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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA001 - Council Action Form dated July 11, 2023 ITEM #: 22 DATE: 07-11-23 DEPT: P&H COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: TEXT AMENDMENT TO THE PARKING STANDARDS FOR RETAIL SALES AND SERVICES-GENERAL BACKGROUND: At the meeting on May 23, 2023, Council reviewed a request from Overflow Thrift Store (Attachment A) to initiate a text amendment to reduce parking requirements that would apply to their development of a new retail store. City Council gave direction to staff to proceed with a text amendment to reduce the parking requirement for all Retail Sales and Services-General uses. The current requirement is 1 space per 300 square feet (3 1/3 spaces per 1,000 square feet (Attachment B). The proposed ordinance (Attachment C) changes the minimum parking requirement to 2 spaces per 1,000 square feet of retail gross floor area for Retail Sales and Services-General. Two spaces per 1,000 square feet is the same as the requirement for wholesale trade and display/furniture stores. As staff evaluated the proposed text amendment, it was determined that related uses should be adjusted as well. The proposed changes delete the requirement for "Printing" and "Financial institution (freestanding or as ground level service area)". Without the specific rate, these uses would fall under the "Retail Sales and Services-General" for parking. Staff found that these uses were similar enough to "Retail Sales and Services-General" that they do not need distinct parking requirements. Staff believes that the proposed parking rate will work well for standalone, single-use retail buildings as it allows for an owner/developer to match parking to specific needs. The rate change for retail uses will mean that building owners and developers of shopping centers must plan for versatility and not design to the minimum retail parking rate. Shopping centers will need to be planned for a mix of uses since the retail rate will be lower than that of a restaurant or office. No other changes are proposed to dimensions, accessible spaces, landscaping, or pavement requirements. PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: The Planning and Zoning Commission met on June 21, 2023, to consider the proposed text amendment. The Commissioners discussed the merits and risks of reducing the minimum parking requirement for retail. Commissioners discussed how the changing the retail parking rate, but not changing the office rate (which is set at 1 space per 300 square feet) could prevent a retail development from being used for office. Commissioners generally agreed that a developer would need to plan for parking and use flexibility with their site plans to accommodate a mix of uses. 1 Commissioners also discussed whether reducing the minimum required parking for retail would lead to customers of retail shops parking in nearby neighborhoods. The Commission voted 5-1-0 to recommend that the City Council amend the minimum off-street parking requirements in Table 29.406(2) as presented in Attachment C to reduce the parking for Retail Sales and Services-General to 2 spaces per 1000 square feet. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve on first reading a text amendment regarding the Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements in Table 29.406(2) as presented in Attachment C to reduce the parking for Retail Sales and Services-General to 2 spaces per 1000 square feet. 2. Do not approve the proposed text amendment. CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: As currently written, the regulations for minimum off-street parking are designed to ensure that sufficient spaces are built on-site with new construction or a change of use. Minimum parking rates are designed to cover a large range of businesses operations and are not tailored to the individual needs of any one business. Creating a new rate to reduce the parking for all retail uses would support Overflow's request and be applicable to a wide range of retail trade uses from national chain stores to small local businesses. This type of change focuses on minimum needs of retail uses rather than maximum needs of high-volume retail establishments. Reducing the minimum parking requirement will have implications for new construction built with the reduced standard. Any development built with 1 space per 500 square feet (also written as 2 spaces per 1,000 square feet) would be prohibited from converting to an office use, which has a minimum requirement of 1 space per 300 square feet. This would apply to developments with one tenant space and to multi-tenant developments such as strip malls. Reducing parking requirements is consistent with Ames Plan 2040 policies that indirectly support reducing impervious areas and increasing efficiency of the use of land. Reducing parking rates will mean that individual property owners will install parking based upon their on market-oriented decisions where they could build more parking if they desire. