22.08.190 Parking.
Parking includes private on-site, public lots/structures and on-street, loading and unloading areas. Parking within shorelines is a low priority. Converting land within shorelines for the sole use of vehicles is not an efficient land use.
A. Policies.
1. Parking as a primary use (stand-alone use) within the shoreline jurisdiction should be prohibited.
2. Parking should not be allowed between development and the adjacent water body.
3. Parking for permitted uses should be underground or under-building.
4. Visual impacts of surface parking facilities should be effectively mitigated. Parking for permitted uses within the shoreline jurisdiction (but not including parking that is underground or under-building) should be minimized and screened from adjacent public access and buffer areas.
5. Where surface parking is developed within the shoreline jurisdiction, low impact development techniques should be implemented.
6. Lighting for parking areas should be minimized.
7. Loading and unloading zones, especially those inherent to a permitted use, parking for ADA and public parking on improved public rights-of-way, should be allowed when within shoreline jurisdiction.
B. Regulations.
1. Parking as a primary or stand-alone use shall not be permitted within shorelines.
2. Parking, including parking for ADA and loading/unloading zones, shall not be located within a required shoreline or critical area buffer.
3. Required parking (per Chapter 20.12 BMC) for a permitted use on shorelines shall not be permitted between the development and the adjacent shoreline with the exception of parking that is required for water-dependent uses.
4. Parking for boating facilities including areas for loading and unloading and required ADA parking may be provided within existing buildings or provided within shoreline jurisdiction but not within a required buffer and shall be subject to the requirements in subsection (B)(9) of this section.
5. Loading and unloading zones that are an inherent element of a water-dependent or a water-related use are allowed between the shoreline and the use area when it is adjacent to the shoreline but, when feasible, should not be adjacent to a required buffer.
6. Parking for a permitted use when provided underground or partially under-building shall not be allowed in a required buffer.
7. Where parking areas are located adjacent to a required buffer the parking area shall be set back from the required buffer an additional 15 feet for installation of landscape screening.
8. Required landscaping, as specified in subsection (B)(7) of this section, shall include a mix of native trees and shrubs that effectively screen headlights from vehicles to the abutting buffer area. Gaps in screening are permitted to allow access to viewing areas or public areas where applicable.
9. When surface parking areas for permitted uses are designed and constructed, they shall achieve the following objectives:
a. A safe and signed pedestrian entry point to an established or proposed shoreline trail/walkway or viewing area for physical and visual access to the shoreline;
b. Landscape screening around the perimeter and within the parking area to soften edges and break up large parking areas;
c. Implementation of low impact development techniques for stormwater management; and
d. Located as far from a required shoreline or critical area buffer as possible.
10. Public parking on public street ends that are within shorelines but outside of required buffers is allowed. [Ord. 2013-02-005 § 2 (Exh. 1)].