Chapter 18.58
OFF-STREET PARKING
Sections:
18.58.010 Required off-street parking.
18.58.030 Parking spaces required.
18.58.040 Parking requirements for common facilities.
18.58.050 General requirements on size of parking spaces.
18.58.080 Landscaping, pathways and amenities.
18.58.010 Required off-street parking.
Every building or use hereafter developed shall be provided with parking spaces as required in this chapter, and such parking space shall be made permanently available and be permanently maintained for parking purposes and, except for parking areas used for playground purposes in connection with schools, shall be used only for the parking of automobiles or trucks. Any areas used to provide required off-street parking shall be of such size and shape and so designed that the area will accommodate the number of cars to be provided for. Where structural alterations or additions to a building provide additional floor space, or additional seats or additional beds, as the case may be, the parking requirements shall only apply to the additional floor space, seats or beds. Wherever feasible, impervious parking surface shall be reduced through parking reduction mechanisms and design criteria including the use of permeable surfacing. (Ord. 1149 § 5, 2016; Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.020 Parking plan.
Prior to the issuing of a building permit for any new building or structure, or for the enlargement of the floor area of an existing building or structure, the use of either of which requires off-street parking facilities to be provided as set forth in this title, or if a parking area is to be jointly used, a site plan of the parking area clearly indicating the number of parking spaces being provided and the proposed development of such area including location of the spaces, the size, shape, design, relationship to buildings to be served, curbcuts, lighting, landscaping and other features and appurtenances of the proposed parking facility shall be approved by the planning department. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.030 Parking spaces required.
The amount of off-street parking required shall be no less than as set forth in this section.
The following uses, wherever located, shall provide off-street parking facilities as follows:
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1. Churches |
One parking stall for each three seats in the principal place of worship. |
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2. Community clubs and community recreational centers |
One parking space for each employee and one parking space for each 40 square feet of gross floor area used for assembly purposes. |
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3. Day care |
One parking space per 10 children or adults cared for, plus one parking space for each employee in addition to any other required parking. |
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4. Single-family dwellings Multifamily dwellings |
Two parking spaces. One and one-half parking spaces per dwelling unit. Where the total quota results in a fraction, the next highest full unit shall be provided. |
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5. Health clubs |
One parking space for each employee, plus one parking space for each 200 square feet of floor area. |
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6. Hotels |
One parking space for each bedroom. |
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7. Hospitals |
One parking space for each bed. |
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8. Libraries, government buildings, fire stations and police stations, courts |
One parking space for each employee, plus one parking space for each 250 square feet of total floor area. |
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9. Mortuaries |
One parking space for each 40 square feet of floor area. |
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10. Motels |
One parking space for each sleeping unit or dwelling unit. |
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11. Museums |
One parking space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area. |
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12. Offices |
One parking space for each 250 square feet of gross floor area. |
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13. Recreational facilities |
One parking space for each employee and one parking stall for each 40 square feet of total floor area used for assembly purposes. |
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14. Rest homes, nursing and convalescent homes; homes for retired and children’s institutions |
One parking space for each four beds. |
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15. Retail |
One parking space for each 200 square feet of gross floor area. |
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16. Roominghouses and boarding houses |
One parking space for each two sleeping rooms or one parking space for each four beds, whichever is greater. |
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17. Self-service storage |
One parking space for every 3,500 square feet of storage area provided and two additional spaces adjacent to resident manager’s quarters. |
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18. Senior citizen apartments |
One parking space for each dwelling unit. |
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19. Schools, elementary and junior high; public, private or parochial |
One parking space for each employee and each faculty member. |
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20. School, high; public, private or parochial |
One parking space for each 10 students and one parking space for each employee and each faculty member. Where parochial schools and churches are on the same site, the required church parking facilities shall be considered as contributing to the school parking requirement. |
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21. School, specialized instruction |
One parking space for each instructor who does not reside on the site and one parking space for every two students and/or spectators in attendance during an instructional session. |
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22. Arenas, auditoriums (including school auditoriums) and other places of public assembly (other than churches) and lodges |
One parking space for each five fixed seats, in all parking generating areas used simultaneously for assembly purposes. If there are no fixed seats, one parking space shall be provided for each 40 square feet of gross floor area used for assembly purposes. |
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23. Storage and warehousing, comprising only activity on premises |
One parking space for each two employees on maximum working shift. |
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24. Theaters |
One parking space for each three seats. |
The parking requirements for a use not provided for in this section shall be determined by the city planning department and such determination shall be based upon the requirements for the most comparable use specified herein. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.040 Parking requirements for common facilities.
