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<br />Staff Report <br /> <br />November 20, 2008 <br /> <br />Parking Space Standards <br />Zoning Ordinance Amendment <br /> <br />Backexound: <br /> <br />Parking regulations are established to recognize the parking needs of uses and structures, <br />to enhance the compatibility between parking and their surroundings, and to regulate the <br />number, design, maintenance, use and location of off-street parking, driveways, and <br />aisles that provide access and maneuvering space. <br /> <br />Planning Department has received several inquiries regarding possible hearings for <br />variances to the required parking space sizes, design standards and specifications as <br />stated in the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 106 of the Code of Ordinances). At issue, is the <br />standard parking space size of ten (10) feet wide and the maneuvering aisle with a <br />minimum of twenty-eight (28) feet wide. Several commercial developments in the City <br />are impacted by these design standards as less commercially zoned properties are <br />available for developments within the City. Urban sprawl causes land consumption as <br />land values and construction costs are rising, the developers are looking for maximum <br />utilization of land. <br /> <br />New multi-family regulations adopted by City Council several years ago have impacted <br />sections of the Zoning Ordinance particularly Parking (Section 106-835). The Planning <br />and Zoning Commission is being asked review current design standards for parking. <br />There have been several requests to study the issue to determine if there is a uniform <br />policy or standards that better defines parking space sizes and rules, which are currently <br />being used to set the standards. <br /> <br />Existine: ReQuirements: <br /> <br />Zoning Definition: Parking space means a surfaced area, designed to control dust and <br />moisture, enclosed or unenclosed, sufficient in size to store one automobile together with <br />a surfaced driveway connecting the parking space with the street or alley permitting <br />ingress and egress of an automobile. A parking space or any requisite maneuvering area <br />incidental thereto shall not occupy any public right-of-way. <br /> <br />Zoning Requirements: Each standard parking space shall not be less than ten feet wide <br />and eighteen feet in length, and each accessible parking space shall not be less than <br />fourteen feet wide and twenty feet in length. A minimum of 28 foot maneuvering aisle is <br />required for 90-degree parking, and 18-foot maneuvering aisle is required for 60 and 45 <br />degree parking respectively. <br /> <br />Analvsis: <br /> <br />. As stated, the potential issues are provision of maximum parking spaces in a <br />limited area for businesses or new commercial developments. Staff typically sees <br />this type of development with additional parking on typical lots size (25'xI25') in <br />the old town of La Porte. EXH , B 11 A <br />