residential vehicle and contains no advertising anywhere on such vehicle. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.060 Joint use of parking lot.

A. Each tenant space within a multi-tenant or mixed-use building shall provide for the required number of parking spaces as identified in CMC 17.78.020; provided, if the calculated number of parking spaces exceeds 100, the required number of spaces for the building may be reduced by five percent; if the calculated number exceeds 300, the required number may be reduced by 10 percent. The DRC shall find that no impact to a public right-of-way is likely to occur before it may approve such reduction.

B. Each tenant space within a multi-building complex shall provide for the required number of parking spaces as identified in CMC 17.78.020 for each tenant; provided, the total number of parking spaces required for the complex may be reduced by five percent for each building utilizing such parking lot up to a maximum reduction of 20 percent.

C. Nothing herein shall preclude the DRC from considering a traffic engineering report submitted by a licensed traffic engineer as an alternative to subsections (A) and (B) of this section; provided, that the public works director shall determine the adequacy thereof in the DRC decision-making process.

D. Any proposal which involves two or more legal tax lots or leased areas as a joint project shall file a notarized agreement with the DRC, substantially consistent with the form identified in Appendix Chapter B identifying the joint use of a subject parking area. Such parking arrangement which is filed as part of an approved binding site plan shall not require a separate agreement.

E. Any approved off-site parking lot or facility shall be located within 200 feet of the associated use. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.070 Truck parking/loading.

A. Any development permit application for any new construction, addition to an existing structure, substantial alteration, substantial repair, and/or change of use or occupancy, and which proposes or requires the involvement of any delivery vehicle in excess of 12,000 pounds GVW in the conduct of the use or occupancy, shall provide for the on-site loading, unloading, and maneuvering of such a vehicle without impacting any public right-of-way.

B. The requirements of subsection (A) of this section shall not be applicable:

1. Within the central business district (CBD) zone; and

2. Whenever the public works director may approve the continuance of an existing operation of deliveries which does involve a public right-of-way.

C. No delivery truck may be parked within any right-of-way within the city except as may be consistent with Chapter 10.20 CMC and approved by the chief of police. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.080 Parking lot lighting.

A. No parking lot lighting system shall emit a hum, buzz or other noise in excess of the maximum noise level established in Chapter 173-60 WAC (maximum noise level permitted).

B. No parking lot lighting fixture in excess of 300 watts shall cause or allow directed light to be emitted to an elevation higher than the plane of the bottom of the fixture emitting such light within any ASD-0 through ASD-5 zone.

C. No parking lot lighting system shall cause or allow directed light to be emitted into or onto any residential zone except the property upon which the lighting system is installed.

D. A single bulb incandescent, mercury vapor, sodium vapor, halide, halogen, or other technically available lighting fixture of 300 watts or less may be installed on any single-family residential property; provided, that the light emitted from such fixture is directed or shielded such that no illumination of any adjacent residential building occurs.

E. No lighting fixture or parking lot lighting system shall be installed in such a manner as to interfere with a motorist’s field of vision when traveling on a public right-of-way. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]

17.84.090 Drive-up/drive-through service facility.

A. Any development permit application which involves the creation, expansion or conversion of any drive-up or drive-through service facility (e.g., drive-up window) shall provide for the stacking or queuing of motor vehicles at the following rates for each such service bay or window:

1. Fast food facility – eight vehicles or 160 lineal feet;

2. Espresso stand/facility – four vehicles or 80 lineal feet;

3. Bank/financial facility – four vehicles or 80 lineal feet;

4. Office (payment) facility – two vehicles or 40 lineal feet;

5. Professional service – three vehicles or 60 lineal feet;

6. Other type of facility – as determined by the development review committee.

B. The development review committee may consider standards other than those identified above if documentation or other “industry standards” information is presented.

C. Required stacking or queuing spaces shall be designed so that no vehicle blocks or obstructs any through traffic lane or pedestrian way while waiting in such space.

D. If the facility design provides for more than one service window to serve each vehicle, only one of the windows need be considered for calculating the required stacking or queuing. [Ord. 720B § 1, 2002.]