§ 18.38.070 — Off-Street Loading

A. Purpose. The purpose of these regulations is to provide the number, size, location, and screening requirements for loading areas for mixed-use, commercial, and industrial uses. The intent of these regulations is to minimize disruptions of traffic flow by freight-carrying vehicles and to minimize impacts to vehicular and pedestrian conflicts. B. Applicability. Off street loading areas are required for all commercial and industrial land uses equal to or greater than 20,000 square feet in size. Compliance with the standards shall be determined in conjunction with discretionary permits or approvals (e.g., Architectural Review). At a minimum, Zoning Clearance is required to determine compliance with the standards of this Section. C. Required Loading Spaces for Delivery and Distribution—Warehouse and Distribution Primary Uses. A structure, or part thereof, having a floor area of 20,000 square feet or more that is to be occupied by any use requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles or trucks of material or merchandise must provide at least one off-street delivery loading space, plus one additional such delivery loading space for each additional 40,000 square feet of floor area in excess of 20,000 square feet. The delivery loading space(s) must be maintained during the existence of the building or use it is required to serve. Truck-maneuvering areas must not encroach into required parking areas, travel ways, or street rights-of-way (see Figure 3-14 (Delivery Loading Areas)). D. Required Spaces for Delivery and Distribution – Other Non-Residential Uses. A structure, or part thereof, having a floor area of 20,000 square feet or more that is to be occupied by a manufacturing facility, retail store, hotel, hospital, laundry, wholesale store, or other use similarly requiring the receipt or distribution by vehicles or trucks of material or merchandise must provide at least one off-street delivery loading space, plus one additional such delivery loading space for each additional 100,000 square feet of floor area in excess of 100,000 square feet. In multi-tenant buildings, a common loading area may be required. Drive-in roll-up doors may be substituted for loading areas. The delivery loading space(s) must be maintained during the existence of the building or use it is required to serve. Truck-maneuvering areas must not encroach into required parking areas, travel ways, or street rights-of-way (see Figure 3-14 (Delivery Loading Areas)). E. Location and Dimensions. The minimum size for each delivery loading space required by this Section must be not less than 12 feet wide, 30 feet long, and 15 feet high, exclusive of driveways for ingress and egress and maneuvering areas. See Figure 3-14 (Delivery Loading Areas). Figure 3-15 Delivery Loading Areas F. Access. Each off-street delivery loading space required by this Section shall be provided with driveways for ingress and egress and maneuvering space adequate for trucks. All loading spaces shall be designed to ensure ingress and egress in a forward manner. G. Screening. See Section 18.34.050 G for screening requirements of loading docks. H. Location of Loading Areas. 1. The off-street loading areas (both delivery and customer), regardless of the development type, shall be on the same parcel as the structure they are intended to serve. 2. No loading space shall be located so that a vehicle using the loading space projects into any public street. 3. The off-street loading areas shall be designed and located so that loading vehicles are not parked in required setbacks, driveways, or required parking spaces during loading activities. 4. An off-street delivery loading space (excluding loading spaces for customers) required by this Section shall not be located closer than 30 feet to any parcel in a residential zone, unless the off-street loading space is wholly enclosed within a structure or on all sides by a wall not less than eight feet in height. 5. In industrial zones, a maximum of two loading spaces shall be permitted on the street side of any structure located within 60 feet from the street right-of-way. There is no restriction on the number of loading spaces located more than 65 feet from the street right-of-way. 6. No loading space may be located in a required yard setback. I. Modifications. In approving a project, the Review Authority may modify the number and size of loading spaces required because of the nature of the use or the design of the project.