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We completed a “sustainable” parking lot in downtown Charleston, SC this past year, lots of permeable materials and we won a BZA request to reduce the parking space widths from 9′ to 8′ to increase the sq. ft. of greenspace.

http://seanhoelscher.blogspot.com/2009/10/1315-george-st-sustainable-prking-lot.html

The Caltrans comment was for dangerous circulation into a parking lot…left turn across three lanes of traffic with no stacking space once in the parking lot.

The super simple version:
“The artful integration of humans and the environment…”

The simple version expanded:
The responsible consideration & artful integration of human demand and its impact in the environment.

Or, how about – “Earth Doctors” 🙂

But it is not a two minute walk for most people. If you bring the stores closer to people, it is sprawl. If you build shopping areas in limited places people will drive to get there and need parking once they arrive. The other option that is preached is for everyone to move to urban cores and all is solved. The monkey wrench is that most of us do…[Read more]

I agree with many if these points. A lot has to so with the municipality. The parking design is legislated in, and often isn’t the ideal situation. To get tree cover, and still have enough spaces, you end up with 3′ wide islands that nothing can survive in rather than fewer islands with bigger trees. The tree species is dictated (based on 40 year…[Read more]

City of charlottesville (and many others I think) went with parking- requirement- free zone for the entire downtown. Coupled with city-produced parking structures – pretty old hat planning by now..Also as someone mentioned, shared parking requirements (church or weekend vs. evening..) and parking reduction for accessiblity to mass transit..Nothing…[Read more]

Good points.

I think a side issue to this is the fact that someone actually deems it necessary to park as many cars as often seen in new development even when there is a community within a walkable 1/4 mile or so. This speaks alot to the type and quality of design we’re doing on a larger scale (planning) when someone living a 2 minute walk away…[Read more]

Thanks Jason-

‘the parking is usually designed to a code (5sp per 1000SF is pretty standard or a per-seat number for restaurants).’

I just started getting real experience with this and this is precisely what I’m challenging, or at least calling into question. Our retail parking ratio here in colorado is around maybe 1:200, restaurant 1:150 (with…[Read more]

Some of the towns in my area will let you apply for parking reduction in the permitting process. They generally like to reduce it as long as it is actually unnecessary. There is also a movement toward shared parking in our biggest town (Barnstable [Hyannis] a metropolitan district). Almost all of the towns do not allow parking between the line of…[Read more]

Having designed retail and entertainement venues for a decade, I can tell you that the parking is there for a reason. It may be empty a good deal of the time, but, the parking is usually designed to a code (5sp per 1000SF is pretty standard or a per-seat number for restaurants). That number exists largely accomodate peak times, such as around…[Read more]

I think you’re right Wes.

Generally though, I think it boils down to money, like everything else. Still, last time I asked I think the going figure here in CO for surface parking averaged around $7,500/stall. Colorado people may help me with this.

Regardless, HUGE waste of resources.

I notice this the most when looking at stadiums or performance venues from an aerial. Ridiculous amounts of parking, for what reason….

Convenience.

If alternative transportation to these events were more convenient than driving, paying for a parking space, and waiting an hour in line to park and an hour in line to leave we may see a change.

IFLA doesn”t have a definition for landscape architecture, but I;m sure this short version definition of the landscape architect could help:

“Landscape Architects conduct research and advise on planning, design and stewardship of the outdoor environment and spaces, both within and beyond the built environment, and its conservation and…[Read more]

Tab’s on me 🙂

Great article. Just goes to show you never know what you might end up doing to make ends meet.

Thanks, Fremont