2040 Comprehensive Plan: Envision Shakopee

BALANCING PARKING NEEDS WITH OTHER LAND USES Many suburban downtowns struggle with issues related to parking, and Shakopee is no exception. An example is if all the on-street parking spaces on First Avenue and Lewis Street are filled, it’s easy for people to conclude that parking is hard to find. Therefore, their perception is that parking supply does not meet parking demand. Based on their experiences in other parts of town, conversely, Shakopee residents and visitors may expect to be able to park where they can see the front door of a business. In the former example, parking a few blocks away from a downtown destination can actually be a shorter, safer walk than the walk through a big-box store parking lot. Parking is often much closer than people think. While the downtown parking supply does currently exceed demand, on a typical day despite some perceptions, it is important to consider how much supply is ideal to have available. On-street parking and parking lots take up valuable space that could be used for other purposes and uses that provide tax revenue. The provision of free public parking downtown also reduces the city’s ability to encourage turnover and make spaces available for people making shorter trips. Dedicating land to parking also forgoes potential tax revenue for the city. As Downtown Shakopee is revitalized, parking should be incorporated into the plans, without dominating them. As an example, the City recently completed reconstruction of the Lewis Street parking lot, installing stormwater best management practices. The city should continuously pursue shared parking practices and monitor the parking supply to ensure efficient management of the parking system.

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