Report Excerpt:The Board supports this Article because it simplifies the Zoning Bylaw regarding non-residential parking requirements in the B5 Zoning District and is consistent with the Master Plan and Connect Arlington (the Sustainable Transportation Plan). The B5 district is located exclusively in Arlington Center. Currently, section 6.1.10(D) of the Zoning Bylaw allows the substitution of spaces within public parking lots in lieu of on-site parking requirements, provided they are located within 1,000 feet of the building to be served. All of the 26 parcels in the B5 district are located within 1,000 feet of either the Russell Common Parking Lot or the Railroad Lot or both; on-street parking is also available. The intent of the B5 Zoning District includes allowing for uses oriented to pedestrian traffic, both to encourage commercial activity from neighborhood residents, and to encourage visitors who drive to park once and visit multiple locations on foot within a single visit.
Under this Warrant Article, property owners seeking to redevelop property in the B5 district may continue to choose to provide on-site parking; the Warrant Article only eliminates the minimum parking requirement for commercial uses. By so doing, the Article facilitates change of use and supports new businesses locating to existing storefronts by eliminating the need to request a Special Permit under Environmental Design Review solely to request a parking reduction. Business owners renting property within an existing structure have limited, if any, ability to create off-street parking; for businesses seeking to open without changes to the exterior façade, going through the Special Permit process delays their ability to open by approximately two months. The amendment would allow commercial tenants to operate without having to request and receive a parking waiver, instead allowing them to direct visitors and staff to municipal parking lots and on-street parking, as well as public transportation resources.
The Article is consistent with the Master Plan and Sustainable Transportation Plan. The Master Plan indicates that parking requirements that reflect the actual need for parking should be developed as a way to manage parking in commercial areas (Recommendation 5 of Traffic & Circulation, page 68). The Warrant Article is consistent with this goal and reflects the fact that meeting the requirements of the existing off-street parking regulations is challenging or impossible in the dense B5 Zoning District, particularly for certain business uses that require higher parking ratios per the existing Zoning Bylaw. A goal of the Sustainable Transportation Plan is to create a vision for all aspects of mobility, including walking, bicycling, public transportation, driving, shared mobility, and micro mobility. This Article may help encourage business owners to identify other more sustainable mobility options for both customers and employees to access their business.
VOTED: Favorable Action (4/0)