City of Lacey, Washington Municipal Code Title 16, Chapter 16.72

LACEY MUNICIPAL CODE

A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Lacey, Washington

Title 16: ZONING

Chapter 16.72

OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING

Sections:

16.72.010 Intent

16.72.020 General requirements

16.72.030 District parking requirements

16.72.040 Off‑street loading

16.72.045 Buffer strips

16.72.050 Development standards

16.72.010 Intent. It is the intent of this chapter to:

A. Assure that space is provided for the parking, loading and unloading of motor vehicles on the site of premises or uses which attract said motor vehicles;

B. Provide minimum and maximum standards of space and parking arrangements, and for the movement of motor vehicles into and out of such spaces;

C. Promote implementation of the city of Lacey Transportation Plan policies to support commute trip reduction programs and more use of transportation choices.

D. Provide alternatives and incentives to reduce parking needs by utilitizing transportation demand management (TDM) strategies.

E. Reduced parking has benefits, particularly considering opportunities for alternative use of valuable land resources. Less space utilized for parking means additional area for retail space, additional building pads, or more pervious surface and landscaping. Increased retail space can help promote a healthy retail tax base. More pervious surface and landscaping can reduce drainage impacts, and promote more attractive cityscape.

F. Avoid or reduce traffic congestion on public streets by:

1. Keeping the need for on‑street parking to a minimum, and

2. Controlling access to sites;

G. Enhance safety for pedestrians and motor vehicle operators;

H. Encourage the creation of an aesthetically pleasing and functionally adequate system of off‑street parking and loading facilities. (Ord. 1130 §1, 2000; Ord. 583 §2.29(A), 1980).

16.72.020 General requirements.

A. Off‑street parking spaces and driveways shall not be used at any time for purposes other than their intended use, i.e., the temporary storage of motor vehicles used by persons visiting or having business to conduct on the premises for which the parking is provided. Provided, however, the site plan review committee may approve other uses it deems reasonable that will not adversely impact parking requirements for the primary use of the property.

B. Parking space required and intended for use by occupants or users of specific premises shall not be leased or rented to others, nor shall such space be made unavailable through other means to the users for whom the parking spaces are intended. This, however, does not preclude shared parking arrangements approved by the city or other activities approved by the site plan review committee.

C. Except where specifically permitted in certain zoning districts, off‑street parking spaces shall not be used for loading or unloading of commercial vehicles larger than those vehicles for which the parking spaces are intended.

D. Whenever a building or a piece of land is put to a use different from the immediately preceding use, or when a building is remodeled, reconstructed or expanded, adequate off‑street parking shall be provided consistent with the new use, reconstruction or expansion of the premises.

E. Proposed large projects that are defined as major employers or worksites (Revised Code of Washington 70.94.524) shall provide an assessment of the cost of parking space separate from the cost of the area used for building purposes. This information will help the applicant, the city of Lacey and Intercity Transit evaluate opportunities for parking reduction and TDM strategies. (Ord. 1130 §2, 2000; Ord. 583 §2.29(B), 1980).

16.72.030 District Parking requirements.

A. The requirements for any use not listed herein shall be those of the listed use most similar to the unlisted use. When similarity is not apparent, the enforcing officer and/or the site plan review committee shall determine the minimum and maximum for the unlisted use.

B. For conditional uses, as identified and described in Chapter 16.66 of the Lacey Municipal Code, the parking requirement shall be as provided in that chapter or as determined by the site plan review committee.

