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Orting council approves temporary parking rule changes for town‑center and sets hearings on senior center zoning request
Summary
Council approved a six‑month interim change to parking minimums in the Multi‑Use Town Center zone to ease development constraints, and staff scheduled public hearings on a senior center zoning text amendment that would allow community centers conditionally in residential zones.
The Orting City Council at its Jan. 15 study session approved an interim amendment to the city’s parking requirements in the Multi‑Use Town Center (MUTC) zone and set a public hearing on a senior center zoning text amendment.
Parking interim control for MUTC: Councilmembers heard that recent infill and redevelopment in the downtown core left some developers unable to meet current parking minimums. Staff proposed and council approved an interim control that reduces parking minimums for specified commercial uses in the MUTC from the code‑required number to 50% of the existing broad‑use standard for a six‑month period, with the possibility of one extension. The interim rule preserves required ADA stalls and excludes dwelling units from the reduction (upper‑floor apartments would still need to meet full parking standards). The measure will afford time for staff to draft a permanent approach to shared use of public parking, loading and other practical measures to support downtown revitalization. Council directed staff to hold the required public hearing on the ordinance as part of the regular process.
Senior center zoning text amendment: Separately, the Orting Senior Center requested a zoning text amendment to allow community centers (their primary use) within the Residential‑Urban (RU) zone. City staff advised caution about allowing community centers outright across RU neighborhoods because the RU zone’s purpose is to protect residential character; staff recommended community centers be allowed via a conditional use permit in RU zones and that churches be allowed only as accessory uses to community centers. The request stems from a property the senior center acquired that had been used as a church and community center; under current code the site is a legal nonconforming use and cannot lawfully expand without a change in code or a variance. Staff has submitted the necessary completeness and Department of Commerce notices; planning commission will hold a public hearing Feb. 3 and staff asked council to set a Feb. 12 public hearing on the matter. Council agreed to set the hearing date.
What this means: The parking interim control is a time‑limited step to reduce short‑term barriers to redevelopment in the town center while staff and council consider a permanent parking policy. The senior center ZTA will proceed through planning commission and a council public hearing; any request to expand the building will require a consolidated review that may include a conditional use permit and/ or variance depending on the proposal.
Ending: Staff will prepare a public hearing notice and draft ordinance for the parking interim control and return with a final recommendation after public comment; planning commission will forward a recommendation on the senior center zoning amendment and the matter will return to council at the scheduled Feb. 12 hearing.
