Planning Commission backs parking-code amendments, clarifies tandem rules for residences

Salt Lake City Planning Commission on Wednesday recommended the City Council adopt changes to the city's parking code and to codify the Off‑Street Parking Standards Manual, forwarding an amended text that narrows a residential tandem‑parking condition while preserving tandem allowances for other uses.

The amendments respond to two bills passed by the Utah Legislature. Staff said Senate Bill 181 requires city codes to count unobstructed tandem parking toward minimum parking requirements and restricts requiring garages for owner‑occupied single‑family homes; House Bill 368 requires engineering and development standards be adopted by ordinance rather than kept only in administrative manuals.

Principal planner Megan Booth told commissioners the proposal would allow tandem parking citywide, count driveway parking toward required spaces if the driveway provides at least one stall behind the front line of the building, define "unobstructed" to match state guidance and move existing stall dimension standards (9 feet by 20 feet for uncovered; 10 feet by 20 feet for covered) into an ordinance so they remain enforceable. "This proposed amendment is in response to SB181, which limits local regulations of parking and design, and HB368, which requires local engineering standards to be codified," Booth said.

Why it matters: The change alters how residential developments may meet parking minimums and creates a permanent legal framework for standards the city previously kept in an administrative manual. City staff said the manual already meets the state dimensions and the ordinance change is intended to preserve enforceability and implement the December 31 codification deadline set by state law.

What the code does - Counts driveway parking toward minimum parking when a driveway leads to at least one parking stall behind the building's front line. That stall need not be covered or enclosed but must meet the stall dimension and unobstructed definitions. - Defines "unobstructed" as a space with no permanent barriers such as walls, posts, planters or built‑in storage that would unreasonably reduce the available space. - Allows tandem parking for all uses and adds visuals to the manual to distinguish regular and tandem layouts. Staff recommended leaving current stall size standards in the manual and codifying references in the zoning code.

Commissioners pressed staff on how the changes would work in practice and where limits remain. Commissioner Lehi asked whether an uncovered stall behind the front line must be enclosed; Booth said it does not. Commissioner Leverett and others asked whether allowing tandem parking for all uses could create operational problems in commercial lots and garages; several commissioners said tandem arrangements work best when users coordinate (for example when spaces are assigned to the same residential unit or when valet or staffing manages lots). Commissioner Scott and others voiced concern about expanding tandem parking beyond residential settings without further study.

Several commissioners raised a wording conflict in the draft ordinance. The current text allowed tandem parking for all land uses, but a separate subsection said each set of two tandem spaces "shall be designated for a specific residential unit." Staff acknowledged the wording was confusing and said the item could be clarified before council. Commissioner Rosenfield moved to forward a positive recommendation to City Council with an amendment that made the subsection apply where the tandem spaces are used to fulfill residential parking requirements; Commissioner Krasick seconded. The motion passed 5-2 (Rosenfield, Barrett, Leverett, Krasick and Burrows yes; Scott and Berry no).

Actions and next steps - Motion: Forward a zoning code amendment and the Off‑Street Parking Standards Manual to City Council with an amendment clarifying that when tandem parking is used to meet a residential parking requirement, the paired spaces must be designated for the same residential unit. Mover: Commissioner Rosenfield. Second: Commissioner Krasick. Outcome: approved, 5-2.

The item will go to the City Council for final consideration. Staff noted the codification deadline tied to HB368 and the city needs to adopt the ordinance by December 31 for the manual to remain an enforceable standard.

Statements in this report are drawn from the planning staff presentation and the public commissioner discussion during the Sept. 10 meeting. The commission did not adopt final ordinance text; the City Council will consider the ordinance and any further edits.