The purpose of parking standards is to assure adequate off-street parking, reduce on-street parking, increase traffic safety, maintain smooth traffic flow, and reduce the visual impact of parking lots. This chapter is also intended to encourage the use of alternatives to the single-occupant vehicle.

(Ord. 876 §113, 1999: Ord. 731 §3, 1991: Ord. 719 §5, 1990: Ord. 650 §20, 1985: Ord. 285 §28, 1960).

(a)

Existing Uses. Unless an expansion or change of use is requested, these provisions shall not be applicable to uses which conform to parking requirements at the time the use was established.

(b)

New Developments or a Change of Use. These provisions are applicable to new developments and to changes of use for existing development, new construction and/or remodeling.

(c)

Authority-Unclassified Uses and Administrative Adjustments. If this chapter does not specify a parking requirement for a specific land use, the planning director shall establish the minimum requirement based on the nearest comparable parking demand. The applicant may be required to provide sufficient information to demonstrate that the parking demand for a specific land use will be satisfied, based upon existing land uses similar to the proposed use.

(d)

Exemptions.

(1)

Institutional District. The institutional district shall be exempt from the off-street parking standards contained within this chapter and shall be regulated in accordance with Chapter 17.35, Institutional Zone, Section 17.35.020(d).

(2)

Central Business District. It is the purpose of this exemption to recognize and encourage the pedestrian-oriented nature of downtown commercial activities. Off-street parking is not required in the central business district, however if a business chooses to supply off-street parking it must be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 876 §114, 1999).

The following off-street adjacent parking requirements are established for the following uses:

(1)

Number of Spaces Required.

One-family or two-family residences-two spaces for each dwelling unit.

Parks and playgrounds-one space for each one thousand five hundred square feet of land use.

Schools-one space for each employee plus one additional space for each five gym or auditorium seats.

Auditoriums-one space for each five seats. If seats are movable, one for each eighty square feet of gross floor area.

Churches-one space for each five seats. If seats are movable, one for each eighty square feet of gross floor area.

Bowling alleys-five spaces for each alley.

Service stations-one space per two hundred gross square feet, minimum of three spaces.

Industrial, manufacturing and commercial establishments-one space for each four employees.

Car washes and other short-turn-around auto services (e.g., tune-up, lube, tire mounting)-one space for each employee, plus three spaces for each service bay (if flow-through service bays are used, spaces may be stacked at the entrance). Space inside the service bay shall be considered a parking space.

Professional offices-one space per three hundred fifty square feet of gross floor area, minimum of three spaces.

Restaurants and eating establishments-one space per one hundred square feet of gross floor area, minimum of six spaces.

Drive-in and take-out restaurants (no seating)-one space per fifty square feet of gross floor area, minimum of six spaces.

Libraries and post offices-one space for each four hundred square feet of floor area devoted to public use.

Hospitals and clinics-one space for each two hundred square feet of floor area.

Hotels and motels-one space for each unit.

Apartment houses and multiple-dwelling units-one and one-half spaces for each dwelling unit plus one designated visitor parking space per each four units.

Retirement/elderly apartments (Age fifty-five and over)-one space per dwelling unit; or one space per three dwelling units when a title deed restriction is filed against the property limiting use of the site to retirement/elderly housing.

Child and adult day care-one space for each staff member plus one space for each ten children/adults if adequate drop-off facilities are provided. Adequate drop-off facilities must allow a continuous flow of vehicles which can safely load and unload children/adults. Compliance with this requirement shall be determined by the planning director.

(2)

Bike Racks Required. Off-street parking areas shall provide a bicycle rack(s) designed to accommodate not less than one bicycle for every twelve parking spaces required for motor vehicles, located in a visible and easily accessible location. The planning director may require additional bicycle racks when it is determined that the use or its location will generate a high volume of bicycle activity. Such uses may include but not be limited to the following uses:

(A)

Park/playfield;

(B)

Marina;

(C)

Library;

(D)

Museum;

(E)

Elementary/secondary school;

(F)

Sports club; or

(G)

Commercial, industrial and/or retail business.

