St. Helena Municipal Code Ch. 18.01 Vehicle Miles Traveled Metrics

Sections:

The specific purposes of this chapter are to promote maximum efficiency in the existing transportation system, and to further the transportation goals of the St. Helena General Plan, St. Helena Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, and the San Francisco Bay Area Clean Air Plan and reduce the production of greenhouse gases by reducing total vehicle miles traveled (VMT), while enhancing access and expanding mobility by:

A. Promoting and encouraging the use of transit, ridesharing, bicycling, walking, flexible work hours and telecommuting as alternatives to solo driving;

• B. Incorporating these objectives into the development review process;

C. Developing proactive programs and/or projects either alone or in conjunction with other jurisdictions, the Napa County Transportation Authority (NVTA), and/or the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to support countywide planning efforts;

D. Considering the incorporation of appropriate technology designed to facilitate traffic flow, provide transit and highway information, provide trip generation alternatives, and incorporate related technology into the transportation system;

• E. Cooperating with other jurisdictions, the private sector, and transit operators in planning and implementing transportation programs;

F. Promoting the more efficient utilization of existing transportation facilities and ensuring that new developments are designed in ways to maximize the potential for people and goods to arrive/depart by walking, cycling, riding public transportation, or traveling in a high occupancy vehicle; and

G. Establishing an ongoing monitoring and enforcement program to ensure that the city’s desired alternative mode use percentages are achieved. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

The requirements of this chapter apply to private development as described in this section:

A. Residential projects where the projected home-based VMT per resident generated by the project is greater than fifteen percent (15%) below the nine-county Bay Area regional average or citywide average home-based VMT per resident.

B. Office/employment projects where the home-based-work VMT per worker generated by the project is greater than fifteen percent (15%) below the nine-county Bay Area regional average home-based-work VMT per worker.

• C. Retail and other land use projects that result in a net increase in VMT.

• D. Any development projects that provide more parking than the minimum required by this code.

• E. Any development projects that are less than 0.75 FAR.

• F. Any development projects that are inconsistent with Plan Bay Area.

G. Any development projects that replace affordable residential units with a smaller number of units and/or market rate units.

H. Any development projects that are less dense than the existing use on the site to be developed. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

A. In order for projects subject to the requirements of this chapter to have a less than significant impact on transportation under the California Environmental Quality Act (Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.)

(“CEQA”) those projects will need to incorporate measures to reduce single-occupant vehicle trip generation rates fifteen percent (15%) below the nine-county Bay Area regional average.

B. Projects for which the standard VMT calculation methods are not representative of the proposed use may, with the approval of director of public works, use total regional VMT, per capita metric or other method of determining VMT recommended by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

All projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall calculate the project VMT using the Solano Napa Activity-Based Model. Retail projects greater than ten thousand (10,000) square feet of floor area and other commercial and industrial projects may use either the Solano Napa Activity-Based Model or the MTC Travel Model. Proponents of projects for which the standard VMT calculation methods are not representative of the proposed use or projects within Industrial zoned area can petition the director of public works to use an alternate method of determining VMT recommended by the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. The director of public works shall have discretion to permit the use of any alternate method(s). (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

Projects meeting one or more of the following criteria are considered to have a less than significant impact on VMT and are exempted from the provisions of this chapter:

A. Projects that are not subject to CEQA, as described in 14 CCR 15060, or projects that are otherwise exempt from CEQA.

B. Projects which consist exclusively of deed restricted affordable housing for low- or moderate-income households as defined by state law or local ordinance.

C. Projects which consist exclusively of local-serving retail (grocery store, drug store, gym, etc.) or professional service providers licensed by the state of California (legal, medical, architectural, etc.) and not exceeding ten thousand (10,000) square feet in floor area.

D. Projects which consist exclusively of open space, publicly owned park and/or trailheads. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

A. Projects subject to the requirements of this chapter which are unable to meet the performance requirements defined in Section 18.01.030 and are not exempted under Section 18.01.050 may mitigate VMT by providing facilities that reduce VMT as part of their project.