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council approve Alternative #1 as described above. 2 Attachment A Request to Council Good afternoon- I am the Managing Director at Overflo« Thrift Store. We are contemplating a development project on land we own inrnediately to the east of our current leased store at 202 S Duff. As we have worked-,vith City of Ames Planning officials.one potential challenge for our site plan is parking code requirements. The current code of 1 parking spot," 300 sf building,.ould require approximately 64 parking spaces on our site. Our current draft site plan has 41 parking spaces plus 12 on-street spaces(which are not counted toward meeting the requirement.we do currently have 13 spaces in on-street parking),I We want to build on this land near our current store because it ensures our proximity to the populations we desire to serve. Specifically.we are connveiniennt for inndiriduals and families in the lowest household income brackets and to area homeless shelters. We are also convenient for individuals and families who walk or bike to our store. Please see attached map of Allies showing low income areas. Overflow is in or near some of the highest concentration areas of low income households. We respectfully request the Ames City-Council to authorize a parking code exception and/or City Staff re,%Iew of the Cite parking code overall,toward relief of the parking requirement for our development. Background This project is a long-term investment that will allow us to multiply our giving to those in need for years to come. This project will allow Overflow to reduce expenses and create a long-term asset that can be used for our mission. Overflow is a community effort to care for people in need through recycling and reselling clean, affordable goods. Our purpose is to give an ever-increasing percentage of our gross sales to individuals in need and to organizations serving community needs. In 2022, Overflow contributed over$160,000 to individuals, families, ministries and service organizations. Since its inception in 2014, Overflow has given nearly$620,000. At Overflow we believe we can also make a positive impact through recycling to create a healthier environment. The planned new facility will improve the efficiency with which we can accept and process recycling. We strive to sell or recycle as many donations as possible. We work with a variety of organizations in Iowa and the Midwest to recycle items that cannot be sold in our stores, including clothing, linens, shoes, stuffed toys, glass, metal, plastic and wood. In 2022, we diverted over 140,000 pounds of textiles to upstream recycling. In 2022, we sold or recycled over 617,000 pounds of material. 2022 Stats: Item Recycled Pounds Sold in Store Pounds Shoes 4,774 10,392 Clothing&Linen(Textiles) 141,925 98,943 Furniture NA 93,260 Household Items NA 232,178 3 Jewelry NA 120 Books&Media Approximately 50 boxes donated 2ZB78 to Holf Price Books Toys/Stuffed Toys 274 9,867 Purses&Bags Z633 572 TOTAL 149,609 pounds 468,210 pounds Thank you for your consideration. Best wishes, Sandy Swanson Mauaguig Director Overflow Thrift Store 515-321-8657 4 Attachment B Current Zoning Code Requirements for Parking Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS One and Two-Family and 2 spaces/Residential Unit(RU) 1 space/RU Single Family Attached (including Manufactured Homes outside RLP District) Apartment Dwellings 1.5 space/RU;for one-bedroom units DSC 1 space/bedroom for units of 2 bedrooms or more Developments with up to 18 units: 1.25 space/bedroom for units of 2 - 0-2 bedrooms units:NONE bedrooms or more in University - 3+bedroom units: 1 space/RU Impacted(O-UIE and OUIW) 1 space/residential unit for an Developments with more than 18 Independent Senior Living Facility units: 1 space/RU CSC-All Developments 1 space/RU Dwelling House 1 space per bedroom N/A Family Home 2 spaces plus 1 space/2 full time staff NONE members of the largest shift Group Living NONE Nursing and convalescent 1 space/5 beds,plus 1 space/2 staff homes members of the largest shift College and University 1 space/3 bed housing,fraternities and sororities Mobile Home and 2 spaces/Manufactured/Mobile Home NONE Manufactured Home in Space plus 1 space for guest parking/4 Manufactured/Mobile Manufactured/Mobile Home Spaces Home Parks Short-Term Lodging Hotel/Motel,including 1 space/guest room;plus 6 spaces/1,000 1 space/guest room,plus 5 ancillary uses sf of ballroom, meeting,bar and spaces/1,000 