Commission weighs parking changes: keep guest-parking rules for middle housing, exempt affordable housing downtown from minimum parking

Planning staff recommended keeping the current guest-parking requirements for middle housing (duplexes, triplexes and similar) because much of the city lacks frequent public transit and the code already allows adjacent on-street parking to count toward guest-parking requirements. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about rounding rules for fractional parking calculations and staff confirmed standard rounding practice applies.

Staff also proposed exempting affordable housing in the CBD from minimum off-street parking requirements to reduce development costs and encourage more affordable housing downtown. Commissioners generally supported the exemption in the CBD; staff noted the MS (Marine Mixed Use) zone has other avenues to modify parking requirements, including parking studies that can support a reduction. Staff also summarized new state requirements (referencing RCW provisions discussed in the packet) on residential parking: jurisdictions must allow tandem parking configurations, cannot require larger-than-standard space dimensions for residential parking, may allow continued use of existing gravel/unenclosed parking in some situations, and must consider tree-retention requirements when mandating parking. Staff said they will fold state-mandated language into the draft development regulations.