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Legislative Public Hearing on Land Use Ordinance Text Amendments Modifying Residential Parking
PURPOSE: The purpose of this agenda item is for the Town Council to consider text amendments to the Land Use Ordinance that would modify residential parking requirements. A draft ordinance has been prepared. The Town Council must receive public input before making a decision.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning
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Contact
CONTACT INFORMATION: Trish McGuire, Planning Director, pmcguire@carrboronc.gov <mailto:pmcguire@carrboronc.gov>, 919-918-7327; Christina Moon, Planning Administrator, cmoon@carrboronc.gov <mailto:cmoon@carrboronc.gov>, 919-918-7325; Nick Herman, Town Attorney, herman@broughlawfirm.com <mailto:herman@broughlawfirm.com>
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
___ Race/Equity ____ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
Carrboro Connects, Town of Carrboro Comprehensive Plan 2022-2042 was adopted on June 7, 2022. The plan is rooted in advancing racial equity and climate action. 175 strategies and projects are included, 35 of which were identified for prioritization in the first five years because of their ability to advance multiple community interests and objectives. Racial Equity Pocket questions related to the text amendment process are attached as Attachment F.
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Information
INFORMATION: Since the adoption of Carrboro Connects in June 2022, efforts to begin implementation have been underway. One of the priority projects included in the Land Use Chapter involves an evaluation of the current parking standards in the Land Use Ordinance (LUO) and specifically a review and update of the standards for residential parking to remove existing minimum parking requirements and replace them with maximums. The Town Council held a worksession to discuss different strategies toward modifying the parking standards on May 16, 2023 and subsequently reviewed a draft ordinance as part of a request to set a public hearing on June 27, 2023 (Attachment B). It should be noted that the draft ordinance, if approved, would only affect the parking requirements for residential uses. The existing presumptive standards for non-residential uses would remain in place.
Discussion at the June Council meeting also included a request to remove an existing provision in the Table of Parking Requirements, Subsection 15-191(g), relating to the parking standards for multi-family units limited to persons of low- or moderate-income or the elderly (use 1.300). In response to this interest, Section 2 of the draft ordinance includes an alternate version in which the existing provision is deleted. Advisory boards were asked to include a statement, in their comments, as whether the board recommended the draft ordinance with Section 2 or the draft ordinance with Alternate Section 2.
The staff report provided as (Attachment D), refers back to the Town Council’s previous discussions on this matter and outlines a series of considerations. The removal of the existing provisions for the residential parking standards to be flexibly administered was a discussion point among the advisory boards and may need additional consideration.
The Town Council must receive public comment before adopting an amendment to the Land Use Ordinance. The draft ordinance was referred to Orange County, presented at the Joint Advisory Board meeting on October 5, 2023, and considered by the Economic Sustainability Commission on October 11th. The Environmental Advisory Board did not have a quorum at the Joint Review meeting and therefore did not provide comments. Comments from the Planning Board, Transportation Advisory Board, Economic Sustainability Commission and Orange County are provided (Attachment E).
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: Staff time is necessary for public notice and agenda preparation for advisory board review and public hearings.
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: The Town Manager recommends that the Town Council receive public input and consider whether the proposed text amendments are consistent with Town plans and policies. A decision on the draft ordinance should include a clear statement as to the inclusion of Section 2 or Section 2 Alternate, which removes an existing provision in the Table of Parking Requirements, Subsection 15-191(g), relating to the parking standards for multi-family units limited to persons of low- or moderate-income or the elderly (use 1.300).
A resolution for consistency (Attachment A) and a draft ordinance for the text amendments (Attachment B) are provided.
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