Prior to the adoption of 17.44.010 (Ord. 2191) on 07/07/2003, Section 17.44.010 read as follows.

A. Special Exclusions. Established business properties in a C-2 general business district, having an improved building on the property, as of January 1, 1989, are exempt from the parking and loadingrequirements and may use all the public right-of-way parking spaces allowed by law. This exclusion does not include any building, or portion thereof used as residential space. Any addition to an existing building or partial demolition and reconstruction of a building will require following the remainder of this chapter’ s regulations.

B. Procedure. An application for a building permit for a new or enlarged building, structure, or use shall include therewith a plat plan, drawn to scale, and fully dimensioned, showing any off-street parking or loading facilities to be provided in compliance with the requirements of this title.

1. All buildings and structures erected and all land uses shall provide accessory off-street parking or loading facilities as required hereinafter for the use thereof, excepting subsection A of this section.

2. When a building or structure erected or enlarged prior to or after the effective date of the city’ s new zoning code shall undergo a decrease in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, number of employees, or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities, and, further, when the decrease would result in a requirement for fewer total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of these standards thereto, off-street parking and loading facilities may be reduced accordingly; provided, that existing off-street parking or loading facilities shall be decreased only when the facilities remaining would at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements resulting from application of the provisions of these standards to the entire building or structure as modified.

3. When a building or structure undergoes any increase in number of dwelling units, gross floor area, seating capacity, or other unit of measurement specified hereinafter for required off-street parking or loading facilities, and further, when the increase would result in a requirement for greater total off-street parking or loading spaces through application of the provisions of these standards thereto, off-street parking and loading facilities shall be increased so that the facilities would at least equal or exceed the off-street parking or loading requirements.

D. Existing Off-Street Parking and Loading Spaces. Accessory off-street parking and loading spaces in existence on the effective date of the standards of this zoning code shall not be reduced in number unless already exceeding the requirements of this chapter for equivalent new construction; in which event, the spaces shall not be reduced below the number required herein for such equivalent new construction.

1. Tables for Required Off-Street Parking and Loading. Requirements governing the number and location of off-street parking, off-street loading facilities in relation to the use of property are established hereinafter in this title. The off-street parking and loading requirements for any use not specified in this title shall be the same as for a similar specified use, as determined below.

2. Floor Area. The term "floor area," as employed in this off-street parking and loading chapter, in the case of office, merchandising or service types of use, means the gross floor area of a building or structure used or intended to be used for service to the public as customers, patrons, clients, patients or tenants, including areas occupied by fixtures and equipment used for display or sale of merchandise.