Attachment F - Carparking Evaluation -Noosa Carparking Study - McGagney report

                                                                                                       Noosa Council
                                                                                  Noosa Car Parking Study 2017 - 2032
                                                                                                         Final Report



Removing minimum parking requirements allows developers the freedom to self determine the marginal value
of providing car-parks. In this way, the market can price out unnecessary demand and/or supply in favour of
more efficient uses of land.

One of the primary benefits of removing minimum parking requirements typically is accelerated levels of
brownfield redevelopment on sites previously constrained by the need to provide on-site parking. Furthermore,
removal of minimum parking requirements generally seeks to allow:
   Development of land which is currently used for parking into more productive activities, resulting in higher
    development densities; and
   Adaptive reuse of older buildings, particularly in town centres, where changes in existing building usage are
    sought.


Perceived risks of removing minimum parking requirements tend to revolve around the fact that developments
may under-supply parking and public and private parking resources that are available in the surrounding area.
This perceived risk, at least in part, is predicated on the following assumptions:
   Private and public providers of parking will not take steps to manage additional demand for parking
    resources created by new development / redevelopment;
   That parking resources will be paid for by developers and building owners, rather than users; and
   The occupiers of new development will not adjust travel patterns and demand/supply for parking in
    response to the on-site parking scarcity.


These assumptions are questionable given that:
   Demand for parking is already managed, albeit sometimes inadequately, to ensure exploitation of commuter
    parking in the short term does not occur. This is typically through the application of prioritised parking
    controls and tow away areas in public and private areas respectively;
   Removing minimum parking requirements is expected to result in an increased value for parking, which will
    make it possible for parking facilities that will cover their own cost whether provided by the Council and/or
    a private operator; and
   Developments without on-site parking are likely to experience reduced vehicle mode share, recognising that
    the provision of parking has a significant impact on travel patterns (Booze Allen Hamilton, 2007).


Instead of removing minimums rates (going to maximums) altogether, it is possible to make their application
more flexible. This change may be implemented without significant recourse to regulatory reform. This could
be implemented as an interim strategy for ameliorating the unintended consequences of minimum parking
requirements until such time as minimum parking requirements may be removed. However, it is not
recommended as a stand-alone strategy due to its limited benefits, high compliance costs, and increased
administrative burden.

It is acknowledged, however, that the parking minimums can be used in conjunction with developer / council
agreements around the use of non-parking measures to reduce minimum parking requirements. A transition to
parking maximums would remove this as a potential incentivising strategy for investment in non-parking
solutions.

It is therefore recommended that any transition away from parking minimums be staged in conjunction with
supporting strategies / policy.




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