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A. Applicability.

1. This subsection contains the complete text of parking regulations for all uses.

2. Off-street parking in accordance with the provisions herein shall be provided whenever:

a. A main building is constructed or relocated upon another lot; or

b. The cost of interior alteration or repair within any 12-month period exceeds 50 percent of the actual valuation; or

c. The number of required parking spaces is increased by the change of use, floor area expansion, or any other modification, in which case the additional number of parking spaces resulting from the change is required, unless already provided.

3. The director shall have the authority to waive parking requirements for subsections (A)(2)(b) and (c) of this section, when there is no existing space available on site to provide additional parking, no parking can reasonably be provided within 500 feet of the generator, and the surrounding streets will not be adversely affected due to the existence of ample on-street parking. The director shall have the authority to require the proponent to construct, with concurrence from the public works director, on-street parking on streets adjacent to the development for use by the general public if space is available within the right-of-way.

4. The director shall have the authority to waive parking requirements for subsections (A)(2)(a), (b) and (c) of this section, when consistent with an area-wide parking plan and/or district which has been instituted together with a mechanism for providing required parking for the area or district. These plans and/or districts must have been approved by the city council after public hearings before the planning commission and city council. This provision is intended to allow on-street parking and off-site parking to meet parking requirements in those areas.

5. The director shall have the authority to reduce the number of required off-street parking spaces for subsections (A)(2)(a), (b) and (c) of this section, up to a maximum of 25 percent, when:

a. A parking generation study is prepared by the applicant or an independent consultant; and

b. Whatcom Transportation Authority GoLine route is provided within one-quarter mile of the site. The amount of reduction shall be based on the number of transit runs during peak hours each business day; and

c. The applicant demonstrates enhanced bicycle and pedestrian facilities; or

d. The applicant pays into a city adopted fee-in-lieu-of-parking program.

6. Shared Parking.

a. The amount of off-street parking required by this chapter may be reduced by an amount determined by the director when shared parking facilities for two or more uses are proposed, provided the following requirements are met:

i. Parking for each use is utilized at different times of the day;

ii. The shared parking facility is within 1,000 feet of the use(s) deficient in parking as measured by a pedestrian walkway between the shared parking facility and generator;

iii. The total number of parking spaces is not less than the minimum required spaces for any single use;

iv. The applicant submits a parking generation study demonstrating to the director’s satisfaction that the resultant parking will be adequate for the anticipated uses; and

v. A shared parking agreement specifying respective rights and/or operating times is signed by all participants and the director and filed in the county auditor’s office.

b. Parking lots associated with approved conditional uses in urban village residential transition areas may be used as shared parking during off-peak hours of the primary permitted use on site provided the requirements in subsection (A)(6)(a) of this section are met.

B. Number of Spaces Required.

1. All uses shall provide, at a minimum, the number of spaces required herein.

2. Repealed by Ord. 2014-09-049.

3. Any use clearly similar to the uses listed below shall meet the requirements specified. If the similarity is not apparent, then the planning director shall determine the standards which shall be applied.

USE

PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENT

(a) Residential

i. Single-Family/Manufactured Home

Two parking spaces; single-family attached units shall provide one additional parking space for each bedroom over three. No more than two enclosed garage parking spaces per unit may count toward meeting parking requirement.

ii. Duplex/Multifamily

a. One for each studio unit.

b. One and one-half for each one- or two-bedroom unit.

c. Two for each three-bedroom unit.

d. Duplex with four or more bedrooms: one parking space per bedroom. No more than two parking spaces per unit may be located in an enclosed garage.

e. Multifamily: one additional space for each bedroom over three per unit. No more than two parking spaces per unit may be located in an enclosed garage. This provision shall not limit the number of parking spaces that may be provided in common areas in an enclosed under-building parking floor or structure.

iii. Boarding House

One for every two bedrooms.

iv. Hotel

One for every two bedrooms.

v. Motel

One and one-fourth for each bedroom.

vi. Senior Citizen Housing

The planning director may reduce the parking requirement below the amount required for other dwelling units, but not less than one-half space per unit, based on the actual anticipated demand after considering the following factors:

a. A parking study supplied by the proponent showing the actual anticipated demand.

b. Minimum age requirement to reside in the residential facility.

c. Amount of services provided at the residential facility, including transportation.

d. Parking management methods to be employed. If senior citizen housing ceases to be used for such purposes, additional off-street parking shall be required in compliance with this chapter.

vii. Live/Work Unit

One parking space per live/work unit or one parking space per 500 square feet of gross floor area of all units in a project, whichever is greater.

