HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-04-17 Public Comment - L. Kirk - Black Olive II, Parking DataLisa Bithell Kirk
227 East Olive Street
Bozeman MT 59715
3 August 2017
Bozeman City Commission xc: J. Bremer, Gallik Law Firm
Bozeman Department of Community Development Save Bozeman, Inc.
City of Bozeman
121 N. Rouse Street
Bozeman MT 59715
Parking Data Submitted to the Record for the August 7, 2017 review of the Black Olive Proposal
To the City Commission,
Please find attached a revised version of the BPNA Parking Count from 2016, which was presented to
the City Commission in December of 2016 in support of a proposed parking district requested in writing
by 76 neighbors. This document reflects some 250 person hours of work in collecting and analyzing
parking use for an entire week one year ago. We have updated the analysis provided in this document
to reflect the changes in the Black Olive parking plan. This is submitted to the record for consideration
during the August 7 review of the updated Black Olive proposal.
The applicant has restructured his proposal to reduce the number of apartment units per bedroom,
thereby reducing the number of required parking spaces while not reducing the number of resident
drivers proportionally. With accommodation for a parking share and by increasing the actual number of
parking spaces by 3, this project now meets the minimum Bozeman code requirement of 1 parking
space per address (apartment) for commercial property. We note that this requirement is well less than
the US average number of 2.3 vehicles per household with 2 drivers (the likely number in the Black Olive
apartments). We further note, based on cited US Census data, that Montana has the highest per capita
number of vehicles of any US state; this suggests that the national mean underestimates the actual
number of vehicles per Montana household. For 47 apartments, with 2.3 vehicles per apartment
(household), the Black Olive project will require 108 parking spots, not 47. This indicates that there will
be an additional 61 parking spots required above the 3 on-street parking spots which are allocated to
the project under the proposal.
Our comparison of available parking with the projected need for 61 on-street parking spaces for the
Black Olive Project indicates that this project would occupy one-third (32%) of the total available parking
on the streets immediately adjacent to the project, East Olive Street and South Bozeman Avenue, which
Parking Data Resubmittal, Black Olive Project Page 2
have 190 total spaces. This percentage greatly exceeds the percentage (1.6%, or 3 spaces per 190
spaces) allocated to the Black Olive Project based on street frontage under Section 38.540 of Bozeman’s
current Unified Development Code draft. Distribution of these 61 additional vehicles across the
histograms developed using the 2016 parking count data (e.g., Figures 10 and 11, see attached report)
shows that this overload would occupy all available parking on one of these two streets, all of the time,
and much of the available parking on the second street. Out analysis does not include the impacts of
the commercial activities planned at Black Olive, which are not regulated for a facility with fewer than
3000 feet. Multiple projects at this scale will destroy access to parking and create overwhelming
crowding in downtown Bozeman. While more residents may afford downtown businesses greater foot
traffic, elimination of available “overflow” parking in our neighbor will deter other city residents from
attempting to do business downtown.
Due to existing and highly probably additional congestion and pressure on available parking in the
Bogert Park Neighborhood, 76 residents of the Bogert Park Neighborhood Association petitioned the
City Commission to enact a residential parking district. This request, made in December 2016, never
received a formal response from the City of Bozeman. We hear that a city-wide parking study is
underway, but note that East Olive Street is under construction, so that any assessment made in 2017
will be strongly biased.
I ask the City Commission to seriously consider the impact that the Black Olive Project will have on our
neighborhood parking situation, in spite of the most recent changes. All of the commissioners noted the
parking limitations of the original proposal and the analysis shown in the attached document indicates
that the marginal improvement offered by the updated Black Olive proposal will be insufficient to
address our greatly underestimated parking impacts. In spite of Commissioner Pomeroy’s suggestion
that a parking district could be enacted to address parking problems, the city has demonstrated little
interest in our legitimate and valid petition for a parking district as presented in December 2016. I am
confident that the City Commission has discretion to require sufficient parking so as not to adversely
impact the neighboring property owners and business owners, or to mitigate adverse impacts and lost
parking currently used by the same. Please do not vote to allow this project to proceed as proposed.
Sincerely yours,
Lisa Bithell Kirk, Ph.D., P.Geo
Secretary, Bogert Park Neighborhood Association
Enc – Hard copy document with jump drive containing photos and excel worksheet.
