A. Required Plans. Building permits shall not be approved unless there is a building plan and plot plan identifying parking and loading facilities in accordance with this chapter. No permit or City license shall be issued unless there is proof that required parking and loading facilities have been or are currently provided in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

B. Off-street parking spaces and driveways shall not be used at any time for purposes other than their intended use, i.e., the temporary storage of motor vehicles used by persons visiting or having business to conduct on the premises for which the parking is provided. Provided, however, the Director may approve other uses deemed to be reasonable and that will not adversely impact parking requirements for the primary use of the property such as street merchant pads, pedestrian refuge islands, and pocket parks for pedestrian seating and use.

C. Parking space required and intended for use by occupants or users of specific premises shall not be leased or rented to others, nor shall such space be made unavailable through other means to the users for whom the parking spaces are intended. This requirement, however, does not preclude shared parking arrangements approved by the City or other activities approved by the Site Plan Review Committee.

D. Except where specifically permitted in certain zoning districts, off-street parking spaces shall not be used for loading or unloading of commercial vehicles larger than those vehicles for which the parking spaces are intended.

E. Off-street parking and loading spaces shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of this chapter when any of the following actions occur. These provisions apply to all uses and structures in all land use districts unless otherwise specified.

F. Proposed large projects that are defined as major employers or worksites (RCW 70A.15.4010) shall provide an assessment of the cost of parking space separate from the cost of the area used for building purposes. This information will assist the applicant, the City of Lakewood and Pierce Transit to evaluate opportunities for parking reduction and TDM strategies.

G. Location. Off-street parking facilities shall be located on the same property as the use they are required to serve except as provided below. Where a distance is specified, such distance shall be the walking distance measured from the nearest point of the parking facilities to the nearest point of the building that such facility is required to serve.

H. Unlawful Removal. It is unlawful to discontinue prior approved parking facilities without establishing alternate facilities that meet the requirements of this chapter. Parking and loading facilities which are adequate to meet the requirements contained in this chapter shall be provided and maintained as long as the use they serve is in existence. These facilities shall not be reduced in total unless a shared parking agreement is canceled, a change in occupancy or use of a premises has occurred which results in a reduction of required parking.

I. Mechanical Parking Lifts. In commercial zones and multifamily developments, by approving a mechanical lift permit, mechanical parking lifts may be used to satisfy all or a portion of vehicle parking requirements. Additional surface parking up to twenty-five (25) percent of the required minimum amount of spaces may be required for lift systems unable to accommodate a range of vehicles including trucks, vans, SUVs, or large sedans. Applications submittals shall include any information deemed necessary by the Director to determine parking can adequately and feasibly be provided and that the following performance standards can be met and the following findings for approval can be made: