Developers seeking permits for new projects in Arlington County, Virginia, are required to submit a Parking Management Plan (PMP). PMPs play a critical role in the development process and must be submitted during the site plan review and approval process.
Through the PMP process, the Arlington aims to align real estate development with community and transportation goals (such as promoting the use of transit use and enhancing neighborhood quality) as well as promoting a comprehensive approach to parking.
In our view, there are three key aspects of Parking Management Plans that most impact developers.
PMP Issue #1: Timing
Each Parking Management Plan needs to be approved prior to the issuance of the Footing-to-Grade Permit and the first Certificate of Occupancy for the property. It’s always advisable to start early. PMPs are very detailed and have several components, well above and beyond just preparing a parking plan.
PMP Issue #2: Plan Changes
PMPs are typically updated as the garage design plans are refined but should be finalized as soon as practical since reviews can take time. The complexity of a given plan along with back-and-forth revisions can play a role in responsiveness and impact the overall review and approval schedule.
PMP Issue #3: Garage Control, Operations, and Queuing
It is prudent to determine early in the process how a parking garage will be controlled and operated. The PMP must include a queuing analysis to ensure that vehicles don’t impact the public right-of-way serving vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. The control type chosen for the garage, number of service lanes, and storage area are critical components to this since queuing issues can impact the overall design. It makes sense to test this prior to the design of the garage to be sure that it is workable.