18A.80.060 Parking incentives.
A. When residential uses are combined with commercial uses in the same building, parking requirements may be reduced by twenty (20) percent, except when located within the CBD or TOC zoning districts for which parking requirements are reduced by thirty-five (35) percent.
B. A structured parking space shall count as one and one-half (1.5) parking spaces towards the required number of parking spaces.
C. When affordable housing is constructed pursuant to Chapter 18A.90 LMC, Housing Incentives Program, the parking space requirements shall be calculated employing any available modifications based upon LMC 18A.90.060.
D. Shared Use Parking. Joint use of required parking spaces may be permitted where two (2) or more uses on the same site or separate sites in close proximity to one another are able to share the same parking spaces because their parking usage does not materially overlap (e.g., uses primarily of a daytime versus nighttime, or weekday versus weekend nature). Shared parking shall be legally encumbered and shall meet all of the applicable standards of this section pursuant to subsection (E) of this section, Off-Site Parking.
E. Off-Site Parking. Joint use of required parking spaces may be authorized by the Director if the following documentation is submitted in writing to the Community and Economic Development Department:
1. The names and addresses of the owners and/or tenants that are sharing the parking.
2. The uses that are involved in the shared parking.
3. The location and number of parking spaces that are being shared.
4. An analysis showing that the peak parking times of the uses occur at different times and/or that the parking area will be large enough for the anticipated demands of both uses.
5. A legal instrument such as an easement or deed restriction that guarantees continuing access to the parking for both uses which shall be subject to review and approval by the Director.
F. On-Street Parking Credit. Where adjacent roads are designed for on-street parking and approved by the Public Works Director, parking credit may be given for on-street parking.
G. Electric Vehicle Charging Parking Provisions. For every electric vehicle charging station provided, the required number of parking spaces may be reduced by an equivalent number, provided the total reduction does not exceed five (5) percent of the total required parking spaces. For example, if forty (40) parking spaces are required and two (2) electric vehicle charging stations are provided, the total required parking may be reduced to thirty-eight (38) spaces, yielding thirty-six (36) “regular” parking spaces and two (2) electric vehicle charging parking spaces. Note that in this example the total reduction may not be in excess of two (2) spaces (40 × 5% = 2), so if three (3) electric vehicle charging stations were provided instead, the total reduction in required parking would still be two (2) spaces, yielding thirty-five (35) “regular” parking spaces and three (3) electric vehicle charging parking spaces.
H. Phased Reduction of Maximum Parking Standards. One technique for transportation demand management (TDM) is to reduce maximum allowable parking spaces. This reduction in parking can be accomplished by slowly phasing down the maximum allowable number of parking spaces over a period of years. This procedure has advantages of reducing vehicle trips and conserving urban commercial land that can be used for other purposes. However, TDM has the potential to have a significant adverse impact on the jurisdiction’s economic development if other reasonable forms of alternative transportation are not available. This technique should be periodically revisited to consider its viability but should not be implemented until its feasibility for Lakewood is established.
1. Minimum Optional Guidelines and Maximum Standards. To promote parking reduction, the optional minimum guideline listed in LMC 18A.80.030(F) serves as a suggested parking number but is not mandatory for automobiles except for single-family residential development. Applicants will be encouraged to provide less automobile parking than the minimum listed whenever possible based upon TDM, available on-street parking, and the potential for shared parking within walking distance and other factors. The minimum number listed for bicycle parking shall be provided as indicated in the table for both commercial and residential development.
2. The number of parking spaces needed to serve a project must be demonstrated to the Director based upon a parking plan considering TDM techniques and other relevant factors. Upon justification to the satisfaction of the Director, whatever number of parking spaces agreed upon shall be the number required, and this shall be an enforceable condition of the approval.
3. The maximum parking standards may be increased if the Director finds compelling reasons to do so. Such determination shall be at the sole discretion of the Director based upon such factors as unique site or use requirements, historical data of a particular use or other relevant factors indicating additional parking is necessary to properly serve a use or uses at a site.
4. For large projects where a traffic study is required and the proposal has one hundred (100) or more employees, a comprehensive TDM strategy may be proposed to achieve a reduction in minimum parking listed in LMC 18A.80.030(F). The reduction in parking permitted shall be commensurate with the permanence, effectiveness and demonstrated reduction in off-street parking demand effectuated by such alternative programs.
Alternative programs that may be considered by the Director under this provision include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. Private vanpool operation;
b. Transit/vanpool fare subsidy;
c. Imposition of a charge for parking;
d. Provision of subscription bus services;
e. Flexible work hour schedule;
f. Capital improvements for transit services;
g. Preferential parking for carpools/vanpools;
h. Participation in the ride-matching program;
i. Reduction of parking fees for carpools and vanpools;
j. Establishment of a transportation coordinator position to implement carpool, vanpool and transit programs;
k. Bicycle parking facilities including associated shower and changing facilities;
l. Compressed work week;
m. Telecommuting;
n. Other techniques and strategies approved by the Site Plan Review Committee.
5. Parking reduction under this subsection must provide information regarding the administration of the program to the Director. The information must include:
a. Address each individual TDM strategy as part of the transportation impact analysis;
b. Provide the City with an estimate of peak hour employees as part of their development application and traffic impact analysis;
c. Provide estimated parking occupancy rates for the development as part of the transportation impact analysis showing average weekday use;
d. Demonstrate how TDM strategies will be used to minimize the need for parking.
I. Credit for Tree Preservation. For every significant tree and/or heritage tree preserved within the property, the required number of parking spaces may be reduced by one-half (0.5) spaces, provided the total reduction does not exceed five (5) percent of the total required parking spaces, when combined with all parking incentive credits. [Ord. 775 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 726 § 2 (Exh. B), 2019.]