MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013Parking reductions based on existing developmentIn change of use proposals which generate increased parking requirements and in the case ofminor additions to existing developments, the ability to provide parking in accordance with theTown's existing Parking Policy is often constrained. This is particularly the case in older andsmall-scale commercial ribbon centres where parking shortfalls already exist. Under the draftPolicy, despite the concessions available and the proposed application of cash-in-lieu, theability to fulfil parking requirements will remain limited in some cases. This could deter anumber of developments which could otherwise benefit these areas and bring activity to thestreet, such as cafes and restaurants.To address this matter, it is proposed that at the Town's discretion, the parking requirementwould be calculated based only on the increase in bays the change in use or addition willgenerate. This reflects that the only reason for additional parking is from the new proposalitself and that the existing parking scenario is the status quo. The Town has applied thisapproach in dealing with existing parking shortfalls in the past. Attachment 3 - Guide to ParkingPolicy Ratios and Concessions provides an example of the application of this approach.This method, which reduces the parking calculation, will allow developments or change in useto proceed when otherwise these may be restricted as a result of parking requirements.Accordingly it is considered reasonable that the entire parking shortfall as calculated throughthe alternative method be paid through cash-in-lieu and that other concessions would not apply.Given that this scenario is largely applicable to small existing commercial areas, whereproposed cash-in-lieu rates are lowest, the provision to require cash-in-lieu is consideredgenerally reasonable. In most cases, cash-in-lieu monies could be spent on improvements toadjacent kerbside parking.While this approach was not advertised, it is already applied in the Town and shortfalls will nowalso require justification in a Parking Management Plan each time they are supported.Accordingly, it is not considered that readvertising the Policy is necessary.Parking Management Plan and Transport AssessmentParking Management Plans, which are tools to help manage parking demand have beenapplied in the past by Council where there have been concerns over parking provisions. It isnow proposed that these be required for all non-residential applications that propose ten ormore parking spaces or where a car parking concession is being sought to allow for moreeffective use of the parking spaces available.A Parking Management Plan will require applicants to think about how tenants and customerswill access their development and provide a formal record for Council in the event of futureaccess issues arising.Council may also require transport assessments (technical report) to justify any parkingshortfalls.Outcomes of AdvertisingThe draft Parking Policy was made available for public comment from 7 December 2012 until25 January 2013. Public advertising involved:-• an advertisement in the Cambridge Post editions dated 7 and 14 December 2012;• a notice in the 11 January 2013 edition of Cambridge News;• a notice and copy of the draft Policy on the Town's website under 'Have your say';• a copy of the draft Policy to the Western Australian Planning Commission;H:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\13 MINUTES\FEBRUARY 2013\B DV.DOCX 114