40.260.157    Parks

A.    Purpose.

    Parks provide access to basic recreation opportunities for residents, enhance community identity, and preserve open space. These provisions are intended to:

1.    Allow flexibility in the use and development of parks;

2.    Recognize that demographics and program needs change over time, and that alterations to parks respond to those changes; and

3.    Maintain compatibility with surrounding properties.

(Amended: Ord. 2018-01-09)

B.    Applicability.

    The provisions of this section apply to development of parks as defined in Section 40.100.070.

(Amended: Ord. 2018-01-09)

C.    Amenities.

    Parks typically include, but are not limited to, the amenities shown in Table 40.260.157-1:

•    “P” – Amenities allowed subject to approval of applicable permits.

•    “X” – Uses specifically prohibited.

Table 40.260.157-1. Amenities. 

Amenity

Neighborhood Park

Community Park

Regional Park

1.    Non-Site Plan Applicable Amenities.

 

 

 

a.    Open lawn areas for informal recreational areas

P

P

P

b.    Backstops (for informal baseball play)

P

P

P

c.    Playgrounds

P

P

P

d.    Walking/jogging/biking pathways (paved, crushed rock or natural)

P

P

P

e.    Bicycle racks

P

P

P

f.    Benches

P

P

P

g.    Paved plazas

P

P

P

h.    Picnic areas

P

P

P

i.    Small shelters (picnic or gazebo type)

P

P

P

j.    Built-in game (e.g., chess/checkers) tables

P

P

P

k.    Drinking fountains

P

P

P

l.    Trash receptacles

P

P

P

m.    Exterior fencing

P

P

P

n.    Community gardens

P

P

P

o.    Rain gardens

P

P

P

p.    Landscaped beds

P

P

P

q.    Canopy/shade trees

P

P

P

r.    Natural areas

P

P

P

2.    Site Plan Applicable Amenities.

 

 

 

a.    Restrooms

P

P

P

b.    Parking

P

P

P

c.    Archery, rifle, and shooting ranges

X

X

P

d.    Sport courts, sports fields, practice fields, and skate spots

P

P

P

e.    Sports fields, disc golf facilities

X

P

P

f.    Off-leash dog areas

X

P

P

g.    Mountain biking trails, mountain biking facilities, BMX facilities and their supporting facilities

X

P

P

h.    Camping areas, RV camping, facilities, and including day camp facilities, and retreats

X

P

P

i.    Equestrian facilities and their supporting uses

X

P

P

j.    Sports complexes, and other recreation facilities

X

P

P

(Amended: Ord. 2018-01-09)

D.    Development Standards.

1.    Parking Requirements.

a.    For community and regional parks, the minimum number of on-site parking spaces shall be calculated by using peak rate of trips generated as established by a submitted traffic study. On-site parking shall meet the requirements of Section 40.340.010.

b.    For neighborhood parks, parking spaces are not required, as they are intended to serve residents who can walk to the facility.

2.    Accessibility requirements, as adopted by reference in Section 14.01.010, shall be reviewed and approved by the Chief Building Official and shall apply to all structures and facilities; accessible routes thereto, including parking, public ways, and public services; and their surrounding areas serving the structures and facilities within a neighborhood park. Areas outside of these, such as trails and secondary entrances, are not subject to approval under Section 14.01.010, but shall be in compliance with Washington State Building Code, 2004 ADA-ABA, or other applicable state and national standard and any subsequent revisions.

3.    Transportation impact fees (TIF) for community and regional parks shall be calculated in accordance with Chapter 40.620.

(Amended: Ord. 2018-01-09)

E.    Review Process.

1.    Parks are subject to the review requirements pursuant to Chapter 40.510 and the site plan review requirements pursuant to Section 40.520.040. Table 40.260.157-2 shows required levels of review.

Table 40.260.157-2. Park Site Plan Review.

 

Neighborhood Park

Community Park

Regional Park

Site Plan Review

Type I

Type IIA

Type III – conditional use hearings examiner

2.    Alteration to Approved Plan. Changes or additions to an approved parks plan may occur at any time without further site plan review, provided:

a.    The alteration replaces or proposes addition of any amenity identified in Table 40.260.157-1 with another amenity in Section 1. The uses in Section 2 require a modified site plan and a Type I review to ensure compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood.

b.    Any change or alteration does not expand onto an abutting property which was not considered in the original site plan review application.

c.    There is no change in compliance with building, fire, health, life safety, accessibility, critical areas, or other development requirements of the code.

d.    The changes do not trigger Minimum Requirement No. 1 pursuant to Chapter 40.386.

(Amended: Ord. 2016-06-12; Ord. 2018-01-09)