C. Residential District. Off-street parking requirements for residential districts are located in Table 16T-13.

D. Commercial, Business Park and Industrial Uses.

1. General Parking Standards

Parking standard table:

a. In the several commercial, industrial, business park, and mixed use districts, off-street parking requirements shall be as shown in Table 16T-13, provided that all of the property is controlled by a single person or corporation, or written agreements for shared parking, acceptable to the city, are filed with the enforcing officer.

b. Phased reduction of maximum parking standards: One technique for transportation demand management (TDM) is to reduce maximum allowable parking spaces. This can be done by slowly phasing down the maximum allowable number of parking spaces over a period of years. This technique has advantages of reducing vehicle trips and conserving urban commercial land that can be used for other purposes. However, this technique has the potential to have a significant adverse impact on the jurisdiction’s economic development if other reasonable forms of alternative transportation are not available. This technique should be periodically revisited to consider its viability but should not be implemented until its viability for Lacey is established.

c. Reducing minimum standards and increasing maximum standards:

The site plan review committee may reduce the minimum amount of parking pursuant to requirements of Section 16.72.030.D.3 of the Lacey Municipal Code and/or the mixed use parking reduction standards in Table 16T-13 of Chapter 16.72.

Additionally, the maximum parking standards may be increased if the site plan review committee finds compelling reasons to do so. Such determination shall be at the sole discretion of the committee based upon such factors as unique site or use requirements, historical data of a particular use or other relevant factors indicating additional parking is necessary to properly serve a use or uses at a site.

Shared parking agreements are encouraged if the physical relationship between the premises makes such sharing possible.

2. If more parking spaces than the maximum permitted by Table 16 T-13 exist on the subject property, an owner/developer may lease those excess spaces until conformance with Table 16 T-13 is reached.

If fewer parking spaces than the minimum required by Table 16 T-13 exist on the subject property, no parking space existing on the effective date of Ordinance 1130 may be eliminated unless it is replaced by another parking space serving the use or techniques are applied to allow such reduction pursuant to Chapter 16.72 of the Lacey Municipal Code.

The minimum automobile and bicycle parking requirements specified in Table 16 T-13 may be adjusted by the enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee under the following conditions: when in their opinion an adjustment will be in accord with the purposes of Chapter 16.72 of the Lacey Municipal Code, and will not create an adverse impact on existing or potential uses adjoining the subject property, or in the general vicinity of the subject property. Covenants, guarantees or agreements shall be required as necessary to ensure continued compliance with Chapter 16.72 of the Lacey Municipal Code.

a. Two or more uses may share a parking area or garage if:

(1) The total number of parking spaces provided is at least equal to the sum of the minimum number of spaces required for each use less the mixed use parking reduction standard, if permitted, and no greater than the sum of the maximum number of spaces permitted for each use; or

(2) The uses are operating during different hours and the number of parking spaces is at least equal to the minimum number of spaces required for all uses operating at the same time less the mixed use parking reduction standards, if permitted, and no greater than the maximum number of spaces permitted for all uses operating at the same time.

b. Where adjoining parking facilities of two or more ownerships are developed and designed as one parking facility, a reduction of required parking spaces may be permitted based upon the increased potential opportunity for shared parking and other parking reduction techniques. Parking reduction allowed will be commensurate with parking techniques utilized.

c. The continuation of joint or shared facilities shall be assured by a sufficient legal document such as a covenant or reciprocal easement agreement or by participation in a local improvement district or parking association. Joint or shared parking associated with multi-tenant retail and commercial uses will be considered to be a shared parking facility. Lease agreements will satisfy the requirement for a sufficient legal document. However, any new tenant whose parking requirement reduces the total parking available in the shared parking facility below seventy-five percent of the requirements for all uses sharing the facility, will be required to provide additional parking.

d. For large projects where a traffic study is required under Chapter 14.21 (Traffic Mitigation and Concurrency) of the Lacey Municipal Code and the proposal has one hundred or more employees, a comprehensive TDM strategy may be proposed for a reduction in required minimum parking. Upon demonstration to the enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee that effective alternatives to automobile access are in effect, they may reduce, by not more than fifty percent, in increments the amount of parking prescribed for any use, or combination of uses on the same or adjoining sites. Additionally, a bonus credit towards transportation impact fees may be awarded for reducing parking area pursuant to Section 16.72.030 of the Lacey Municipal Code. The reduction in parking permitted and the incentive bonus shall be commensurate with the permanence, effectiveness and demonstrated reduction in off-street parking demand effectuated by such alternative programs.

