23.48.085

A. Parking accessory to non-residential uses may be provided on-site or within 800 feet of the lot to which it is accessory, according to the provisions of Section 23.54.025 . B. Parking at street level within structures 1. Parking located at street level in a structure is subject to the provisions of subsections 23.48.055.C.3.a and 23.48.055.C.3.b, except as provided for in subsections 23.48.085.B.2 and 23.48.085.B.3. 2. Due to physical site conditions such as topographic or geologic conditions, parking is permitted in stories that are partially below street level and partially above street level without being separated from the street by other uses, if: a. The street front portion of the parking that is at or above street level does not abut a Class 1 Pedestrian Street requiring street-level uses; and b. The street front portion of the parking that is at or above street level, excluding garage and loading doors and permitted access to parking, is screened from view at the street level; and c. The street-facing facade is enhanced by architectural detailing, artwork, landscaping, stoops, and porches providing access to residential uses, or similar visual interest features. 3. Parking is permitted in a story that is partially above street level and partially below street level in a structure permitted in a setback area under the provisions of subsection 23.48.240.C.2.b. C. Accessory surface parking is permitted under the following conditions, except as provided by Sections 23.48.285 , 23.48.685 , 23.48.785 , and 23.48.885 : 1. All accessory surface parking shall be located at the rear or to the side of the principal structure. 2. The amount of lot area allocated to accessory surface parking shall be limited to 30 percent of the total lot area, and in the SM-NG zone shall not exceed 24,000 square feet. For parking that is accessory to a use on another site, this requirement is applied to the lot on which the parking is located. D. Parking and loading access. If a lot abuts more than one right-of-way, the location of access for parking and loading shall be determined by the Director, depending on the classification of rights-of-way according to the following: 1. Access to parking and loading shall be from the alley when the lot abuts an alley improved to the standards of subsection 23.53.030.C and use of the alley for parking and loading access would not create a significant safety hazard as determined by the Director. 2. If the lot does not abut an improved alley, or use of the alley for parking and loading access would create a significant safety hazard as determined by the Director, parking and loading access may be permitted from the street. If the lot abuts more than one street, the location of access is determined by the Director, as a Type I decision, after consulting with the Director of Transportation. In SM-SLU, SM-NR, SM-U, SM-UP, and SM-NG zones abutting streets with a pedestrian or green street classification, unless the Director otherwise determines under subsection 23.48.085.D.3, access is allowed only from a right-of-way in the category preferred among the categories of rights-of-way abutting the lot, according to the ranking set forth below, from most to least preferred (a portion of a street that is included in more than one category is considered as belonging only to the least preferred of the categories in which it is included): a. An undesignated street; b. Class 2 Pedestrian Street; c. Class 1 Pedestrian Street; d. Neighborhood Green Street. 3. The Director may allow or require access from a right-of-way other than one indicated as the preferred category in this subsection 23.48.085.D if, after consulting with the Director of Transportation, the Director finds that an exception to the access requirement is warranted. The Director shall base the decision on granting an exception on any of the following: whether and to what extent alternative locations of access would enhance pedestrian safety and comfort, facilitate transit operations, facilitate the movement of vehicles, minimize the on-street queuing of vehicles, enhance vehicular safety, or minimize hazards. Curb cut controls on designated Neighborhood Green Streets shall be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, but generally access from Neighborhood Green Streets is not allowed if access from any other right-of-way is possible. 4. If a street or alley vacation is proposed, the Director shall consult with the Seattle Design Commission on how the location and extent of the proposed curb cuts affects or impacts the public realm and how those impacts have been reduced. E. Curb cut width and number 1. Permitted access shall be limited to one two-way curb cut. In the event the site is too small to permit one two-way curb cut, two one-way curb cuts shall be permitted. 2. Curb cut width shall satisfy the provisions of Section 23.54.030 . (Ord. 125792 , § 6, 2019; Ord. 125558 , § 19, 2018; Ord. 125432 , § 12, 2017; Ord. 125272 , § 33, 2017; Ord. 125267 , § 24, 2017; Ord. 124883 , § 13, 2015.)