Chapter 20.126
OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING STANDARDS
Sections:
20.126.020 Off-street parking and loading spaces required.
20.126.030 General provisions.
20.126.040 Existing parking facilities.
20.126.050 Off-street parking standards.
20.126.060 Computation of required spaces.
20.126.070 Location of required spaces.
20.126.080 Schedule of minimum parking dimensions.
20.126.090 Site plan required.
20.126.120 Design and construction.
20.126.135 Drive-through facilities.
20.126.140 Off-street loading.
20.126.150 Installation time limit.
20.126.160 Motorcycle and compact car allowance.
20.126.170 Parking for persons with a disability.
20.126.010 Purpose.
It is the intent of this chapter to:
A. Assure that space is provided for the parking, loading, and unloading of motor vehicles on the site of premises or uses which attract motor vehicles;
B. Provide minimum standards of space and parking arrangements, and for the movement of motor vehicles into and out of such spaces;
C. Avoid or reduce traffic congestion on public streets by:
1. Keeping the need for on-street parking to a minimum; and
2. Controlling access to sites;
D. Enhance safety for pedestrians and motor vehicle operators;
E. Encourage the creation of an aesthetically pleasing and functionally adequate system of off-street parking and loading facilities;
F. To reduce impervious parking surface through shared or combined parking agreements and use of permeable pavement;
G. To maximize the usage of parking lots. (Ord. 2017-45 § 72, 2017: Ord. 2012-09 § 60, 2012).
20.126.020 Off-street parking and loading spaces required.
No off-street parking or loading spaces shall be placed, constructed, located, relocated, or modified after adoption of this code without first receiving a development authorization. All off-street parking and loading spaces which are not themselves a principal use are accessory uses and shall be subject to the same procedures and review requirements as the principal use. All off-street parking shall be provided in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
20.126.025 Bicycle parking.
Bicycle parking is required whenever practicable to encourage the use of bicycles by providing safe and convenient places to park bicycles.
A. Minimum Required Bicycle Parking. Bicycle parking facilities, either off-street or in the street right-of-way, shall be provided with commercial, industrial, office, institutional, active-recreation parks, park-and-rides, and multifamily residential development projects or for any new use which requires ten or more automobile parking spaces.
The number of required bicycle parking spaces shall be ten percent of the number of required off-street auto parking spaces; provided, that at least two bicycle parking spaces shall be provided if less than ten off-street auto parking spaces are required, whichever number of bicycle parking spaces is greater. For land uses not specified in the Table of Off-Street Parking Standards (Section 20.127.010), bicycle parking requirements shall be determined by the reviewing official based upon the requirement for similar uses.
B. Location and Design.
1. Bicycle parking shall be no farther from the primary building entrance than the distance to the closest vehicle space, or fifty feet, whichever is less.
2. Bicycle parking shall consist of staple-design steel racks or other city-approved racks, lockers, or storage lids providing a safe and secure means of storing a bicycle. In the downtown master plan area, bicycle racks shall meet the standards of that plan.
3. When any covered automobile parking is provided, all bicycle parking shall be covered.
4. All bicycle parking facilities in the street right-of-way shall conform to city design standards.
5. Bicycle and automobile parking areas shall be separated by a barrier or painted lines.
6. Lighting. For security, bicycle parking shall be lit.
7. Reserved Areas. Areas set aside for bicycle parking shall be clearly marked and reserved for bicycle parking only.
8. Hazards. Bicycle parking shall not impede or create a hazard to pedestrians. Bicycle parking shall be located so as to not conflict with clearview triangle standards (Chapter 20.114). (Ord. 2018-53 § 19(part), 2018: Ord. 2012-09 § 61, 2012).
20.126.030 General provisions.
A. The off-street parking and loading facilities required by this section shall be completed prior to any change in the use or structures and/or prior to the occupancy of any new or enlarged structure.
B. Required off-street parking spaces shall provide vehicle parking only for residents, customers, patrons, and employees and shall not be used for the storage of vehicles or materials, the parking of vehicles used in conducting the business, or for the sale, repair, or servicing of any vehicle.
C. Any area once designated for required off-street parking shall not be used for any other purpose unless and until equal facilities are provided elsewhere and a site plan has been approved to reflect the change, or the primary use of the property is changed to a use requiring less off-street parking.
