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Tequesta council reviews low-speed vehicle parking credits, seeks pilot and public-safety data
Summary
At a council workshop, staff presented draft code allowing low-speed vehicle (LSV) parking to count toward up to 10% of a development's required spaces. Council members raised safety and enforcement concerns and asked staff to pursue a pilot, involve police and fire, and gather usage and accident data before adopting code changes.
At a Village of Tequesta council workshop, staff presented draft code that would let golf cart–style low-speed vehicles (LSVs) count toward a development’s parking requirement and suggested a capped credit to encourage multimodal trips and outdoor seating.
Planner Jay told council that allowing dedicated LSV parking could free space for outdoor seating and green areas and cited industry numbers on neighborhood benefits and emissions reductions. “Up to 10% of a development's required parking spaces may be met by low-speed vehicle parking,” he said, describing a site-plan approval process and minimum stall dimensions.
The proposal would require LSV spaces to meet specified dimensions (presented as roughly 5 by 10 feet) and to be approved through the village’s site-plan process. Staff referenced examples from Florida communities, including North Palm Beach and The Villages, and offered a practical case — a waterfront restaurant that used LSV parking to add outdoor seating.
Council members acknowledged potential economic and placemaking benefits but pressed for caution on safety, enforcement and unintended development impacts. Multiple members said they had observed underage or unbelted LSV drivers and asked whether the police and fire departments had been consulted on enforcement and crash risk. One council member warned that a broad incentive could encourage developers to increase building footprints by relying on LSV parking credits rather than focusing the benefit on retrofits.
Several members recommended a staged approach: begin with temporary signs or small pilot projects at locations such as Gallery Grill or identified plazas, monitor use and safety, and then consider permanent code changes. Staff said the country club redevelopment already anticipates roughly 45 LSV spaces but clarified those spaces would not automatically count toward required parking under current policy.
During public comment, resident Pat Watkins said limited village parking and observed risky behavior by operators made her “very worried” about broader adoption. Another resident urged clearer public education on where road-legal LSVs may operate and on seat/child‑restraint rules.
Council did not adopt any ordinance at the workshop. Members asked staff to return with pilot plans or case-study data, involve police and fire in evaluating safety and enforcement burdens, and gather accident and DUI statistics from comparable LSV communities before pursuing code changes.
