Every building hereafter erected shall be provided with parking spaces, and such parking spaces shall be made permanently available and be permanently maintained for parking purposes and, except for parking areas used for playground purposes in connection with schools, shall be used only for the parking of automobiles or trucks. Any areas used to provide required off-street parking shall be of such size and shape and so designed that the area will accommodate the number of cars to be provided for. If structural alterations or additions to a building or use result in additional floor space, seats, beds, employees, users, or students, as the case may be, parking shall be provided as required in this chapter according to the total development, the existing, plus the addition.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

All developments in all zoning districts shall provide a sufficient number of parking spaces to accommodate the number of vehicles that ordinarily are likely to be attracted to the development in question.

B.

The presumptions established by this chapter are that:

1.

A development must comply with the parking standards set forth in Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.060 to satisfy the requirement stated in subsection A of this section; and

2.

Any development that does meet these standards is in compliance. However, Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 are only intended to establish a presumption and should be flexibly administered, as provided in Section 17.56.020.

C.

When determination of the number of parking spaces required by Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 results in a requirement of a fractional space, any fraction of one-half or less may be disregarded, while a fraction in excess of one-half shall be counted as one parking space.

D.

The council recognizes that the minimum space standards given in Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 cannot and do not cover every possible situation that may arise. Therefore, in cases not specifically covered, the permit issuing authority is authorized to determine the parking requirements using the minimum space standards as a guide.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

The city recognizes that, due to the particularities in any given development, the inflexible application of the parking standards set forth in Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 may result in a development either with inadequate parking space or parking space far in excess of its needs. The former situation may lead to traffic congestion or parking violations in adjacent streets as well as unauthorized parking in nearby private lots. The permit-issuing authority may permit deviations from the presumptive standards of Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 and may require more parking or less parking whenever it finds that such deviations are more likely to satisfy the standard set forth in subsection 17.56.010(A).

B.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the permit-issuing authority may allow deviations from the parking requirements set forth in Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 when it finds that:

1.

A residential development is irrevocably oriented toward the elderly;

2.

A business is primarily oriented to walk-in trade.

C.

In the event the permit-issuing authority authorizes a deviation from the presumptive standards, the occupancy permit for the use or structure shall contain language describing the nature of the use and the parking required. Such deviation shall only be authorized during the period in which the stated use is in effect. Prior to undertaking any change in use, the owner or tenant shall request amendment of the occupancy permit to reflect the new use and shall comply with such modified parking requirements.

D.

If the permit-issuing authority concludes, based upon information it receives in the consideration of a specific development proposal, that the presumption established by Sections 17.56.030 through 17.56.050 for a particular use classification is erroneous, it shall initiate a request for an amendment to the table of parking requirements in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter 17.84.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

Off-street parking requirements in commercial districts shall be as follows:

A.

C-1 Central Business District. Parking requirements shall be based on the number of trips generated by the use.

1.

Thirty trips or fewer: No off-street parking required.

2.

Greater than thirty trips: One parking space for each four hundred square feet of the total floor area within all buildings to be served.

B.

C-2 Highway Commercial District. Food stores, markets, and shopping centers having a gross floor area of less than three thousand square feet, exclusive of basement areas, one parking space for each three hundred square feet of total floor area of the building(s). Food stores, markets, and shopping centers having a gross floor area of three thousand square feet or more, exclusive of basement areas, one parking space for each two hundred square feet of total floor area of the building(s). For all other C-2 uses, one parking space for each three hundred square feet of gross floor area with a minimum of four customer parking spaces per use.

C.

C-3 Neighborhood Commercial District. One parking space for each two hundred square feet of gross floor area with a minimum of five customer parking spaces.

D.

The foregoing shall not apply to the Davidson Street, at blocks 100, 200, 300 and Park Street at block 500. This exemption shall be in effect for five years from the effective date of this ordinance, and shall be revisited for reconsideration in five years by the city council.

E.

This code change will supersede the current WMC for off-site parking requirements in WMC 17.20.060, except for the residential portion. In the residential portion of the downtown Commercial (C-1) blocks identified in "D" above, one parking space will be required for each unit.

(Ord. 1101 § 1, 2007; Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 1164, § 1, 9-8-2009; Ord. No. 1356, § 1, 4-18-2016)

All developments in the floodway use district shall provide adequate off-street parking for visitors, employees and delivery vehicles. The number of off-street parking spaces for developments in this district shall be determined by the public works director and based upon the information in the proponent's SEPA checklist or impact statement. Appeal procedures for administrative decisions are set forth in WMC 19.06 and 19.08.

