Updating zoning codes to allow for shared parking amongst adjacent developments reduces the amount of land dedicated to parking and allows for denser infill development.
Limiting the amount of land dedicated to parking allows for denser development and more space for bicycle and pedestrian amenities which makes non-drive modes more attractive and reduces VMT.
For more details, see Victoria Transport Policy Institute – Shared Parking for VMT reduction quantification.
Encouraging reduced parking supply helps lower construction costs, which can benefit affordable housing developers and mixed use developments. Prioritize implementation in high-transit areas to reduce car dependency among low-income households. Include community outreach to ensure understanding of trade-offs, especially in areas where car ownership is a necessity. Pair with mobility benefits (e.g., subsidized transit passes, shared mobility access) for tenants in under-resourced communities.
Requires primarily staff time for zoning updates, parking studies, development review, and agreements between property owners. Local jurisdictions may incorporate shared parking requirements into development codes and specific plans without substantial capital funding. StanCOG planning and TDM resources may support related planning, outreach, and coordination activities. Additional funding may be available through state and federal sustainable transportation planning programs when shared parking is incorporated into broader multimodal or infill planning efforts.
The City of Modesto’s zoning code allows shared parking arrangements and parking reductions when applicants can demonstrate that participating land uses have different peak parking demands and that adjacent properties will not be adversely affected. The city recently streamlined review of reduced parking requests and recognizes shared parking as a tool to support mixed-use development, infill projects, and more efficient land use.
Turlock’s zoning code allows multiple uses to share parking when they operate during substantially different days or hours or when one use has surplus parking. The City requires documentation demonstrating that the uses have compatible parking demand patterns and allows recorded agreements to maintain shared parking arrangements.
