The purpose of this chapter is to provide adequate areas for the parking, maneuvering, loading and unloading of vehicles for all land uses in the city. (Ord. 670 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2007: Ord. 619, 2003)

Development of off-street parking and loading areas for commercial, industrial, or multi-family development shall be subject to the site design review procedures of Chapter 17.156. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the following types of development:

A. Any new building or structure erected after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, except as provided in subsection E of this section.

B. The construction or provision of additional floor area, seating capacity, or other expansion of an existing building or structure.

C. A change in the use of a building or structure that would require additional parking spaces or off-street loading areas under the provisions of this chapter.

D. As a condition of approval in a land use decision.

E. Off-street parking and off-street loading area requirements for a particular use as enumerated in this chapter are not required for a new or expanding use when located within the parking district delineated in this chapter. (Ord. 670 § 1 (Exh. A)(part), 2007: Ord. 619, 2003)

Off-street parking and loading areas shall be provided on the same lot with the main building or structure or use except that:

A. In any residential zone or for any residential use permitted in a nonresidential zone, automobile parking areas may be located on another lot if such lot is within two hundred (200) feet of the lot containing the main building, structure or use.

B. In any nonresidential zone, the parking area may be located off the site of the main building, structure or use if it is within five hundred (500) feet of such site. (Ord. 619, 2003)

Parking area may be used for a loading area during those times when the parking area is not needed or used. Parking areas may be shared subject to city approval for nonresidential uses where hours of operation or use are staggered such that peak demand periods do not occur simultaneously. The requirements of Section 17.68.050 may be reduced accordingly. Such joint use shall not be approved unless satisfactory legal evidence is presented which demonstrates the access and parking rights of parties. (Ord. 619, 2003)

Off-street parking shall be provided as required by Section 17.68.080 and approved by the city in the amount not less than listed below.

(Ord. 619, 2003)

All single and joint use residential driveways shall be paved and have a maximum twenty (20) foot approach width from the curb line. (Ord. 619, 2003)

Buildings or structures to be built or substantially altered which receive and distribute materials and merchandise by trucks shall provide and maintain off-street loading berths in sufficient number and size to adequately handle the needs of the particular use.

A. The following standards shall be used in establishing the minimum number of berths required:

Note: For buildings or structures up to six thousand (6,000) s.f., regular off-street parking areas may be used to meet the off-street loading requirements.


B. A loading berth shall contain a space a minimum of twelve (12) feet wide and thirty-five (35) feet long and have a vertical clearance of fourteen (14) feet. Where the vehicles generally used for loading and unloading exceed these dimensions, the required size of these berths shall be increased. (Ord. 619, 2003)

All parking and loading areas, except those for single-family dwellings, shall be developed and maintained as follows:

A. Surfacing: all driveways, parking, and loading areas shall have a durable, hard surface.

B. Parking spaces: parking spaces shall be a minimum nine feet wide and eighteen (18) feet in length.

C. Driveways. The following driveway dimensions shall apply:

1. Without adjacent parking, driveway width:

a. One-way: ten (10) feet;

b. Two-way: sixteen (16) feet.

2. With adjacent parking:

D. Areas used for parking and maneuvering of vehicles shall be drained as to avoid flow of water across sidewalks.

E. Except for parking to serve residential uses, parking and loading areas adjacent to residential zones or adjacent to residential uses shall be designed to minimize disturbance of residents.

F. Groups of more than four parking spaces shall be so located and served by a driveway that their use will require no backing movements or other maneuvering within a street right-of-way other than an alley.

G. Service drives to off-street parking areas shall be designed and constructed to facilitate the flow of traffic, provide maximum safety of traffic access and egress and the maximum safety of pedestrians and vehicular traffic on the site.

H. Service drive exits shall have a minimum triangular vision clearance area two sides of which are formed by the intersection of the driveway centerline and the street right-of-way line, which shall be fifteen (15) feet.

