§ 12.4 — Parking Requirements

A. Introduction. For new development Downtown, transportation demand management (TDM) strategies and parking strategies are intended to implement a pedestrian-oriented district that is accessible by all modes of travel and not dominated by wide roadways and traffic. Auto-oriented environments are typically characterized by large and exposed surface parking areas. It is the intent of the Precise Plan and this Form-Based Code to both minimize the aesthetic damage of existing and new parking areas through occupiable building lining, and to facilitate the rationalization of parking areas to better levels of efficiency to support existing and new development. B. Applicability 1. The standards within this section shall apply to all residential and non-residential development and/or redevelopment within the Precise Plan boundaries. 2. Compliance with these standards is not required in the following instances a. a change of use within an existing building; or b. an expansion of an existing building; or c. a replacement of an existing building that does not result in an increase in floor area by more than 25 percent. C. Required Number of Vehicular Parking Spaces. In the Downtown Precise Plan Area, parking requirements shall be as summarized in Table 12-2, except for any reductions allowed per this Section. These requirements reflect a strong transit orientation for downtown. D. Shared Parking. Parking shared among uses is encouraged, and up to twenty percent (20%) of parking spaces provided may be shared between two uses. For the purposes of this title, those parking spaces shared between two uses count towards the parking requirement of both. Shared parking is justified when reduced parking reflect different uses have different time-of-day parking demand profiles, based on evaluation by a qualified transportation planner and the City. TABLE 12-2 | REQUIRED PARKING

| Use | Minimum Vehicular Parking Required | |---|---| | Office, civic, cultural and conference uses | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. of building area | | Grocery stores | 1 space per 500 sq. ft. of building area | | All other commercial uses, including restaurants and bars | 1 space per 1,000 sq. ft. of building area | | Hotels | 0.5 spaces per room | | Residential units | 1 space per unit for units greater than or equal to 550 sq. ft.; 0.5 spaces per unit for units less than 550 sq. ft.; 1 space per 20 units for guest parking | | Residential units for seniors, with on-site staff | 1 space per employee plus 0.1 spaces per unit |

E. Unbundled Parking. A maximum of one parking space shall be rented or sold with each unit. Additional parking spaces shall be rented or sold separately. As an alternative to renting or selling parking spaces separately from residential units, property managers may implement a parking preference program, with prospective renters without cars put on a separate waiting list from renters with cars, and renters being chosen alternately from the two lists. Require employers who provide free employee parking to offer a cash payment in lieu of the parking benefit. F. Off-Site and On-Street Parking. Required parking may be provided off-site but within the Downtown Zone. Directly adjacent on-street parking may count toward parking requirements for commercial uses. G. Required Electric Vehicle Charging Spaces (EVCS). All new development shall conform to the City of Santa Clara building electrification Reach Codes regarding EVCS (see Ordinance No. 2056), the Green Building Standards Code (SCCC Chapter 15.38), and/or any current City standard at the time of application. New residential development shall provide for EVCS and EV Ready Spaces in the quantities identified in SCCC Section 15.38.040 for residential uses and SCCC Section 15.38.050 for non-residential uses. H. Transportation Demand Management. 1. New development should provide secure indoor bicycle parking consistent with Zoning Code requirements. 2. New development should contribute to Transportation Demand Management (TDM), in order to promote transit and walkability in Downtown. Such TDM measures include: a. Transit Passes for Residential Uses – when residential developers commit to provide a monthly transit pass benefit to each residential unit; b. Transit Passes for Commercial Uses – when commercial developers commit to a monthly transit pass benefit, paired with a “guaranteed ride home” benefit for when employees have family or medical emergencies; c. Bike Commuter Facilities – when commercial projects make locker room(s) with shower(s) available to employees; d. Carsharing Spaces – when developers of large projects dedicate one or more on-site parking spaces to a carsharing operator for carsharing by residents and/or employees, with further reduction when on-site carsharing is available to the public; and/or e. Vanpool Spaces – when larger commercial projects reserve one or more parking spaces for an established employer-run vanpool program.