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Town Center Plan
January 2007
Appendix 12
Land Use Method of Determining Parking Demand
First, the type, intensity and size of land uses proposed for the project area are projected. Then, based on
generally accepted parking generation rates, the number of parking spaces needed by each type of land
use can be estimated.
Standard parking generation rates are typically based on stand-alone, individual suburban land uses.
They do not take into account parking demand reductions due to pedestrian friendly design, nearby
land uses or land use density, or trip linking within a mixed use development. Data on such demand
reduction factors is very limited, so the figures used are simply educated guesses based on professional
judgment. The reductions due to pedestrian and bicycle travel, group transport and linked trip are based
on potential development scenarios, local area conditions, and the types and combinations of land uses.
The base parking demand for each land use is reduced by the amount of trips anticipated to be by modes
not requiring on-site parking, such as school buses, and by the potential for linked trips. The compatible
uses proposed for this site generally lend themselves to linked trips, particularly food service. In fact,
the commercial success of food service at this location is predicated on a considerable portion of the
customer base being attracted to the site by other uses.
Demand has been projected for weekdays and weekends to the extent possible given the data limitations.
The centerpiece of the development, the children’s theater, is anticipated to have peak demand during
weekday mornings and afternoons. It is unknown whether the theater might operate in the evenings or
on weekends, but evening and weekend shows at 75% capacity have been projected in an effort to assess
potential demand. In a similar manner, it is anticipated that most office uses will be closed on weekends,
so demand is estimated at 25% of weekday demand.
Parking Demand Projections
At a glance
Weekday – 191 to 201 spaces
Weekend – 185 to 212 spaces
Use Calculations
Children’s theater
Weekday: 425 seats x 0.3 = 128 spaces
128 – 50% (buses and vans) =
64 parking spaces
Weekends: 425 seats @ 75% capacity x 0.3 = 96 spaces
96 – 7% (walking, buses) =
90 parking spaces