AGENDA #11

MEMORANDUM

TO:	Mayor and Town Council
FROM:	Council Member Cam Hill and Council Member Jim Ward Downtown Parking Citizens Committee
SUBJECT:	Downtown Parking Citizens Committee - Report to the Town Council
DATE:	February 26, 2007

PURPOSE

We are pleased to transmit to the Town Council the work of the Downtown Parking Citizens Committee for your consideration.  The purpose of this report is to review and identify key issues of concern within the current downtown parking system, as well as highlight recommended goals, objectives, and potential strategies/actions, in accordance with the proposed guiding principles, needed to achieve an effective and efficient parking plan.

BACKGROUND

The Chapel Hill Town Council established the Downtown Parking Citizens Committee on May 8, 2006 (2006-05-08/R-14 attached); and subsequently made appointments to the Committee.  The Committee began its work in September 2006, and meetings continued until January 31, 2007.  Membership included Town Council Members; owners and operators of downtown businesses; residents of nearby neighborhoods; citizens who shop, work, or visit downtown; and representatives from the Transportation Board, Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Partnership, and University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill.

Charge of the Committee

• Review goals of the Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Small Area Plan related to downtown parking.
• Review past parking reports and surveys by the Town, the University, the Chamber of Commerce and others, including the 2004 LSA Associates report.
• Update the LSA survey of parking spaces in the downtown, to determine ownership, use patterns, use regulations, and other relevant information.
• Determine need for additional parking by geographic sector, taking into account potential development.
• Determine the cost to the Town to provide the current parking services and alternate service arrangements including free parking.
• Evaluate options for revising development regulations related to the provision of parking in downtown.
• Take into account the impact of any parking loss covered by the potential development of Parking Lot 5 and at the Wallace Deck; review temporary public parking plans for the construction period.
• Propose an implementation plan for addressing the identified downtown parking needs, and develop strategies to carry out this plan.

Schedule

June 2006	Appoint Downtown Parking Citizens Committee
July 2006	Begin Committee work
Fall 2006	Include opportunity for public comment
January 2007	Provide draft report to the Town Council
February 2007	Hold Council Work Session on draft report
March 2007	Conduct Council public hearing on draft report
June 2007	Consider Council adoption of Downtown Parking Implementation Plan

DISCUSSION

In accordance with the Committee’s Charge, our report to the Town Council accomplishes the following:

1. Review of Current Parking. This report reviews the current parking situation downtown, as well as the parking management system and operation of downtown parking. The report reviews:

• Comprehensive Plan’s goals
• Existing Parking based upon 2004 LSA Associates Parking Study
• Current Development Regulations and Land Use Management Ordinance
• Current Cost Information in the On-Street and Off-Street Funds

2. Guiding Principles. The Committee developed a set of proposed guiding principles that would establish the mission of Chapel Hill’s downtown parking system. These principles reflect a parking system that considers downtown parking as an economic development tool, and as, such is aimed at creating feasible and accessible parking for all, making the most positive experience for parking customers, and encouraging both new customers and old to conduct business downtown.  The principles stress management of parking as a system.

3. Issues Identified. The report identifies numerous issues that are needed in order to implement a successful parking plan. In accordance with the guiding principles for parking, these issues mark areas for improvement, including:

• Clarity of informational signage;
• Shared parking;
• Town of Chapel Hill and University communication and cooperation on common parking issues;
• Customer experience of parking and parking enforcement;
• User-friendly technologies

4. Recommended Implementation Plan.  After identifying the issues and needs of downtown parking, the Report to Town Council recommends an implementation plan. As parking is a system, the recommended management strategies are meant to be the first actions to be taken, followed by an evaluation and assessment of their effectiveness.  The recommended strategies/actions reflect an ideal parking system, and a wide range of possible management tools marked at improving downtown parking for all. Long-term assessments of parking demand and supply and the need for additional parking infrastructure, should only be regarded as tools for improving the parking system following the use of all potential management strategies. 

RECOMMENDATIONS

We request the Council receive the report, and refer it to staff to review the report recommendations, and report back to the Council on March 26, 2007.

ATTACHMENT

1. May 8, 2006 Agenda #9:  Memorandum – Formation of a Downtown Parking Citizens Committee with adopted Resolution establishing Charge and Composition for Downtown Parking Citizens Committee (2006-05-08/R-14) (p. 5).
2. Downtown Parking Citizens Committee - Report to the Town Council, submitted on February 26, 2007 (begin new page 1).