Alternative programs that may be considered by the enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee under this provision include, but are not limited to the following:

(1) Private vanpool operation;

(2) Transit/vanpool fare subsidy;

(3) Imposition of a charge for parking;

(4) Provision of subscription bus services;

(5) Flexible work hour schedule;

(6) Capital improvements for transit services;

(7) Preferential parking for carpools/vanpools;

(8) Participation in the ride-matching program;

(9) Reduction of parking fees for carpools and vanpools;

(10) Establishment of a transportation coordinator position to implement carpool, vanpool and transit programs;

(11) Bicycle parking facilities including associated shower and changing facilities;

(12) Compressed work week;

(13) Telecommuting.

e. Anyone proposing a parking reduction under this Section 16.72.030.D.3 of the Lacey Municipal Code must provide information regarding the administration of the program to the site plan review committee. The information must include:

(1) Address each individual TDM strategy as part of the transportation impact analysis;

(2) Provide the city with an estimate of peak hour employees as part of their site plan review application and traffic impact analysis;

(3) Provide estimated parking occupancy rates for the development as part of the transportation impact analysis showing average weekday use;

(4) Demonstrate how TDM strategies will be used to minimize the need for parking.

E. Transportation Demand Management Incentives.

The site plan review committee shall determine whether the applicant can receive a traffic impact mitigation fee reduction for implementation of TDM strategies that reduce parking needs. Such incentives will be as listed in the following schedule as well as any traffic mitigation credit allowed under Section 14.21.030 of the Lacey Municipal Code. The incentive bonus is as follows:

1. Any developer who builds at the minimum amount of parking allowed shall receive a five percent trip reduction in the calculation of traffic impacts.

2. Any developer who builds at or below the minimum and includes significant strategies from Section 16.72.030.D.3.d. of the Lacey Municipal Code is eligible for an additional five percent trip reduction bonus.

3. Additional bonuses will be allowed under the provisions of Section 14.21.030 of the Lacey Municipal Code. (Ord. 1230 §1, 2004; Ord. 1220 §52, 2004; Ord. 1192 §185, 2002; Ord. 1130 §3, 2000; Ord. 859 §1, 1989; Ord. 691 §41, 1984; Ord. 583 §2.29(C), 1980).

16.72.040 Off‑street loading. Off‑street loading shall be required for all commercial establishments which are engaged in the retailing or wholesaling of merchandise requiring regular delivery such as food retailers, lumber yards, hardware stores, department stores and the like.

Total Gross Floor

Area of Building(s) Space Required

Less than 5,000 sq. ft. 1

5,000 sq. ft. to 25,000 sq. ft. 2

25,000 sq. ft. to 50,000 sq. ft. 3

Each additional 50,000 sq. ft.

or fraction thereof in

excess of 25,000 sq. ft. 1 additional

All off‑street loading and unloading spaces shall be of adequate size and with adequate access thereto to accommodate a vehicle forty‑five feet in length, eight feet in width, and fourteen feet in height. Each loading space shall be surfaced with an asphalt, concrete or similar pavement so as to provide a surface that is durable and dust‑free and shall be so graded and drained as to properly dispose of all surface water. (Ord. 583 §2.29(D), 1980).

16.72.045 Buffer strips. All parking areas located adjacent to any private street or public street right‑of-way shall provide a minimum five‑foot planted buffer strip between the parking area and the private street or public right‑of‑way. (Ord. 618 §10, 1981).

16.72.050 Development standards.

A. Parking lot construction shall comply with Section 14.19.030 of the Lacey Municipal Code.

B. Parking area design shall include:

1. Ingress and Egress. The location of all points of ingress and egress to parking areas shall be subject to the review and approval of the city engineer.

