Proposed Development Changes Could Mean Fewer Parking Spaces

One of the  expressed staunch opposition to reducing the number of parking spaces a developer is required to provide for certain business and residential uses as outlined in proposed development regulation changes.

Developers in the are currently required to provide 2 1/2 off-street parking spaces for every condo and apartment, Town Planner Kevin Small said during last week's work session.

For mixed-use retail, developers are currently required to provide a single parking space per 200 square feet of nonresidential space.

Among the proposed amendments to the town's development regulations are changes to the parking requirements.

Proposed changes would reduce the number of required spaces for condos and apartments to two and for mixed-use retail areas to one space per 250 square feet of nonresidential space to be consistent with shopping center.

Small said fewer parking spaces are in line with the town's move toward sustainability.

"Less parking and less pavement, that’s where most of the jurisdictions are heading," Small said.

expressed his opposition to both proposed changes.

"I fought for years to get it to 2 1/2 because I thought it was needed, and to go back to two, I would be totally against it," Preston said.

Commissioner David Carey said certain places should definitely have more than two spaces allotted, but said an apartment building in downtown that's more of an urban development would be appropriately served with only two parking spaces.

Carey also suggested different requirements in different zones, but ultimately agreed that it took a lot of work to determine the current parking requirements for developers.

"Rob’s right though, we’ve fought this. We’ve been through this a lot before,” Carey said.

Preston continued by saying the town is trying to prevent further parking problems both in residential and shopping areas.

"Now, with our parking problems on Main Street, I’m just totally against watering down our regulations,” Preston said. "Nobody’s going to do retail if they don’t have enough places to park."

Options such as the parking garage and providing lots in the area were mentioned during the discussion.

"If you’re going to let the developer slide, then you’ve got to step up and say we’re going to provide parking for the neighborhood," Preston said.