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association
August 2016 Parking Count
Revised to Address Updated Black Olive Proposal
Report prepared for
Bozeman City Commission
By
Lisa Kirk, Secretary
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association
227 E. Olive Street
Bozeman, Montana 59715
lkirk@montana.com
406-581-8261
3 August 2017
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association i 3 August 2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Members of the Bogert Park Neighborhood Association volunteered some 250 work hours to
count parked cars during August 2016, within the area bounded by East Olive Street to the
North, East Story Street to the South, Black Street on the West and Wallace Street to the East.
Here we summarize our purpose, objectives, methods, and results. Motivated by a need to
determine what capacity we have for additional residential parking, in the face of downtown
overflow parking and potential development pressure, we documented the identity of cars
parked within the study area every two hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. over a one week period.
We used methods provided by the City of Bozeman and our counts were photo documented
where possible. We feel confident that our results can be validated independently. No safety
incidents resulted from our work.
We have analyzed the percentage of available space that is occupied over time. Our data
show that streets in the outer part of our neighborhood are impacted by parking demand
associated with B3 core businesses, and by social events hosted downtown and in the city
parks. These streets include East Olive Street, Wallace Street, Church Street and Curtis
Street. South Bozeman Avenue is consistently 50% full, but does not experience event-related
peaks in parking demand. The inner and southern portions of our neighborhood (e.g., East
Story Street, Koch Street and Lindley Place) are less affected.
Our results support the need for further data collection and show that average values are not
illustrative of the ebb and flow characteristics of parking in our neighborhood. Our results also
suggest that our neighborhood will benefit from development of a residential parking district,
perhaps for the streets listed above, coupled with improved management of events which can
be linked directly to peak parking events.
Finally, our comparison of available parking with the projected need for 61 on-street parking
spaces for the Black Olive Project indicates that this project would occupy one-third (32%) of
the available parking on East Olive Street and South Bozeman Avenue, the streets
immediately adjacent to the project (190 total spaces). This percentage greatly exceeds the
percentage (1.6%, or 3 spaces per 190 spaces) allocated to the Black Olive project based on
street frontage under Section 38.540 of Bozeman’s Unified Development Code in Section
38.540. Distribution of these 61 additional vehicles across the histograms developed using the
2016 parking count data (e.g., Figures 10 and 11) shows that this overload would occupy all
available parking on one of these two streets, all of the time, and much of the available parking
on the second street.
We conclude that we have only limited capacity to handle proposed growth in parking demand
while we continue to host the many visitors who rely on our residential streets as a major east-
west traffic artery and overflow parking for downtown events.
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association ii 3 August 2017
Table of Contents
1. Background................................................................................................................ 1
2. Objectives .................................................................................................................. 2
3. Methods ...................................................................................................................... 2
3.1 Study Area ......................................................................................................................2
3.2 Data Collection and Analysis Method .........................................................................3
4. Results and Discussion ........................................................................................... 4
4.1 Sub-Area 1 – South Bozeman Ave ..............................................................................4
4.2 Sub-Area 2– Lindley Place/Koch Street ......................................................................6
4.3 Sub-Area 3 – East Story Street ....................................................................................8
4.4 Sub-Area 4 – Church Street/Bogert Place ................................................................ 10
4.5 Sub-Area 5 – Curtiss/Wallace ..................................................................................... 12
4.6 Sub-Area 6– East Olive Street, west of Church to Black ........................................ 14
5. Development Pressure .............................................................................................. 16
6. Recommendations .................................................................................................. 19
7. References ............................................................................................................... 19
Figures
Figure 1. BPNA Parking Count Study Area .......................................................... 2
Figure 2. Summary of BPNA Parking Count Sub-Area Coverage ....................... 3
Figure 3. South Bozeman Ave Parking Occupancy ............................................. 5
Figure 4. Lindley Place/Koch Street Parking Occupancy ..................................... 7
Figure 5. East Story Street Parking Occupancy ................................................... 9
Figure 6. Church Street and Bogert Place Parking Occupancy ......................... 11
Figure 7a. Curtiss Street Parking Occupancy .................................................... 13
Figure 7b. Curtiss/Wallace Street Parking Occupancy ...................................... 13
Figure 8. East Olive Street Parking Occupancy ................................................. 15
Figure 9. US Mean Number of Vehicles per Household, per driver
US DOT, nhts.ornl.gov 3/15/15 .................................................................... 17
Figure 10. East Olive Street Parking Projection, with 15 and 61 additional vehicles
..................................................................................................................... 18
Figure 11. South Bozeman Street Projection, with East Olive overflow (over 85%
occupancy, for 61additional vehicles, from Figure 10).................................. 18
Tables
Table 1. South Bozeman Ave Parking Occupancy, n=92 .................................... 4
Table 2. Lindley Place/Koch Street Parking Occupancy, n=94 ............................ 6
Table 3. East Story Street Parking Occupancy, n=60 .......................................... 8
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association iii 3 August 2017
Table 4. Church Street and Bogert Place Parking Occupancy, n=58 ................ 10
Table 5a. Curtiss Street Parking Occupancy, n=21 ........................................... 12
Table 5b. Wallace Street Parking Occupancy, n=28 .......................................... 12
Table 6. East Olive Street, west of Church to Black, n=98................................. 14
Appendices
Appendix A – Parking Count Method Memo (electronic)
Appendix B – Excel Data Worksheet (electronic)
Appendix C – Photo Documentation (electronic)
Appendix D – Scanned Data Collection Sheets (electronic)
Appendix E - Bogert Park Neighborhood Parking Petition (electronic, submitted Dec 2016)
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 1 3 August 2017
.