D. The required front yard in the RM district shall not be used for off-street parking for five or more cars unless the three-foot strip nearest the front property line is landscaped and a two-foot-high concrete, masonry, or decorative block wall, or wood fence, or a solid landscaping screen is provided. (For corner lots, see Chapter 20.114, Clearview Triangle.)
20.126.040 Existing parking facilities.
With regard to existing parking facilities, the following shall apply:
A. An existing use which does not have sufficient parking facilities to meet the requirements of this chapter, may continue to operate with the parking deficiency so long as no enlargement or other change is made which would require additional parking facilities;
B. When an existing use is enlarged so as to require additional parking facilities, the requirements of this chapter shall apply only to the enlargement;
C. When additional uses are placed on the same lot with the preexisting use or an enlarged lot of which the preexisting use lot is a part, the requirements of this chapter shall apply only to the additional use.
20.126.050 Off-street parking standards.
A. Table of Off-Street Parking Standards. The parking standards in Chapter 20.127, Table of Off-Street Parking Standards, are hereby established as the parking standards for the uses indicated. These parking requirements are based on gross floor area. For the purpose of this chapter, gross floor area means the total square footage of all floors in a structure as measured from the interior surface of each exterior wall of the structure, and including halls, lobbies, enclosed porches and fully enclosed recreation areas and balconies, but excluding stairways, elevator shafts, attic space, mechanical rooms, restrooms, uncovered steps and fire escapes, private garages, carports, and off-street parking and loading spaces.
B. Reductions to Off-Street Parking Standards. All required off-street parking shall be subject to the procedures of this code and the standards of this section; provided, however, that the required off-street parking may be modified under the following conditions:
1. Parking Analysis. The approving authority may modify off-street parking standards if the applicant can demonstrate that the use is projected to generate more or less traffic than anticipated by the Table of Off-Street Parking Standards in Chapter 20.127. The director shall prepare findings upon which such modification is based, and may submit a preliminary determination to the SPRC prior to issuance of a permit. A permit for modification may be conditioned on alternate means of transportation such as public or private bussing or ride sharing. A condition of approval stating the alternate form of transportation and means of program maintenance shall be certified by the applicant prior to issuance of a permit. The agreement shall be binding and shall provide that the developer will provide all necessary off-street parking as required by this section in the event of a change of use.
2. Potential Reductions. The approving authority may permit reductions to off-street parking standards without a parking analysis for sites with one or more of the following features described below. The potential reductions shall not exceed thirty percent of the standard number of automobile parking spaces.
a. Site has a bus stop with frequent transit service, as defined by the transit service provider, located adjacent to it, and the site’s frontage is improved with a bus stop shelter, consistent with the standards of the applicable transit service provider: Allow up to a twenty percent reduction to the standard number of automobile parking spaces.
b. Site has dedicated parking spaces for carpool or vanpool vehicles: Allow up to a ten percent reduction to the standard number of automobile parking spaces.
c. Site has more than the minimum number of required bicycle parking spaces: Allow up to a ten percent reduction to the standard number of automobile parking spaces.
d. Site has an off-street nonexclusive electric vehicle charging station accessible on the site and developed pursuant to Chapter 20.156, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure: Allow a reduction of two spaces to the standard number of automobile parking spaces for every off-street electric vehicle charging station. The total reduction shall not exceed twenty percent of the standard number of automobile parking spaces.
C. Uses Not Specified. Off-street parking requirements for uses not specifically listed in the Table of Off-Street Parking Standards shall be determined by the reviewing official based upon the requirement for similar uses.
D. Downtown Area Exempt. A portion of the downtown area of Walla Walla, as shown on the Walla Walla Comprehensive Plan Map and hereby adopted as part of this chapter, shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter as they relate to the number of parking spaces required; provided, that all the other requirements of this chapter shall apply to any parking provided by the applicant. (Ord. 2022-25 § 5, 2022; Ord. 2018-53 § 19(part), 2018: Ord. 2000-6 § 2(part), 2000).
20.126.060 Computation of required spaces.
The following rules shall apply in the determination of the number of required off-street parking spaces:
A. Fraction. If the number of off-street parking spaces required in the Table of Off-Street Parking Standards contains a fraction, such number shall be changed to the next higher whole number.
B. Mixed Uses. When different uses occupy a single structure or lot, the total required parking spaces shall be the sum of the requirements of the individual uses.