2. Backing Out Prohibited. In all commercial and industrial developments and in all residential buildings containing five or more dwelling units, parking areas shall be so arranged as to make it unnecessary for a vehicle to back out into any street or public right‑of‑way.

3. Parking Spaces‑‑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 Tables 16T-18, 16T-19, and 16T-20.

4. Surfacing. All parking areas for more than four vehicles shall be surfaced with asphalt, concrete or similar pavement so as to provide a surface that is durable and dust free and shall be so graded and drained as to properly dispose of all surface water.

5. Stormwater Runoff. All stormwater runoff shall be retained and disposed of on site or disposed of in a system designed for such runoff and which does not flood or damage adjacent properties. Systems designed for runoff retention and control shall comply with specifications provided by the city and shall be subject to its review and approval, and shall, moreover, comply with Chapter 15.36 of the Lacey Municipal Code pertaining to community facilities.

6. Parking spaces may be designed and constructed for up to fifty percent of the required number for compact size cars. An applicant must clearly identify all spaces designed and constructed for compact car use. The enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee may approve the design and designation of more than fifty percent of the spaces for use by compact cars if the applicant demonstrates that no adverse impact will result.

7. Parking area for land uses located outside the city shall be prohibited.

8. Convenient, marked pedestrian access shall be provided from parking areas to pedestrian linkage systems and from parking areas to principal uses.

9. An owner/developer may install the required parking spaces in phases if a phased schedule has been approved by the enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee. This schedule must specifically indicate when the minimum/maximum parking requirements will be provided. The enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee may permit the use of temporary parking areas with appropriate screening as part of a phasing schedule. In addition, the enforcing officer and/or site plan review committee may require a performance assurance device to insure conformance with the requirements of Ordinance 1130.

10. When adequate vehicular access to an approved lot or development is available from a side street, no such access shall be permitted from the front street. Where lots have double frontage, if vehicular access from a side street or a street of lower functional classification is not available, such access shall be from the street anticipated to carry the least amount of traffic.

11. Parking area and circulation design.

a. The city public works department shall have the authority to fix the location, width and manner of approach of vehicular ingress or egress from a building or parking area to a public street and to alter existing ingress and egress as may be required to control street traffic in the interest of public safety and general welfare.

b. Internal circulation of the lot shall be so designed as to minimize in-and–out driving time, idling time and time spent looking for a parking space.

c. When off-street parking is provided in the rear of a building and a driveway or lane alongside the building provides access to the rear parking area, such driveway or lane shall be a minimum width of twelve feet with a five-foot minimum width sidewalk adjoining the building and curbed or raised six inches above the driveway surface.

d. Parking areas shall include landscaping as required by Chapter 16.80.

e. Parking circulation and design shall meet requirements for public transportation and pedestrians under Section 14.23.084.

C. Bicycle design standards.

1. The minimum bicycle rack should be grouped into four parking stalls for ease of visibility to the public. Bicycle facilities should be shared among adjoining establishments.

2. Bicycle racks which only support a bicycle front or rear wheel are not permitted. The rack shall be securely mounted to the ground and covered.

3. Bicycle parking spaces should be two feet by six feet with no less than a seven foot over head and a five-foot maneuvering aisle behind each row of bicycle parking.

4. A bicycle parking area should be separated from a motor vehicle parking area by a barrier, post or bollard, or by at least five feet of open space behind the maneuvering area.

5. Bicycle facilities should be located no further from a public entrance than the nearest non-handicapped parking stall.

6. If public bicycle parking is not clearly visible from the main entrance then directional signs should be provided.

7. All major employers or major worksites, as defined by the Revised Code of Washington 70.94.524, shall provide a minimum of one shower and changing facility per gender. (Ord. 1131 §8, 2000; Ord. 1130 §4, 2000; Ord. 1044 §26, 1996;583 §2.29(E), 1980).

City of Lacey, Washington, USA