sf of ballroom, restaurant areas; plus 1 space/2 meeting,bar and restaurant areas; employees of the largest shift plus 1 space/2 employees of the largest shift Boarding houses,rooming 1 space/bed 0.5 space/bed houses, and lodging houses OFFICE 5 Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES Medical/Dental office 4 spaces/1,000 sf for all building sizes NONE except S-HM and DGC. S-HM shall be 7 spaces/1,000 sf for buildings less than 50,0000 sf and 5 spaces/1,000 sq.ft.and above.Any size with shared parking agreement shall be 511,000 sf DGC shall have a rate of 6 spaces per 1,000 sq.ft. Other office 1 space/300 sf NONE TRADE AND WHOLESALE Wholesale Trade 1 space/500 sf NONE Printing 1 space/200 sf of retail area;plus 1 NONE space/2 employees on largest shift; plus 1 space/company vehicle Fuel Sale/Convenience 1 space/200 sf;spaces at fuel pump NONE Stores islands may be counted towards this requirement Retail Sales and Services- 1 space/300 sf NONE General Display store(furniture, 1 space/500 sf NONE appliances,carpets,etc.) Financial institution Ground level: 1 space/250 sf,other than NONE (freestanding or as ground ground level: 1 space/300 sf level service area) Entertainment and 14 spaces/1,000 sf NONE Recreation Trade Sit-Down Restaurant 9 spaces/1,000 sf NONE Fast food restaurant 12 spaces/1,000 sf in dining or waiting NONE area,or 1 space employee if no seating Recreation facility,health 5 spaces/1,000 sf NONE club Enclosed tennis,handball, 4 spaces/court plus 1 space/200 sf for rest NONE racquetball or squash of building courts Bowling Alley 5 spaces/lane.Bar,restaurant and other NONE uses shall provide parking according to the requirement for that use INSTITUTIONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS USES Auditoriums,theaters, Greater of 1 space/5 seats or 10 Greater of 1 space/4 seats or 10 stadiums and arenas spaces/1,000 sf,with a minimum of 20 spaces/1,000 sf,with a minimum spaces of 20 spaces 6 Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES Places of Worship When seating is provided in main NONE auditorium: 1 space/4 seats, exclusive of Sunday School and other special areas. When seating is not provided in main auditorium: 1 space/60 sf of worship area Private clubs,fraternal 1 space/200 sf NONE organizations,libraries, museums and community buildings Funeral Home/Mortuary 1 space/50 sf in slumber rooms, parlors NONE and funeral service rooms Vehicle Service Facilities NONE Fuel Sales Only 3 spaces plus 1/employee Service/Repair Facilities 3 spaces plus 2 spaces/service bay Car Wash 2 spaces plus 5 stacking spaces/washing NONE bay Motor vehicle sales and 2 spaces plus 1 space/500 sf over 1,000 sf NONE service in the showroom,plus 2 spaces/service bay Hospital/medical center 1 space/2 beds plus 1 space/2 staff NONE members of the largest shift Schools primarily serving Greater of 2 spaces/classroom or 1 NONE children younger than age space/4 seats in auditorium 16 High schools and Greater of 1 space/2 students;or 10 4 spaces/classroom universities spaces/classroom;or 1 space/4 seats in auditorium Sports Practice Facility 2 spaces/1,000 sf of gross floor area 2 spaces/1,000 sf of gross floor area INDUSTRIAL Industrial Service, 1 space/500 sf plus 1/space/company NONE Manufacturing and vehicle Production,Resource Production and Extraction For manufacturing uses exceeding 50,000 sf 1 space/1,000 sf Warehouses One(1)parking space per 5,000 sf NONE MIXED-USE Mixed-use development parking shall be Mixed-use development parking DEVELOPMENT determined as the sum of parking shall be determined as the sum of requirements of the individual use parking requirements of the components individual use components 7 Attachment C Proposed Zoning Code Requirements for Parking Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES RESIDENTIAL DWELLINGS One and Two-Family and 2 spaces/Residential Unit(RU) 1 space/RU Single Family Attached (including Manufactured Homes outside RLP District) Apartment Dwellings 1.5 space/RU;for one-bedroom units DSC 1 space/bedroom for units of 2 bedrooms or more Developments with up to 18 units: 1.25 space/bedroom for units of 2 - 0-2 bedrooms units:NONE bedrooms or more in University - 3+bedroom units: 1 space/RU Impacted(O-UIE and OUIW) 1 space/residential unit for an Developments with more than 18 Independent Senior Living Facility units: 1 space/RU CSC-All Developments 1 space/RU Dwelling House 1 space per bedroom N/A Family Home 2 spaces plus 1 space/2 full time staff NONE members of the largest shift Group Living NONE Nursing and convalescent 1 space/5 beds,plus 1 space/2 staff homes members of the largest shift College and University 1 space/3 bed housing,fraternities and sororities Mobile Home and 2 spaces/Manufactured/Mobile Home NONE