12.16.110 Transit, rideshare, and green building provisions.
A. All land uses for which the majority of the parking demand is generated by employees who remain on site for at least six hours each day shall be required to reserve one parking space for rideshare parking for every 20 required parking spaces, up to a maximum of 20 rideshare spaces, as follows:
1. The parking spaces shall be located convenient to the primary employee entrance;
2. Reserved areas shall have markings and signs indicating that the space is reserved between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m., and at all other shift changes; and
3. Parking in reserved areas shall be limited to vanpools and carpools established through rideshare programs and to vehicles meeting minimum rideshare qualifications set by the employer.
B. Outside the downtown subarea, the community development director may reduce the number of required off-street parking spaces when one or more scheduled transit routes provide service within 660 feet of the site. The amount of reduction shall be based on the number of scheduled transit runs between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each business day up to a maximum reduction as follows:
1. For land uses of the type described in subsection A of this section, four percent for each run up to a maximum of 40 percent. Buildings attaining at least minimum green building certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), National Green Building Standard, Built Green (three-star level or higher), or other certification program as approved by the community development director qualify for an additional reduction of two percent for each run up to a maximum additional reduction of eight percent. Developments in downtown districts that do not have parking requirements based on this chapter do not qualify for the base transit reductions, but may qualify for the additional green building reduction; and
2. For land uses other than those described in subsection A of this section, two percent for each run up to a maximum of 20 percent. Buildings attaining at least minimum green building certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), National Green Building Standard, Built Green (three-star level or higher), or other certification program as approved by the community development director qualify for an additional reduction of two percent for each run up to a maximum additional reduction of four percent. Developments in downtown districts that do not have parking requirements based on this chapter do not qualify for the base transit reductions, but may qualify for the additional green building reduction.
C. For housing units that are affordable to very low-income or extremely low-income individuals, as defined in BMC 12.07.015(A)(4) and (A)(5), located within one-half mile of a transit stop that receives transit service at least two times per hour for 12 or more hours per day, an applicant may apply for an exception allowing minimum parking requirements to be reduced at least to one parking space per bedroom or 0.75 space per unit, as justified through a parking study taking into account projected parking demand and availability of on-street parking within 800 feet of the project.
D. For housing units that are specifically for seniors or people with disabilities, as defined in BMC 11.02.110, “S,” except for purposes of this exception “senior” shall be defined as 55 years and older, that are located within one-quarter mile of a transit stop that receives transit service at least four times per hour for 12 or more hours per day, an applicant may apply for an exception allowing minimum parking requirements to be reduced to no lower than 0.3 space per unit, to account for staff and guest parking, as justified through a parking study taking into account projected parking demand and availability of on-street parking within 800 feet of the project.
E. For market rate multifamily housing units that are located within one-quarter mile of a transit stop that receives transit service from at least one route that provides service at least four times per hour for 12 or more hours per day, an applicant may apply for an exception allowing minimum parking requirements to be reduced to one parking space per bedroom.
F. For corner-lot duplexes constructed pursuant to BMC 12.06.140(B)(18), an applicant may apply for an exception allowing minimum parking requirements to be reduced to one parking space per unit when any of the following conditions apply:
1. The corner-lot duplex is located within one-half mile of a transit stop that receives transit service at least two times per hour for 12 or more hours per day.
2. The corner-lot duplex is located within one-half mile of pedestrian access to a regional trail that provides a continuous two-way paved connection to employment centers and/or similar activity centers and amenities.
G. All uses which are located on an existing transit route and are required under the computation for required off-street parking spaces in BMC 12.16.030 to provide more than 200 parking spaces may be required to provide transit shelters, bus turnout lanes or other transit improvements as a condition of permit approval. Uses which reduce required parking under subsection B of this section shall provide transit shelters if transit routes adjoin the site. Adjoining uses which meet these criteria may coordinate in the provision of transit shelters.
H. Any development application to which this section applies shall complete and submit to the city all necessary agreements with transit agencies, rideshare programs, or other information required by this section prior to the issuance of any building permits associated with the development.
I. Any applicant for a development permit for other than a short plat or construction of a single-family residence shall inquire of the transit agency for the area in which the development would be located as to whether the agency desires a transit stop on the street or streets immediately adjacent to the development, or within the development itself. The applicant shall provide to the community development department a letter from the agency stating whether or not a transit stop is desired, and if so, whether the agency desires to construct and maintain a shelter at the stop. When a transit agency determines that a transit stop is warranted, the development shall incorporate the transit stop into the overall site design, including construction of a direct pedestrian connection from the transit stop to the development; construction of a pull-out, if desired by the transit agency; designation of land for a shelter, if the transit agency desires to construct a shelter; and installation of landscaping adjacent to the transit stop, in accordance with the transit agency’s landscaping standards. (Ord. 2348 § 6, 2021; Ord. 2325 § 2, 2020; Ord. 2154 § 2 (Exh. B), 2014; Ord. 2028 § 1 (Exh. B), 2009; Ord. 1815 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1798 § 1, 2000; Ord. 1629 § 1, 1996).