17.18.077 Alternatives to reduce required parking.
Exceptions to the minimum parking standards may be granted in order to reward users of mass transit and to allow applicants options to reduce parking spaces in order to save construction costs and reduce land area needed for parking. The following exceptions to the minimum parking standards may be granted upon approval by the Planning Director and City Engineer:
1. Shared parking agreements. Joint use of required parking spaces may occur where two or more uses on the same or separate sites are able to share the same parking spaces because their parking demands occur at different times. The Planning Director and City Engineer may approve joint use of required nonresidential parking spaces between two lots and/or uses upon a determination that no substantial conflict in the periods of peak demand would occur from the shared parking allowance. The total number of spaces provided between the uses shall be at least equal to the sum of the minimum number of spaces required for each use. Applicants requesting the use of shared parking shall submit the following documentation as part of a building permit, business license, or land use application:
a. The names and addresses of the uses and of the owners and tenants that are sharing the parking;
b. A detailed site plan showing the location and number of parking spaces that are being shared. The shared spaces shall be no more than 350' away from the buildings or uses being served and shall have a safe and convenient pedestrian connection provided between the shared parking and the building or use. The shared parking allowance and/or pedestrian connection shall be signed and identified at both the use being served and the shared parking location;
c. An analysis showing that the peak parking times of the uses occur at different times and that the parking area will be large enough for the anticipated demands of both uses; and
d. A legal instrument written to the satisfaction of Lindon City that may include easements or deed restrictions that guarantee access to the parking for both uses in perpetuity. The document(s) must state that new uses that require more parking spaces, or have similar peak parking times, will not be permitted by Lindon City unless the minimum required parking is constructed to accommodate both the new use and the existing uses which have claim on the shared parking agreement. Said instrument(s) shall be signed by all property owners involved, and shall be recorded against each property at the County Recorder’s Office.
2. Sites well served by transit.
a. Sites with required parking that exceeds 25 spaces are eligible to receive a 5% reduction of the minimum parking requirements if the site is located within 500 feet of a transit stop with at least hourly service (bus, commuter rail, etc.). Applicants requesting this exception must provide a map identifying the site and provide UTA schedules (service must be verified by UTA to be active prior to occupancy of the facility) for all transit stops within 500 feet of the site.
b. A 10% parking reduction will be granted for sites with required parking that exceeds 25 spaces if the development is adjacent to a street for which transit has current or proposed routes (service must be verified by UTA to be active prior to occupancy of the facility) and for which the development constructs a UTA approved, transit-supportive plaza adjacent to and visible from the transit street. Existing parking areas may be converted to take advantage of these provisions. The transit facility shall include all of the following elements:
i. The plaza must be at least 300 square feet in area and shaped so that a 10'x10' square will fit entirely within the plaza;
ii. At least 10%, but not more than 25%, of the transit-supportive plaza must be landscaped with living materials, including at least two shade trees;
iii. A bench or sitting area with at least 5 liner feet of seating;
iv. A shelter or other weather protection. The shelter must cover at least 20 square feet. If the plaza is adjacent to the bus stop, UTA must also approve the shelter;
v. An easement or dedication that allows perpetual public access to the plaza;
vi. The transit plaza shall be maintained by the owner of the property.
c. A 5% reduction in parking spaces may be granted for uses with more than 25 spaces which provide documentation of employee and/or company participation in UTA sponsored vanpool, ride-share or other similar transit programs.
3. Motorcycle parking.
Motorcycle parking may substitute for up to 5 spaces or 5 percent of required automobile parking, whichever is less. For every 3 motorcycle parking spaces provided, the automobile parking requirement is reduced by one space. Each motorcycle space must be at least 4 feet wide and 8 feet deep. Existing parking may be converted to take advantage of this provision.
4. Comparative use reductions.
A comparable reduction in the amount of required parking may be considered if the City receives credible documentation of existing similar uses that have fewer parking spaces which reasonably accommodates the similar use. However, in order to accommodate the range of uses that may occur over time on the property, any site which is given a reduction in the number of parking spaces required under the table found in Section 17.18.070, which reduction was allowed due to comparisons of other existing similar uses, shall provide on the same or adjacent property (or through a shared parking agreement) the area needed to accommodate the total amount of required parking spaces according to the table found in Section 17.18.070. This “parking land-bank” shall be landscaped in a manner that can reasonably be transitioned into future parking spaces without disruption to the uses or circulation of traffic on the property. If the ‘land-bank’ area is landscaped, said landscaping shall not count towards other required perimeter or interior landscaping requirements. Storm drainage and other engineering considerations on the site shall be designed to accommodate the full number of stalls required in the table found in Section 17.18.070.
5. Bicycle parking.
A 5% reduction in the minimum amount of vehicular parking may be permitted by providing bicycle parking that is additional to the minimum bicycle parking standards found within Section 17.18.120. This parking reduction may only be given if the additional bicycle parking is in conjunction with an employee accessible showering and changing facility located on the site for which the vehicular parking would have been required. This shall be permitted at a one-to-one ratio of parking spaces to bicycle spaces. Existing parking may be converted to take advantage of this provision.