C. Shared Uses. Owners of two or more uses, structures, or parcels of land within three hundred feet of each other may share the same parking or loading area when the hours of operation do not overlap. The owners of two or more uses, structures, or parcels within three hundred feet of each other may also share facilities concurrently, however, the total parking requirements shall be the sum of the requirements for each individual use. Whenever shared parking is allowed under this section, the parking lot shall be signed so as to reasonably notify the public of the availability of use, and spaces shall not be assigned, allocated or reserved between uses. (Also see Section 20.126.070.)
A parking agreement approved by the reviewing official shall be filed with the county auditor whenever two or more uses propose to share off-street parking facilities.
D. Storage Areas. Storage areas are included in gross floor area. However, the required off-street parking for storage areas shall be calculated at the rate of one space per five hundred square feet, except when the parking standard for the principal use would require fewer parking spaces.
E. Tandem Parking. Parking spaces in tandem, having a single means of ingress and egress shall not be counted as two off-street parking spaces for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this chapter; except, that each tandem space for single-family dwellings shall be counted as a required parking space.
20.126.070 Location of required spaces.
Off-street parking facilities shall be located according to the following:
A. For single- and two-family dwellings, parking facilities and driveways shall be located on the same building site as the buildings they are required to serve.
B. For hospitals, convalescent, nursing or rest homes, parking facilities shall be located not more than one hundred fifty feet from the buildings they are required to serve.
C. For uses other than those specified above, parking facilities shall not be located over four hundred feet from the buildings they are required to serve.
D. For uses other than single-family, duplex or triplex residential, all parking spaces shall be served by a driveway so that no vehicular backing or maneuvering movement will occur within a public right-of-way other than an alley.
E. No parking lot serving a nonresidential use in a commercial or industrial district shall be located in a residential zoning district, except as approved by Level III review.
F. Recreational vehicles (campers, fifth wheelers, trailers, buses, conversions, etc.) shall be parked off-street behind the required front yard setback in all residential zoning districts at all times.
G. New development and redevelopment should locate parking lots behind buildings when possible. (Ord. 2012-09 § 62, 2012).
20.126.080 Schedule of minimum parking dimensions.
Driveways and parking stalls shall conform to Figure 20.126-1 and Table 20.126-1, Parking Stall Specifications, which is hereby adopted as the schedule of minimum parking dimensions.
Figure 20.126-1, Parking Stall Specifications
|
Table 20.126-1, Parking Stall Specifications |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Angle |
|||||
|
Dimension |
On diagram |
45° |
60° |
75° |
90° |
|
Stall width, parallel to aisle |
A |
12.7 |
10.4 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
|
Stall length of line |
B |
25.0 |
22.0 |
20.0 |
18.5 |
|
Stall depth to wall |
C |
17.5 |
19.0 |
19.5 |
18.5 |
|
Aisle width between stall lines |
D |
12.0 |
16.0 |
23.0 |
26.0 |
|
Stall depth, interlock |
E |
15.3 |
17.5 |
18.8 |
18.5 |
|
Module, wall to interlock |
F |
44.8 |
52.5 |
61.3 |
63.0 |
|
Module, interlocking |
G |
42.6 |
51.0 |
61.0 |
63.0 |
|
Module, interlock to curb face |
H |
42.8 |
50.2 |
58.8 |
60.5 |
|
Bumper overhang (typical) |
I |
2.0 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
2.5 |
|
Offset |
J |
6.3 |
2.7 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
|
Setback |
K |
11.0 |
8.3 |
5.0 |
0.0 |
|
Cross aisle, one-way |
L |
14.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
|
Cross aisle, two-way |
– |
24.0 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
24.0 |
20.126.090 Site plan required.
A site plan for every new or enlarged off-street parking lot or motor vehicle sales area shall be approved by the reviewing official prior to construction. The site plan shall comply with the provisions for general or detailed site plans in Chapter 20.46 and Figure 20.126-1 and Table 20.126-1, Parking Stall Specifications, and shall show the proposed development, locations, size, shape and design of the parking spaces, curb cuts, lighting, method of on-site drainage, adjacent streets, circulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, signage, finished grade contours not to exceed one foot interval, landscaping, irrigation and other features of the proposed parking lot.
20.126.110 Lighting.
Lighting shall be provided to illuminate any off- street parking or loading space used at night. When provided, lighting shall be shielded and aimed downward and away from adjacent properties. Lighting shall use energy efficient technology. (Ord. 2020-51 § 14, 2020).