1. Background
An estimated one million people visit the Bogert Park Neighborhood each year, parking in our
neighborhood (Bozeman’s defacto “overflow parking lot”) during downtown and Bogert/Lindley
park events. Workers from the federal building and downtown routinely park at our house and
walk to work. Patrons of downtown businesses, restaurants and bars do the same. As
Bozeman has grown, traffic, parking pressure, noise, trash, and crime have as well. Increased
traffic volume on East Olive (an 85-year-old street in desperate need of repair) qualifies it as a
“Major Collector” route, in spite of its narrow dimensions, and we often feel overrun by on-street
parking during key events. Vehicles are commonly side-swiped or hit on our narrow streets.
Those returning for parked vehicles late at night after enjoying our “vibrant downtown culture”
are often loud and disruptive, or ill, and drive off while clearly intoxicated.
Recent decisions to promote high density residential in-fill development nobly seek to limit
sprawl in our valley, which will increase population, traffic, and parking pressure in our
neighborhood. Issues include, but are by no means limited to, the proposed development of the
high-rise Black Olive complex on B3-zoned land, close to single family dwellings. This is
incongruous with the character of our historic district, due to excess height, inappropriate
setbacks, lack of open space, and especially, insufficient parking. The decision to allow only
one parking space per dwelling unit for B-3 residential developments, with additional reduction
credits, regardless of the number of bedrooms and drivers in those units, directly conflicts with
the national average of 2.38 vehicles per US household and with established parking policies
elsewhere in the City of Bozeman. Simply put, Bozeman’s “noble” choices for high density
development threaten over-crowding and elevated risk to drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians on
our narrow and already crowded streets. We wonder, “Where will we walk, park, and play in our
densely-filled neighborhood?”
Another important question is, “What is the current parking load?” As a neighborhood
association, we have been monitoring parking studies being conducted by the City of Bozeman
for several months. We recognize that ongoing data collection by consultants to the City may
(1) not address our neighborhood issues directly due to limited funding for the current parking
study RFP (Bozeman Parking Commission, September 2016) and (2) may take months or years
to influence decisions about our neighborhood. As a result, we initiated our own citizen-led
parking study, targeting a week in late summer so that we could capture the summer festivals,
Farmers Market and Music on Main. Here we summarize our objectives, methods, results, and
conclusions.
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 2 3 August 2017
2. Objectives
Our objective was to document on street parking for one week, between August 18 and 24,
2016, every two hours between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. Our primary purpose was to
document occupancy (number of cars per available spaces), but we identified vehicles by their
license numbers to allow future analysis of use patterns.
3. Methods
Our study was led by the Bogert Park Neighborhood Association (BPNA). Data was collected
by multiple teams of individuals following the protocol provided by Thomas Thorpe, Bozeman
Parking Manager. This protocol is attached on (Appendix A).
3.1 Study Area
We defined a study area (green area on map below) bounded by East Olive Street to the North,
East Story Street to the South, Black on the West and Wallace on the East (Figure 1). We
broke our study area into 6 sub-areas, which are shown in Figure 1 and described in Figure 2.
