The purpose of this Chapter is to provide minimum parking standards in the county and Shelton Urban Growth Area for residential, commercial and industrial developments.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

The regulations codified under Chapter 17.08 shall be known as the Mason County Parking Standards.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

No structure shall be constructed, erected, placed on land, or enlarged, without complying with the minimum standards of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

Whenever regulations or restrictions included in this Chapter are either more restrictive than regulations or restrictions of any other governmental authority by regulation, rule or legislative action, the rules or regulations which are of higher standard or more restrictive shall govern. All actions authorized in this Chapter are subject to all other applicable regulations.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

The Mason County Community Development Director or her/his designee shall be the administrator of this ordinance.

Whenever, in the course of administration and enforcement of this ordinance, it is found desirable to make any administrative decision, unless other standards are provided in this Chapter, the decision shall be made so that the result will not be in contrast with the intent and purpose of this Chapter, nor detrimental to adjoining properties.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

Administrative decisions of the Community Development Director or her/his designee shall be final and conclusive, unless a written statement of appeal is filed using the appeal procedures contained in Mason County Development Code Chapter 15.11 Appeals. Said statement shall set forth any alleged errors and/or the basis for appeal and shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount as set by resolution of the board.

The timely filing of an appeal shall stay the effective date of the decision until such time as the appeal is heard and decided or is withdrawn. The burden of proof regarding modification or reversal shall rest with the appellant.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

The purpose of this section is to provide a means of altering the requirements of this Chapter in specific instances where the strict application of these regulations would deprive a property of privileges enjoyed by other properties which are similarly situated, due to special features or constraints unique to the property involved.

A.

Findings Required for Approval of a Variance. See Mason County Code Title 15, Development Code Section 15.09.057.

B.

Procedural Requirements for a Variance. See Mason County Code Title 15, Development Code Section 15.11.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

Off-street parking shall be required according to the following standards and design guidelines. For off-street parking standards, which are not listed, the requirements for the most comparable use shall prevail.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

If found desirable, joint use or sharing of parking space area may be permitted for more than one use, providing that legal instrument is presented to the administrator and approved by the Community Development Director or her/his designee. Computation of required parking spaces shall be the same as those for noted uses except that a ratio of five and one-half spaces per one thousand square feet of gross leasable floor area may be used when collectively the uses are greater than five thousand square feet of gross leasable floor area.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

Off-street loading standards are as follows:

Off-street loading and unloading spaces shall be designed to accommodate vehicles at least forty-five feet in length and at least eight feet in width.

Off-street loading areas shall be provided separate from general parking areas.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

A.

Submittal of Plans. Plans for every tract of land, lot or parcel, or portion thereof, to be used as a public or private parking area for four motor vehicles or more, shall be submitted for approval. Plans shall show the proposed parking area, including location, size, shape, design, curb cuts, lighting, screening, and other features as required.

B.

Construction Standards. All public and private parking and loading areas shall be prepared in a manner to dispose of surface water runoff which shall be retained on site or drained into an area approved by the Mason County Engineer or the State Department of Transportation when abutting State Highways, and areas which are to be surfaced with an asphalt, concrete or similar all-weather surface shall be subject to review and approval of the Mason County Public Works Director or her/his designee.

According to Mason County Health Department Standards for Individual Sewage Waste Disposal Systems, the area to be used for sewage disposal shall not be subject to vehicular traffic and shall not be covered with an impervious surface. Therefore, no parking or loading area and no paved surface shall be located over any drainfield area.

C.

Access and Egress. The location of points of access and egress to the parking or loading area shall be subject to the approval of the Mason County Engineer or her/his designee and State Department of Highways when abutting State Highways. Access and egress points shall be evaluated for safety and turning movements to and from the parking area, site distance clearance, and engineering design features, including surface paving of access drivers and aisleways from the public road to the parking area.

D.

Screening. Screening of parking and loading areas from adjoining residential uses shall be required. Screening from adjoining residential areas shall be sight-obscuring.

E.

Parking Lot Area Design. Parking lot areas shall be designed to adequately accommodate the parking of vehicles and provide safe internal maneuvering space. All parking lots that provide for twenty or more parking spaces shall have access driveways that are not intersected by a parking aisle, parking space, or another access driveway for a minimum distance of twenty feet from the street right of way, to provide for queuing or stacking area for vehicles entering and exiting the parking area (see figure below).

F.

Parking Stalls - Access and Dimensions. Adequate provision shall be made for individual ingress and egress by vehicles to all parking stalls at all times by means of unobstructed maneuvering aisles. Maneuvering aisles and parking stall dimensions shall be as shown in the Table below.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

The following standards shall be used for the design and location of handicap parking stalls in the development of parking areas.

A.

Parking Space. Every parking area shall have a minimum of one handicap parking space and one handicap parking space for every fifty spaces.

B.

Location. Handicap parking stall shall be located nearest to the primary public building entrances of the building and shall abut the accessible route of pedestrian travel.

C.

Parking Stall Size. Handicap parking stalls shall not be less than twelve and one-half feet in clear width and not less than twenty feet in clear length. Parking stall surface shall be stable, smooth, non-slip, and shall slope no more than one foot for fifty feet of lineal horizontal distance.

D.

Curb Cuts. Where any curb cuts occur between the accessible route of travel and any handicap parking space, curb cuts shall be provided for each parking space with access to the route of travel directly from the parking space without entering a vehicular roadway.

E.

Signs. Handicap parking spaces shall be identified by a sign centered four feet to five feet from above grade at the head of the parking space utilizing the International Symbol of Access. The sign shall also indicate that the space is reserved for disabled people authorized to display the Washington State disable overtime parking permit on or in their vehicles.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)

A.

"Access": A way or means of approach.

B.

"Administrator": The Community Development Director of Mason County or her/his appointed designee.

C.

"Egress": A way or means of emergence or exit.

D.

"Ingress": A way or means of entrance.

E.

"Maneuvering Aisle": A clear way of travel, or passage for the movement of motor or other vehicles.

F.

"Parking Area": A portion of or a lot, parcel, or tract of land used for the short term or long term storage of motorized or other vehicles.

G.

"Parking Stall": That portion of a parking area designated for the short-term or long-term storage of a singular motorized or other vehicles.

H.

"Parking Standards": Those minimum criteria, rules or means of measure to be met for the parking or storage of motorized or other vehicles.

(Ord. No. 47-09, Attach. A, 6-2-2009)