(Ord. 892 § 3, 1998)

(Ord. No. 1253, § 4, 11-19-2012)

Off-street parking in the light industrial district shall be as follows:

A.

Parking and loading facilities shall be located at the side or rear of buildings; provided, that necessary parking and loading may be permitted at the front only when appropriately landscaped according to the standards set out in Chapter 17.44.

B.

To insure adequate overall parking facilities, space for parking must be related to both the size of the building and number of expected employees using the same size building, depending on the nature of the operation or building use. Owners must provide parking facilities either on-site or at a satellite facility, based on either subsection (B)(1) or (B)(2) of this section, whichever provides the most parking spaces.

1.

Parking in relation to personnel:

a.

One space for each two plant employees on maximum shift;

b.

One space for each managerial personnel;

c.

One visitor parking space for every ten managerial personnel;

d.

No less than four per plant site.

2.

Parking in relation to floor area (worker density):

a.

One space for each one thousand two hundred fifty square feet of gross floor area used for warehousing and distribution; see Section 17.56.050 if warehousing is the only use;

b.

One space for each seven hundred square feet of gross floor area used for manufacturing;

c.

One space for each four hundred square feet of office floor area.

C.

Up to thirty-five percent of the employee parking spaces may be compact spaces.

D.

In addition to the standards set forth in subsection B of this section, every owner of a facility in the light industrial district shall maintain enough parking spaces for personnel either on-site or at a satellite parking facility so as to prevent personnel from parking in unauthorized locations either in or adjacent to the light industrial district.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

All developments in the heavy industrial district shall provide adequate off-street parking for employees, delivery vehicles and visitors. The number of off-street parking spaces for developments in this district shall be determined by the public works director and based upon information in the proponent's SEPA checklist or impact statement. Appeal procedures for administrative decisions are set forth in WMC 19.06 and 19.08. Up to thirty-five percent of the employee parking spaces may be compact spaces.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 1253, § 5, 11-19-2012)

The following uses, wherever located, shall provide off-street parking facilities as follows:

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997: Ord. 809 § 6, 1996)

(Ord. No. 1232, 3-19-2012)

A.

Subject to subsections B and C of this section, each parking space shall have an area of not less than one hundred eighty square feet exclusive of drives and aisles, and a width of not less than nine feet. Lines demarcating parking spaces may be drawn at various angles in relation to curbs or aisles, so long as the parking spaces so created contain within them the rectangular area required by this section.

B.

Where otherwise allowed in this chapter, the allowed percentage of parking spaces need contain a rectangular area of only seven and one-half feet in width by fifteen feet in length. If such spaces are provided, they shall be conspicuously designated as reserved for small or compact cars only.

C.

Wherever parking areas consist of spaces set aside for parallel parking, the dimensions of such parking spaces shall be not less than twenty-two feet by nine feet.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

Parking area aisle widths shall conform to the following table, which varies the width requirement according to the angle of parking:

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

Unless no other practicable alternative is available, vehicle accommodation areas shall be designed so that, without resorting to extraordinary movements, vehicles may exit such areas without backing onto a public street. This requirement does not apply to parking areas consisting of driveways that serve one or two dwelling units, although backing onto arterial streets is discouraged.

B.

Vehicle accommodation areas of all developments shall be designed so that sanitation, emergency, and other public service vehicles can serve such developments without the necessity of backing unreasonable distances or making other dangerous or hazardous turning movements.

C.

Every vehicle accommodation area shall be designed so that vehicles cannot extend beyond the perimeter of such area onto adjacent properties or public right-of-way. Such areas shall also be designed so that vehicles do not extend over sidewalks or tend to bump against or damage any wall, vegetation, or other obstruction.

D.

Circulation areas shall be designed so that vehicles can proceed safely without posing a danger to pedestrians and without interfering with parking areas.

E.

Unless specifically allowed in the zoning district, no required yard shall be used to satisfy off-street parking requirements.

F.

The location and design of all entrances, exits and drives shall be subject to the approval of the director of public works and, in the case where the matter is before it, the planning commission.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

Vehicle accommodation areas, including lanes for drive-in windows, shall be graded and surfaced with asphalt, concrete or other material that will provide equivalent protection against potholes, erosion, and dust. Design of pavement section for vehicle accommodation areas shall be approved by the director of public works. The parking area shall be graded and drained so as to dispose of surface water to the satisfaction of the director of public works.

