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Richland hearing on parking study: consultant urges code changes, council split on citywide abolition
Summary
Consultant Kimley Horn presented a parking optimization study and recommended code updates to comply with new state law and consider abolishing minimum vehicle parking requirements in the Central Business District; council members expressed mixed views on whether to go citywide, and staff was asked to return with a consolidated proposal.
Kimley Horn consultant Robert Farrin presented the results of a parking optimization study to the Richland City Council on July 22, outlining findings from stakeholder outreach, a review of city code and a recent state law change and offering regulatory and parking management options.
The consultant summarized existing parking utilization in Richland’s central business district (CBD): off‑street parking utilization peaked around 50% and averaged about 38%, while on‑street utilization peaked near 26% and averaged about 20%, indicating substantial underused supply in the CBD. He also said recent state legislation (Senate Bill 5184, effective July 27) requires cities to remove certain parking minimums and reduces residential parking requirements for many multifamily units.
Farrin recommended the city move first to implement the statutory changes required by SB 5184 (within 18 months) and then consider abolishing vehicle parking minimums in the CBD. He outlined three regulatory options: (1) adopt…
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