(b) Commercial

i. General Business, Personal Service Establishments (exclusive of shopping centers, and food markets larger than 20,000 square feet)

One for every 250 square feet of floor area open to the public.

ii. Furniture and Large Appliance Store

Four plus one for every 500 square feet gross floor area.

iii. Neighborhood and Community Shopping Centers and Food Markets

Five for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

iv. Offices (business and professional, including financial institutions, but not including doctor/dentist offices)

One for every 350 square feet of floor area.

v. Eating and Drinking Establishments, Dance Halls

One for every 75 square feet of floor area open to the public with a minimum of seven spaces.

vi. Commercial Recreation

Four for each bowling lane, tennis or racquetball court, pool or billiard table; or one for each miniature golf hole or in the case of a driving range for each tee area; or one for each 100 square feet of open recreational area. Where an eating and/or drinking facility is located within a main building used as a commercial recreation use, additional parking shall not be required.

vii. Service Stations

Five

(c) Health Care

i. Hospitals

One for every two patient beds, exclusive of bassinets.

ii. Doctor/Dentist Offices and/or Laboratories

Five for each 1,000 square feet of gross floor area.

iii. Medical Care Centers

One for every four beds.

iv. Small Animal Hospitals

Five spaces for every veterinarian.

(d) Public and Semi-Public Assembly

i. School, Institution of Higher Education, Art School

One per classroom and office plus one for every four students normally enrolled who are over the legal driving age. Public assembly areas, such as auditoriums, stadiums, etc., that may be adjunct to the school shall provide parking required herein; however, parking provided for the school may be considered as parking for the assembly area.

ii. Libraries, Museums, Art Galleries and Aquariums

One for every 200 square feet of floor area open to the public.

iii. Church

One for every 100 square feet of floor area used for public assembly. In cases where there are two or more separate assembly areas within the church and upon proof such areas would not be used concurrently, then the director shall assess the amount of spaces required for each area and require the greatest number of spaces.

iv. Community Center, Convention Hall

One space for every 150 square feet of floor area open to the public.

v. Theaters, Stadiums, Auditoriums

One for each four seats, or one for each 80 inches of bench.

vi. Bus Stations, Passenger Terminal Facilities

One for every 100 square feet of floor area open to the public.

vii. Private Club and Lodge

One for every 150 square feet of floor area devoted to assembly or meeting area. If eating/drinking facilities are included, there shall be one space required for each 75 square feet devoted to such activity.

viii. Neighborhood Club/Activity Center

One for every 150 square feet of floor space.

ix. Golf Course Facility and Parks/Playgrounds

The director shall determine the required number based on the type and extent of the particular facility.

(e) Industrial

i. Manufacturing

One for every 5,000 square feet of gross floor area or one per employee (working at the same time), whichever is greater.

ii. Warehousing and Wholesale

One for every 20,000 square feet of gross floor area or one per employee (working at the same time), whichever is greater.

iii. Mini-Storage

One space for every 2,000 square feet of storage area plus three spaces for the manager’s office.

iv. Recycling Collection and Processing Center

One for every 20,000 square feet of gross floor area or one per employee (working at the same time), whichever is greater. Provisions shall be made for an adequate drop-off area located off the street.

(f) Miscellaneous Uses

i. Mortuaries/Funeral Parlors/Crematory

One for every 100 square feet of floor area open to the public.

ii. Nursery, Agricultural Wholesale/Retail

To be determined by the office of planning and development.

iii. Day Care, Service Care, and Day Treatment Centers

One for each staff person working at any time. Provisions shall be made for an adequate drop off area located off the street.