B.

Parking spaces in areas surfaced in accordance with subsection A of this section shall be appropriately demarcated with painted lines or other markings.

C.

Vehicle accommodation areas shall be properly maintained in all respects. In particular, and without limiting the foregoing, vehicle accommodation area surfaces shall be kept in good condition (free from potholes, weeds, dust, trash, and debris, etc.) and parking space lines or markings shall be kept clearly visible and distinct.

D.

Any lighting used to illuminate any off-street parking facility shall be arranged so as to reflect light away from any adjoining residential area.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

One parking area may contain required spaces for different uses, but except as otherwise provided in this section, the required space assigned to one use may not be credited to any other use.

B.

To the extent that developments that wish to make joint use of the same parking spaces operate at different times, the same spaces may be credited to both uses. For example, if a parking lot is used in connection with an office building on Monday through Friday but is generally ninety percent vacant on weekends, another development that operates only on weekends could be credited with ninety percent of the spaces on that lot. Or, if a church parking lot is generally occupied only to fifty percent of capacity on days other than Sunday, another development could make use of fifty percent of the church lot's spaces on those other days.

C.

If the joint use of the same parking spaces by two or more principal uses involves satellite parking spaces, then the provisions of Section 17.56.110 are also applicable.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

If the number of off-street parking spaces required by this chapter cannot reasonably be provided on the same lot where the principal use associated with these parking spaces is located, then spaces may be provided on adjacent or nearby lots in accordance with the provisions of this section. These off-site spaces are referred to in this section as satellite parking spaces.

B.

All such satellite parking spaces (except spaces intended for employee use) must be located within eight hundred feet of a public entrance of a principal building housing the use associated with such parking, or within eight hundred feet of the lot on which the use associated with such parking is located if the use is not housed within any principal building. Satellite parking spaces intended for employee use may be located within any reasonable distance. Satellite parking shall not be located across a minor arterial or larger street unless provisions are made for shuttle service.

C.

The developer wishing to take advantage of the provisions of this section must present satisfactory written evidence that permission from the owner or other person in charge of the satellite parking spaces to use such spaces in perpetuity for the life of the development for which the parking spaces will be shared. The developer must also sign an acknowledgment that the continuing validity of the development's permit depends upon the continuing ability to provide the requisite number of a parking space.

D.

Persons who obtain satellite parking spaces in accordance with this section shall not be held accountable for ensuring that the satellite parking areas from which they obtain their spaces satisfy the design requirements of this chapter.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 1447, § 9, 2-3-2020)

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, whenever: (A) there exists a lot with one or more structures on it constructed before the effective date of this chapter, and (B) a change in use that does not involve any enlargement of a structure is proposed for such lot, and (C) the parking requirements of Section 17.56.010 that would be applicable as a result of the proposed change cannot be satisfied on such lot because there is not sufficient area available on the lot that can practicably be used for parking, then the developer need only comply with the requirements of Section 17.56.010 to the extent that (i) parking space is practicably available on the lot where the development is located, and (ii) satellite parking space is reasonably available as provided in Section 17.56.100. However, if satellite parking subsequently becomes reasonably available, then it shall be a continuing condition of the permit authorizing development on such lot that the developer obtain satellite parking when it does become available.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

For special events or sales, a business may temporarily use some of its parking spaces for nonparking use provided the use meets the criteria of this section. Only the business for which the parking spaces are intended may use their spaces for temporary non-parking use. A business cannot lease or otherwise allow their parking spaces to be used by another entity unless it is a non-profit charity organization or is in conjunction with a community-wide festival, such as Planter's Day.

B.

No more than two parking spaces or fifteen percent of the parking spaces for the business, whichever is greater, shall be used for the temporary event. The use of the parking space will not impede safe traffic circulation or sight-distance, block or impede fire lanes, create other hazards, or cause a situation where neighboring businesses or uses unwillingly bear the brunt of providing parking during the event. Temporary uses lasting ten days or less do not need to receive prior approval from the city. However, the city, upon determining the temporary use of the parking space is causing a hazard or routing parking to unwilling neighboring businesses or uses, may direct the business to modify the temporary use or remove it.

C.

For special events or sales lasting longer than ten days but no longer than one hundred fifty days, the business must receive prior approval from the city's development review committee (DRC). The applicant must submit a master land use application, site plan and pay the site plan review fee. The DRC may permit the temporary use upon determining the use of the parking spaces meets the criteria given in the above paragraph.

D.

