AgdaPkt 2006-02-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8A Page 28 Another factor to consider when developing residential parking requirements is that different types of units generate different parking needs. Some of the factors that lower residential parking need are: 1. Income. "In 17 studies on vehicle ownership, income was found to be a significant driver of vehicle ownership. This pattern holds throughout the Bay Area. In the 1990 census, households earning between $20,000, and $25,000 owned on average only 1.30 vehicles, 26 percent below the region wide average of 1.76 cars. And 28 percent of households earning between $10,000 and $15,000 did not own a vehicle at all. By comparisQn, 10 percent of households region wide lived without a car." (Quoted from Rethinking Residential Parking: Myths and Facts by the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California). 2. Age. In Housing Shortage / Parking Surplus, the Transportation and Land Use Coalition also described the correlation between age and vehicle ownership: "In the Bay Area, the vehicle ownership rates of seniors are about 30% lower than the general public. .. .the difference is even more marked with seniors aged 75 and over, who own just half as many vehicles as the average household." 3. Renting. "According to 1990 census data, the most recent for which a breakdown is available, 41 % of rental households in Santa Clara County own one vehicle and 9% own no vehicle at all - more than double the proportions for owner occupiers. apartment dwellers also own fewer vehicles than those in detached homes - regardless of income." (Quoted from Housing Shortage / Parking Surplus by the Transportation and Land Use Coalition). 4. Transit. "Residents of dense, transit-oriented development own fewer vehicles. Residents in light rail corrid<;>rs use transit as their predominant commute mode more than five times as ofteh as residents countywide. In turn, they are less likely to own a vehicle. A recent study of the factors influencing vehicle ownership in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Chicago found that ... the densest, most transit accessible areas (show) the lowest vehicle ownership rates." (Quoted from Housing Shortage / Parking Surplus by the Transportation and Land Use Coalition). 5. Unit size. Fewer bedrooms=fewer drivers=fewer parking spaces needed. One project in Downtown Palo Alto which offers 260 square foot studio apartments only provides 0.5 spaces per unit, which is only 81 % occupied during peak periods. Considering all of this, it is clear that residential parking requirements should be lowered and broken down by unit type. The following approach is recommended. There should be separate requirements for studio units, 1 bedroom units, and units with 2 or more bedrooms. In addition, discounts should be given for senior housing and affordable housing to reflect the lower car ownership of residents of these types of housing. 1>g~~ 21 _._-.-. .. ._. .~-" .... -, .-.--..... _......._~ .__.. ..~.~._.~_....- . .._-- .