Dana Point — Transportation Demand Management

District Applicability

Chapter 9.43 does not assign separate TDM requirements, setbacks, permitted uses, or dimensional standards to NC, CC/P, CC/V, V/RC, V/RC/T, C/R, P/R, P/A, I/B, TC, or any residential or overlay district. Its trigger is employment at a qualifying discretionary non-residential project, not the district label. § 9.43.030; § 9.43.070

Accordingly, a project’s district-specific use permissions and physical standards must be checked under Dana Point Zoning, Dana Point Land Use, and, where relevant, Dana Point Overlay Districts. Those topics do not change the Chapter 9.43 threshold or facility menu.

Commercial, Mixed-Use, Office, and Industrial Districts

For projects in commercial, mixed-use, office, or industrial districts, Chapter 9.43 may apply if the new discretionary non-residential project reaches 100 employees. The City’s employment factors specifically identify commercial, office/professional, industrial, and hotel uses, but they are threshold-calculation tools—not district-specific entitlement standards. § 9.43.030

Residential, Recreation, Open Space, Conservation, Harbor, and Overlay Districts

Chapter 9.43 does not establish a separate TDM program for residential, recreation, open space, conservation, harbor, or overlay districts. A project in any such area should be evaluated by its actual project type, discretionary status, and estimated employment; project-specific land-use questions require verification with the jurisdiction. § 9.43.030; § 9.43.070

Option A — Required Facility Package

An applicable development must show the selected improvements on its Site Development Plan. Under Option A, the project provides every listed facility type. § 9.43.040

Carpool Parking

At least 15% of employee parking must be reserved and marked “Carpool Only.” Those spaces may be used only by qualifying carpools—at least two occupants must be employees or tenants of the project—or under a reciprocal preferential carpool-parking agreement with other developments. § 9.43.040(a)(1)

Carpool spaces must be near employee entrances or in another preferential employee-parking location approved by the Director of Public Works and Director of Community Development, or their designees. The chapter supplies different employee-parking percentages by use, so the 15% requirement is not calculated from all parking spaces in every case. § 9.43.040(a)(1)

Bicycle, Shower, and Locker Facilities

Secure bicycle parking and locker facilities are required at a rate of at least 5 racks per 100 employees, including any fraction of 100 employees. The project must also provide at least 2 shower, changing, and locker facilities, one each for men and women. § 9.43.040(a)(2)

These TDM facilities are separate from the City’s ordinary parking count and site-layout rules. Verify physical placement, circulation, and any design conditions with the jurisdiction. § 9.43.040

Commuter Information Area

The project must provide a centrally located commuter-information area accessible to employees or tenants. It must include current transit maps, routes, and schedules; ridesharing match lists; available employee or tenant incentives; and ridesharing promotional material from commuter-oriented organizations. § 9.43.040(a)(3)

The chapter’s definition of alternative transportation modes includes ridesharing, public transit, bicycling, and walking as alternatives to a single-occupant vehicle. § 9.43.070

Rideshare Loading and Vanpool Access

The need, design, and location of rideshare passenger-loading areas are reviewed by the Director of Public Works and Director of Community Development, or their designees. Loading areas must be sized for at least 5 stalls per 100 required parking spaces, placed as close as practical to employee entrances, and designed not to obstruct parking-area circulation. § 9.43.040(a)(4)

All parking facilities must provide for vanpool access and parking. Where applicable, designated vanpool spaces and ramps need at least 7 ft 2 in. of vertical clearance, and the project must provide at least 2 vanpool stalls per 100 employee parking stalls in preferential locations approved by the City. § 9.43.040(a)(5)

Bus Stop Improvements

Applicable projects along high-traffic-volume streets and established bus routes must provide bus-stop improvements, including bus pullouts, bus pads, and right-of-way for bus shelters. The City determines the improvement using traffic-engineering principles, including traffic blocked by stopped buses and transit ridership at the location. § 9.43.040(a)(6)

Option B — Comparable Alternatives

Instead of the complete Option A package, an applicant may propose a combination of similar or alternative facilities, improvements, or programs. The substitute package must achieve a transportation-demand reduction comparable to Option A, supported by a report submitted to and approved by the Director of Community Development. § 9.43.040(b)

Option B is not an automatic waiver. The applicant bears the practical burden of documenting comparable performance before the alternative can be approved. § 9.43.040(b)

Responsibility and Enforcement

The property owner is responsible for Chapter 9.43 compliance, either directly or by delegating responsibility to an employer or tenant. A developer may be responsible for implementation as determined by the property owner. § 9.43.050; § 9.43.070

After written notice to the owner or designee, the City may withhold a building permit, withhold a certificate of use and occupancy, or issue stop-work orders to enforce compliance. § 9.43.060

Checklist

• Confirm the proposal is a new non-residential project requiring discretionary action. § 9.43.070
• Calculate projected employment using City-approved applicant projections or the Chapter 9.43 land-use factors. § 9.43.030
• For mixed or multiple uses, prepare a proportional, case-by-case employment estimate. § 9.43.030
• If projected employment is 100 or more persons, include TDM improvements in the Site Development Plan. § 9.43.030; § 9.43.040
• Choose complete Option A facilities or prepare a comparable-performance report for Option B. § 9.43.040
• Coordinate carpool, rideshare-loading, and vanpool locations with the City approvals specified in the chapter. § 9.43.040
• Identify whether the project fronts a high-volume street and established bus route requiring bus-stop improvements. § 9.43.040
• Assign and document the property owner’s compliance responsibility, including any delegation to an employer or tenant. § 9.43.050

Risks & Ambiguities

Plain-English Summary

If a new discretionary business-oriented project in Dana Point is expected to have 100 or more employees, it must make commuting without a solo car easier—usually through carpool spaces, bike facilities, showers, transit information, rideshare loading, vanpool access, and possibly bus-stop work. The owner remains accountable, and unresolved compliance can delay the building permit or occupancy approval. § 9.43.040; § 9.43.050; § 9.43.060

Source References

• § 9.43.010 — Intent and purpose.
• § 9.43.020 — TDM policy objectives.
• § 9.43.030 — Applicability and employment-estimation factors.
• § 9.43.040 — Option A and Option B facility standards.
• § 9.43.050 — Property-owner responsibility.
• § 9.43.060 — Enforcement and penalties.
• § 9.43.070 — Chapter definitions.