While our goal was to collect data continuous from 8 am to 2 am in all six areas, we did have
some minor gaps in coverage. Also, due to time constraints, Area 2 (Lindley/Koch) began its
counting week on 22 August and ended 28 August. Our coverage is also summarized in Figure
2.
Figure 1. BPNA Parking Count Study Area
1
2 4
5
6
3
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 3 3 August 2017
Figure 2. Summary of BPNA Parking Count Sub-Area Coverage
3.2 Data Collection and Analysis Method
Each team prepared a preliminary map identifying available parking in their study area. The
dimensions of these spaces were not measured, but instead estimated visually. This is
because the city could not provide us with GIS-based data in advance of our data collection, as
recommended in Appendix A. Using a template that identified each possible parking spot, the
license tag for each car was recorded at the times shown in Figure 2. Data not recorded in red
blocked time intervals. Where possible, photos were taken of the streets at the time of
collection; for example, it was not possible to take meaningful photos at night. When no car was
present, the space was left blank. The worksheets summarizing data collection are provided in
Appendix B. Photos are provided in Appendix D. The work required approximately 30 minutes
at each time of data collection, or 5 hours per day. Over 7 days, including startup and reporting,
each of the six study areas required approximately one man week (40 hours) of data collection.
All participants followed safety guidelines developed in consultation with the Bozeman Police
Department, and no incidents were reported. The BPNA summed the number of vehicles for
each timestep, as shown in Tables 1-6 below. We also calculated the % occupancy for each
study area for each time step, and plotted those in Figures 3 to 8 below. Our data are
summarized in an excel spreadsheet that is provided as Appendix B. The original data sheets
are provided in Appendix D and photos are provided in Appendix C.
Section Day Dates 8am 10am 12pm 2pm 4pm 6pm 8pm 10pm 12am 2am
Thursday 18-Aug
Friday 19-Aug
Saturday 20-Aug
Sunday 21-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
Thursday 25-Aug
Friday 26-Aug
Saturday 27-Aug
Sunday 28-Aug
Thursday 18-Aug
Friday 19-Aug
Saturday 20-Aug
3 East Story Sunday 21-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
Thursday 18-Aug
Friday 19-Aug
Saturday 20-Aug
Sunday 21-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
Thursday 18-Aug
Friday 19-Aug
Saturday 20-Aug
Sunday 21-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
Thursday 18-Aug
Friday 19-Aug
Saturday 20-Aug
Sunday 21-Aug
Monday 22-Aug
Tuesday 23-Aug
Wednesday 24-Aug
6
5
1
2
South Bozeman Ave
Lindley Place/Koch
Church/Bogert Place4
Curtiss/Wallace/Olive
Olive
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 4 3 August 2017
4. Results and Discussion
The results of the study are summarized as percent occupancy tables and figure below for each
of the 6 sub-areas. Table 9 shows the East Olive results with an additional 15 to 70% vehicles
and Table 10 shows South Bozeman overflow estimates from East Olive.
4.1 Sub-Area 1 – South Bozeman Ave
We had some gaps in coverage on South Bozeman Avenue, particularly after 11:00 pm at night.
Results show that even during a quiet week in late summer, South Bozeman had close to 50%
occupancy. No peak events were observed, (Figure 3).
Table 1. South Bozeman Ave Parking Occupancy, n=92
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Occupied Space (%) 18-Aug ND 41.03% 38.46% 51.28% 38.46% 44.87% 29.49% ND ND ND
19-Aug 48.72% 47.44% 53.85% 53.85% 48.72% 53.85% 44.87% 46.15% ND ND
20-Aug 56.41% 47.44% 44.87% 43.59% 46.15% 42.31% 39.74% 42.31% ND ND
21-Aug 50.00% 51.28% 52.56% 50.00% 50.00% 52.56% 62.82% 57.69% ND ND
22-Aug 50.00% 60.26% 46.15% 46.15% 57.69% 50.00% 48.72% 51.28% ND ND
23-Aug 50.00% 41.03% 44.87% 46.15% 47.44% 53.85% 47.44% 50.00% ND ND
24-Aug 57.69% 56.41% 53.85% 44.87% 50.00% 44.87% 53.85% 56.41% ND ND
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 5 3 August 2017
Figure 3. South Bozeman Ave Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 6 3 August 2017
4.2 Sub-Area 2– Lindley Place/Koch Street
Lindley Place and Koch Street lie within the interior of our neighborhood and are more protected
from the parking demands of the B3 core. Use was closer to 35% with maximum values close to
50%. Note that we did not have complete coverage on the weekend. No peak events were
observed.
