Title
Downtown Exempt Parking Area - Public Hearing
Recommended Action
Move to approve the proposed amendments to the Downtown Exempt Parking Area standards in OMC 18.38.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Downtown Exempt Parking Area amendments for residential development, as proposed.
Staff Contact:
Joyce Phillips, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development, 360.570.3722
Presenter(s):
Joyce Phillips, Principal Planner, Community Planning and Development
Background and Analysis:
At its February 17, 2022, meeting, the Land Use and Environment Committee (LUEC) referred to the Planning Commission a potential revision to the Downtown Exempt Parking Area map and requirements. The proposal, if approved, would make the area within the boundary exempt from automobile parking requirements for residential development.
Approximately 2 years ago, Community Planning and Development staff noted that some housing projects that had gone through the presubmission conference stage of review were not proceeding to the application stage. Upon inquiry, it was noted that the parking requirements were one of the reasons some of these projects were not moving forward.
In March 2021, the LUEC discussed potential revisions to the Downtown Exempt Parking Area boundary. The proposal was to keep the outer boundary the same, as shown in Figure 38-2 of Chapter 18.38 of the Olympia Code (see Attachment 1), but to make the entire area exempt from minimum parking requirements for residential development rather than having a portion of the boundary limited to a 10% reduction in residential parking requirements. The fact that the code currently allows the ability to request parking revisions of up to 40% administratively, and to higher degrees upon approval of the Hearing Examiner, were acknowledged.
The Committee referred the issue to the Planning Commission but asked staff to first compile data to help inform the Commission about parking demands in the area and the impac...
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