Purpose and intent. With certain forms and uses, their intended purpose is to reduce the need for the single occupancy vehicle trips, utilize existing on-street parking opportunities, as well as to increase the viability of accessing their form by traveling by an alternative mode of transportation; either would therefore allow for a reduction in the need to require a minimum amount of off-street parking.
(a) Mixed-use floor area reduction for residence above the first floor. When a use is categorized as residence above the first floor and when a structure provides for separate and distinct floor areas for various business operations, parking may be reduced by providing for calculations by separate floor area rather than gross floor area. The floor area reduction may not reduce off-street parking provided by more than 35%.
(b) Transit reduction. The public transit system, if properly utilized, will decrease the need for off- street parking. A long-run commitment to encourage employees or residents to ride the transit system, from an established fixed route, can be accompanied by a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required. A transit fixed route should be located within a reasonable distance of the use it is intended to serve. Natural or human-made barriers and travel safety between sites should be considered. The off- street parking requirement may be reduced up to 20% of the required off-street parking requirement according to the following procedure:
(1)
The applicant may submit to the city, upon request for a zoning permit, an agreement with the city transit system to purchase one or more bus passes to provide bus transportation for one or more employees or residents. The agreement must be a written instrument and must be in a form acceptable to the director of planning and building services. The instrument must contain the number of passes to be purchased, a statement assuring purchase, and subsequent use of these passes for a period specified by the Director of Planning and Developments Services or designee, however, not less than one year. At such time as the agreement expires, the parking reduction also expires. The bus pass shall be sufficient to provide bus trips on a regularly scheduled fixed route. Monthly passes shall be purchased for the period specified in the agreement prior to the issuance of the zoning permit, and no refund shall be given for the pass for any reason.
(2) The off-street parking requirement may be reduced by one parking space for each employee or resident for which a bus pass has been purchased. The maximum off-street parking reduction shall equal 20% of the calculated total off-street parking requirement.
(c) Bicycle parking reduction.
(1) Any nonresidential building project in any zoning district except the MMU1, MMU2, MMU3, and DT-PUD zoning district which is required to have 20 or more off-street parking spaces may reduce the number of required automobile parking spaces up to 5% according to the following procedure:
A. Two bicycle parking spaces may be provided in lieu of each automobile parking space; and
B. Each parking space shall include a metal anchor which will secure the frame and both wheels in conjunction with a user-supplied lock.
(2) Bicycle parking spaces shall be as close to the main building entrance as the most convenient nonhandicapped auto space, without interfering with pedestrian movement. Bicycle spaces shall be located and designed to prevent damage to bicycles from motor vehicles.
(d) Parking reduction alternative plans. In the case that an applicant can show that the required parking amounts are in excess of what is needed for the proposed use, the applicant may submit a request with justification based on § 160.600.
(e) Change in use reduction. When an existing structure changes use requiring only interior remodeling or minor construction and the site has an accessory parking lot of at least 50 off-street parking spaces, additional parking will not be required.
(f) For MD forms, off-site parking may be located within 250 feet of the lot for which it is intended to serve if a conditional use permit has been obtained in conformance with the standards set forth in § 160.616 (accessory parking). Said parking must be in addition to the required onsite parking. Exception: MD1 parking for multiple dwellings with multiple buildings on a lot abutting a private street is allowed.
(g) For the MMU1, MMU2, and MMU3 Zoning Districts, projects that are required to have 50 or more off-street parking spaces may reduce the required automobile parking spaces according to the following procedure:
(1) Up to 20% reduction when providing indoor or outdoor bicycle storage spaces according to the following procedure:
A. Two bicycle spaces may be provided in lieu of each automobile parking spaces; and
B. Each parking space shall include a metal anchor which will secure the frame and both wheels in conjunction with a user-supplied lock.
C. Bicycle parking spaces shall be as close to the main building entrance as the most convenient nonhandicapped auto space, without interfering with pedestrian movement. Bicycle spaces shall be located and designed to prevent damage to bicycles from motor vehicles.
(2) Up to a 5% reduction when providing a designated rideshare drop-off/pick up location according the following procedure:
A. The drop-off/pick up space needs to be a minimum size of 9' x 18' and located on private property.
(3) Transit reduction. The public transit system, if properly utilized, will decrease the need for off-street parking. A long-run commitment to encourage employees or residents to ride the transit system, from an established fixed route, can be accompanied by a reduction in the number of off-street parking spaces required. A transit fixed route should be located within a reasonable distance of the use it is intended to serve. Natural or human-made barriers and travel safety between sites should be considered. The off-street parking requirement may be reduced up to 5% of the required off-street parking requirement according to the following procedure:
A. The applicant may submit to the city, upon request for a zoning permit, an agreement with the city transit system to purchase one or more bus passes to provide bus transportation for one or more employees or residents. The agreement must be a written instrument and must be in a form acceptable to the Director of Planning and Building Services. The instrument must contain the number of passes to be purchased, a statement assuring purchase, and subsequent use of these passes for a period specified by the Director of Planning and Developments Services or designee; however, not less than one year. At such time as the agreement expires, the parking reduction also expires. The bus pass shall be sufficient to provide bus trips on a regularly scheduled fixed route. Monthly passes shall be purchased for the period specified in the agreement prior to the issuance of the zoning permit, and no refund shall be given for the pass for any reason.
B. The off-street parking requirement may be reduced by one parking space for each employee or resident for which a bus pass has been purchased. The maximum off-street parking reduction shall equal 20% of the calculated total off-street parking requirement.
(4) On-Street Parking Reduction. To encourage more dense, mixed-use projects along some of our corridors within the central portion of Sioux Falls, the utilization of on-street parking is encouraged to reduce the overall parking required. Any project that requires more than 50 parking spaces may utilize on-street parking for a one-for-one parking reduction according to the following procedure:
A. The on-street parking spaces need to meet the design and size as indicated in the commercial parking requirements and Engineering Design Standards.
B. The on-street parking spaces need to be located on either the primary or secondary frontage of the mixed-use development.
C. The on-street parking spaces located on any public right-of-way needs to be approved by resolution by the City Council.
(1992 Code, App. B, § 15.55.030) (Ord. 42-83, passed 6-27-1983; Ord. 108-08, passed 9-2-2008; Ord. 9-13, passed 3-19-2013; Ord. 23-16, passed 4-5-2016; Ord. 34-18, passed 5-2-2018; Ord. 30-23, passed 5-2-2023)