Woodinville is thinking about making some changes to its parking code.
The proposed alterations include making parking stalls in the city larger, requiring high schools to provide more parking for each student, and changing the way in which the number of spaces required for certain types of businesses is calculated.
While some changes appeared a little controversial, there was a consensus on one point: residents all said the current spaces are too small. According to current regulations, standard parking spaces have to be at least 22.5 feet long and 8.5 feet wide, while spaces for compact vehicles are 20 feet long and 8 feet wide. The city proposes to make the spaces shorter but wider, meaning that at a minimum, standard spaces would be 18 feet long and 9 feet wide, while compact spaces would be 16 feet long and 8.5 feet wide.
The requirements would be different for parking spaces that are angled to the curb. The width of one-way aisles would increase to 12 feet from the current 10 feet, and the percentage of compact spaces available in total would decrease from 50% to 30%. Tom Hansen, the director of public works, said changes are needed because today's cars are larger than those of the past.
Since these changes affect the entire community, city officials might work with a flyer printing company on a mailer for residents and businesspeople, asking for input.
