final town of windsor parking planning study presentation 040109

Town of Windsor

Downtown Planning Parking StudyFebruary 2009

Downtown Planning Parking Study

IntroductionsTown StaffChrista Johnson,Assistant Town Manager

David Kelley,Senior Management Analyst

Walker Parking ConsultantsSanjay Pandya, P.E.Vice President

Ronald Szeto,Parking Consultant


Public Outreach

1. Posted Public Meeting Notice

2. Town of Windsor Website

3. Notified Town Green Village HOA

4. Notice in Weekly Chamber Newsletter


Project Goal

The goal of the study is to define current and anticipated future parking conditions such as to prevent a parking crisis from forming without over-building parking supply, both of which would lessen the quality of life for the Town’s residents, property owners, merchants and visitors.


Study Scope

1. Determine and quantify the parking adequacy in the Downtown Windsor area (Study Area) under existing conditions and under future conditions when the Town becomes more developed.

2. Identify potential sites suitable for increasing parking supply if a parking shortfall or deficit is identified.

3. Provide an “over the shoulder” review of traffic flow and makes recommendations that can help mitigate traffic flow concerns.


Glossary of Terms

•The effective parking supply incorporates a ‘cushion’ of empty spaces to account for operating fluctuations, vehicle maneuvering, vehicles parked across two spaces, etc.

• For the Town of Windsor, Walker has used an effective supply of 90% of the full inventory of spaces. For example, if there is a parking lot with 100 spaces, we say that lot has an “effective” capacity of 90

spaces.

•A parking surplus or deficit is the difference between the effective parking supply and the parking demand.


Glossary of Terms•Shared Parking is defined as parking spaces that can serve two or more land uses without conflict or encroachment. We use a Shared Parking Model which is based on the Urban Land Institute (ULI) 2005 publication, Shared Parking, Second Edition

•Using the shared parking concept often allows for the actual parking demand of mixed-use projects or developments to be less than the sum of the individual peak parking demands.

•Land Use Base Ratio = A parking ratio calculated from nationwide industry research, prior to any adjustments for local conditions per unit of land use, most commonly per 1,000 square feet.

•Walker modifies this number as needed so that it reflects information and trends for the Town of Windsor so that the Shared Parking Model truly reflects the Town of Windsor’s specific situation.

•Parking Demand = Land Use Base Ratio x Adjustments


Glossary of Terms•Adjustments include:

•Drive Ratio – estimated travel population that drive cars rather than use public transportation, walk, or bike. 85% drive ratio was used for employees and 90% drive ratio was used for visitors.

•Non-captive Ratio – percentage of parkers who are not already in the vicinity and thus do generate new demand when they come downtown. We assumed a captive market of 5%; therefore, we project that 95% of the parkers need to be accommodated by the land use parking supply.


Study Area


Methodology

1. Review background information and data provided by Town staff.

2. Conduct parking inventory and occupancy counts.

3. Analyze the current parking utilization.

4. Develop a parking model for existing demand generated by public properties and the mixed-use properties of the Windsor Vineyards business complex and the Town Green Village development.

5. Develop a parking model for future demand.

6. Forecast future parking supply and demand with development project information provided by Town staff.


Existing Parking Conditions

The survey found the following utilization patterns:


Existing Parking Conditions Continued

The public only inventory includes public off and on street spaces, Windsor Vineyards, and uncovered Town Green Village spaces.


Existing Parking Conditions Continued

•Inventory and occupancy counts indicate there is an overall surplus of parking; however,

•There is a localized shortage of parking near the Town Green on an event day and,

•Town staff indicate that the attendance for the event held on September 7, 2008 was approximately 40 percent of the attendance at the most popular events that result in total saturation of Downtown Windsor.


Future Parking Conditions

Future Parking Conditions will include parking provided from new planned developments which include:

• Town Green Village

• Huerta Gym

• Library

• Windsor Mill

• Windsor Gateway

• Windsorland


Future Parking Conditions Continued

Future Parking Supply is estimated at 2,998 spaces as follows:


Effective Parking Supply ContinuedThe future parking supply and demand projections are as follows:


Conclusion and Recommendations

1. The anticipated future supply is considered “Adequate” for both, weekday and weekend scenarios in Downtown Windsor, assuming parking is built with new developments as anticipated.

2. Continue to encourage shared parking as outlined in Section 27.30.050 of the Zoning Ordinance and in the Shared Parking Policy issued in 2000.

3. The Zoning Ordinance should be reviewed and updated as needed, since the growth of the Town and any changes in the mix of land uses will change the characteristics of the shared parking.

4. If additional off-street parking resources are needed in the future to accommodate commercial growth and/or commuters, the parcel located south of Windsor River Road between Windsor Road and the railroad tracks is a viable option for additional surface parking lot or garage (if needed).


Conclusion and Recommendations Walker recommends that the Town and its businesses strive to reduce

its current employee commute drive ratio of 85 percent by implementing the following Transportation Demand Management measures:

• Increase public transportation rider-ship.

• Convert the reserved park & ride spaces in the commuter lot to

shared-use and all-day spaces after the morning commute period.

• Encourage bicycling commute trips. This can be accomplished via:

• construction of a bike path from Larkspur to Cloverdale,

• publicizing the Bicycle Commuter Act which allows employers who provide facilitation or support services for bicycle commuting a tax deduction, and

• converting ten parking spaces in downtown for bike parking and lockers.

• Implement programs to increase carpooling.



Parking Management:

• Consider Parking Time limits (90 minutes or 2 hours) in the core downtown area as a way of:

• keeping prime spaces available for visitors,

• discouraging employees of downtown business from parking in the core area and,

• helping to minimize traffic congestion.



Traffic Mitigation Recommendations

1. Designate specific times and zones for commercial delivery.

2. Designate a preferred truck route.

3. Continue shuttle service and designate passenger drop-off zone during event days.

4. Encourage carpooling on event days.


Questions / Comments

final town of windsor parking planning study presentation 040109

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