Table 2. Lindley Place/Koch Street Parking Occupancy, n=94
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Occupied Space (%) 22-Aug 34.04% 30.85% 36.17% 21.28% 36.17% 35.11% 34.04% 35.11% 35.11% 35.11%
23-Aug 28.72% 26.60% 29.79% 31.91% 15.96% 42.55% 29.79% 30.85% 30.85% 30.85%
24-Aug 34.04% 32.98% 39.36% 26.60% 36.17% 39.36% 40.43% 42.55% 42.55% 42.55%
25-Aug 45.74% 43.62% 41.49% 31.91% 42.55% 45.74% 46.81% 47.87% 47.87% 47.87%
26-Aug 35.11% 31.91% 20.21% 20.21% 20.21% 32.98% 35.11% 36.17% 36.17% 36.17%
27-Aug ND ND ND ND ND 46.15% 41.03% ND ND ND
28-Aug ND ND ND ND ND 50.00% 48.72% ND ND ND
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 7 3 August 2017
Figure 4. Lindley Place/Koch Street Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 8 3 August 2017
4.3 Sub-Area 3 – East Story Street
East Story Street is located at the southern boundary of our study area and therefore most
protected from downtown parking needs. This is reflected in the lowest average percentage of
use in our study area, averaging close to 30% use. A spike in parking was observed during
Farmers Market, but no affect from Music on Main was evident, (Figure 5).
Table 3. East Story Street Parking Occupancy, n=60
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Occupied Space (%) 18-Aug 23.33% 20.00% 23.33% 21.67% 18.33% ND 33.33% 18.33% 26.67% 26.67%
19-Aug 16.67% 15.00% 11.67% 16.67% 23.33% 25.00% 25.00% 25.00% 26.67% 26.67%
20-Aug 25.00% 25.00% 21.67% 25.00% 25.00% 26.67% 28.33% 28.33% 26.67% 28.33%
21-Aug 28.33% 23.33% 23.33% 1.67% 21.67% 23.33% 26.67% 31.67% 1.67% 35.00%
22-Aug 23.33% 18.33% 21.67% 20.00% 36.67% 26.67% 36.67% 36.67% 38.33% 38.33%
23-Aug 25.00% 30.00% 26.67% 25.00% 26.67% 51.67% 35.00% 38.33% 40.00% 40.00%
24-Aug 28.33% 35.00% 31.67% 35.00% 26.67% 31.67% 30.00% 38.33% 36.67% 36.67%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 9 3 August 2017
Figure 5. East Story Street Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 10 3 August 2017
4.4 Sub-Area 4 – Church Street/Bogert Place
Church Street and Bogert place also have low average occupancy rates, averaging less than
30% with occasional spikes to 40%, (Table 4) apart from during Farmers Market when all
spaces were fully occupied, (Figure 6).
Table 4. Church Street and Bogert Place Parking Occupancy, n=58
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Occupied Space (%) 18-Aug 36.21% 13.79% 13.79% 20.69% 34.48% 36.21% 37.93% ND 20.69% ND
19-Aug 18.97% 20.69% 31.03% 24.14% 31.03% 31.03% 39.66% 10.34% 20.69% 17.24%
20-Aug 25.86% 34.48% 31.03% 29.31% 20.69% 20.69% 29.31% 25.86% 18.97% 20.69%
21-Aug 29.31% 39.66% 41.38% 36.21% 48.28% 32.76% 31.03% 22.41% ND 22.41%
22-Aug 31.03% 32.76% 25.86% 20.69% 15.52% 37.93% 34.48% 17.24% 17.24% 18.97%
23-Aug 29.31% 15.52% 22.41% 32.76% 41.38% 100.00% 50.00% 10.34% 15.52% 15.52%
24-Aug 43.10% 20.69% 20.69% 25.86% 27.59% 31.03% 39.66% 24.14% ND 18.97%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 11 3 August 2017
Figure 6. Church Street and Bogert Place Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 12 3 August 2017
4.5 Sub-Area 5 – Curtiss/Wallace
Curtiss and Wallace Streets shown two peak events, one on the weekend for unknown reasons
inferred to be related to the Park, and the Farmers Market, (Tables 5a and 5b). The average in
this area is consistently above 30%, (Figures 7a and 7b).