I. Parking spaces along the outer boundaries of a parking area shall be contained by a curb or a bumper rail at least four inches high, located a minimum of three feet from the property line, to prevent a motor vehicle from extending over an adjacent property or a street. (Ord. 619, 2003)

A. The provision and maintenance of off-street parking and loading space is a continuing obligation of the property owner. No building permit shall be issued until plans are presented that show an area that is and will remain available for exclusive use as off-street parking and loading space. The subsequent use of property for which the building permit is issued shall be conditional upon the unqualified continuance and availability of the amount of parking and loading space required by this title. Should the owner or occupant of any lot or building change the use to which the lot or building is put, thereby increasing off-street parking and loading requirements, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this title to begin or maintain such altered use until such time as the increased off-street parking and loading requirements are observed.

B. Requirements for types of buildings and uses not specifically listed herein shall be determined by the planning commission based upon the requirements of comparable uses listed and expectations of parking and loading need.

C. In the event several uses occupy a single structure or parcel of land, the total requirements for off-street parking shall be the sum of the requirements of the several uses computed separately, unless a reduction is approved for shared parking pursuant to Section 17.68.040.

D. Required parking spaces shall be available for the parking of operable passenger automobiles of residents, customers, patrons, and employees only, and shall not be used for storage of vehicles or materials or for the parking of trucks used in conducting the business or use. (Ord. 619, 2003)

All parking lots, which for purposes of this section include areas of vehicle maneuvering, parking, and loading, shall be landscaped and screened as follows:

A. Lighting. Any light used to illuminate parking or loading area shall be arranged to be directed entirely onto the loading or parking area, shall be deflected away from any residential use and shall not cast a glare or reflection onto moving vehicles on the public rights-of-way.

B. Screening Abutting Property Lines. Parking for commercial, industrial and multifamily uses which abut a residential use or zone property line shall be screened by a five-foot landscaped strip. Where a buffer between zones is required, the screening should be incorporated into the required buffer strip, and will not be an additional requirement. The screen shall grow to be at least thirty-six (36) inches higher than the finished grade of the parking areas, except for required vision clearance areas.

C. Landscape Standards. Landscaping within or adjacent to a parking lot shall consist of a minimum of ten (10) percent of the total parking area plus a ratio of one tree per ten (10) parking spaces. Trees and landscaping shall be installed as follows:

1. The tree species shall be an appropriate large canopied shade tree and shall be selected from the street tree list to avoid root damage to pavement and utilities, and damage from droppings to parked cars and pedestrians;

2. The tree shall be planted in a landscaped area such that the tree bole is at least three feet from any curb or paved area;

3. The landscaped area shall be planted with shrubs, grass, or living groundcover to assure ninety (90) percent coverage within two years;

4. That portion of a required landscaped yard, buffer strip or screening strip abutting parking stalls may be counted toward required parking lot landscaping as long as the tree species, living plant material coverage and placement distribution criteria are also met;

5. Landscaping should be evenly distributed throughout the parking area and perimeter.

D. Wheel Guards. Parking lot landscaping shall be protected from damage by a secured wheel guards to prevent vehicles entering into landscaped areas.

E. Hedge Screening. The required hedge screen shall be installed as follows:

1. Evergreen shrubs shall be planted so that eighty (80) percent of the desired screening is achieved within two years, one hundred (100) percent within four years;

2. Living ground cover in the screen strip such that ninety (90) percent coverage is achieved within two years. (Ord. 619, 2003)

The following minimum number of bicycle parking spaces shall be provided:

Bicycle parking shall also be required for expansions and other remodeling that increases the required level of automobile parking.

B. At a minimum bicycle parking facilities shall be consistent with the following design guidelines:

1. All bicycle parking shall be within one hundred (100) feet from a building entrance and located within a well-lit and clearly visible area;

2. Bicycle parking shall be convenient and easy to find. Where necessary, a sign shall be used to direct users to the parking facility;

3. Each bicycle parking space shall be at least two feet by six feet with a vertical clearance of six feet;

4. An access aisle of at least five feet shall be provided in each bicycle parking facility;

5. Bicycle parking facilities shall offer security in the form of either a lockable enclosure in which the bicycle can be stored or a stationary object, i.e., a “rack,” upon which the bicycle can be locked. Structures that require a user-supplied lock shall accommodate both cables and U-shaped locks and shall permit the frame and both wheels to be secured (removing the front wheel may be necessary.) Note: businesses may provide long-term, employee parking by allowing access to a secure room within a building. (Ord. 619, 2003)