20.126.120 Design and construction.
All off-street parking, including motor vehicle sales lots, shall be constructed in the following manner.
A. Surfacing.
1. Required off-street parking, loading and maneuvering areas, motor vehicle sales lots and employee parking for industrial and commercial uses having a capacity of more than five vehicles shall have paved surfaces; surfaces may include permeable pavement.
2. Industrial uses in industrial zones shall have a paved area for employee parking as required in subsection (A)(1) of this section. All other areas used for maneuvering, loading access and parking of trucks or other vehicles or equipment associated with the industrial use must be surfaced with an all-weather gravel surface on a stable substrate.
3. Off-street parking facilities providing five or fewer parking spaces may be surfaced with all- weather gravel on a stable substrate, permeable pavement, or an equivalent surfacing acceptable to the reviewing official, so as to eliminate dust or mud, provided all spaces are improved with wheel stops.
B. Grading and Drainage. Grading and stormwater facilities shall be designed in accordance with Chapter 13.16.
C. Border Barricades. Any parking lot or motor vehicle sales area abutting the street property line shall provide a concrete curb or timber barrier at least six inches in height and located at least two feet from the street property line. The curb or barrier shall be securely anchored. No curb or barrier shall be required across a parking lot separated from the street by a fence or hedge.
D. Markings. All parking spaces (except motor vehicle sales area) shall be marked by durable painted lines at least four inches wide and extending the length of the stall or by curbs or other means approved by the reviewing official to indicate individual parking stalls. Signs or markers located on the parking lot surface shall be used as necessary to ensure safe and efficient use of the parking lot.
E. Minimum Parking Area Dimensions. Minimum parking area dimensions shall be as provided in Figure 20.126-1, Parking Stall Specifications.
F. Slope. The slope of entrance and exit driveways providing access to public streets for off- street parking areas shall not exceed ten percent unless otherwise recommended by the site plan review committee and approved by the city engineer.
G. Driveways and Maneuverability.
1. All required parking spaces shall be properly maintained and adequate ingress to and egress from each space shall be provided without the need to move another vehicle.
2. Turning and maneuvering space shall be located entirely on private property unless specifically approved by the site plan review committee.
3. All parking spaces shall be internally accessible to one another without re-entering adjoining public streets unless otherwise approved by the site plan review committee.
4. Ingress and egress to and from any off-street parking area shall not be located closer than twenty feet from point of tangent to an intersection or pedestrian crosswalk unless otherwise approved by the site plan review committee.
5. The site plan review committee may require ingress separate from egress for smoother and safer flow of traffic.
6. The number of curb cuts shall be kept to a minimum whenever possible so as to reduce the potential traffic flow conflict of vehicles and pedestrians. (Ord. 2018-53 § 19(part), 2018: Ord. 2017-45 § 73, 2017: Ord. 2000-6 § 2(part), 2000: Ord. 95-5 § 1(part), 1995).
20.126.130 Maintenance.
The owner or lessee of a required parking area shall maintain the paved surface, stormwater facilities, landscaping, lighting, and irrigation facilities in conformance with the standards of this chapter, the requirements of Chapter 13.16, and the approved site plan. (Ord. 2017-45 § 74, 2017).
20.126.135 Drive-through facilities.
The standards of this section are intended to allow for drive-through facilities by reducing the negative impacts they may create. Of special concern are noise from idling cars and voice amplification equipment, lighting and queued traffic interfering with on-site and off-site traffic and pedestrian flow. The specific purposes of this section are to: (A) reduce noise, lighting and visual impacts on abutting uses, particularly residential uses; (B) promote safer and more efficient on-site vehicular and pedestrian circulation and (C) minimize conflicts between queued vehicles and traffic on adjacent streets.
A. When These Standards Apply.
1. The standards of this chapter apply to all uses that have drive-through facilities, including vehicle repair and quick vehicle servicing.
2. The standards of this chapter apply only to the portions of the site development that comprise the drive-through facility. The standards apply to new developments, the addition of drive-through facilities to existing developments, and the relocation of an existing drive-through facility.
a. A drive-through facility is composed of two parts: the stacking lanes and the service area.
A drive-through facility may also have a third component, an order menu, affecting the size and location of these two parts. The stacking lanes are the space occupied by vehicles queuing for the service to be provided. The service area is where the service occurs. In uses with service windows, the service area starts at the service window(s). In uses where the service occurs indoors, the service area is the area within the building where the service occurs. For other development, such as gas pumps, air compressors and vacuum cleaning stations, the service area is the area where the vehicles are parked during the service.
