Agenda Date: 05/17/2016
Subject:
Title
An ordinance amending section 9 of chapter 4 of title 10 of the city code concerning parking space dimensions, drive aisle widths, and accessibility references
Body
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Presented By: |
Carol Kuhn, AICP, Senior Planner |
POLICY QUESTION:
Does city council support amending the city code to increase the drive aisle widths, reduce parking space dimensions, and amend the reference to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible spaces.
BACKGROUND:
In 2015, Littleton hired the firm of Clarion Associates to provide an assessment of the city’s zoning code. Based on direction from that assessment, the planning board and community development staff are undertaking a comprehensive review of the city’s zoning ordinances. The initial phase of this project is a thorough review to modernize the city’s land uses table in chapter 3 of title 10. A citizen stakeholder committee was formed to assist with this initial phase. Staff anticipates this phase to be completed over the next several months, and will include opportunities for community input.
In the meantime, staff has identified technical zoning code standards that need more immediate attention to provide further clarification for incoming land development applications. These technical updates will be proposed in coordination with the overall zoning ordinance review project, yet will be undertaken on a separate track and schedule.
Parking space dimensions and drive aisle widths are part of the technical items to address.
Staff researched the parking space dimensions for Arapahoe County, City of Centennial, City of Englewood, City of Lakewood, City of Lone Tree, and Douglas County and found that these jurisdictions have parking space size requirements of 9 feet by 18 feet or less, with drive aisle widths of 24 feet. Staff also identified the dimensions of mid-size sedans and mid-size sport utility vehicles (SUV) and found that the average mid-size sedan is 6 feet wide and 16 feet long. An average mid-size SUV is 6.5 feet wide and 17 feet long. The proposed revision to the parking space dimensions will adequately accommodate most vehicles.
STAFF ANALYSIS:
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) establish transportation guidelines and standards. The industry average parking space dimensions range from 7.5 to 9 feet in width, and 12 to 18 feet in length; and drive aisle width averages range from 22 to 26 feet in width.
Littleton’s parking space dimensions are primarily 9-feet by 20-feet, and the drive aisle widths requirement is 23 feet. Applicants have been submitting land-development applications with an assumed parking space size of 9-feet by 18-feet and drive aisle widths of 24-feet, since these are generally considered the industry standard.
The proposal is to change the city’s parking space and drive aisle dimensions to be more in-line with industry standards, and neighboring jurisdictions. The proposed changes also include revising the term “handicap” to more accurately reference “ADA accessible” and clarifying that the width of ADA parking spaces comply with ADA specifications and requirements. Specifically, the proposed changes include:
• Standard parking space length: 18 feet
• Standard parking space width: 9 feet
• ADA parking space length: 18 feet
• ADA parking width and ADA access aisle width: Shall comply with ADA requirements
• One-way (90 degree): 24 feet
• Two-way (all angles): 24 feet
The proposed changes are effective in organizing the flow of traffic in and out of parking spaces, and providing adequate and safe width for vehicle drive aisles. There is no proposed change to the compact parking space dimensions of 8 feet by 18 feet.
See attached letters of support from engineering firms that have done work in Littleton.
PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On April 11, 2016, the planning board reviewed the proposed amendments to section 9 of chapter 4 of title 10 of the city code concerning parking space dimensions, drive aisle widths, and accessibility references. The board voted 5-0 to recommend approval.
The ordinance presented to the Planning Board did not include a proposed revision to the width of an ADA parking space. However, the proposal before city council includes a reference to the ADA requirements for the parking space width and the access aisle width. Because the ADA requirements are updated from time to time, a reference to the most recently-adopted ADA design standards, rather than a specific dimension, will guide developers to use the most current ADA standards. ADA does not specify a length for ADA parking spaces, therefore the proposed ordinance includes a reduction of the ADA parking space length from 20 feet to 18 feet to align with the proposed standard parking space reduction.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Based on industry standards and averages for parking space dimensions and drive aisle widths, community development and public works staff recommend approval of the proposed amendments. This revision will reduce the parking space length for both standard and ADA spaces from 20 feet to 18 feet, increase the one way drive aisle width for 90-degree parking from 23 feet to 24 feet, increase the two way parking aisle width for all angles from 23 feet to 24 feet, refer to the current ADA standards for parking space and ADA access aisle widths, and update the reference to handicap accessible spaces to ADA accessible spaces.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve the ordinance amending section 9 of chapter 4 of title 10 of the city code concerning parking space dimensions, drive aisle widths, and accessibility references on first reading and schedule the public hearing for June 7, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. in the council chamber.