Bellingham Municipal Code, City of Bellingham, WA

««20.10.100 - Prerequiste Considerations

City of Bellingham Municipal Code

Title 20 LAND USE DEVELOPMENT
Chapter 12 GENERAL STANDARDS

20.12.010 - PARKING

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% 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.

The Director shall have the authority to waive parking requirements for situations (2)(b) and (2)(c) above, only when there is no existing space available on site to provide additional parking, no parking can reasonably be provided within 500’ 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 nonarterial streets adjacent to the development for use by the general public if space is available within the right-of-way.

The Director shall further have the authority to waive parking requirements for situations 2(a), 2(b) and 2(c) above, 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.

B. Number of Spaces Required.

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

2. The parking requirements in 3. below are modified for the following areas:

a. Central Commercial, Core and Fringe only: Uses are exempt from parking requirements, except for hotels and motels, which shall provide the number of spaces required in BMC 20.12.010 B. 3. below.

b. Reduced Parking Overlay District. The Reduced Parking Overlay District consists of the following Neighborhood Plan Areas and is illustrated in Figure 1.

CBD Neighborhood Plan:

Lettered Streets Neighborhood Plan:

Sehome Neighborhood Plan:

Sunnyland Neighborhood Plan:

York Neighborhood Plan:

ii.

iii.

USE	PARKING SPACE REQUIREMENT
(a) Residential
i. Single Family/Manufactured Home	2 parking spaces; single family attached units shall provide 1 additional parking space for each bedroom over 3. No more than 2 enclosed garage parking spaces per unit may count toward meeting parking requirement.
ii. Duplex/Multi Family	a. 1 for each studio unit b. 1-1/2 for each 1 or 2 bedroom unit c. 2 for each 3 bedroom unit d. Duplex with 4 or more bedrooms: 1 parking space per bedroom. No more than 2 parking spaces per unit may be located in an enclosed garage. e. Multi Family: 1 additional space for each bedroom over 3 per unit. No more than 2 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	1 for every 2 bedrooms.
iv. Hotel	1 for every 2 bedrooms.
v. Motel	1-1/4 for each bedroom.
vi. Accessory Dwelling Units	1 for each bedroom, minimum of one for each ADU. These spaces must be located on site.
vii. Senior Citizen Housing	The Planning Director may reduce the parking requirement below the amount required for other dwelling units, but not less than 0.5 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.
viii. Live/Work Unit	1 parking space per live/work unit or 1 parking space per 500 sq. ft. 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 sq. ft.)	1 for every 250 sq. ft. of floor area open to the public.
ii. Furniture and Large Appliance Store	4 plus 1 for every 500 sq.ft. gross floor area.
iii. Neighborhood and Community Shopping Centers and Food Markets	5 for each 1,000 sq.ft. of gross floor area.
iv. Offices (business and professional, including financial institutions, but not including doctor/dentist offices)	1 for every 350 sq.ft. of floor area.
v. Eating and Drinking Establishments, Dance Halls	1 for every 75 sq.ft. of floor area open to the public with a minimum of 7 spaces.
vi. Commercial Recreation	4 for each bowling lane, tennis or racquetball court, pool or billiard table; or 1 for each miniature golf hole or in the case of a driving range for each tee area; or 1 for each 100 sq.ft. of open recreational area. Where an eating and/or drinking facility is located within a main building used as a commercial recreation commercial recreation use, additional parking shall not be required.
vii. Service Stations	5
(c) Health Care
i. Hospitals	1 for every 2 patient beds, exclusive of bassinets.
ii. Doctor/Dentist Offices and/or Laboratories	5 for each 1,000 sq.ft. of gross floor area.
iii. Medical Care Centers	1 for every 4 beds.
iv. Small Animal Hospitals	5 spaces for every veterinarian.
(d) Public and Semi-Public Assembly
i. School, Institution of Higher Education, Art School	1 per classroom and office plus 1 for every 4 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	1 for every 200 sq.ft. of floor area open to the public.
iii. Church	1 for every 100 sq.ft. 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	1 space for every 150 sq.ft. of floor area open to the public.
v. Theaters, Stadiums, Auditoriums	1 for each 4 seats, or 1 for each 80 inches of bench.
vi. Bus Stations, Passenger Terminal Facilities	1 for every 100 sq.ft. of floor area open to the public.
vii. Private Club and Lodge	1 for every 150 sq.ft. of floor area devoted to assembly or meeting area. If eating/drinking facilities are included there shall be 1 space required for each 75 sq.ft. devoted to such activity.
viii. Neighborhood Club/Activity Center	1 for every 150 sq.ft. 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	1 for every 5,000 sq.ft. of gross floor area or 1 per employee (working at the same time) whichever is greater.
ii. Warehousing and Wholesale	1 for every 20,000 sq.ft. of gross floor area or 1 per employee (working at the same time) whichever is greater.
iii. Mini-Storage	1 space for every 2,000 sq.ft. of storage area plus 3 spaces for the Manager's office.
(f) Miscellaneous Uses
i. Mortuaries/Funeral Parlors/Crematory	1 for every 100 sq.ft. 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	1 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 Section 20.12.010 A. 2. Joint parking may be allowed pursuant to regulations found in 3. below.