Table 5a. Curtiss Street Parking Occupancy, n=21
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Curtiss Occupied Space (%) 18-Aug 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 38.10% 33.33% 28.57% 33.33% 33.33% 23.81% 23.81%
19-Aug 28.57% 14.29% 23.81% 19.05% 19.05% 23.81% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33%
20-Aug 33.33% 38.10% 66.67% 85.71% 47.62% 33.33% 38.10% 28.57% 28.57% 28.57%
21-Aug 33.33% 33.33% 42.86% 33.33% 28.57% 28.57% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33%
22-Aug 33.33% 28.57% 23.81% 33.33% 33.33% 33.33% 28.57% 28.57% 28.57% 28.57%
23-Aug 38.10% 38.10% 47.62% 47.62% 47.62% 100.00% 66.67% 38.10% 23.81% 23.81%
24-Aug 28.57% 23.81% 38.10% 23.81% 23.81% 33.33% 23.81% 23.81% 23.81% 23.81%
Table 5b. Wallace Street Parking Occupancy, n=28
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a WallaceO ccuOccupied Spacepied Space (%) 18-Aug 17.86% 60.71% 71.43% 57.14% 50.00% 10.71% 28.57% 7.14% 7.14% 7.14%
19-Aug 10.71% 64.29% 50.00% 53.57% 32.14% 3.57% 3.57% 3.57% 3.57% 3.57%
20-Aug 7.14% 46.43% 82.14% 78.57% 35.71% 21.43% 35.71% 17.86% 3.57% 3.57%
21-Aug 7.14% 10.71% ND 10.71% 3.57% ND 3.57% ND ND ND
22-Aug 3.57% 21.79% 20.51% 19.23% 19.23% 8.97% 2.56% ND 1.28% 1.28%
23-Aug 14.29% 57.14% 57.14% 57.14% 64.29% 78.57% 46.43% 14.29% 10.71% 7.14%
24-Aug 14.29% 64.29% 57.14% 85.71% 75.00% 28.57% 14.29% 17.86% 17.86% 14.29%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 13 3 August 2017
Figure 7a. Curtiss Street Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
Figure 7b. Curtiss/Wallace Street Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 14 3 August 2017
4.6 Sub-Area 6– East Olive Street, west of Church to Black
East Olive Street shows peak events associated with Music on Main and Farmers Market.
Occupancy ranges from 30 to 50% most days.
Table 6. East Olive Street, west of Church to Black, n=98
Date 8a 10a 12p 2p 4p 6p 8p 10p 12p 2a Occupied Space (%) 18-Aug 24.49% 43.88% 57.14% 54.08% 51.02% 79.59% 39.80% 33.67% 50.00% 35.71%
19-Aug 33.67% 45.92% 47.96% 41.84% 32.65% 20.41% 21.43% 22.45% 26.53% 33.67%
20-Aug 30.61% 30.61% 30.61% 37.76% 32.65% 25.51% 31.63% 31.63% 37.76% 35.71%
21-Aug 46.15% 41.03% 60.26% 58.97% 44.87% 37.18% 30.77% 29.49% 28.21% 57.69%
22-Aug 29.59% 45.92% 44.90% 44.90% 39.80% 34.69% 32.65% 29.59% 31.63% 35.71%
23-Aug 42.31% 73.08% 61.54% 74.36% 79.49% 88.46% 42.31% 42.31% 34.62% 42.31%
24-Aug 27.55% 50.00% 56.12% 42.86% 41.84% 41.84% 28.57% 33.67% 32.65% 32.65%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 15 3 August 2017
Figure 8. East Olive Street Parking Occupancy
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 16 3 August 2017
5. Development Pressure
BPNA residents are concerned that high density in-fill development will put additional parking
pressure on our community. Specifically, the Black Olive project is being permitted under B3
parking regulations which require only 1 parking space per apartment (household), well less
than the requirements for 1 parking space per bedroom required in other residentially zoned
portions of Bozeman.