Any nonparking use of parking spaces longer than one hundred fifty days or which uses more parking spaces than allowed above must receive a temporary use permit per subsection 17.81.020(C).

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

Site plans for any multifamily (MDR and HDR), commercial, industrial or conditional use (as required by Chapter 17.72) shall include the location, dimension, and number of parking spaces required by this title. Any proposed change to existing buildings or uses in floor area, seating, number of beds, or use shall include with their plans the location, dimension and number of parking spaces required by this title.

(Ord. 939 § 17, 2000: Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

Landscaping and screening of parking facilities shall be those specified in the standards of each appropriate zoning district or conditional use requirements, whichever applies.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)

A.

Purpose. For all parking lots or garages.

B.

Number. No minimum number of charging station spaces is required.

C.

Minimum Parking Requirements. An electric vehicle charging station space may be included in the calculation for minimum required parking spaces that are required pursuant to other provisions of code.

D.

Location and Design Criteria. The provision of electric vehicle parking will vary based on the design and use of the primary parking lot. The following required and additional locational and design criteria are provided in recognition of the various parking lot layout options.

1.

Where provided, parking for electric vehicle charging purposes is required to include the following:

a.

Signage. Each charging station space shall be posted with signage indicating the space is only for electric vehicle charging purposes. Days and hours of operations shall be included if time limits or tow away provisions are to be enforced.

b.

Maintenance. Charging station equipment shall be maintained in all respects, including the functioning of the charging equipment. A phone number or other contact information shall be provided on the charging station equipment for reporting when the equipment is not functioning or other problems are encountered.

c.

Accessibility. Where charging station equipment is provided within an adjacent pedestrian circulation area, such as a sidewalk or accessible route to the building entrance, the charging equipment shall be located so as not to interfere with accessibility requirements of WAC 51-50-005.

d.

Lighting. Where charging station equipment is installed, adequate site lighting shall exist, unless charging is for daytime purposes only.

2.

Parking for electric vehicles should also consider the following:

a.

Notification. Information on the charging station, identifying voltage and amperage levels and any time of use, fees, or safety information.

b.

Signage. Installation of directional signs at the parking lot entrance and at appropriate decision points to effectively guide motorists to the charging station space(s).

E.

Data Collection. To allow for maintenance and notification, the local permitting agency will require the owners of any private new electric vehicle infrastructure station that will be publicly available (see definition "electric vehicle charging station — public") to provide information on the station's geographic location, date of installation, equipment type and model, and owner contact information.

(Ord. No. 1257, § 11, 1-7-2013)

A.

All uses in the C-2 (highway commercial) zone, freight terminals or railroad yards, hospitals, sanitariums, schools and other institutional uses, or any similar use which has or is intended to have an aggregate gross floor area of ten thousand square feet or more, shall provide loading and unloading spaces in accordance with the following table:

Every auditorium, convention hall, exhibition hall, sports arena, hotel, office building, restaurant, or similar use, which has or is intended to have an aggregate gross floor area of forty thousand square feet or more, shall provide off-street loading or unloading spaces in accordance with the following table:

B.

All other commercial, institutional, or similar uses which have or intend to have an aggregate gross floor area of less than ten thousand square feet and requires the loading or unloading of goods and materials shall provide an off-street loading area with access to a public thoroughfare. All uses in the light industrial district (I-1) and heavy industrial district (I-2) shall provide adequate off-street loading to meet the needs of each use. In no case shall loading/unloading areas abut or have immediate access to any public street right-of-way or private thoroughfare that provides access to other properties.

C.

Each loading space shall measure not less than thirty feet by twelve feet, and shall have an unobstructed height of fifteen feet and shall be made permanently available for such purpose and shall be surfaced with concrete or asphalt, and maintained. Such facilities shall be so located that trucks using same shall not interfere with areas reserved for off-street parking nor project into any public right-of-way, nor block any street or sidewalk, and shall be adjacent to the building to be served thereby. If the loading space located is incorporated with a building, the requirements of this section shall not apply. In all cases, loading spaces and areas shall be of adequate size and area for accommodating the maximum number and size of vehicles simultaneously loading or unloading in connection with the business or businesses conducted in the building or facility.

D.

Any floor area provided by additions to, or structural alterations to a building shall be provided with loading space or spaces as set forth in this chapter, whether or not loading spaces have been provided for in the original floor space. The required loading area(s) shall be the number and area required for the entire building, existing, plus the addition.

(Ord. 863 § 1 (part), 1997)