San Fernando Municipal Code Art. IX Trip Reduction and Travel Demand Measures

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Alternative transportation means the use of modes of transportation other than the single passenger motor vehicle, including but not limited to carpools, vanpools, buspools, public transit, walking and bicycling.

Buspool means a vehicle carrying 16 or more passengers commuting on a regular basis to and from work with a fixed route, according to a fixed schedule.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) means Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq., requiring all jurisdictions in the state to evaluate the extent of environmental degradation posed by proposed development.

Carpool means a vehicle carrying two to six persons commuting together to and from work on a regular basis.

Developer means the builder who is responsible for the planning, design and construction of an applicable development project. A developer may be responsible for implementing this article as determined by the property owner.

Development project, development or project means any nonresidential development that is determined to meet or exceed the project size threshold criteria contained in section 90-883. Such development is limited to the construction or addition of new building square footage. Additions to buildings which existed prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives and which exceed the thresholds defined in section 90-883 shall comply with the applicable requirements but shall not be added cumulatively with existing square footage; existing square footage shall be exempt from these requirements. All calculations shall be based on gross square footage.

Employee parking area means the portion of total required parking at a development used by on-site employees. Employee parking shall be calculated as follows:

Preferential parking means parking spaces designated or assigned, through use of a sign or painted space markings, for carpool and vanpool vehicles carrying commuter passengers on a regular basis that are provided in a location more convenient to a place of employment than parking spaces provided for single-occupant vehicles.

Property owner means the legal owner of a development who serves as the lessor to a tenant. The property owner shall be responsible for complying with this article either directly or by delegating such responsibility as appropriate to a tenant and/or his agent.

South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) means the regional authority appointed by the state legislature to meet federal standards and otherwise improve air quality in the South Coast Air Basin (the nondesert portions of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties).

Tenant means the lessee of facility space at an applicable development project.

Transportation demand management (TDM) means the alteration of travel behavior, usually on the part of commuters, through programs of incentives, services, and policies. TDM addresses alternatives to single-occupant vehicles, such as carpooling and vanpooling, and changes in work schedules that move trips out of the peak period or eliminate them altogether (as is the case in telecommuting or compressed work weeks).

Trip reduction means reduction in the number of work-related trips made by single-occupant vehicles.

Vanpool means a vehicle carrying seven or more persons commuting together to and from work on a regular basis, usually in a vehicle with a seating arrangement designed to carry seven to 15 adult passengers, and on a prepaid subscription basis.

Vehicle means any motorized form of transportation, including but not limited to automobiles, vans, buses and motorcycles.

(Code 1957, § 13.168)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

(a) Prior to approval of any development project for which an environmental impact report (EIR) will be prepared pursuant to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or based on a local determination, regional and municipal fixed-route transit operators providing service to the project shall be identified and consulted. Projects for which a notice of preparation (NOP) for a draft environmental impact report has been circulated pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives shall be exempted from its provisions. The Transit Impact Review Worksheet contained in the Los Angeles County Congestion Management Program Manual or similar worksheets shall be used in assessing impacts. Pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act, transit operators shall be sent a notice of preparation for all contemplated environmental impact reports and shall, as part of the notice of preparation process, be given opportunity to comment on the impacts of the project, to identify recommended transit service or capital improvements which may be required as a result of the project, and to recommend mitigation measures which minimize automobile trips on the CMP network. Impacts and recommended mitigation measures identified by the transit operator shall be evaluated in the draft environmental impact report prepared for the project. Related mitigation measures adopted shall be monitored through the mitigation monitoring requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.

(b) Phased development projects, development projects subject to a development agreement, or development projects requiring subsequent approvals need not repeat this process as long as no significant changes are made to the project. It shall remain within the discretion of the lead agency to determine when a project is substantially the same and, therefore, covered by a previously certified environmental impact report.

(Code 1957, § 13.169)

(a) Applicability of requirements. Prior to approval of any development project under this article, the applicant shall make provision for, as a minimum, all of the applicable transportation demand management and trip reduction measures contained in subsection (b) of this section. This article shall not apply to projects for which a development application has been deemed "complete" by the city pursuant to Government Code § 65943 or for which a notice of preparation for a draft environmental impact report has been circulated or for which an application for a building permit has been received, prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this article derives. All facilities and improvements constructed or otherwise required shall be maintained in a state of good repair.

(b) Development standards. Development standards shall be as follows:

(1) Nonresidential development of 25,000 square feet or more shall provide a bulletin board, display case or kiosk displaying transportation information located where the greatest number of employees are likely to see it. Information in the area shall include but is not limited to the following:

a. Current maps, routes and schedules for public transit routes serving the site.

b. Telephone numbers for referrals on transportation information including numbers for the regional ridesharing agency and local transit operators.

c. Ridesharing promotional material supplied by commuter-oriented organizations.

d. Bicycle route and facility information, including regional/local bicycle maps and bicycle safety information.

e. A listing of facilities available for carpoolers, vanpoolers, bicyclists, transit riders and pedestrians at the site.

(2) Nonresidential development of 50,000 square feet or more shall comply with subsection (b)(1) of this section and shall provide all of the following measures to the satisfaction of the city:

a. Not less than ten percent of employee parking area shall be located as close as is practical to the employee entrances, and shall be reserved for use by potential carpool/vanpool vehicles, without displacing handicapped and customer parking needs. This preferential carpool/vanpool parking area shall be identified on the site plan upon application for building permit, to the satisfaction of the city. A statement that preferential carpool/vanpool spaces for employees are available and a description of the method for obtaining such spaces must be included on the required transportation information board. Spaces shall be signed/striped as demand warrants, provided that at all times at least one space for projects of 50,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet and two spaces for projects over 100,000 square feet shall be signed/striped for carpool/vanpool vehicles.

b. Preferential parking spaces reserved for vanpools must be accessible to vanpool vehicles. When located within a parking structure, a minimum vertical interior clearance of seven feet two inches shall be provided for those spaces and accessways to be used by such vehicles. Adequate turning radii and parking space dimensions shall also be included in vanpool parking areas.

c. Bicycle racks or other secure bicycle parking shall be provided to accommodate four bicycles per the first 50,000 square feet of nonresidential development and one bicycle per each additional 50,000 square feet of nonresidential development. Calculations which result in a fraction of one-half or higher shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number. A bicycle parking facility may also be a fully enclosed space or locker accessible only to the owner or operator of the bicycle, which protects the bike from inclement weather. Specific facilities and location (e.g., provision of racks, lockers, or a locked room) shall be to the satisfaction of the city.

(3) Nonresidential development of 100,000 square feet or more shall comply with subsections (b)(1) and (b)(2) of this section and shall provide all of the following measures to the satisfaction of the city:

a. A safe and convenient zone in which vanpool and carpool vehicles may deliver or board their passengers.

b. Sidewalks or other designated pathways following direct and safe routes from the external pedestrian circulation system to each building in the development.

c. If determined necessary by the city to mitigate the project impact, bus stop improvements must be provided. The city will consult with the local bus service providers in determining appropriate improvements. When locating bus stops and/or planning building entrances, entrances must be designed to provide safe and efficient access to nearby transit stations/stops.

d. Safe and convenient access from the external circulation system to bicycle parking facilities on site.

(Code 1957, § 13.170)

Project compliance shall be monitored pursuant to the site plan review procedures contained in division 3 of article II of chapter 106 of this Code.

(Code 1957, § 13.171)