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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-05-168 - Parking Feasiblity Study Update ) c,_> KITCHENER Development & Technical Services ~ Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: Chair Weylie and Members of the Development and Technical Services Committee October 1 7, 2005 John McBride John McBride Ward 1 - Bridgeport Centre Ward 6 - West Victoria Park October 13, 2005 DTS 05-168 PARKING FEASIBLlTY STUDY UPDATE RECOMMENDATION: "That the recommendations outlined in DTS 05-160 Feasibility Study for the Development of Short and Long Term Parking Solutions for Downtown Kitchener be approved." BACKGROUND: At the Sept 26/05 Development and Technical Services Committee meeting, consideration was given to a report on the development of short and long term parking solutions for Downtown Kitchener. The report recommended the development of two parking structures, one at Charles and Water Sts and the other as part of the Centre Block development. It also recommended that Transportation Demand Management initiatives be pursued as well as a review of the Zoning Bylaw parking rates for new commercial and retail floor space in the Downtown. During discussion of this report, the decision was made to defer the recommendations to allow for: · greater public input through the hosting of an open house · consider the implications of weighting the evaluation criteria to better reflect the cost implications of each alternative · clarify the amount of subsidy received by the Parking Enterprise from the tax levy · meet with representatives of the Cora Group to more fully explain how the conclusions were reached with respect to the demand for parking in the east end of the Core REPORT: Public Ooen House As part of the public consultation process associated with this study, we had identified and invited approximately 60 persons to an initial stakeholder meeting on Jan 27/05 This included major property owners, leasing agents, realtors, staff, politicians and outside agencies. A second stakeholder meeting was held on Sept 8/05 at which time the draft results of the study were presented to the same list of invitees as well as members of the Downtown Advisory Committee and members of the KDBA Board of Directors. In order to ensure that an even greater level of exposure was achieved, an open house was planned for Wed Oct 5/05. A public notice was placed in the Record on Sat Oct 1/05 advertising the open house. In addition, approximately 2,200 letters were sent to each registered address, property owner, tenant and business within the boundaries of the Downtown as well as the same list of stakeholders noted above. Display boards were prepared and both the Consultant and Staff were present to explain the process that was followed and the recommendations that resulted. Approximately 20 people attended the open house. The verbal responses at the open house indicated a pretty even split between those that supported the proposal and those that did not. Those in favour commented on the need for parking and how it would support existing businesses as well as future growth. Those that didn't support the proposal were concerned about the impact on homes along Joseph St (a full City block between the Charles and Water St garage and the homes) as well as desiring greater support for public transit as opposed to the automobile. Of the written responses received four were in favour of the proposal and three were opposed, for many of the same reasons as noted above. Evaluation Criteria Weiahtina It was suggested at the DTS Committee meeting that a greater emphasis should be placed on the cost implications of the various sites. The original evaluation treated each of the 11 criteria equally although there were already two criteria related to costing. It found that Site 1 at Charles and Water Sts and Site 4 on the Centre Block were the two preferred sites. Three additional evaluations have been completed to address the issues raised at the DTS Committee. Included was a test of the implications of changing the weighting criteria related to need, since without need, costs are of less relevance. The additional evaluations have been based on: · doubling the weighting factor for the two cost related criteria · doubling the weighting factor for the two criteria related to short and long term need · doubling the weighting factor for the four cost and need criteria In all cases Site 1 at Charles and Water Sts and Site 4 on the Centre Block are still the two highest rated sites. Appendix A illustrates the original evaluation criteria rating as well as the three additional evaluations with different weighting factors. Existina Parkina Subsidies The parking operation produces net revenue for the City; the 2005 amount is expected to be approximately $784,000. 2005 Budgeted parking revenues $2,631,599 2005 Budgeted parking expenses $1,847,330 Net contribution to he City tax base $784,249 In addition, a number of parking subsidies have been approved by Council over the years and are not included in the figures above. At the Aug 22/05 Community Services Committee meeting, a report was brought forward which outlined the extent of parking subsidies in the Downtown. It stated: "To properly account and identify the subsidies for free or reduced parking initiatives that the Parking Enterprise provides in the Downtown, an estimate was made and included in the Parking Enterprise in the form of an internal transfer of funds. More specifically, the Downtown unit was charged with a parking subsidy of $900,324 and the Parking Enterprise was credited with providing a subsidy of $900,324. A breakdown of the estimate of $900,324 is