3. When a parking facility is within 500’ of a use deficient in parking and said parking facility is utilized at different times of the day or has parking space available in excess of what is required when the Director may allow joint parking facilities provided:

a. A pedestrian walkway is available between the parking facility and generator; and

b. A joint 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.

4. 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.

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

6. Off-street parking for single family and duplex dwellings shall be a minimum of 9’ in width by 18’ in length with 22’ of maneuvering aisle depth behind each space. Off-street parking dimensions for other uses shall not be less than shown on Figures 10, 11 and 12.

7. 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 BMC 20.00 - Zoning Tables: When access is available from a city maintined 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). 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 Section 20.12.010 D. 7. 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 5’ of any property line except when an alley is used for direct maneuvering. This provision shall not apply in the Commercial, Central Core general use type, when abutting similarly designated property. In Industrial designations the 5’ setback requirement shall apply only when open parking areas are adjacent the front property line.

c. In the Residential Multi and Commercial (except Central) general use type designation, the 5’ 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 5’ 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, an area of at least 5’ in width and 10’ in length must be provided to separate every 20 adjacent open parking spaces.

b. For uses permitted within the commercial general use type, an area of at least 5’ in width and 10’ 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 6.b.

b. Tandem parking (2 cars maximum) as allowed when enclosed within a structure.

i. Tandem parking garages shall be set back a minimum of 4 feet from the front face of a building.

7. Single family homes and duplexes may utilize city rights-of-way for maneuvering unless the right-of-way is a designated arterial, or when the driveway would be within 50’ of a tangent of an intersection, provided that, if there is no curb, the distance shall be 80' 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 3” of crushed gravel and is maintained in a dust free condition.

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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.)

6. Drainage systems for parking facilities shall be designed and approved in accordance with Ordinance No. 8827.

7. Retail parking facilities shall install adequate lighting in accordance with standards approved by the Public Works Director.

8. 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% 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.

9. The Public Works Department shall approve the location of all curb cuts. A driveway for a single family attached swelling unit or duplex shall not exceed 20’ 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’. For parking lots with less than 10 spaces, the curb cut shall be no wider than 12’. Parking lots with separate points of ingress and egress shall have no more than a 12’ curb cut separated by a distance of at least 20’ and shall comply with the arterial street access ordinance No. 8760.

[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 �8; Ord. 2001-04-033 �5; Ord. 2001-04-033 �1; Ord. 10643 �4, 1995; Ord. 10469 �3; Ord. 9907, 1989; Ord. 9582 �� 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 1986; Ord. 9024 (part), 1982.]