Manufactured Home in Space plus 1 space for guest parking/4 Manufactured/Mobile Manufactured/Mobile Home Spaces Home Parks Short-Term Lodging Hotel/Motel,including 1 space/guest room;plus 6 spaces/1,000 1 space/guest room,plus 5 ancillary uses sf of ballroom, meeting,bar and spaces/1,000 sf of ballroom, restaurant areas; plus 1 space/2 meeting,bar and restaurant areas; employees of the largest shift plus 1 space/2 employees of the largest shift Boarding houses,rooming 1 space/bed 0.5 space/bed houses, and lodging houses OFFICE 8 Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES Medical/Dental office 4 spaces/1,000 sf for all building sizes NONE except S-HM and DGC. S-HM shall be 7 spaces/1,000 sf for buildings less than 50,0000 sf and 5 spaces/1,000 sq.ft.and above.Any size with shared parking agreement shall be 511,000 sf DGC shall have a rate of 6 spaces per 1,000 sq.ft. Other office 1 space/300 sf NONE TRADE AND WHOLESALE Wholesale Trade 1 space/500 sf NONE Printing(The change 1 space/200 sf fretail area;p NONE reflects that this use is a e12 empleyees a i..fgest service use, like plus 1 s e/eampany vehiele Copyworks, that does not require a unique parking standard.A major printing establishment is considered manufacturing) Fuel Sale/Convenience 1 space/200 sf;spaces at fuel pump NONE Stores islands may be counted towards this requirement Retail Sales and Services- 1space/3 2 Spaces per 1,000 sq ft. NONE General Display store(furniture, 1 spae&5 2 Spaces per 11000 sa ft. NONE appliances,carpets,etc.) Fiffaneial iffstitutien Gr-etuad level: 1 spaee�250 sf-,other-than NONE (freestanding or as gr- ground level: 1 space/300 sf ieye!servicearea) (Branch banks, a service use, are retail;larger banks are offices. Staff could not identify a reason for a separate parking rate) Entertainment and 14 spaces/1,000 sf NONE Recreation Trade Sit-Down Restaurant 9 spaces/1,000 sf NONE Fast food restaurant 12 spaces/1,000 sf in dining or waiting NONE area,or 1 space per employee if no seating Recreation facility,health 5 spaces/1,000 sf NONE club 9 Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES Enclosed tennis,handball, 4 spaces/court plus 1 space/200 sf for rest NONE racquetball or squash of building courts Bowling Alley 5 spaces/lane.Bar,restaurant and other NONE uses shall provide parking according to the requirement for that use INSTITUTIONAL AND MISCELLANEOUS USES Auditoriums,theaters, Greater of 1 space/5 seats or 10 Greater of 1 space/4 seats or 10 stadiums and arenas spaces/1,000 sf,with a minimum of 20 spaces/1,000 sf,with a minimum spaces of 20 spaces Places of Worship When seating is provided in main NONE auditorium: 1 space/4 seats, exclusive of Sunday School and other special areas. When seating is not provided in main auditorium: 1 space/60 sf of worship area Private clubs,fraternal 1 space/200 sf NONE organizations,libraries, museums and community buildings Funeral Home/Mortuary 1 space/50 sf in slumber rooms, parlors NONE and funeral service rooms Vehicle Service Facilities NONE Fuel Sales Only 3 spaces plus 1/employee Service/Repair Facilities 3 spaces plus 2 spaces/service bay Car Wash 2 spaces plus 5 stacking spaces/washing NONE bay Motor vehicle sales and 2 spaces plus 1 space/500 sf over 1,000 sf NONE service in the showroom,plus 2 spaces/service bay Hospital/medical center 1 space/2 beds plus 1 space/2 staff NONE members of the largest shift Schools primarily serving Greater of 2 spaces/classroom or 1 NONE children younger than age space/4 seats in auditorium 16 High schools and Greater of 1 space/2 students;or 10 4 spaces/classroom universities spaces/classroom;or 1 space/4 seats in auditorium Sports Practice Facility 2 spaces/1,000 sf of gross floor area 2 spaces/1,000 sf of gross floor area INDUSTRIAL Industrial Service, 1 space/500 sf plus 1/space/company NONE Manufacturing and vehicle Production,Resource Production and Extraction For manufacturing uses exceeding 50,000 sf 1 space/1,000 sf Warehouses One(1)parking space per 5,000 sf NONE 10 Table 29.406(2) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND DOWNTOWN(DSC)AND CAMPUSTOWN(CSC) CAMPUSTOWN(CSC)SERVICE SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES MIXED-USE Mixed-use development parking shall be Mixed-use development parking DEVELOPMENT determined as the sum of parking shall be determined as the sum of requirements of the individual use parking requirements of the components individual use components 11 Attachment D Zoning Ordinance Excerpt — Retail Sales & Services-General Table 29.501(4)-3 Trade Use Categories Retail Sales and Services-General Definition.Uses that involve the sale,lease or rental of new or used consumer products,including prepared foods,to the general public and uses providing services involving