C. General Provisions.

1. Whenever off-street parking facilities are constructed, whether required or not, the facility shall meet the standards and requirements within this section.

2. All required parking shall be located off street and on the subject property in areas which meet the minimum requirements of this section. Parking on the public right-of-way shall not be considered as off-street parking unless approved pursuant to subsections (A)(3) and (4) of this section. Shared parking may be allowed pursuant to regulations found in subsection (A)(6) of this section.

3. The provisions of off-street parking and loading in the manner and extent required herein shall be a continuing obligation to the owner of a given use so long as the use is in existence. It shall be unlawful to discontinue, change, or dispense with parking and/or loading facilities unless alternative facilities are established which meet the requirements of this section.

4. Scaled parking plans shall be required which indicate ingress, egress, grade, base and surface material, as well as parking lot dimensions.

5. Off-street parking for single-family and duplex dwellings shall be a minimum of nine feet in width by 18 feet in length with 22 feet of maneuvering aisle depth behind each space. Off-street parking dimensions for other uses shall not be less than shown on BMC 20.08.020, Figures 10, 11 and 12.

6. Unapproved revision to any approved parking facility which would affect the design, or failure to maintain the facility in accordance with good practice, shall be deemed a violation of the land use development ordinance, subject to the penalties as established. Failure to keep the parking lot surface reasonably clean of debris, failure to replace dead plant material or to remove noxious weeds shall be specifically included in the phrase “failure to maintain the facility in accordance with good practice.”

D. Design Provisions.

1. The parking facility shall be located totally within property lines except for egress, ingress and maneuvering areas as permitted below.

2. 

a. Alley rights-of-way may be utilized toward meeting the maneuvering area required herein.

b. Where required by special regulation in Chapter 20.00 BMC, Zoning Tables, or BMC Title 23 when access is available from a city alley, no vehicular access shall be taken from the street frontage except when the planning director determines that alley access is impractical or environmentally constrained.

3. No portion of any parking area shall be permitted within any required front yard, side yard on a flanking street, vision clearance triangle, or other front yard setback established on the recorded plat (e.g., a lot frontage such as a pipestem that does not meet minimum lot width and is not buildable), with the exception that parking is outright permitted in the front yard of those lots created through a cluster subdivision. Driveway crossings and tandem parking within a driveway, when allowed by other city codes, are not prohibited by this provision. Single-family homes and duplexes that are required to provide on-site maneuvering due to driveway access onto an arterial street or location near an intersection under subsection (D)(7) of this section are not prohibited from providing a single backup area within the front yard or side yard on a flanking street.

4. 

a. For single-family dwelling units, open parking spaces may be located within required interior side yard and rear yards.

b. For all other uses, no portion of any open parking facility except an ingress/egress lane shall be located within five feet of any property line except when an alley is used for direct maneuvering. In industrial designations the five-foot setback requirement shall apply only when open parking areas are adjacent the front and side-flanking property lines.

c. In the residential multi and commercial general use type designation and urban village residential and commercial land use areas, the five-foot parking space setback and landscaping requirement may be waived by the director when:

i. An alleyway is used for direct access; and

ii. The landscaping is replaced with a fence which screens from view the parking area; and

iii. The elimination of the five-foot parking setback will result in the provision of additional parking spaces beyond that required in the land use development code.

5. 

a. For uses permitted within the residential multi general use type and urban village residential land use areas, an area of at least five feet in width and 10 feet in length must be provided to separate every 20 adjacent open parking spaces.

b. For uses permitted within the commercial general use type and urban village commercial land use areas, an area of at least five feet in width and 10 feet in length must be provided to separate every 30 adjacent open parking spaces.

6. 

a. All required parking spaces shall be designed such that any vehicle parking in any space may enter and exit without interference or blocking any other vehicle parking in any other required space, except as allowed in subsections (D)(6)(b) and (D)(6)(c) of this section.

b. Tandem parking (two cars maximum) as allowed when enclosed within a structure.

i. Tandem parking garages shall be set back a minimum of four feet from the front face of a building.

c. Tandem parking not enclosed within a structure on lots created through the cluster subdivision pursuant to BMC Title 23.