The August 2017 version of the Black Olive proposal includes 47 apartments (households) with
64 bedrooms. Including three allocated on street parking spaces and 1 car share (representing
4 spaces), the 40 onsite parking spaces yield a total of 47, meeting the legal requirement. We
question the practicality of this value. Reasonably, one can expect that many of the single
bedroom units and most of the two bedroom units will have at least two drivers. Figure 9 (based
on 2015 US Department of Transportation data) shows the number of vehicles per household,
based on the number of drivers. The national average for 2 drivers per household is 2.3
vehicles. Of all states, Montana has the highest number of vehicles per capita, with 1594
vehicles reported per 1000 residents in the 2010 to 2016 US Census (State Population Totals
Datasets:2010-2016, Census.gov). This implies that the national average per household of 2.3
vehicles is probably lower than the actual value for most Montana households, but lacking
specifics on how far above the mean we are, the calculations here rely on the national mean of
2.3.
Using the national mean of 2.3 cars per household of 2 drivers, we estimate that the residents of
the Black Olive building will actually require 108 spaces altogether, 61 of which will be forced to
park on East Olive and South Bozeman Streets. If we add 5 or 15 additional on-street users to
the 2016 East Olive occupancy graph (Figure 8), to address use by guests or the additional
number we would expect if the number of vehicles is estimated per bedroom, we can see that
there is room to accommodate these additional vehicles, as shown in Figure 10. However, if
one adds 61 vehicles, we can see that there would not be enough room for these vehicles on
East Olive Street (Figure 10). Presumably, overflow would be displaced onto South Bozeman
Ave, as shown by redistributing the number of vehicles above 85% onto the data for South
Bozeman Street (Figure 11). Parking of an additional 61 cars would fill one of the streets all of
the time and the second a significant part of the time, displacing residents or others who park in
the area for downtown business and social events. This analysis did not address additional
parking for patrons of the coffee shop also proposed for the Black Olive project.
As a percentage of the total available number of spaces on East Olive and South Bozeman
(190), occupancy of 61 spaces by Black Olive residents corresponds to a functional loss of 32%
of available spaces, well in excess of the 3 spaces (1.6%) allocated for the building under
Bozeman Unified Development Code 38.540. By approving the Black Olive project, the City will
thus be inequitably reallocating more than 30% of available parking from current users to this
one project.
Figure 10 illustrates why BPNA resident are so concerned about excessive parking pressure
associated with high density development. We therefore conclude that we have a limited
capacity to support additional on-street parking within our neighborhood, and that the
assumption of one vehicle per household is a risky, and very likely erroneous, proposition.
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 17 3 August 2017
Figure 9. US Mean Number of Vehicles per Household, per driver
from US DOT, nhts.ornl.gov 3/15/15
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8Number of vehiclesNumber of Drivers
Number of Vehicles per Household
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 18 3 August 2017
Figure 10. East Olive Street Parking Projection, with 15 and 61 additional vehicles
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
Figure 11. South Bozeman Street Projection, with East Olive overflow (over 85% occupancy, for 61additional vehicles, from Figure 10)
Red dashed line indicates functional capacity of 85%
BPNA Parking Count August 2017
Bogert Park Neighborhood Association 19 3 August 2017
6. Recommendations
Our results show that average values are not illustrative of the ebb and flow characteristics of
parking in our neighborhood, as peak parking events occurred on several streets. Our results
also suggest that our neighborhood may benefit from development of a residential parking
district, coupled with improved management of events which can be linked to peak parking
demand.
We note that the week chosen for this study was a relatively quiet week in late summer. The
return of MSU students and the start of the school year has since resulted in further increased
parking pressure which should be documented with additional sample collection. The same is
true of winter parking conditions, when snow reduces the number of available spaces. We
recommend that the city undertake additional data collection for these reasons.
In light of our results, we ask that the city reconsider the parking requirements for B3 residential
developments within the historic downtown neighborhoods. One vehicle per household is
insufficient.
7. References
Bozeman Parking Commission, 2016. Request for Proposal – Downtown Parking Count.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration,
2009 National Household Travel Survey, available at nhts.ornl.gov as of March 2015.
State Population Totals Datasets:2010-2016 (https://www2.densus.gov/programs-
surveys/popest/datasets/2010-2016/national/totals/nst-est2016-alldata.csv).
Appendix A
Parking Count Method Memo
electronic
Appendix B
Excel Data Workbook
electronic
Appendix C
Scanned Data Collection Sheets
electronic
Appendix D
Photo Documentation
electronic
Appendix E
BPNA Parking District Petition
December 2016
electronic