§ 18.38.040 — Exceptions and Reductions to Parking Requirements

The following are exceptions or reductions to the minimum off-street vehicle parking requirements established in Table 3-3 (Off-Street Parking Requirements) that are available: A. Shared Parking. In order to encourage efficient use of parking spaces and reduce the amount of land devoted to vehicle parking, the total parking requirements for adjacent compatible land uses that have differing peak parking demand may be based on the number of spaces adequate to meet needs of those individual land uses operating during the peak parking period. A Conditional Use Permit may be approved for shared parking facilities serving more than one use on a single site or adjacent sites. The Conditional Use Permit may allow for a reduction of the total number of spaces required by this Chapter if all the following findings are made: 1. The peak hours of parking demand from all uses will not overlap or coincide to the degree that peak demand for parking spaces from all uses will be greater than the total supply of spaces. 2. A parking demand study prepared by a qualified traffic engineering professional approved by the City supports the proposed reduction. 3. In the case of a shared parking facility that serves more than one property, a parking agreement has been prepared consistent with the provisions of Subsection B (Off-Site Parking for Nonresidential Uses). The agreement shall include a guarantee that there will be no substantial alteration in the uses that would create a greater demand for parking without application for approval of an amended discretionary permit. B. Off-Site Parking for Nonresidential Uses. Parking areas for all nonresidential and mixed uses shall be located on the same parcel with the uses; however, it is recognized that more efficient use of land, business, or organization growth, safety, or similar considerations may make off-site parking desirable. Therefore, off-street parking areas may be constructed on a parcel separate from the primary structure(s) occupied by the nonresidential uses with approval of a discretionary off-site parking permit. C. Residential Transportation Demand Management (TDM). In addition to the exceptions in Subsections A. and B. for shared and off-site parking, the Review Authority may approve an Administrative Permit for a parking reduction in accordance with the following provisions. Any combination of the following programs may be used; however, the total parking reduction shall not exceed 20 percent of required parking. 1. Reduction for Secure Bicycle Parking. Developments which provide additional secure bicycle parking facilities over and above the minimum requirement of this Chapter may reduce their automobile parking requirement by one vehicle space for every two additional bicycle spaces provided, up to a maximum five percent reduction in total vehicle parking spaces. 2. Reduction for Parking Near Transit Stops and Stations. Parking requirements may be reduced by a maximum of 10 percent when located within one-quarter mile of a transit stop, and 20 percent for sites located within one-quarter mile of a transit stop at which a minimum of 20-minute peak-hour service is provided. 3. Carsharing Stalls. Parking requirements shall be reduced by five stalls for each stall that is dedicated and designated for use by a car sharing program. The maximum reduction allowed is five percent of required parking. D. Non-Residential Transportation Demand Management (TDM). In addition to the exceptions in Subsections A. and B. for shared and off-site parking, the Review Authority may approve an Administrative Permit for a parking reduction in accordance with the following provisions. 1. A reduction in the required off-street vehicle parking spaces of up to 50 percent may be authorized with an Administrative Use Permit for non-residential structures or uses that conform to all of the following: a. The structure or use provides bicycle parking spaces in conformance with the requirements in Section 18.38.050 (Bicycle Parking Requirements); and b. For any project that requires a TDM program, the decision maker for the project application shall first find in addition to other required findings that the project applicant has demonstrated that it can maintain the TDM program for the life of the project, and that the TDM strategies proposed provide an offsetting benefit to the parking spaces lost. 2. In addition, the applicant is required to implement at least three transportation demand management (TDM) measures from the possibilities below: a. Implement a carpool/vanpool or car-share program, e.g., carpool ride-matching for employees, assistance with vanpool formation, provision of vanpool or car-share vehicles, etc., and assign carpool, vanpool and car-share parking at the most desirable on-site locations at the ratio set forth in the development permit or development exception considering type of use; or b. Develop a transit use incentive program for employees and tenants, such as on-site distribution of passes or subsidized transit passes for local transit system (participation in the regionwide Clipper Card or VTA EcoPass system will satisfy this requirement); or c. Provide preferential parking with charging station for electric or alternatively fueled vehicles; or d. Provide a guaranteed ride home program; or e. Implement telecommuting and flexible work schedules; or f. Implement parking cash-out program for employees (non-driving employees receive transportation allowance equivalent to the value of subsidized parking); or g. Implement public information elements such as designation of an on-site TDM manager and education of employees regarding alternative transportation options; or h. Make available transportation during the day for emergency use by employees who commute on alternate transportation (this service may be provided by access to company vehicles for private errands during the workday and/or combined with contractual or pre-paid use of taxicabs, shuttles, or other privately provided transportation); or i. Provide shuttle access to Caltrain stations; or j. Provide or contract for on-site or nearby child-care services; or k. Incorporate on-site support services (food service, ATM, drycleaner, gymnasium, etc., where permitted in zoning districts); or l. Provide on-site showers and lockers; or m. Provide a bicycle-share program or free use of bicycles on-site that is available to all tenants of the site; or n. Unbundled parking.