pages: PlanningBoard/2009-02-09.pdf, 5
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PlanningBoard | 2009-02-09 | 5 | residential areas. She disagrees with the PSBA that employees should be given permits to park in residential areas. She asked if enough revenue was being generated by the garage and stated that after 5 p.m. on weekends parking is free during this time and the garage is heavily used. Staff stated that regarding bike parking, in-lieu fees are being used to provide bicycle racks on Central Avenue across from the theatre. Board member Cunningham asked if any consideration had been given to encourage a private owner of any future parking structures. Staff stated that they were not aware of any formal requests for developing and operating a garage. Staff does not believe enough revenue would be generated to justify a new parking structure. In the historic area of Park Street changing the rate charged for on-street parking, along with the addition of the civic garage and surrounding parking lots, the parking problem in this area may be solved. Staff has been struggling with the requirement that new businesses provide five spaces per 1,000 square feet of retail space which is just not feasible in the Park Street area. During this same period staff was requesting development at Alameda Landing provide no more than four spaces per 1,000 square feet. President Kohlstrand stated she supports using the garage to solve parking concerns in the Park Street business district. Board member Autorino believes it is premature to adequately determine utilization of the parking garage. He believes requiring a set number of parking spaces for businesses should apply to a shopping center or strip mall not the downtown area. He does not believe in the downtown area the City would want businesses to create additional parking areas. He believes responsibility for providing parking in these areas should be borne by the City and the community. He would support a plan where new businesses in these locations pay a fee to support or develop public parking facilities. He stated that requiring a parking fee for a new business is appropriate but the City should be responsible for providing the parking space. Vice President Ezzy Ashcraft asked if fees would be determined by the type of business or based on the square footage of the business. She asked if these fees would generate enough revenue to fund a new parking structure. President Kohlstrand stated there should be a distinction between whether square footage is being added or whether it is an existing site with a new use. She stated that CEQA requirements are changing to impose a fee for every auto trip generated. The City should take this into consideration as new policies are developed. Board member Cunningham stated that if the Board is trying to stimulate growth it seems unfair to charge a new business at the front-end. Staff stated that in the North Park Street area staff is suggesting identification of a site for a new parking structure in a central location and establishment of an assessment Page 5 of 10 | PlanningBoard/2009-02-09.pdf |