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Home My WebLink AboutA003 - Council Action Form dated January 28, 2003 ITEM # F 1� DATE 01/28/03 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: MOTION TO APPROVE A TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING ORDINANCE TO ALLOW REMOTE PARKING IN THE RESIDENTIAL HIGH DENSITY (RH) DISTRICT, WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY-IMPACTED OVERLAY (O-UI) DISTRICT, WITHIN 300 FEET OF THE DOWNTOWN/CAMPUSTOWN SERVICE CENTER (DCSC) DISTRICT. BACKGROUND: The Land Use Policy Plan indicates that it is the goal (Goal 8, page 29) of the City to enhance the role of the Downtown and Campustown area through intensification and diversification. The plan establishes land use policy that envisions these areas to be the most intensely developed areas of the City (page 47). The purpose statement in the zoning ordinance indicates that the Downtown/Campustown Service Center (DCSC) District is intended to be the most densely developed area within the City. [Section 29.803(1)] Furthermore, the University-Impacted Overlay(O-UI) District is also intended as an area of intensification. [Section 29.1105(1)] Because the areas zoned DCSC are intended to be higher density commercial centers,the parking requirements within the DCSC District are greatly reduced in comparison to the other zoning districts in the city. For example, retail uses are not required to provide any off-street parking in the DCSC District. Generally, retail uses are required to provide parking at a rate of one parking space per 200 square feet of gross floor area of use in other zoning districts in the city. Additionally, residential uses, which are allowed in structures within the DCSC District above the first floor, are required to provide off-street parking at a rate of one parking space per each unit. Generally, multifamily uses in most other zoning districts must provide parking at a rate of one space per bedroom. The reason for the reduced parking standards in the DCSC District is to encourage less dependence on the automobile and more pedestrian activity, and also to maximize the land area devoted to commercial building space and minimize the land area devoted to parking. To date, the reduced parking standard for most uses, such as retail and office, are promoting a more pedestrian-scale development and has had little, if any, negative impact on the surrounding area. To date, the reduced parking standards for residential uses in the DCSC District are most likely encouraging some pedestrian-scale activity by reducing automobile reliance and ownership. However, the reality is that most people own automobiles and most people have their own bedroom when leasing an apartment unit. Therefore, while the Zoning Ordinance does not require parking for residential uses in the DCSC District based on the number of bedrooms, the demand for parking is generally based on the number of bedrooms. Consequently, the people who live in dwelling units in the DCSC district are creating a demand for more parking than what the district regulation requires. The Zoning Ordinance allows for off-street parking for uses within the DCSC District (as well as three other zoning districts)to be provided on another lot within 300 feet of the use. [Section 29.406(18)] This provision allows for uses within the DCSC District to provide parking on another lot within 300 feet of the principal use as long as the lot is zoned DCSC, HOC, CCN, or S-HM. It does not, however, allow for residential uses in the DCSC District to provide parking on a lot within 300 feet that is not zoned DCSC, HOC, CCN, or S-HM. As the larger scale residential development have begun to occur in Campustown, developers have indicated a willingness to provide additional structured parking on adjacent property within the Residential High Density (RH) District to help alleviate the parking demand. However, even if a developer wanted to provide additional off- street parking on a lot zoned RH, for residential uses located in the DCSC District, the developer would not be able to do so because the RH District regulations prohibit that use of property. It is staff's belief that the zoning ordinance, as it is currently written, creates an unintended conflict between the Land Use Policy Plan objectives of intensification and provisions of the Zoning Ordinance that do not accomplish the stated objectives because remote parking must be located in the DCSC District. Parking by its very nature contributes to a lessening of land use and commercial intensity. For this reason, staff believes there is a need to propose revisions to the Zoning Ordinance related to remote parking requirements that are designed to support land uses in the DCSC District. PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS. Staff believes that text changes to several related provisions of the Zoning Ordinance is needed to accomplish the following objectives: • Allow remote parking on property within the RH District that is also located in the University Impacted Overlay District and within a specified distance from the DCSC District. • This remote parking is limited to only residential uses located in the DCSC District. [A copy of the proposed ordinance amendments is attached to this Action Form.] RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSION: The Planning & Zoning Commission reviewed the proposed text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding remote parking regulations for Residential High Density(RH) District properties within the University Overlay (O-UI) District at their meeting of January 15, 2003 and approval was recommended. 2 ALTERNATIVES: 1. The City Council can approve the attached text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding remote parking regulations for Residential High Density (RH) District properties within the University Overlay (O-UI) District that are within 300 feet of the DCSC. 2. The City Council can deny the attached text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding remote parking regulations for Residential High Density (RH) District properties within the University Overlay (O-UI) District that are within 300 feet of the DCSC. 3. The City Council can refer the attached text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding remote parking regulations for Residential High Density (RH) District properties within the University Overlay (O-UI) District back to staff for further review and comment. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: It is recommended that Alternative #1 be adopted. Alternative #1 is approval of the attached text amendments to the Zoning Ordinance regarding remote parking regulations for Residential High Density (RH) District properties within the University Overlay District (O-UI) that are within 300 feet of the DCSC. Attachment 3 :ate �\ \\\`�,�♦ '=�� VV • r—:---�� ` Ell -- �' I'MElm Ellaw 9 ��; all ce, IRNSM WIN ON el 01 INS �.�• Mal _ MINIlk _ •, „r _ INr Q' .►. 41L Ak " MR1 MR mm NN � � . �� MIM: �