HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 17 2014 EDA Report 7C
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: March 17, 2014
AGENDA #: 7C
PREPARED BY: Dan Rogness, Community & Economic Development Director
AGENDA ITEM: DOWNTOWN PARKING STUDY UPDATE
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
City staff was invited by representatives of the Prior Lake Downtown Business
th
Association (PLDBA) to a meeting on Thursday, March 13 to discuss the timing
of the proposed transportation and access changes and downtown parking avail-
ability. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide a meeting update, consider
updating the Downtown Area Parking Study and discuss the development of a
public parking and wayfinding signage plan.
History
In response to comments received from downtown business owners related to the
lack of available parking in the downtown area, the City of Prior Lake completed
an update to the Downtown Area Parking Study in the summer of 2012. The study
indicated that property owners and the City of Prior Lake were providing a suffi-
cient supply of on- and off-street parking to meet the current needs of downtown
business patrons and employees. However, based on peak parking occupancy
results, the Downtown Area Parking Study did not support additional commercial
development in the downtown core (Along Main Ave. between Dakotah St. and
CR21) without providing additional resident, employee and customer parking.
Conclusion
The 2012 Downtown Area Parking Study (attached) found the majority of the park-
ing demand was in the core blocks of the downtown while outer blocks of the
downtown area did not experience the same demand.
City staff feels there may be an opportunity to make better use of the the existing
off-street public parking areas that are currently underutilized, such as the lots east
and south of the police station and the large public parking lot on Colorado Street
However, County Highway 21 will increasingly act as a barrier to utilizing this lot
to address parking shortages on the north side of downtown. A better utilization
of all off-street public parking stalls may reduce demand and alleviate some of the
existing pressure on the core block parking supply. Staff is proposing a coordi-
nated effort between the EDAC and the PLDBA to establish a downtown Prior
Lake public parking improvement & wayfinding signage plan.
The intent of the public parking improvement and wayfinding signage plan would
be to serve as an outline for implementing: (1) improvements to public parking lots,
including lighting, curb/gutter, surfacing, etc., (2) improvements for pedestrian ac-
cess to/from all public parking areas, and (3) an attractive and effective sign sys-
tem that directs drivers and pedestrians to key downtown Prior Lake destinations
and public parking areas. Staff feels that providing good direction to public parking
lots and clearly identifying where employees, residents and customers can park
may reduce the demand for parking in the core blocks.
ISSUES:
If the EDA feels a public parking improvement and wayfinding signage plan would
be beneficial, city staff will work with the EDAC and PLDBA to develop a public
parking improvement & wayfinding signage plan proposal for EDA and City Coun-
cil consideration. The proposal would identify the number of existing off-street
public parking stalls in the downtown area, provide recommendations to the types
of signage, potential sign locations as well as estimated signage costs and poten-
tial funding sources. EDA members should provide direction to staff related to
updating the Downtown Area Parking Study and coordinating the development of
a downtown public parking and wayfinding signage plan proposal.
FINANCIAL
There will be costs associated with the design work and implementation of a plan
IMPACT:
as proposed by staff. These costs relate to staff time updating the Downtown Area
Parking Study and consultant costs developing a parking improvement and way-
finding signage plan.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Authorize staff to work with the EDAC and PLDBA to develop a complete out-
line on how to best update the Downtown Area Parking Study and to develop
a Public Parking Improvement & Wayfinding Signage Plan.
2. Table action and request that staff return with additional information as di-
rected by the EDA.
RECOMMENDED
Staff recommends Alternative #1
MOTION:
ATTACHMENT:
1. Downtown Area Parking Study Update Summer 2012
2