provided below: Public meetings Downtown meters Holiday promotions Paid staff parking Free parking $ 3,090 $601,800 $ 30,600 $111,834 $153,000 (300 meters @ approx $2,000 per year) (Free parking in Downtown Nov & Dec) (Free parking in surface lots at night) In summary, there is no net effect on the overall city budget." Discussions with the Cora Grouo On Mon Oct 3/05 the Mayor, CAO, consultant and staff met with representatives of the Cora Group to further explain the results of the parking study. Staff and the consultant met again on Oct 5/05 with the Cora Group to answer any questions that they had with respect to the study. A copy of the full study was provided to the Cora Group for their review and analysis. When the 2001 Parking Study recommended the development of a 525 space above ground structure at Charles and Benton Sts, both the demand and supply of parking in that segment of the Downtown was considerably different. Market Square was converting from a retail base to an office base with the relocation of Stantec to this site. At the time, parking demands exceeded the supply and the City committed to provide up to 200 additional parking spaces in this structure for a 15 year commitment at full market value. When the City chose not to proceed with the development of the Charles and Benton Garage, Cora was able to accommodate their needs in other locations. This included Market Square, the large surface lot at Duke and Frederick St, the former transit terminal site (which the City returned to Cora and eliminated public parking) and other properties in the immediate area. They had the ability to juggle their tenants between their various properties in order to meet their parking requirement. In fact, Cora stated that they did not require 50 parking spaces in the Centre Block that had been reserved for them in an attempt to help them meet their parking demands. Since that time, a number of changes have occurred in the east end to impact both the supply and demand for parking. It should be noted that based on the current assessment, no parking deficits are anticipated over either the short or the longer term on the immediate surrounding blocks of Site 2 (Block 28 at Charles and Benton Sts), on which a 525 space parking structure was recommended in the 2001 Downtown Kitchener Parking Garage Feasibility Study. This can be explained by the following factors: · The opening of Your Kitchener Market with the associated parking structure (321 spaces) · The expansion of parking in Market Square (161 spaces) · Estimation of parking requirements based on the observed peak parking demand of 1.74 spaces per 1,000 ft2 (1 space per 53 m2) in the current study instead of 3 spaces per 1,000 ft2 (1 space per 31 m2) used in the previous study · Estimation of the public parking requirements in the vicinity of each candidate site by comparing the net increases in parking demand (that need to be met off-site) to the parking surpluses in existing public parking facilities during the peak period. The construction of one or more parking structures in the Downtown will result in a shift of parking patrons, however modest, as they try and locate closer to their destination. This may result in a few additional spaces in the Duke & Ontario Garage or other lots in the vicinity of Market Square that could potentially assist in any future parking demands that could not be met on site. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Nothing beyond the original recommendations that: · Business cases, as may be required, for both structures be developed and presented to Council, and further; · That funding for the two structures be referred to the 2006 Capital Budget process for consideration as follows: a) Site 1 $500,000 in 2006 and $10,140,000 in 2007 b) Site 4 $5,000,000 in 2007 and $10,200,000 in 2008, and further; · That partnership opportunities be pursued for the joint development of parking on both sites with interested parties. COMMUNICATIONS: A report summarizing the recommendations of this study has been presented to the Downtown Advisory Committee at which time members of the KDBA Board of Directors and stakeholders in the Downtown including major property owners, leasing agents and realtors were invited. It has also been presented to the Centre Block Steering Committee. Approximately 2,200 property owners, tenants, residents and businesses of the Downtown were invited to attend an open house on Wed Oct 5/05 to review the results of the study. Approximately 20 persons attended. CONCLUSIONS: The additional information that has been collected since the Sept 26/05 DTS Committee has not changed the conclusions reached in the study. The recommendations of this study are that: · Two parking structures, one at Charles and Water Sts and the other on the Centre Block will be required to support the existing uses in the Downtown. · Transportation Demand Management initiatives need to be developed for the Downtown in an attempt to reduced the long term demand for parking · The Zoning Bylaw needs to be reviewed with respect to the parking rates required for the development of new commercial and retail floor space in the Downtown in an effort to provide a reasonable supply of parking. John P. McBride Director Transportation Planning Rob Shamess, P.Eng Director of Engineering Appendix A Evaluation Criteria Ratings with Various Weighting Factors Original Evaluation Rating - all criteria equal Proximity to Areas of Need (Short Term Proximity to Areas of Need (Long Term Net Parking Supply Increase Vehicular Accessibility Pedestrian Accessibility Opportunities for Joint Use Property Costs Cost-effective Parking Compatibility Partnership Opportunity Availability Total