On June 16, 2010, the Saint Paul City Council approved comprehensive amendments to Saint Paul's off-street parking requirements.  There were some last minute revisions to the originally proposed ordinance, which retain parking requirements for establishments serving wine, beer, or liquor at the previous standard.   The full-text of the revised parking code ordinance is online.

The ordinance will be adopted into law 30 days following signature by the Mayor and publication in the Saint Paul Legal Ledger.  It is estimated that the new off-street parking ordinance will take effect by August 2010.  When the exact date is known, it will be posted here.

Questions about the new ordinance may be directed to Merritt Clapp-Smith (651-266-6547).

Saint Paul, like many cities across the United States, is revising its off-street parking requirements to support and create vibrant mixed use communities of residents and businesses that look great, are livable, and respect the environment. 

 

In May 2009, the Saint Paul Planning Commission initiated a zoning study to consider amendments to Saint Paul’s off-street parking requirements and design standards.  The City’s zoning code regulates the number of off-street parking spaces that must be provided when establishing or expanding land uses and the associated parking lot design.

 

The City of Saint Paul’s last comprehensive evaluation and update to its off-street parking regulations was in 1992.  Since then our City has changed.  The current off-street parking requirements do not match the changing urban form of Saint Paul, account for alternative transportation modes, or facilitate fluid transitions on our commercial corridors.  In the recently adopted Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan, parking policy changes were included in almost every chapter to reflect new priorities for land use, transportation, housing and environmental quality.     

 
After extensive review and discussion, City staff prepared a set of DRAFT revisions to the City's off-street parking requirements and related code.  These were released for public comment and feedback during a set of public and stakeholder meetings in October and November 2009.    Based on the input received, additional changes were made.  DRAFT amendments to the City's off-street parking requirements and related code were made available for formal review and comment prior to the public hearing at the Planning Commission on January 22, 2010.  The public comments were considered by the Planning Commission and additional revisions to the parking code may be made prior to recommending it to the City Council for public hearing and adoption.
 
Comments, Questions and Blog

• Better align parking requirements with demand to reduce oversupply and undersupply of parking
• Balance the interests of residents, businesses, institutions, government, and customers
• Encourage development / redevelopment / reuse
• Simplify the City’s off-street parking code for ease of interpretation and implementation
• Encourage efficient land use and reduce blight
• Support multi-modal transportation options
• Increase environmental stewardship

The proposed revisions to off-street parking requirements do NOT address:

• Parking deficiencies for existing businesses or properties
• Downtown parking
• Central Corridor Parking Management (separate study)
• Parking demand management tools, e.g., permit areas, meters, enforcement