The Planning and Zoning Commission on Aug. 6 voted to advance an ordinance amending section 18-03-0002 of the city code to change multifamily parking requirements, reducing minimum parking ratios for some unit types. Mister Brooks, planning staff, presented results of visual counts at local apartment complexes and summarized recommendations of a standing parking subcommittee.

Brooks told the commission the subcommittee reviewed regional codes and on-site parking utilization. "We are looking at reducing our efficiencies to 1.25," Brooks said, adding that one-bedroom units and efficiencies are the central focus because of rising multifamily construction costs and changing market demand. He said staff performed visual parking counts at several complexes during Sunday and Tuesday evenings to estimate usage.

Commissioners debated enforcement and measurement issues, including whether counts taken in spring while school was in session affected utilization estimates. Commissioner Matson and others described the historical reasons for current higher minimums—citing past problems with underprovided parking and on-street impacts—and voiced caution about reducing requirements too far. Commissioner Bridal emphasized environmental and infrastructure effects of setting a parking floor too high and supported lowering minimums to reduce impervious surface and excess parking.

The commission also addressed how to treat dens (small rooms sometimes lacking a closet or window) in parking calculations. Commissioners agreed to count dens as bedrooms for parking requirements going forward to avoid a loophole developers used previously. "So we'll keep those dens as counting those as bedrooms," a commissioner confirmed.

Commissioner Mattson moved approval of the preliminary ordinance change; the motion passed by voice vote with all commissioners in favor. Staff said additional parking topics for commercial and mixed-use areas will continue to be considered by the parking subcommittee and brought forward separately.

Brooks and the subcommittee noted other cities in the region (Fargo, West Fargo, Minot, Bismarck) have recently updated or are updating their codes; the commission said the city should remain mindful of mixed-use and parking-sharing potential in future code updates.