Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The City of Columbus recognizes that public on-street parking as well as off-street parking for individual businesses and residential land uses may be limited in some areas. In an effort to achieve specific development or traffic initiatives in these areas, Section 3312.05 of the Columbus City Code allows for the creation of a Special Parking Area (SPA).
Special parking areas can be established with different parking requirements that aid in balancing the needs of both residents and businesses in the defined area. Special parking areas benefit the community by enhancing efforts to review and manage parking impacts and demands.
The City of Columbus, in partnership with Kimley-Horn & Associates, developed a city-wide Strategic Parking Plan (SPP) that governs parking management decisions to support the growth and development of our urban core neighborhoods. The SPP analyzed existing conditions and recommends parking management strategies and parking demand management tools for the Downtown, University District, Franklinton and South of Downtown Neighborhoods.
The creation of an SPA to “right-size” parking requirements and a fee in-lieu process are just two recommendations from the SPP for Franklinton. The in-lieu fee establishes a process to effectively manage parking when residential and non-residential developments do not satisfy the required parking within the boundaries of the SPA. This process requires developers to pay a fee instead of providing all or a portion of the parking spaces required by the SPA. The revenue generated from the fees may only be spent on parking and mobility initiatives to balance the parking needs within the designated SPA.
The East Franklinton Review Board and the Franklinton Area Commission both support the creation of the SPA. The Columbus Development Commission reviewed and voted 5-0 on the ordinance at the monthly public meeting held on May 13, 2021.
FISCAL IMPACT: The potential revenue generated from t...
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