Text change establishes clear rules on where car-sharing companies can park vehicles. On September 29, 2010, the City Council approved the Department of City Planning’s Car- Share Text Amendment. The zoning resolution now recognizes car-share vehicles, such as those offered by ZipCar and Connect by Hertz, and sets out which off-street parking facilities are suitable for car-share storage. The City Planning Commission modified the text amendment during its review of the proposal. 7 CityLand 123 (Sept. 15, 2010).

Car-share vehicles are available to pre-approved, registered members 24 hours a day. Car-share companies allow their members to pick up and drop off the cars through a self-service system. Carshare vehicles are permitted in high-, medium-, and low-density parking facilities that are accessory to commercial, manufacturing, or residential uses. Greater numbers of car-share vehicles are permitted in parking facilities located in higher density districts. (read more…)

Commission determined that clear off-street parking rules for car-share vehicles would help alleviate traffic congestion and increase available spaces. On August 11, 2010, the City Planning Commission modified the Department of City Planning’s proposed zoning text amendment that would establish off-street parking guidelines for car-share vehicles offered by companies such as ZipCar and Connect by Hertz.

The zoning resolution’s offstreet parking regulations address where private vehicles and traditional car rentals are permitted to park, but do not address car-share vehicles. Rental vehicles are considered a commercial use and are prohibited in most public parking facilities. Planning’s proposal would define car-share vehicles and permit car-share vehicles to park in a range of public and accessory parking facilities. The amendment would establish higher maximums in public facilities and in highand medium-density residential garages, while restrictions would be tighter in low-density districts. Planning would require that all garages containing car-share vehicles provide an information plaque identifying the total number of spaces and maximum allowable number of car-share spaces.

At the Commission’s public hearing, a representative of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer and representatives from car-sharing companies and planning groups spoke in support. Stringer’s representative suggested that the Commission include signage requirements clarifying that residents with private vehicles had priority over car-share companies when attempting to secure a monthly space in residential garages. 7 CityLand 106 (Aug. 15, 2010).

The Commission approved the proposal, but made several modifications. It noted that accessory residential parking facilities outside of the Manhattan Core (Community Districts 1 – 8 ) are permitted to rent spaces to non-occupants of the building, but a space must be made available to a resident within 30 days of a written request to the landlord. The Commission extended this provision to include the Manhattan Core and modified the amendment to require the parking availability information to be included on the plaque required for facilities with car-share vehicles.

Addressing safety concerns raised by some community boards during the public review, the Commission also modified the proposal to require the residential portion of a building to be secured if the building is accessible from an accessory garage that permits car-share vehicles.

CPC: Car Share Text Amendment (Aug. 11, 2010).

Proposal would establish off-street parking regulations for car-share vehicles, such as those offered through Zipcar. On April 26, 2010, the City Planning Commission announced that the Department of City Planning’s proposed car-share parking zoning text amendment would begin a public review process. Car-sharing companies like Zipcar and Connect by Hertz provide vehicles to registered members on an as-needed basis for a fee. The vehicles are typically available 24 hours a day. Members can reserve cars by phone or the internet and can pick up and drop off cars at the same location. Members are charged by the hour or by miles driven. According to Planning, New York City accounts for approximately one-third of national car-sharing memberships, and car-share members are less likely to purchase their own vehicle.

The City did not contemplate the concept of car sharing when parking regulations were created in 1961. As a result, the zoning resolution does not contain clear rules on where car share vehicles are permitted to park. Car-sharing companies are now looking to expand, and the amendment would establish regulations permitting car-share vehicles to park in certain off-street public and accessory parking facilities. The proposal would build on the City’s commitment to promote sustainable modes of transportation and to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion. (read more…)

Proposal would establish off-street parking regulations for car-share vehicles, such as those offered through Zipcar. On April 26, 2010, the City Planning Commission announced that the Department of City Planning’s proposed car-share parking zoning text amendment would begin a public review process. Car-sharing companies like Zipcar and Connect by Hertz provide vehicles to registered members on an as-needed basis for a fee.

The vehicles are typically available 24 hours a day. Members can reserve cars by phone or the internet and can pick up and drop off cars at the same location. Members are charged by the hour or by miles driven. According to Planning, New York City accounts for approximately one-third of national car-sharing memberships, and car-share members are less likely to purchase their own vehicle.

The City did not contemplate the concept of car sharing when parking regulations were created in 1961. As a result, the zoning resolution does not contain clear rules on where car share vehicles are permitted to park. Car-sharing companies are now looking to expand, and the amendment would establish regulations permitting car-share vehicles to park in certain off-street public and accessory parking facilities. (read more…)

City seeks to promote use of car-share vehicles by increasing availability of off-street parking spaces. On July 14, 2010, the City Planning Commission heard testimony on the Department of City Planning’s zoning text amendment proposal intended to promote the use of car-share vehicles in the City. Companies like Zipcar, Connect by Hertz, and Mint provide car-share vehicles to registered members on an as-needed basis, 24 hours a day. Drivers reserve the vehicles by phone or the internet and are able to pick them up and drop them off at the same location. According to Planning, using carshare vehicles can reduce the total number of vehicles in the City, helping to alleviate traffic congestion and decrease air pollution.

The zoning resolution does not recognize car-share vehicles and contains no clear rules as to where companies are permitted to park or store the vehicles. If adopted, Planning’s amendment would formally define car-share vehicles and establish that car-share vehicles would be permitted to park in certain offstreet public and accessory garages. 7 CityLand 59 (May 15, 2010). (read more…)