Parking Strategies for Comprehensive Plans

Allocating the appropriate amount of parking to meet land use needs can be challenging. Providing too much parking can result in underutilized lots, while not enough parking can negatively impact the vitality of an area (e.g., downtowns, business parks, and mixed-use districts). More importantly, parking needs to be balanced with new development that supports active modes of transportation (e.g., walking, biking, transit, and carpooling), integrates a complete streets approach, and values a high-quality public realm. While not a required plan element, the comprehensive plan can help achieve this balance by recognizing various parking strategies and approaches.