predominantly personal or business services,including repair of consumer and business goods. Exceptions:Lumber yards and other building material sales facilities that sell primarily to contractors and do not have a retail orientation are classified as Wholesale Trade. Sales, rental, or leasing of heavy trucks and equipment is classified as Wholesale Trade.Uses for the repair and service of consumer motor vehicles,motorcycles,and light and medium trucks are classified as Vehicle Service Facilities. Repair and service of industrial vehicles and equipment, and heavy trucks is classified as Industrial Service. Uses Included Retail Sales: Stores selling,leasing,or renting consumer,home,and business goods including: - Antiques - Appliances - Art - Art supplies - Automobile supplies(no services) - Bicycles and Motorized Bicycles - Books and printed material - Clothing - Computer hardware and software sales and service - Convenience Store - Dry goods - Electronic equipment - Fabric - Furniture - Garden supplies - Gifts - Groceries - Hardware - Home improvements - Household products - Jewelry - Music supplies - Newspaper distribution - Office machines - Package liquor - Pets - Pet food - Pharmaceuticals - Plants and flowers - Shoes - Sporting goods - Stationery - Tobacco products - Toys - Video Food sales(not including seating areas): 12 Bakeries Candy Delicatessens Retail Personal,Business and Repair Services: - Animal grooming salons - Blueprinting and photocopying services - Branch banks - Business and commercial trade schools - Business and management consulting services - Dance or music schools - Dry cleaning collection and distribution centers - Emergency medical care facilities - Employment agencies - Hair,tanning,and personal care services - Kennels - Laundromats - Locksmiths - Martial arts instruction - Office equipment rental - Photo drop-off - Photographic studios - Quick printing - Recycling drop-off - Scientific and professional instrument repair - Sign making - Tailors - Television,bicycle,motorized bicycle,clock,watch, shoe,gun,appliance and office equipment repair - Upholsterers - Veterinarian offices Accessory Uses Offices and storage of goods,and manufacture or repackaging of goods for on-site sale 13 Attachment E Recent Zoning Ordinance Amendments for Minimum Parking Requirements Minimum parking requirements in Ames were first adopted with a rewrite of the Zoning Ordinance in 1965 (Ordinance 2109), around the time when many American cities were also adopting minimum parking requirements. Since 2020, Ames has reduced minimum parking requirements six times: - May 26, 2020 (Ordinance 4412): reducing the minimum parking for "Industrial Service, Manufacturing and Production uses exceeding 50,000 square feet - March 23, 2021 (Ordinance 4433): eliminating minimum parking for residential uses in the Downtown Service Center (DSC) Zoning District for apartment buildings with less than 18 units - October 12, 2021 (Ordinance 4449): eliminating minimum parking for "Auditoriums, Theaters, Stadiums, and Arenas" in the DSC and Campustown Service Center (CSC) Zoning Districts - August 23, 2022 (Ordinance 4476): reducing "Medical Office" parking requirements - January 10, 2023 (Ordinance 4487): reducing the minimum parking by 20% in commercial and industrial zoning districts where more than 100 spaces are required - March 28, 2023 (Ordinance 4493): altering front yard parking requirements, increasing the minimum requirements for fast food restaurants, and eliminating the minimum requirement for heliports or helicopter landing areas 14 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY AMENDING SECTION 29.406(2) THEREOF, FOR THE PURPOSE OF AMENDING MINIMUM OFF-STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR RETAIL SPACE, REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames,Iowa,that: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames,Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by amending Section 29.406(2)Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements as follows: Table 29.406(2)(Continued) Minimum Off-Street Parking Requirements PRINCIPAL LAND USE ALL ZONES EXCEPT DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN AND AND CAMPUS TOWN SERVICE CAMPUS TOWN SERVICE CENTER ZONES CENTER ZONES TRADE AND WHOLESALE Printing 1 space/200 sf of retail area;plus 1 NONE spaeeQ employees on largest shift;plus Retail Sales and Services-General 2 s aces/1 000 sf NONE Display store(furniture,appliances, sf 2 spaces/1,000 sf NONE carpets, etc. Section Two.All ordinances,or parts of ordinances,in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict,if any. Section Three. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Passed this day of 2023. Renee Hall,City Clerk John A.Haila,Mayor