By final votes 62-37 in the House of Delegates and 21-19 in the Senate, the legislature passed HB 888 (Shin). The bill mandates specific statewide standards for off-street parking be adopted in local zoning ordinances for “designated areas” defined as … any parcel that is (i) located within one mile of the entrance to a mass transit or public transportation station or facility; (ii) located within an approved small area plan and designated therein as a revitalization area or other designated district established for the purpose of facilitating residential or mixed-use development; (iii) located within a zoning district classification that permits residential, multifamily, or mixed-use development and authorizes a floor area ratio of 1.0 or greater, or an equivalent density based on units per acre, either by-right or by special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, or other discretionary approval; or (iv) that is the subject of an application for rezoning, special exception, special use permit, conditional use permit, site plan, or subdivision plat, that if approved, will include affordable dwelling units in accordance with an ordinance adopted pursuant to § 15.2-2304, 15.2-2305, or 15.2-2305.1.
ACTION REQUESTED
- Contact Governor Abigail Spanberger and urge the Governor to oppose HB 888.
Within such areas localities are prohibited from requiring off-street parking spaces in amounts exceeding (1) one-half of one parking space per dwelling unit for multifamily or mixed-use residential development; and (2) one parking space per dwelling unit for one-family and two-family dwellings and townhouses.
The legislation also requires localities with a population greater than 20,000 to provide for administrative reduction of minimum off-street parking requirements of not less than 20 percent for residential, multifamily, or mixed-use development proposed on parcels outside of the designated areas defined in the legislation.
KEY POINTS
- Off-street parking requirements should be crafted by local governments with the input of local stakeholders.
- Mandatory statewide standards arbitrarily applied to all localities will fail to address the unique needs and circumstances of individual neighborhoods and commercial districts.
KEY CONTACT
VACo Contact: Joe Lerch, AICP