HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-27-17 Public Comment - C. Shaida - Midtown Parking Policy DiscussionFrom:Chris Shaida
To:Agenda
Subject:May 1st CC Midtown/N7th Parking Discussion
Date:Thursday, April 27, 2017 9:02:12 AM
A suggestion for 3 straightforward steps to establish a common framework for thinking and asking
questions about the role that parking should play in planning for the future of N7th and for Bozeman
overall:
1. Establish a fact-based statement about whether there is or is not a current 'parking
problem' -- since without a clear and fact-based grounding in the present any thinking about the
future is bound to be muddled at best.
2. Acknowledge explicitly that every mandated parking spot costs money -- since demanding
that money be spent on more parking we, as a community, are getting less of something else
3. Articulate an explicit planning assumption about FUTURE parking demand, whether
same, up, or down -- since the entire ‘planning’ effort is about the future and all ANY ONE can
do about the future is extrapolate based on trends and assumptions
1. Establish a fact-based statement about the CURRENT situation. Is there actually a 'parking problem'
today or not? Or are people without any basis in fact just declaring that there is in order to describe their
fear that there may be one at some point in the future.
If a commissioner doesn't know then he/she can at least ask questions about data and the facts. Such
as, 'what facts, not individual anecdotes, do we have to support the statement 'there is a (big) parking
problem in Bozeman today'? What standard are you measuring against when you assert that there is a
(big) problem today?
2. Acknowledge explicitly that every mandated parking spot costs money. There is no such thing as 'free
parking'. Each required space represents a trade-off: less tax revenue from the parking lots than from
buildings; a demand for more parking spaces could instead be a demand for more lower cost living units.
None of this is to assert that we shouldn't require/demand parking but we have to stop pretending it is
free and recognize that by demanding it we are getting less of other things that we say we value (more
tax revenue or more affordable living spaces).
If a commissioner doesn't know then he/she can at least ask questions about data and the facts. Such
as, 'have we quantified what we could otherwise get if we demanded less parking?’
3. Articulate an explicit planning assumption about FUTURE parking demand. Whether that assumption
is that the future per capita parking demand will remain constant, go up or go down, by stating it explicitly
it can then be discussed explicitly. By definition this ENTIRE effort is about the FUTURE; no one can
'prove' what will happen in 3, 4, 5+ years when the actual buildings being 'planned' for will actually get
built.
The 'more parking' argument rests on ASSUMPTIONS about FUTURE parking demand, for instance:
1. that parking demand per capita will stay the same or even go up
2. that incumbent property occupiers should continue to enjoy free parking (paid for by general
taxation)
3. that all new property occupiers should not get free parking but should have to pay for their own
parking directly (thru increased rents/unit prices).
Of course, it is an individual or group’s right to have these assumptions and make these arguments but as
they are currently not stated explicitly they can't be challenged.
Alternately, it is also perfectly reasonable to have a contrary set of assumptions about the future:
1. that parking demand per capita will go DOWN in the (due to a combination of on-demand
transport, car sharing, materially different value placed on car access vs ownership by those under
40, autonomous vehicles);
2. that incumbent occupiers should no longer have 'free' parking but should pay something based on
usage;
3. that future occupants should pay for parking exactly commensurate with current occupants.
If a commissioner doesn't know then he/she can at least ask questions about data and the facts. Such
as, 'your point of view seems to be that parking demand has to increase -- either because demand per
capita stays the same and we have more people or because we have more people AND demand per
capita goes up as well. What data do you have to support that prediction about the future? Why do you
think that ALL of the other trends that might signal a DECREASE in parking demand per capita will NOT
come to pass in Bozeman?
Christopher Shaida 646-543-5505 | 406-282-1898