Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Roundtable Discussion on AB 904 = Tuesday, June 26 (4pm)

Are you available on Tuesday, June 26 (4pm) to join us in a roundtable discussion about AB 904 and parking policy reform?  We'd love to hear your perspective!  Please let me know if you're available and I will add you to the list of participants.

Are you available on Tuesday, June 26 (4pm) to join us in a lively roundtable discussion about AB 904 and parking policy reform? We'd love to hear your perspective!

AIA|LA & The Planning Report present...
Who Needs Parking? Who Wants Parking?
A Roundtable Debate About AB 904 & Parking Policy Reform
Tuesday, June 26 (4:00 - 5:30pm)
AIA Los Angeles
3780 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010

RSVP to will[@]aialosangeles.org

To be moderated by David Abel - Publisher, The Planning Report

A state proposal to lower parking requirements around transit, AB 904, is generating a lively debate among the environmental, development and affordable housing community. Should Sacramento intervene to help cities end what Donald Shoup has called a "great planning disaster?". Or should local governments take on the task of revising decades-old parking as our region invests more in transit infrastructure? Join the AIA-LA and The Planning Report in a roundtable discussion with planners, developers, architects addressing this complex and divisive issue.

Invited Participants:
Mayor Richard Bloom - City of Santa Monica
John Given - CIM Group
Mercedes Márquez - Los Angeles Housing Department
Carl Muhlstein - Cushman & Wakefield
Stephanie Reich - City of Glendale
Don Shoup - UCLA
Mott Smith - Civic Enterprise
Denny Zane - MOVE LA
Paul Zimmerman - SCANPH

And more.......

As I receive your RSVP, I will add your name to this list.

For more information, please contact:

Will Wright, Hon. AIA|LA
Director, Government & Public Affairs
AIA Los Angeles
Tel: (213) 639-0764
Email: will[@]aialosangeles.org


Additional Resources:

Resurrected Parking Bill Draws Fire from APA

Ever since the 2005 publication of UCLA professor Don Shoup’s book, The High Cost of Free Parking, the relaxation of parking minimums has been seen by many planners as the next best thing to manufacturing new land. Yet, the introduction of a bill that would enact a modest page from the Shoup playbook has roused opposition from a surprising source: the American Planning Association. 

The League of Cities and Cal APA are NOT Accurately Representing AB 904

AB 904 Fact CHECK _.pdf Download this file

An interesting post on MARKET URBANISM:

CAL APA's MEMO entitled:  "URGENT: Restrictive Parking Bill Reintroduced"

The following is a link to AB 904, sponsored by the Infill Builder Association and authored again by Assembly Member Skinner.  
The bill is a gut and amend that is now similar to AB 710 (Skinner).  This bill requires restrictive parking standards similar to those included in AB 710, which you'll recall died on the Senate floor at the end of last year.  AB 904, in a different form, already passed the Assembly, and is now awaiting hearing in the Senate.
APA California is not opposed to the concept of lower parking requirements near transit when a community decides it is right for them -- the issue is that a one-sized-fits-all statewide standard is not appropriate.
AB 904, on and after January 1, 2014, would prohibit a city or county (including charter cities) from requiring minimum parking requirements in transit-intensive areas greater than the following:
   One parking space per 1000 square feet for nonresidential projects (including commercial, industrial, institutional, or any other nonresidential projects regardless of type of use).
   One parking space per unit for non-income-restricted residential projects.
   75/100ths parking spaces per unit for projects that include both income restricted and non-income restricted units.
   5/10ths parking spaces per unit for units that are deed restricted at least 55 years to rents or prices affordable to persons and families making less than 60% of area median income.
The definition of "transit-intensive area" means an area that is within 1/2 mile of a major transit stop or within 1/4 mile of the center line of a high-quality transit corridor included in a regional transportation plan, including a major transit stop such as a High Speed Rail transit stop) included in a regional transportation plan but not completed.
There are a few exceptions.  Units with floor ratios below 0.75, deed-restricted rent control/rental replacement units, and units where the owner withdrew the units from rental are all exempt from the parking restrictions. 
Local agencies can impose higher parking standards than are included in the bill if they make written findings, based on substantial evidence and "objective criteria" that all of the following apply to the specific transit-intensive area:
1. There isn't sufficient walkability.
2. There isn't sufficient level of transit service or bike access to provide viable alternatives to the car.
3. The lower standards undermine "existing parking standards that create effective incentives for transit-oriented development or affordable housing production, or both". 
4. The standards conflict with a station area plan in effect as of 1/1/2013 that provides reduced off-street parking compared to standard zoning required outside the transit-intensive area.
The local agency would be required to adopt an ordinance implementing any parking standards above those included in the bill.  But, if the agency does not adopt such an ordinance by January 1, 2014, projects deemed complete after January 1, 2014, but before adoption of the ordinance, would be required to meet the reduced parking requirements in this bill.
The sponsors believe that builders and the market should decide how much parking to provide, and that these reduced parking standards significantly reduce the cost of development and increase the number of transit-accessible and affordable housing units, increase density and development and use of public transit, and reduce green house gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled by removing an incentive to drive.
APA California is interested in receiving your comments on this measure, and are also interested in how you believe the bill would specifically impact your jurisdiction or community. Please send your comments to Sande George, contact info below, within the next two weeks.  
In addition, if you believe that this bill would create problems for you community, we urge you to write a letter to the author, with a copy to Sande, expressing opposition.
Her contact information is below:
Sande George
Lobbyist, APA California
Stefan/George Associates
925 L Street, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95814

Thank you everyone,
Dave Snow, APA California Vice President of Policy and Legislation
Sande George, APA California Executive Director and Lobbyist
Lauren Silva, APA California Lobbyist

AB 904 (SKINNER)

AB 904 Language from Leg Counsel.pdf Download this file

From: Nancy Cisneros [mailto:ncisneros@cacities.org] 
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 3:19 PM
Subject: ACTION ALERT - AB 904
Importance: High

Inland Empire & Desert Mountain Division City Managers
Please act on AB 904 immediately, this parking bill is back with just enough  revision to make it look tolerable, but the author exempted her district from it, it hits at local control, the opt out process is so involved and is made to have cities hesitate to do so….  The bill is expected to go to the Governor’s desk unless we can stop it with many letters of opposition….Let’s not let the state now become involved in zoning.

ACTION ALERT!!

AB 904 (Skinner). Threatens Affordable Housing and
Business Friendly Community Development
preprepreprepre

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