B. The city has identified certain mitigation measures which reduce VMT, are consistent with the goals of the general plan and can be implemented with a wide variety of projects. These mitigation measures are provided in the St. Helena transportation demand management (TDM) guideline which shall be developed by the director of public works and approved by city council, and may be updated from time to time. Project proponents are not limited to the mitigation measures identified in the TDM guideline. Alternate mitigation measures can be implemented by project proponents with the approval of the city council. The city council may, by resolution, revise the TDM guideline and list of identified VMT mitigation measures.

C. Projects proposing mitigation measures described herein may be required to include a LOS analysis in addition to CEQA VMT. The city retains a requirement to evaluate LOS within the local development review process to inform site access and traffic operation decisions as it relates to general plan goals and policies. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

Proponents of projects are not limited to only the mitigation measures listed in the St. Helena transportation demand management (TDM) guideline and may propose other VMT reducing methods. When proposing other VMT reducing methods, it shall be the responsibility of the project proponent to prepare a report demonstrating the credited effectiveness of the VMT reducing method and quantify the reduction of VMT as a percentage of the nine-county Bay Area regional average. The report shall be prepared, signed and stamped by a civil engineer licensed in the state of California and experienced in traffic engineering. Calculation methods shall rely on the models described in Section 18.01.040 and be subject to the provisions therein.

Credited effectiveness of alternate VMT mitigation measures shall be quantified using the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association (CAPCOA) guidelines or other VMT references recommended by the California Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR). (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

All projects subject to the requirements of this chapter shall submit a transportation demand management plan in conjunction with the development application. These plans must demonstrate whether, upon implementation, they will achieve the performance requirement and shall include the following:

A. Mitigation Measures List. A completed list of the trip reduction measure(s) chosen by the applicant pursuant to the St. Helena TDM guideline or alternate mitigation measure(s) approved by the city council.

B. Trip Generation. Estimated daily trip generation for the proposed use based on the Solano Napa Activity-Based Model or the MTC Travel Model.

C. Implementation Plan. A description of how the performance requirements will be achieved and maintained over the life of the project.

D. Project-Designated TDM Contact. When utilizing VMT mitigation measures that require the use of public facilities or public transportation, are located on public land or require ongoing commitment(s) in order to meet the requirements of this chapter, the applicant shall designate an employee or resident as the official contact for the transportation demand management (TDM) program.

• E. Site Plan. A site plan that designates transportation demand management design elements including, as applicable, the location and layout/design of:

  1. External: preferential parking areas, paid parking areas, bicycle connections, bicycle parking, location of on-site amenities, passenger loading areas, land dedicated for transit facilities and bus shelters, direct route to transit, and pedestrian connections.

  2. Internal: showers/lockers, information boards/kiosks, ATM, dry cleaners, day care, convenience retail, post office, cafeteria, limited food service establishment, exercise facilities, and on-site transit pass sales. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))

The city may require proponents of projects to provide an annual report when utilizing VMT mitigation measures that require the use of public facilities, public transportation, are located on public land, or require ongoing commitment(s) in order to meet the requirements of this chapter. The report shall document the TDM activities undertaken, their results and an affidavit confirming that the requirements of this section have been met. This report shall be submitted to the director of public works no later than June 30th of each year following the issuance of the certificate to occupy. If the annual report shows compliance for three consecutive years, no further annual reports are required. If the VMT mitigation measures consist of solely measures that would be performed once, this report must be submitted at the completion of the implementation of those measures and no additional reporting is required.

The city may require a project proponent to perform a five-year review to evaluate the overall effectiveness of all VMT mitigation measures implemented on the project. The city may suggest new or modified activities or substitute activities to meet the program’s objectives. The city may impose reasonable changes or extend the reporting period to assure the program’s objectives will be met. (Ord. 24-4 § 2 (Exh. A))