(3)

Shared Parking. Any two or more uses may establish cooperative off-street parking, and where the planning director or his administrative agent is satisfied that the parking demand for such use comes at different times of the day, each use may be credited with the same cooperative parking area.

(Ord. 876 §115, 1999: Ord. 731 §5, 1991: Ord. 719 §6, 1990).

The following off-street parking location standards shall apply to all new commercial and/or multifamily construction:

Parking shall be so designed that automobiles shall not back out into public streets.

(Ord. 898 §1, 2000: Ord. 876 §116, 1999).

Unless otherwise exempt from this chapter, the requirements of this section apply to all off-street parking spaces associated with every building erected, enlarged, relocated or remodeled to accommodate a change in use after the effective date of passage of the ordinance codified in this section.

(1)

All off-street parking areas shall comply with minimum standards for off-street parking and parking design standard.

(A)

Standard. Nine feet by eighteen feet.

(2)

Size and Location. Off-street parking spaces shall have a minimum area of one hundred sixty-two square feet, a minimum width of nine feet and a minimum length of eighteen feet. Each space shall be provided with adequate ingress and egress.

(3)

Surface. All required parking spaces, areas intended for access to required parking spaces, and fee changing parking lots and shall be paved with an impervious surface acceptable to the public works department.

(4)

Drainage. All off-street parking areas shall be graded and drained so that all surface water is collected and disposed in a manner approved by the public works superintendent.

(5)

Wheel Stops. Wheel stops shall be provided wherever necessary, as determined by the public works superintendent, to prevent vehicles from encroaching into landscaped areas and onto sidewalks.

(6)

Pavement Marking. All off-street parking areas containing four or more parking spaces shall be clearly delineated with pavement paint.

(7)

Handicapped Parking. Handicapped parking shall be provided in conformance WAC 51-10 as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(8)

Landscaping Required. In all off-street parking areas containing four or more spaces shall be landscaped. Landscaping may be located in the interior or on the exterior of the parking area. All landscaped areas are to be maintained free of weeds and litter. Dead plant materials are to be promptly removed and replaced. Landscape plans and maintenance are subject of approval by the city planner.

(Ord. 876 §117, 1999).

(a)

Surfacing and Drainage. All off-street parking areas which are open to regular use shall be graded and a paved surface installed before a certificate of occupancy for the building is issued. All paving shall be done in a manner consistent with standards set forth by the Medical Lake Municipal Code and approved by the city's public works director. All off-street parking areas shall be drained so that all surface water is collected and disposed of in a manner approved by the public works director.

(b)

Illumination. Any lights provided to illuminate any parking area shall be constructed and shielded as used so as not to illuminate directly or create glare visible from adjacent properties or public rights of way. Lighting resembling or conflicting with traffic signals or emergency vehicles or otherwise creating safety hazards for pedestrian or vehicular traffic is prohibited.

(c)

Wheel Stops. Wheel stops shall be provided as necessary to prevent vehicles from encroaching into landscaped areas and onto sidewalks.

(d)

Handicapped Parking. Handicapped parking shall be provided in conformance WAC 51-10 as it now exists or may hereafter be amended.

(e)

Landscaping Required. In all off-street parking areas containing four or more spaces, an area equal to ten percent or more of the area devoted to parking shall be landscaped in accordance with Chapter 17.40 of the MLMC, Landscaping. Landscaping may be located in the interior and/or on the exterior of the parking area. All landscaped areas are to be maintained free of weeds and litter. Dead plant materials are to be promptly removed and replaced.

(f)

Parking shall be designed to prevent vehicle overhang into adjoining property, public rights of way, and/or landscaped areas.

(Ord. 876 §118, 1999).

Any two or more uses may establish cooperative off-street parking and, where the planning director or his administrative agent is satisfied that the parking demand for such uses at different times of the day, each use may be credited with the same cooperative parking area.

(Ord. 876 §119, 1999).