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Off-Street Parking Code Study
Overview

Saint Paul, like many cities across the United States, is revising its off-street parking requirements to support and create vibrant mixed use communities of residents and businesses that look great, are livable, and respect the environment. 

 

In May 2009, the Saint Paul Planning Commission initiated a zoning study to consider amendments to Saint Paul’s off-street parking requirements and design standards.  The City’s zoning code regulates the number of off-street parking spaces that must be provided when establishing or expanding land uses and the associated parking lot design.

 

The City of Saint Paul’s last comprehensive evaluation and update to its off-street parking regulations was in 1992.  Since then our City has changed.  The current off-street parking requirements do not match the changing urban form of Saint Paul, account for alternative transportation modes, or facilitate fluid transitions on our commercial corridors.  In the recently adopted Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan, parking policy changes were included in almost every chapter to reflect new priorities for land use, transportation, housing and environmental quality.     

 

After extensive review and discussion, City staff have prepared a set of DRAFT revisions to the City’s off-street parking requirements and related code.   The DRAFT revisions are being released for public comment and feedback before staff make final proposed revisions for Planning Commission review and formal public hearing in early 2010. 

Comments, Questions and Blog


Study Goals and Objectives
  • Better align parking requirements with demand to reduce oversupply and undersupply of parking
  • Balance the interests of residents, businesses, institutions, government, and customers
  • Encourage development / redevelopment / reuse
  • Simplify the City’s off-street parking code for ease of interpretation and implementation
  • Encourage efficient land use and reduce blight
  • Support multi-modal transportation options
  • Increase environmental stewardship

The proposed revisions to off-street parking requirements do NOT address:

  • Parking deficiencies for existing businesses or properties
  • Downtown parking
  • Central Corridor Parking Management (separate study)
  • Parking demand management tools, e.g., permit areas, meters, enforcement