Orting council adopts six‑month interim parking relief for mixed‑use town center

The Orting City Council on Feb. 12, 2025, voted to adopt Ordinance No. 2024‑1137, establishing a six‑month interim control that reduces off‑street parking requirements by 50% in the Mixed‑Use Town Center (MUTC) zone for a defined set of business types.

Community Development Director Kim Gunderson said the interim control aims to remove a perceived barrier to downtown economic revitalization by temporarily lowering parking requirements while staff drafts a long‑term solution. "This is an effective, immediate solution to the concerns expressed by the off‑street parking requirements in the MUTC," Gunderson said.

The ordinance applies a 50% reduction to off‑street parking requirements in Title 13 for banks and savings institutions, business and professional offices, bowling alleys, on‑premise food and beverage establishments, medical and dental clinics, retail stores, theaters, museums and libraries. The ordinance excludes auto repair and mechanic shops and social or fraternal organizations, and it does not change parking requirements established under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Gunderson said. The staff report cites RCW 36.78 78.39 as authorizing interim controls that run six months and may be extended another six months.

Councilmembers who participated in the discussion said they supported testing the change for the interim period. "We're gonna try this and see how it goes," said Councilmember Hogan. Several councilmembers asked staff to monitor outcomes closely and return with recommendations before any permanent code rewrite. Deputy Mayor Emeritus Gunther asked staff to identify possible unintended consequences during the trial period, saying, "rules like this are often developed over decades for very good reasons," and urging attention to potential "gotchas." Gunderson cited the interim control specifically to give staff time for a more holistic municipal code update.

Councilmember Tracy raised technical questions about code language and measurement standards — for example, the draft uses "200 square feet of gross floor space" for on‑premise food and beverage but uses "square feet" elsewhere. Gunderson acknowledged that some differences appeared clerical and said a more comprehensive code cleanup is planned later this year.

No members of the public offered testimony on the item during the hearing. The ordinance was moved by Councilmember Hogan and seconded by Councilmember Gunther; the motion passed on a voice vote with all members present answering "aye." The city will implement the interim control immediately and monitor effects while staff develops a permanent code amendment.