ZOUTF Task #4: Updating the Parking Ordinance
Decatur Metro | July 19, 2012Here’s a biggie.
For years now, when discussing various controversial parking issues – from 315 West Ponce to Farm Burger – we keep hearing from residents who say Decatur needs to fix its parking ordinance. Parking variances can be a regular agenda item for the Zoning Board of Appeals agenda, as new developments and businesses fail to meet the 1 parking spot per 100 square feet (for restaurants) and 400 square feet (for office space).
The 2010 Strategic Plan suggests the same thing. Task 14H: UPDATE PARKING STANDARDS TO ALLOW INNOVATIVE PARKING STRATEGIES SUCH AS SHARED PARKING.
Currently, shared parking arrangements with neighboring properties often need approval from the ZBA, due in part to the limited nature of the shared parking rule that requires complementary use and a location within 300 feet.
Task #4 on the Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force list is updating the parking ordinance to allow more flexibility in the definition of “shared parking”, as well as looking at lowering the overall requirements for parking inside the city limits.
According to ZOUTF’s presentation from March, parking studies in 2009 and 2011 show that “the downtown area has opportunities for shared parking among existing sites and that parking requirements could be reduced for new developments.”
So, how is ZOUTF currently looking to “update” the parking ordinance? Here are the ideas currently being floated…
- Allowing shared parking for different land uses on the same site.
- Increasing the distance allowed for shared parking between sites.
- Modifying minimum and maximum parking requirements based on the land uses that will share parking.
- Allowing owners to pay into a parking bank in lieu of providing parking onsite.
- Allowing on-street parking to count towards parking requirements.
Feedback, questions, comments should be shared with Decatur’s Planning Director Amanda Thompson at amanda.thompson@decaturga.com.
Latest from Decaturish
I’m in favor of these type of changes but only if they are in conjunction with more funds and manpower allocated for enforcement.
The ambassadors work primarily around the square and during daytime hours. The lower Ponce area 315 to Farm Burger needs enforcement especially during the evening hours.
Ideas should be explored to discouraged retail parking on residential streets. (best idea I’ve heard so far is metering all the residential streets near retail areas but offering some type of parking pass/sticker for residents of those streets to park on their block without paying)
Also ideal would be some type of shuttle service to carry people from the county deck or other designated parking areas to various restaurant/retail areas around town.
Updates of parking ordinances will cause more problems for residents living near retail areas unless the City makes greater effort towards enforcement of parking rules. The City and local businesses need to be willing to stand behind the issue of walk-ability and let visitors ( and locals who prefer to drive) know that they must expect to pay for parking when they visit Decatur businesses.
Metered parking anywhere in Decatur is not charged after 6PM, so evening enforcement is not an issue. The PALS do enforce meters all the way out W Ponce the same as anywhere else.
I thought meters went until 8pm but I must be mistaken. If not then this is something that should be considered. Parking is an issue is the evenings. Perhaps the City should not forgo revenue during the busy dinner hour.
Isn’t a one focus of this updating of codes to get people out of their cars ? Shouldn’t parking charges be collected in the evening, too ?
Actually, the study shows that Decatur’s various parking facilities are virtually empty during the evenings, even on Fridays and Satrudays. Evening and weekends is the time for which the least amount of cars are parked in Decatur.
Seems like this would be the perfect opportunity by allowing businesses who are busy at night – restaurants – to make use of these parking facilities.
I sympathize with the Fairveiw folks for the parking hassles – though I am also simultaneously envious of your close proximity to some fab eating establishments!
I do believe that parking signage really needs to be addressed. I haven’t been everywhere, but I think Asheville has good signage for parking. It’s brightly colored, there are specific and distinctive signs JUST for parking. These are things we currently lack.
I’m not saying this will solve Fairview’s problems, because there are always going to be folks who will want to park close regardless of signage. Or it will just rain and people won’t want to walk from a far away deck. But better signage can overall be a net positive, so hopefully we can look at it after we install the new parking meters.
Yes for signage. Had to explain to more than one person, there’s plenty of parking in the deck, and then explain where it was. And making the deck more noticeable wouldn’t hurt either. I think if people knew they could park free with no hassle, they’d choose that over circling. As has come up before, maybe they could do something to make people feel safer about using the deck at night too. I’ve used it at night and felt fine but never later than 11, probably around midnight/1am it’s a little less used and more creepy.
“Allowing owners to pay into a parking bank in lieu of providing parking onsite.”
Would this be a one-time fee or an annual fee?
This discussion makes me wonder how other walkable towns handle this issue. I am thinking of State Street in Madison, WI. The street is open only to busses, bikes, and pedestrians and I can’t imagine that all of those restaurants and shops are required to provide or assure parking. Does anyone know more about how other super-walkable places handle this?
I’d like to know that,too. Especially interested in other walkable with single family residential areas adjacent to busy retail areas.
To the best of my knowledge, State Street works the same way as the south side of the square (dining row, from the courthouse to Church Street). That is, it’s old enough that it predates parking requirements and therefore operates with no requirement at all. Given that there is sufficient parking in the surrounding area, those arriving by car simply figure it out for themselves as they do here or merchants partner to make for easier access (such as the valet service that operated — may still operate? — in front of the gazebo).
I’ve always thought how wonderful it would be to close off W. Ponce from Commerce to Commerce and let it be a true walking city. There are plenty of parking spaces in the parking lots nearby.
+1
Try these ideas based upon Donald Shoup’s concepts in the High Cost of Free Parking
1. Tax all private parking spaces on surface lots and decks. (Need state enabling legislation) Business must decide whether they are going to continue to provide “free” parking to employees and custormers, or whether they are going to encourage walking, biking and transit.
2. On-street metered parking should be enforced 24/7. There is no free parking, ever. The price is variable based upon demand. Sensors are placed in all metered spaces. They are networked to determine the demand for parking and price is variable based upon demand and location. Could be 10 cents an hour for 3 AM, or $5 for Noon on a weekday. Spaces next to the square might be more expensive depending upon demand. Price is calculated to market value. Meters require credit cards. A phone app identifys vacant spaces and shows price. Less crusing.
3. Revenues from the parking go towards improving the pedestrian enviornment in Decatur: sidewalks, street trees, public art, the Square, or a shuttle. All local businesses will benefit.
4. Eliminate parking minimums and let the market figure it out.
5. New apartments and condos must separately price parking and housing. If you don’t need a space, don’t buy one.
6. Nearby residential streets get meters and residents get some free permits depending upon driveway configuration, garage etc.
What Decatur had better figure out is not how to drive customers away but how to pull them in. Emory Point will be a huge competitor to Decatur and it is just getting started.
Do-gooder parking fees are all well and good but who is going to pay them?
Not to worry, I think Emory Point is going to have an Atlantic Station feel. I doubt there will be a genuine urban experience.
Enabling cars in Decatur is not helping it. Parking consumes an enormous amount of space with very little return on investment. It pushes costs of development up and forces a very suburban pattern of every use accompanied by it subservient, accessory parking lot: CVS, Taco Mac, old Wachovia property, etc. Downtown Decatur won’t be economically successful until it divorces itself from the car. The existing and built out, low density single-family homes are not going to create a sufficient economic market to spur growth in downtown. It needs rooftops. Trying to accomodate car parks in a traditional manner will cut in half the future market for Decatur.