Shared Parking

Lack of space to provide adequate parking for new development is a major issue in many historic villages and downtown areas. Communities can address this issue by working to build parking lots that are shared among businesses. Provisions can be included in a municipality's zoning code to help fund shared parking lots through in-lieu fees, paid into a parking fund, for off-street parking spaces that cannot be provided close enough to new businesses. Parking requirements can then be reduced for these businesses. Ideally, a community should first develop a parking management plan for its downtown area, and then adopt regulations which best support the plan.