The amount of off-street parking required in LFPMC 18.58.030 may be reduced, by an amount to be determined by the planning department, when common parking facilities for two or more buildings or uses are designed and developed as one parking facility, provided;
A. The total parking area exceeds 5,000 square feet.
B. The amount of the reduction shall not exceed 10 percent for each use, except that the reduction may exceed 10 percent when:
1. The reduction is based on cooperative use of parking facilities when the time during which the cooperative uses operate are not conflicting;
2. The normal hours of operation are separated by at least one hour;
3. The total number of off-street parking spaces in the common facility is not less than the sum of the required parking spaces for the various uses computed separately for which the hours of operation overlap.
C. A covenant or other acceptable contract between the cooperating property owners is approved by the planning department which cannot be amended without the consent of the department.
D. If the conditions under which the reduction in parking requirements was approved are violated, the affected property owners must provide a remedy satisfactory to the planning department or provide the full amount of required off-street parking, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, within 90 days of notice of the violation by the director or his designee. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.050 General requirements on size of parking spaces.
A. Standard Parking Spaces. Standard parking space dimensions shall be as follows:
1. Parallel parking: width, 12 feet; length, 23 feet;
2. Angle parking: width, nine feet; length, 18 feet;
3. Parking aisle width for one-way traffic in relation to parking angle shall be:
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0 to 50 degrees |
12 feet |
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55 degrees |
14 feet |
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60 degrees |
16 feet |
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65 degrees |
18 feet |
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70 degrees |
20 feet |
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90 degrees |
24 feet |
4. The minimum aisle width to accommodate two-way traffic shall be 20 feet, except where a greater width is required for the parking angle used.
B. Compact Parking Spaces. Within any off-street parking facility which includes more than 20 parking spaces, up to 50 percent of the total may be sized to accommodate compact cars, subject to the following:
1. Each space shall have an area of not less than 120 square feet exclusive of drives and aisles, and a width of not less than seven feet, six inches.
2. Each space shall be adequately identified as a compact or small car space.
3. Aisle widths shall conform to the standards set forth by LFPMC 18.58.050(A)(3) for standard size cars.
4. Compact car spaces shall be reasonably distributed throughout the facility. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.060 Surfacing.
All of the parking areas and driveways mentioned in this chapter, excluding those for single-family residential uses, shall be surfaced with an asphaltic or better material so as to provide a surface that is durable for the purpose and dust-free. Parking will not be permitted in entrances and exits. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.070 Access.
Where the side street is available, access to the parking area must be made from that side street or lower classified street. Access to arterial and collector streets should only be done when no other reasonable access alternative exists. Where access must be made from an arterial right-of-way, the location of the parking access must comply with city standards and every effort shall be made to reduce traffic congestion and hazards. (Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.080 Landscaping, pathways and amenities.
A. Purpose. To realize the city’s vision and reflect community values, all aspects of our city should ensure that the natural environment is celebrated. This includes the trees, lands, buildings and connections, as well as the spaces where vehicles park. Incorporating natural elements to provide shade, assist in managing surface water, and enhance the ecology of the location both reflect the character of the city and play an important role in combating the effect of urban heat islands that contribute to climate change.
B. Applicability.
1. New projects or redevelopment projects exceeding 50 percent of the fair market value of the parking lot must comply with these regulations in their entirety.
2. Redevelopment projects not exceeding 50 percent of the fair market value of the parking lot must comply with these regulations for all new or replaced portions of the parking lot.
3. Maintenance of existing parking lots that does not include altering the footprint of the parking lot, such as grind and overlay or restriping projects, must comply with these regulations where possible.
C. Landscaping. Parking lot landscaping is required as follows:
1. Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping.
a. Adjacent to Roadways. Parking lots adjacent to roadways shall include a 10-foot-wide planting bed meeting the requirements for Type 3 landscaping set forth in LFPMC 18.62.080; except trees can be clustered or staggered to improve visibility near driveways and a 30-foot break in the required tree coverage is allowed adjacent to permitted signage. Refer to Figure 18.58.080-1.
