AGENDA #4p
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Authorization to Contract for Preparation of Parking Study
DATE: June 23, 2003
Adoption of the attached ordinance and resolution would authorize the Manager to execute a contract with L.S.A. Associates to prepare a study of parking patterns in Chapel Hill, with recommendations about possible new parking regulations. The principal work would be performed by Mr. Ray Moe of L.S.A Associates.
BACKGROUND
The Town Council enacted a new Land Use Management Ordinance on January 27, 2003. A major component of discussions up to that point had been the Town’s approach to managing parking.
In the previous Development Ordinance, parking was managed through a series of minimum off-street parking requirements, with ratios established for approximately 30 different land uses. (Example: For an office building outside of Town Center, the Development Ordinance required a minimum of 1 off-street parking space for every 350 square feet of floor area). In addition, the Council had adopted a policy statement setting an expectation that, for new development, no more than 110% of the required minimum parking would be provided.
During discussions on the new Land Use Management Ordinance, there were proposals to adjust, fine-tune, and calibrate these parking requirements. One idea was to introduce maximum parking requirements into the ordinance. Another idea was to eliminate minimum parking requirements. Specific new ratios were proposed and rejected as not being sufficiently customized to reflect Chapel Hill conditions, patterns, and policies.
The Council decided that further work was needed on this topic. Accordingly, the Land Use Management Ordinance was enacted with the old parking requirements simply carried over, and the Council simultaneously asked the Manager to arrange for a more detailed study of how parking might be managed in Chapel Hill. The Council asked the Manager to have a new set of proposals prepared by the end of the 2003 calendar year, and included funding in the 2003-04 budget for this purpose.
PROPOSED SCOPE OF SERVICES
We have contacted Mr. Ray Moe, from LSA Associates, Inc., to propose a scope of work to accomplish this task. Mr. Moe has worked with us on several previous projects, including revising the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and preparation of a Mobility Report Card. We asked for a proposal that would gather data about existing parking patterns (both numbers of spaces and utilization patterns) at local businesses, institutions, and residential developments, and then recommend ordinance language to manage parking requirements in a manner that is customized to Chapel Hill’s circumstances and policies.
The proposal from LSA Associates, Inc, is attached. The first phase of work would be a Parking Supply and Utilization Survey. The survey will take place over a 1-2 week period, with numerous sites surveyed each day. For each site, the number of parking spaces occupied and unoccupied will be identified. This will be repeated at a set interval throughout the day, to determine a histogram of parking utilization. Counts will be taken at banks, restaurants, churches, large retail businesses, residential developments, and two mixed use centers.
The empirical data set, coupled with industry standards, will lead to a set of recommendations for Chapel Hill regulations and policies. Recommendations will include ratios for off-street parking standards, discussion of minimum and maximum ratios, and discussion of the role of Transportation Management Plans to reduce automobile traffic and parking. There will also be discussion of current practices and experiences from other communities.
The cost of performing these services will be $45,000. We expect the empirical studies to be undertaken during the fall of 2003, at appropriately typical times. We expect a report by the end of the calendar year that can become part of a January Public Hearing that the Council has called to consider possible changes to the Land Use Management Ordinance.
A copy of the proposal is attached.
RECOMMENDATION
We recommend that the Council adopt the attached budget ordinance and resolution authorizing execution of a contract with LSA Associates, Inc. to perform these services.
ATTACHMENT
1. Scope of Services from LSA Associates, Inc. (p. 5).
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING CONTRACT FOR PARKING UTILIZATION STUDY (2003-06-23/R-16)
WHEREAS the Chapel Hill Town Council intends to adjust parking requirements that are currently prescribed in Chapel Hill’s Land Use Management Ordinance; and
WHEREAS the Council wishes to have current information about parking utilization patterns in Chapel Hill, and recommendations for new regulations based on current conditions and policies;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council authorizes the Town Manager to contract with LSA Associates, Inc., for services to study parking in Chapel Hill and make recommendations, as described in a “Town of Chapel Hill Parking Study Scope of Services” prepared by LSA Associates, Inc., dated June 17, 2003.
This the 23rd day of June, 2003.
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND “THE ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2002 (2003-06-23/O-4)
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Budget Ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Concerning Appropriations and the Raising of Revenue for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2002” as duly adopted on July 26, 2002 be and the same is hereby amended as follows:
ARTICLE I
Current Revised
APPROPRIATIONS Budget Increase Decrease Budget
GENERAL FUND
Planning 1,015,717 45,000 1,060,717
ARTICLE II
REVENUES
GENERAL FUND
State-Shared Revenue 9,859,000 45,000 9,904,000
This the 23rd day of June, 2003.