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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-17-2020 Public Comment - J. Rockne - Parking Benefit ZoneFrom: KPowell & S Griswold To: Agenda Subject: INC"s Concerns, Comments & Recommendations - Proposed Parking Benefit Zone Date: Friday, January 17, 2020 1:44:36 PM Attachments: INC Recommendations PBenefit Zone Recs to City Comm 1-17-20.docx Hello Mayor Chris Mehl, Deputy Mayor Cyndy Andrus and City Commissioners Terry Cunningham, I-Ho Pomeroy and Michael Wallner As you know, your Feb 3 City Commission agenda includes discussion/action about a proposed Parking Benefit Zone. The Inter-Neighborhood Council (INC) has several comments, concerns and recommendations regarding a proposed Parking Benefit Zone to potentially use north and south of downtown. Attached is a letter from (INC) with those comments, concerns and recommendations. INC and INC’s Parking Working Group have spent several months reviewing and discussing the proposed Parking Benefit Zone (available to date) and its potential impact on neighborhoods. Please review and consider our input as you discuss this new on-street parking approach at your Feb 3 meeting. Thank You Inter-neighborhood Council Jennifer Rockne, President Kathy Powell VP Bob Wall, Secretary January 17, 2020 To: Bozeman City Commission Chris Mehl, Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus, Deputy Mayor City Commissioners Terry Cunningham, I-Ho Pomeroy and Michael Wallner Brit Fontenot, City Economic Development Director Bozeman Parking Commission Ed Meece, City Parking Program Manager From: Inter Neighborhood Council (INC) RE: Proposed Parking Benefit Zone Ordinance/Resolution - Concerns, Comments and Recommendations On-Street Parking can have a big impact on the quality of life in neighborhoods. Vehicles circling looking for parking places can increase congestion and create a safety hazard for pedestrians and bikers. Conflicts between commuters and residents, including noise and other impacts from non-resident parked cars, challenge the livability and character of a neighborhood. One approach to reduce these challenges is to create parking districts. INC created a Parking Working Group last fall to look at current and proposed parking district policies affecting neighborhoods. The initial focus has been on the proposed new Parking Benefit Zone Ordinance/Resolution (PBZone) north and south of Bozeman’s Historic Main street. The parking Working Group members are from 5 Neighborhood Assocs that are currently in a Parking District or would be affected by a new PBZone: They include Bogert Park (BPNA) and Cooper Park (CPNA) , North East (NENA), South Central (SCAN) and University (UNA). The Working Group met in Nov and Dec and drafted comments, concerns and recommendations for INC to review and discuss at their Jan 9, 2020 meeting. The attached letter to the City Commission is the result of INC’s discussion. INC asks the City Commission to consider these recommendations as they review the proposed Parking Benefit Zone Ordinance and Resolution (within Downtown Parking Management District). Managing parking downtown is a challenge for businesses, visitors and neighborhoods. Wise decisions can help protect neighborhood quality of life and keep downtown vibrant. Inter-neighborhood Council Jennifer Rockne, Chair South Central Assoc of Neighbors (SCAN) Kathy Powell, VP University Neighbors Assoc. (UNA) Bob Wall, Secretary South East Neighborhood Assoc (SENA) Linda Semones/Alison Udall Bogert Park Neighborhood Assoc (BPNA) Cynthia Evans Bozeman Creek Neighborhood Assoc. (BCNA) Lisa Prugh Copper Park Neighborhood Assoc. (CPNA) David Steinmuller Knolls Neighborhood Assoc (KNA) Laurie McKinney MarWyn Lindley Neighborhood Assoc (MarLin) Suzanne Held Northeast Neighborhood Assoc (NENA) Joe Genovese New Hyalite View (NHVN) Members of INC Parking Working Group Linda Semones and Hannah Gullickson (BPNA) Lisa Prugh (CPNA) Paul House (NENA) Jon Wirth, Doug Clinger and Brandon Whitehead (SCAN) Susan Hinkins & Kathy Powell (UNA) 2 January 17, 2020 To: Bozeman City Commission Brit Fontenot, City Economic Development Director Bozeman Parking Commission and Ed Meece, City Parking Program Manager From: Inter Neighborhood Council (INC) RE: Proposed Parking Benefit Zones Ordinance/Resolution - Concerns, Comments and Recommendations The current Residential Parking Permit Districts (RPPD), near MSU and Bozeman High School, work well by limiting daytime parking on weekdays to residents and businesses within the RPPDs. This has helped reduce congestion from cars circling streets to find a parking spot and helped reduce traffic hazards for pedestrians and bikers. Reduction in noise, conflicts between commuters and residents, litter and other impacts have improved neighborhood livability and character. RPPDs are also helpful in Missoula, Ann Arbor MI, San Francisco, Annapolis MD, Alexandria VA, Boulder CO and many other cities. As we understand it, the proposed new Parking Benefit Zone(s) (PBZone) would be within the proposed Downtown Parking Management District with the goal to maximize on-street parking within a neighborhood impacted by large nearby commercial attractions. The primary permits would be for residents and businesses within a PBZone. Unlike an RPPD, this new parking zone would also include (where possible) non-resident parking permits and time limited parking to facilitate visitor parking turnover. The Benefit would be that funds left over from operating the PBZone could go back to the neighborhood for sidewalks, benches, landscaping, etc. PBZones may help reduce congestion around downtown’s Historic Main Street District; however, INC has some concerns, comments and recommendations regarding this new type of parking zone and its impact on nearby neighborhoods. INC Concerns, Comments and Recommendations