Figure 18.58.080-1: Landscaping between large parking lots and adjacent streets.
b. Adjacent to Residential Uses. Parking lots adjacent to residential uses or zones must include the following additional screening measures:
i. A post-and-beam fence, decorative metal fence, or similar fence with minimum four-inch openings consistent with residential character and quality; and
ii. A 10-foot-wide planting bed meeting the requirements for Type 1 landscaping set forth in LFPMC 18.62.080.
c. Adjacent to Other Uses. Parking lots adjacent to nonresidential uses on a separate lot must provide a 10-foot-wide planting bed meeting the requirements for Type 2 landscaping set forth in LFPMC 18.62.080. This requirement can be waived by the director if adjacent lots are under common ownership with the subject of the proposal.
d. Adjacent to Buildings. Parking lots adjacent to buildings shall include a five-foot-wide planting bed meeting the requirements of Type 3 landscaping set forth in LFPMC 18.62.080.
e. Adjacent to Streams. Parking lots adjacent to streams as defined in Chapter 16.16 LFPMC shall include a 20-foot-wide planting bed meeting the requirements of stream buffer landscaping set forth in LFPMC 18.62.080. Where this provision conflicts with other landscaping requirements, this provision shall prevail.
2. Interior Parking Lot Landscaping. Surface parking lots must be landscaped to break up large areas of asphalt and provide visual relief as follows:
a. Landscaping must be provided within surface parking lots at a rate of 20 square feet per parking stall. Landscaping must be designed and maintained to provide clear sight distance between three and one-half feet and eight feet above the existing street or private access road grade. Surface parking lot landscaping must be planted as follows:
i. Deciduous trees shall be planted at a rate of one tree per every seven stalls;
ii. Shrubs shall be planted no more than four feet apart; and
iii. Groundcovers shall be planted no more than 24 inches apart. Turf is not permissible as a groundcover in surface parking lot landscaping.
b. Landscape islands must be placed no further than 10 parking stalls apart and at the end of each parking row. Landscaping strips may be placed between rows of parking stalls. Landscape islands and strips must be a minimum of four feet wide and have an area of at least 75 square feet. Refer to Figure 18.58.080-2.
Figure 18.58.080-2: Parking lot landscaping.
c. Landscape islands or planters must be surrounded by a standard vertical curb or similar barrier to protect the plantings from vehicle overhang. Gaps in the curb are permitted for stormwater drainage.
3. Low Impact Development. Except in landscape buffer areas adjacent to a “stream,” as defined in Chapter 16.16 LFPMC, parking area landscaping shall be used for low impact development best management practices or treatment best management practices as approved by the public works director pursuant to the stormwater management manual adopted in LFPMC 16.24.010, unless technically infeasible. The requirements for plant sizes and spacing in this section may be relaxed for bioretention facilities when supported by recommendations provided by an arborist, landscape architect, or other qualified professional.
D. Pathways Through Parking Lots. Safe and convenient pedestrian paths are required from street sidewalks through parking lots to building entries, as follows:
1. At least one pedestrian pathway must be provided for every four rows of vehicle parking spaces or fraction thereof. Pedestrian pathways must be provided at a maximum distance of 150 feet between pedestrian pathways and must be a minimum of six feet in width.
2. Where possible, pathways must be aligned to connect with major building entries or other destinations. At a minimum, pedestrian pathways must be configured to provide a convenient path to buildings or other destinations.
3. Pedestrian pathways must be clearly identifiable through special pavement, pavement markings and/or artistic painting. Signage and/or lighting provided at or along the pedestrian pathways must be pedestrian-scale.
4. Pedestrian pathways must be integrated with the required parking lot landscaping.
E. Pedestrian Amenities. All nonresidential development must provide a decorative garbage and recycling receptacle and at least one of the following pedestrian amenities near required pedestrian pathways:
1. Pedestrian furniture such as benches or low seating walls;
2. Weather protection;
3. Wayfinding kiosk;
4. Umbrellas with receptacles;
5. Perimeter landscaping in addition to the requirement in subsection B of this section;
6. Permanently installed and maintained public art. This is satisfied if the pedestrian pathway uses unique paving treatments; or
7. Other element that encourages pedestrian activity and creates a welcoming pedestrian environment, as approved by the director. (Ord. 1219 § 1, 2021; Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)
18.58.090 Drainage.
Drainage shall be in conformance with the city of Lake Forest Park standards and the Design Manual as defined in LFPMC 16.08.030. (Ord. 1241 § 13, 2022; Ord. 1149 § 5, 2016; Ord. 773 § 3, 1999)