B. Setbacks, Screening and Landscaping. All drive-through facilities must provide the setbacks and landscaping stated in this subsection.
1. Service areas and stacking lanes must be set back five feet from all lot lines which abut residential zones and meet the landscaping and screening requirements of this code.
2. Service areas and stacking lanes must be set back five feet from all street lot lines and meet the landscaping and screening requirements of this code.
C. Vehicular Access. All driveway entrances, including stacking lane entrances, must be spaced at least one hundred twenty-five feet from adjacent intersections unless otherwise authorized by the director of engineering services. The distance is measured along the property line from the junction of the two street lot lines to the nearest edge of the entrance.
D. Stacking Lane Standards. These standards ensure that there are adequate on-site maneuvering and circulation areas, ensure that stacking vehicles do not impede traffic on abutting streets, and that stacking lanes will not have nuisance impacts on abutting residential lands.
1. Gasoline Pumps. A minimum of thirty feet of stacking lane is required between a lot line and the nearest gasoline pump. The applicant must demonstrate to the city that sufficient queuing area is available such that vehicles in queue do not interfere with adjacent street traffic.
2. Other Drive-Through Facilities.
a. Primary Facilities. A minimum of one hundred twenty feet for a single stacking lane or eighty feet per lane when there is more than one stacking lane is required for all other drive-through facilities. Non-food and/or non-beverage businesses may reduce the stacking lane to a minimum of sixty feet. A stacking lane is measured from the curb cut to the service area or the order area if an outdoor order area precedes the service area. Stacking lanes do not have to be linear.
b. Accessory Facilities. A stacking lane is not required for accessory facilities where vehicles do not routinely stack up while waiting for the service. Examples are window washing, air compressor, and vacuum cleaning stations.
E. Stacking Lane Design and Layout. Stacking lanes must be designed so that they do not interfere with parking, parking access and vehicle circulation. No part of a required stacking lane may encroach into the right-of-way.
F. Stacking Lanes Identified. All stacking lanes must be clearly identified, through the use of means such as striping, landscaping and signs.
G. Off-Site Impacts.
1. When abutting land zoned residential, drive-through facilities with noise-generating equipment must document in advance that the facility will meet the off-site impact noise standards. Noise generating equipment includes items such as speakers, mechanical car washes, vacuum cleaners and exterior air compressors.
2. Lights and headlight impacts shall be mitigated with directional lighting and visual buffering. (Ord. 2018-53 § 19(part), 2018: Ord. 2012-09 § 63, 2012).
20.126.140 Off-street loading.
Off-street loading and unloading spaces shall be required for any use requiring frequent loading or unloading from trucks or other large vehicles.
A. Loading Space Size. The required loading space shall be of adequate size to accommodate the maximum number and size of vehicles simultaneously loading or unloading at the structure. Each off-street loading space shall have the minimum dimensions of twelve feet in width and twenty-five feet in length or as otherwise determined by the reviewing authority based on the dimensions and type of delivery vehicles serving the proposed use(s). On-site maneuvering space of not less than fifty-two feet in length shall be provided adjacent to the loading dock. This maneuvering space shall not include any area designated for off-street parking.
B. Loading Space Location. Required off-street loading and related maneuvering space shall be located only on or abutting the property served. No part of any vehicle using the loading space will be allowed to project into the right-of-way of any public or private road. (Ord. 2018-53 § 19(part), 2018: Ord. 2012-09 § 64, 2012).
20.126.150 Installation time limit.
The installation and improvement of required off-street parking facilities shall be completed to the required standards before a certificate of occupancy for a building is issued unless a time limit extension to a specified date is authorized by the director.
20.126.160 Motorcycle and compact car allowance.
A. A maximum of thirty percent of the total required off-street parking spaces may be permitted and designated for utilization by motorcycles and compact cars.
B. Each motorcycle and compact car space shall be designated as such.
C. Dimensions of compact parking spaces shall be at least fifteen feet long and seven and one-half feet wide.
D. Motorcycle and compact car spaces shall be placed together in a prime location to encourage their use. (Ord. 2012-09 § 65, 2012).
20.126.170 Parking for persons with a disability.
Parking for persons with a disability shall be provided in accordance with Chapter 19.27 RCW and Chapter 51-50 WAC. (Ord. 2023-33 § 7, 2023).