07/10/1989 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e good mass transportation system is important, but cautioned that the private sector will still need to provide parking. He stated that a reasonable level of parking woula'be approximately 2.5 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet. Mr. Bennett supported Mr. Gleason1s position. Mr. Boles stressed the importance of achieving a balance between a well-run public transportation system and privately supplied parking; he felt this balance could be achieved by means of a variance as suggested by Mr. Rutan above. Mr. Luell briefly reviewed information about a hypothetical parking assessment district, and the difference between loaning and bonding the money for construction of parking garages. He also reviewed an urban renewal pro forma. Mr. Gleason said staff recommends that the council loan private companies the money to build parking structures, adjusting the interest rate so that parking rental rates will be competitive. Mr. Rutan said the information presented by staff indicates how expensive it is to construct parking garages and, consequently, how difficult it is to make use of a parking exemption district. In regard to Centennial Bank, Mr. Rutan said that the City should support their developmen~ by granting them a variance on some portion of their required parking in the short term. Specifically, Mr. Rutan suggested that developers be allowed to provide off-site parking at a distance greater than 400 feet from their site, as long as certain performance requirements are met (e.g., a certain percentage of the spaces must be provided on-site). He suggested that this agreement be made void at some point in the future if the City develops another parking structure. Ms. Ehrman supported this position, but felt this option should e be made available to any developer in the C-3 district. Mr. B01es agreed with Ms. Ehrman that the variance should be available to all developers within the C-3 district. He requested that the council address the larger issue of how to make the entire City attractive for development. Mr. Holmer expressed interest in Mr. Rutan's proposal for a variance on parking requirements for private developers, but he did not feel it would be possible for staff to create a generic variance that would address the parking problems of all C-3 developments. Mr. Holmer felt that the variance would have to be arranged on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Bennett did not like the idea that developers might have to rely on the variance forever. He said that parking will have to be provided in the downtown area if development is to occur at the desired intensity. Mr. Bennett said he would favor a more permanent solution by negotiating parking loans in such a way that new, revenue-neutral parking structures can be developed. He said that if the council is not willing to help Centennial Bank finance a parking structure, it should be very clear about this. Mayor Miller summarized the council's position. He said the council wants to examine the C-3 zone to see if it can be expanded so that developers can meet parking requirements by providing off-site parking, with the proviso that the . MINUTES--City Council-- July 10, 1989 Page 4 Dinner/Work Session