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1. Parking Amendment Comments and Code Language: The proposed changes to the parking regulations are many and varied, but fall into two general categories. The first is an update to the general parking regulations relating to standards and parking requirements for various land uses. These changes deal primarily with clarifications, updates, and standards. The proposed amendments to the regulations are primarily found in Section 152.179, in which Subsections (A), (B), and (C) are shown below in redline format. A related set of regulations is also proposed in the Definitions, which are included with this set of proposals. The second general category is found below in a new Subsection (D) to Section 152.179, and relates specifically to parking of vehicles (and other equipment) on residential property. The current regulations generally restrict parking to a maximum of 4 vehicles, but do not address many of the circumstances on various properties, including side and rear yard parking, the parking of other vehicles (including recreational or utility vehicles), and further intermixes the ideas of “parking” and “storage”. To address these circumstances in more detail, the proposed Subsection (D) creates a table and a diagram to reinforce when and how parking on residential property can be conducted. The overall intent is to establish a clear standard, that residents, neighbors, and city staff can use as a common benchmark. The Planning Commission discussed this at the public hearing, and made a few recommendations that are reflected in the redline version below. Perhaps one note to highlight is comment from a member of the public present at the hearing to requested a reduction in the current requirement for at least 2 covered spaces per residential home – basically a 2‐car garage. They asked the Planning Commission to reduce this to one garage space due to issues related to some properties where only one car garages exist, and if the property owner were to remove and replace the home, would be then required to increase garage space to 2 cars. The Planning Commission’s discussion was sympathetic to this argument, and they recommended this additional change. In reviewing this issue with Code Committee members, there are some consequences of such a change. First, the city receives occasional requests for the finishing of garage space, increasing livable area, by reducing garage area. These requests are often based on the constraints to impervious surface that significantly limit buildable area on most residential parcels. Reducing required garage area may result in difficulty for some residents to store outdoor equipment inside their remaining garage space, and is likely to result in more vehicles parked outside in most cases. While some predict a reduction in car ownership over the long term, recent trends have shown that car ownership by family group to be increasing. 26