Title
Downtown Parking Study (B)
Explanation
As the downtown area continues to redevelop, the demand for parking is expected to increase. An adequate supply of parking and proper management of parking resources is important in ensuring the continued success of the downtown area today and into the future. Parking management will become even more important as the development of Innovation Square progresses and the downtown area becomes more urbanized. Encountering and addressing parking challenges is positive in the sense that it conveys vitality in the downtown area that is creating the need to address parking issues.
As mentioned when this item was considered by the CRA, "It is important to understand that the public perception about parking resources is often just as influential to this discussion as is the actual data related to parking supply, demand, and use." The CRA is attentive to issues related to parking resources, as parking infrastructure is an important component in attracting increased investment in urbanized areas. Successful redevelopment must attain a balance between accommodating a high demand for parking without sacrificing the human scale and people-oriented nature of the area. The CRA worked with parking consultants Rich & Associates in order to address parking issues downtown. The parking study is not conceptual in nature; rather it utilizes hard data, parking supply and demand measurements, stakeholder information, and sophisticated modeling techniques to understand and plan for current and future parking needs.
A final draft report on the Downtown Parking Study was presented to the CRA by Rich & Associates on September 21, 2009. The recommendation that was passed by the CRA was for the CRA to: 1) Hear a presentation from staff and consultants; 2) Provide input regarding the parking study recommendations. This information will be compiled by City/CRA staff and presented to the City Commission for action.
In August 201...
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