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ABSTRACT:
CITY OF
NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
June 24, 2014
Agenda Item No. 14.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Kimberly Brandt, Community Development Director — (949) 644 -3226,
kbrandt @newportbeachca.gov
Brenda Wisneski, AICP, Deputy Community Development Director
(949) 644 -3297
Use of Vehicle Lifts for Meeting Parking Requirements
Shall vehicle lifts, which may be used to satisfy private on -site parking requirements, be
regulated by the Newport Beach Municipal Code, or be reviewed by the Zoning Administrator
on a case -by -case basis?
RECOMMENDATION:
a) Discuss the Planning Commission's memo dated May 22, 2014 regarding vehicle lifts; and
b) Initiate a Zoning Code amendment, if City Council determines that additional regulations
and /or development standards should be considered regarding the use of vehicle lifts to meet
on -site parking requirements.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
No fiscal impact.
DISCUSSION:
At the June 10, 2014 City Council meeting, Council Member Gardner requested the Planning
Commission's recent memo related to vehicle lifts be placed on a City Council meeting agenda
for discussion. The attached Commission memo indicates that there is currently no City policy
or code provision regarding the use of vehicle lifts /structures. Furthermore, the Commission
advises the Council that there is no policy guidance regarding:
1. Allowing lift spaces to count as required parking spaces;
2. The propriety of the use of lift spaces by businesses that have rapid parking turnover;
3. Mandating that valet attendants be present when lifts are to be used; and /or
4. Consideration of the aesthetic impacts of the lifts.
If Council wishes to consider additional regulations and /or development standards for
incorporation into the Zoning Code, Council may initiate an amendment to the Zoning Code
and direct staff to develop draft regulations and /or development standards for consideration by
the Planning Commission and City Council.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Thisaction is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEOW) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2)
(the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and
15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of
Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment,
di rectl y or i ndi rectl y.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the
meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
CC -1 - Planning Commission Memo, May 22, 2014
ATTACHMENT CC -1
Memorandum
To: Mayor and Council Members
From: Planning Commission
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
PLANNING COMMISSION
100 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92660
(949)644 -3200
Date: May 22, 2014
Re: Vehicle Lifts to Meet Required Parking Standards
The Municipal Code specifies on -site parking requirements in terms of the minimum
number and dimensions of the space, but the Code does not define what constitutes a
parking space. On May 8, 2014, the Planning Commission approved a request that
included 11 parking spaces within a vehicle lift system /structure to meet the required
number of on -site parking spaces. (See attached concept illustration). The matter came to
the attention of the Planning Commission as an appeal of the Zoning Administrator's
decision. The Commission's ultimate approval included numerous conditions that address
the appearance, operation, and maintenance of the vehicle lift/structure.
The Planning Commission desires to bring to the attention of the City Council that
additional requests may be made for the use of vehicle lifts elsewhere in the community,
and that there is currently no City policy or code provision regarding these
systems /structures. So there is no policy guidance about (i) allowing lift spaces to count as
required parking spaces; (ii) the propriety of the use of lift spaces by businesses that have
rapid parking turnover; (iii) mandating valet attendants be present when lifts are to be used;
and /or (iv) consideration of aesthetic impacts of lifts
Under the existing provisions of the Municipal Code, future applications for the use of lifts
would be reviewed on a case -by -case basis by the Zoning Administrator. Alternatively, the
Council may choose to consider specific development standards for the use of lifts through
an amendment to the Zoning Code.
At this time the Planning Commission is not making any recommendation to the City
Council, but rather it is the intent of the Commission only to bring this situation to Council's
attention.
cc: Concept Illustration
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