about Parking Benefit Zones 1. Objectives and notification process Proposed Objectives are a good way to evaluate a PBZone over time. Has it given primary attention to residents, has it relieved congestion, promoted tranquility between commuters and residents, reduced traffic hazards and reduced litter? However, one objective states that there is NO guarantee residents could park by their home or anywhere in a PBZone. Anywhere, even if you paid for a residential permit? What about the 92-yr-old who has no driveway and must park on the street? What about handicapped residents, families with small children, non- resident volunteers at schools with limited on-site parking, etc.? Accommodations need to be made for these kinds of situations in a PBZone. Proposed Notification and outreach to property owners and businesses in a PBZone align well with the first point of the City’s Strategic Plan – public outreach. Notification is important when initiating creation, modifying or dissolving a PBZ by postcard, social media, signs or other means in the affected neighborhood. This outreach should also include taking a poll of property owners and businesses for support or opposition to any changes. 2. Ask for more details about how a PBZ would operate. Effectiveness depends on how well a PBZ is created, managed and enforced. INC encourages the City Commission to ask: a) Does the Parking Commission and Parking Services Div have data for days and evenings to justify the need for a PBZone? Does a proposed PBZone have 85% occupancy with 25% being non-residents? How would 25% non-residents be measured, especially when some vehicle registration addresses are not current? b) What is the definition of 85% occupancy, how is it measured and how would it be used? INC recommends the 85% occupancy definition be included in any ordinance. 3 c) What is estimated cost of creating and enforcing a PBZone? What is the cost structure to reveal when profits will flow to neighborhoods as a benefit? d) Is there a minimum size of a PBZone? e) Does Parking Services Div have enough staff to monitor and enforce PBZones, especially for time- limited parking? INC recommends requiring an enforcement impact report be done to discuss the ability to enforce parking controls as some other cities do for PBDistricts. f) What method and how often would Parking Services Div adjust number of available non-resident permits and time-limited spaces? 3. Final authority to create, modify or dissolve all or part of a PBZone Who decides? The proposed Ordinance states the Parking Commission would initiate creation, modification or dissolution of a PBZ, set boundaries, hold a public hearing and make the final decision. The commissioners work hard, but they are appointed and advisory to the City Commission. INC and many people in neighborhoods north and south of downtown strongly recommend that the elected City Commissioners decide if a PBZ is created, modified or dissolved , including setting boundaries. The Parking Commission and Parking Services Div can certainly recommend boundaries, set permit costs and enforcement hours and the like but the City Commission should make the final decision on a PBZone. The Ordinance (not the current proposed resolution) should also state that 60% of property owners can sign a petition to initiate creation, modification or dissolution of a PBZone with the City Commission making the final decision. 4. Impact of High Density Residential Buildings on On-Street Parking Neighborhoods around downtown have been mostly single family residential for over 100 years. High-density residential buildings increase the parking load in a non-proportional way. There is a need to control and balance vehicles from high-density residential buildings to prevent displacement of existing residential parking, including historic residences without dedicated off-street parking. High Density Residential Buildings were required by the City to provide on-site parking for their units based on 1-1.25 cars/unit. Some units are 1, 2 or 3 bedroom and some people may have 0, 1 or 2+ vehicles. If the numerous High Density residential buildings downtown have some dwelling units with 2+ cars, there could be 80-100 more cars than can be managed on-site. These cars would need on-street parking. This would compete with houses, duplexes and small apts groups in neighborhoods. It would also reduce the non-resident and time-limited parking opportunities – two goals of a PBZone. On-Street parking near High Density Buildings would also be in high demand because they are closer to downtown. INC recommends that if High Density Residential Buildings are: • Inside the boundaries of a PBZone, sale of residential Permits should be limited in number • Outside of a PBZone, permits would automatically be limited, because residents would only be eligible for non-resident permits. 5. Other Opportunities to Reduce Demand for On-Street Parking The City should actively work with businesses, community groups and non-profits to establish additional programs to help manage parking downtown and take the pressure off surrounding neighborhoods. Work on: --Park & Ride at edges of Bozeman in conjunction with available parking lots --Shuttle for downtown employees in the Triangle with Cannery District and N 7th --Additional Streamline bus routes around the city --Shared parking with business lots --Main Street changing to 3 lanes with angle parking --More bike lanes 6. Event Parking Needs Careful Attention within a PBZone Parking must be managed in PBzones around civic establishments such as Willson School, the Emerson Center for Arts and Culture, Bogert Park Farmer’s Market, and other venues (such as the new ELM building on N 7th) so as not to hurt the city’s vibrant event culture. The Inter Neighborhood Council thanks you for your consideration of these recommendations.