Planning commission backs ordinance to revise multifamily parking rules, allow limited tandem spaces

The El Segundo Planning Commission on Jan. 23 voted 3-0 to recommend that the City Council adopt an ordinance amending the municipal code’s off-street parking rules for multifamily residential development.

The measure would replace the city’s current uniform requirement of two parking spaces per dwelling unit plus one guest space per three units with a sliding scale tied to unit size: one space for studio units, 1.5 spaces for one-bedroom units and two spaces for two-bedroom units, modeled on the Pacific Coast Commons specific plan. The ordinance would also allow up to 20% of required resident parking to be configured in tandem pairs, subject to controls intended to limit spillover and nonuse.

Staff member Paul, presenting the zone text amendment, said the change implements Program No. 9 of the city’s housing element, which aims to remove regulatory barriers to housing construction. Paul told commissioners the ordinance would include restrictions common elsewhere: tandem stalls would be limited to two spaces in depth and each tandem pair would be assigned to the same residential unit.

Commissioners did not receive public comment on the item. A commissioner said the change appeared “very straightforward” and consistent with earlier direction from the commission to adopt a sliding scale and to study tandem parking allowances.

After discussion, a motion to adopt Resolution No. 2954 — recommending council adoption of an ordinance amending El Segundo Municipal Code Title 15, Chapter 15, Off-Street Parking and Loading — passed on a roll call vote: Commissioner Christian, Commissioner Inga and Vice Chair Maguire each recorded “aye.” The motion passed 3-0.

The ordinance language before the commission mirrors the Pacific Coast Commons approach and explicitly allows tandem parking only as a limited design flexibility rather than a replacement for required resident parking. Staff noted they had reviewed parking rules in other cities and Institute of Transportation Engineers guidance as background for the proposal.

If City Council adopts the ordinance as recommended, the city’s multifamily parking calculations and allowances for tandem spaces would change citywide; staff presented the amendment as the final item under Program No. 9, one of 11 programs in the housing element meant to facilitate housing production.

The commission’s action was a recommendation; final adoption would be by City Council.