PDD Parking Wavier

The zoning ordinance gives the Planning and Development Department (PDD) responsibility for administering various types of parking determinations, variances, and waivers.  Those are:

Determining a “District approach” to parking

Per 50-14-7(a)(2)
For retail, service, and commercial uses specified in Article XII, Division 1, Subdivision D, of this chapter with the exception of those uses in Section 50-12-71 of this Code, Vehicle Repair and Service, and in Motor Vehicles, Used, Salesroom or Sales Lots, specified in Section 50-12-69 of this Code, Retail Sales and Service, Sales-Oriented, located on zoning lots abutting a Traditional Main Street Overlay Area or on land zoned SD1 or SD2, or where located within 0.50 miles of a high-frequency transit corridor as defined in Section 50-16-242 of this Code, the maximum distance that off-street parking shall be provided from the principal use specified in Subdivision B of this division may be increased to 1,320 feet where the applicant can show to the satisfaction of the Planning and Development Department that a "district approach" to parking is being used in the Traditional Main Street Overlay Area or other area nearby. To show a district approach to parking, the applicant shall provide the following:

1. A signage plan to show how the business will direct customers and employees to the off-site parking lot, including parking signage and wayfinding;
2. A plan for who will manage and maintain the off-site parking facility, including safety and security measures; and
3. Where the parking area or parking structure is owned by someone other than the applicant, a shared parking agreement shall be required according to Section 50-14-156 and Section 50-14-159 of this Code;

Manufacturing and production

Per 50-14-63, the required off-street parking for manufacturing and production uses is 1 per 800 square feet, or 1 per 3 employees, as determined most appropriate by the Planning and Development Department.

Within a Traditional Main Street Overlay Area

Per 50-14-153(b)

New buildings must comply with all of the requirements in the Traditional Main Street Overlay standards, as specified in Section 50-14-432 through Section 50-14-450 of this Code, except that only the provisions of Subsections (b)(2)c.1., (b)(2)c.2., and (b)(2)c.3. of this section shall apply to the East Warren and West Warren Traditional Main Street Overlay Areas and the portion of the Grand River/Lahser Traditional Main Street Overlay Area between Greenfield and Woodmont and between Evergreen and Lahser, and to the Van Dyke Traditional Main Street Overlay Area.

1. Except for within the East Warren and West Warren Traditional Main Street Overlay Areas and the portion of the Grand River/Lahser Traditional Main Street Overlay Area between Greenfield and Woodmont, and between Evergreen and Lahser, and to the Van Dyke Traditional Main Street Overlay Area, new uses in existing buildings shall be eligible for this waiver only if, at a minimum, the building complies with the following standards from Division 3, Subdivision C, of this article:
   1. The front façade of the building is located on the lot line facing the Traditional Main Street or set back a maximum of ten feet in accordance with the standards in Section 50-14-432 of this Code;
   2. The street level façade of the building has a minimum of 60 percent transparency according to Section 50-14-436 of this Code; and
   3. The building has an active entry way located on the façade facing the Traditional Main Street, according to Section 50-14-439 of this Code.
2. In the case where one building or development contains multiple retail, service or commercial uses, the total number of spaces that may be waived for a building or development using this waiver shall not exceed 45 spaces.

SD1/SD2 Areas 

Per 50-14-153(c) 

SD1/SD2 Areas. In addition to the parking waiver granted for buildings under 3,000 square feet per Section 50-14-7(3) of this Code, on properties zoned SD1 or SD2, the Planning and Development Department may grant a waiver of the off-street parking requirements, for the first 3,000 square feet of pedestrian-oriented retail, service, or commercial uses. The Planning and Development Department shall have authority to consider such waiver, ensuring that the waiver will not be injurious to the adjacent or surrounding areas by creating or increasing traffic congestion or by disrupting traffic circulation. In the case where one building or development contains multiple retail, service or commercial uses, the total number of spaces that may be waived for a building or development using this waiver shall not exceed 45 spaces. 

 
“Schedule C” uses (Indoor commercial recreation, certain outdoor recreation, …) 

Per 50-14-92 

Because Schedule C uses have widely varying parking demands, it is difficult to specify a single requirement. The off-street parking requirement for such uses shall be established by the Planning and Development Department based on estimates of parking demand, which may include recommendations of the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE), data collected from uses that are the same or comparable to the proposed use, or other relevant information. The Planning and Development Department may require that a parking study be prepared at the applicant's expense. Said study shall provide analysis and justification for the proposed number of spaces to be provided. Parking studies shall document the source of data used to develop the recommendations. The Planning and Development Department shall review the submitted study along with any other traffic engineering and planning data that are appropriate and establish the off-street parking or loading requirements for the use proposed. 

To apply for a review by PDD, please submit the following application Greg Moots at [email protected].  Please contact Mr. Moots or Helen Marie Sharpley ([email protected]) with any questions.