7. Single-family homes and duplexes may utilize city rights-of-way and private driveways established through the land division process for maneuvering unless the right-of-way is a designated arterial, or when the driveway would be within 50 feet of a tangent of an intersection; provided, that if there is no curb, the distance shall be 80 feet measured from the edge of pavement of the intersecting street; in which case the maneuvering area shall be provided on site. The city engineer may approve an administrative variance from on-site maneuvering room requirement if it is determined that there will be no detrimental impact to public safety resulting from on-street maneuvering.

E. Improvement Standards.

1. Hard surfacing shall be required of all parking facilities including those portions within the right-of-way. Single-family homes, duplexes, churches, agricultural nurseries, industrial and manufacturing uses are exempt from this requirement, provided the facility is surfaced with no less than three inches of crushed gravel and is maintained in a dust free condition unless otherwise required as a condition of a land division or other land use decision.

2. Permeable paving shall be used unless infeasible, per infeasibility criteria found in BMP T5.15 of the Ecology Manual. Projects that include less than 2,000 square feet of new or replaced impervious surface are exempt from this requirement.

3. A portion of a standard parking space may be landscaped instead of paved, provided the requirements in BMC 20.12.030(C)(4)(e) are met.

4. When parking facilities are surfaced with gravel, the driveway and approaches shall nevertheless be paved with hard surfacing.

5. Any lot used in whole or part as a retail parking facility shall install a city sidewalk across the full width of the lot abutting the street.

6. Wheel stops shall be provided to protect landscape areas and city sidewalks from encroachment by vehicles. (Single-family homes are exempt from this requirement.)

7. All parking facilities shall be clearly marked as to stalls and traffic flow and for handicapped and compact spaces. (Single-family homes and duplexes are exempt from this requirement.)

8. Drainage systems for parking facilities shall be designed and approved in accordance with Ordinance No. 8827, as amended.

9. Retail parking facilities shall install adequate lighting in accordance with standards approved by the public works director.

10. All parking facilities with more than 50 parking spaces shall provide a bicycle storage area in which to temporarily store bicycles. Bicycle storage space shall consist of a conveniently located and sturdy rack, hooks, bar or locker permitting locking or enclosure of the bicycle frame and both wheels to prevent thefts. With the exception of hanging hooks, bicycle storage facilities shall be designed so as not to support the full weight of the bicycle on one or both wheels. The bicycle storage area shall have the capabilities to hold 10 percent of the number of required parking spaces. This requirement may be waived by the director if it can be demonstrated that the rack would not be reasonably utilized due to the location of the facility.

11. The public works department shall approve the location of all curb cuts. A driveway for a single-family attached dwelling unit or duplex shall not exceed 20 feet in width within a front yard or side yard on a flanking street. For other uses, no single curb cut shall be wider than 30 feet. For parking lots with less than 10 spaces, the curb cut shall be no wider than 12 feet. Parking lots with separate points of ingress and egress shall have no more than a 12-foot curb cut separated by a distance of at least 20 feet and shall comply with Chapter 13.52 BMC, Driveways Giving Access to Arterial Streets. [Ord. 2024-02-002 § 3; Ord. 2019-09-029 § 3; Ord. 2018-12-036 § 24; Ord. 2018-05-009 § 6; Ord. 2017-03-009 § 16; Ord. 2014-09-049 §§ 30, 31; Ord. 2010-12-077; Ord. 2006-12-122; Ord. 2006-12-121; Ord. 2003-03-010; Ord. 2002-10-069 § 45; Ord. 2002-06-045 § 21; Ord. 2001-04-033 §§ 1, 5, 8; Ord. 10643 § 4, 1995; Ord. 10469 § 3, 1993; Ord. 9907; Ord. 9582 §§ 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 1986; Ord. 9024, 1982].