TO: Town of Apex Planning Board FROM: Jenna Shouse, Transportation Planning Intern DATE: 22 May 2018 SUBJECT: Proposed Amendments to Section 8.3 Off-Street Parking and Loading of the Apex UDO Please find attached proposed amendments to Section 8.3 Parking and Loading of the Town of Apex Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The purposes of these amendments are to: (1) update the off-street parking and loading requirements to present-day standards; (2) provide clarity and completeness for situations where the UDO is silent or unclear; and (3) prepare for trends in design, technologies, and multi-modal travel. The proposed amendments have been designed to reduce excessive parking, promote the use of alternative modes of transportation, and contribute to vibrant streetscapes. A parking supply that exceeds demand can have significant implications on the natural and built environment, resulting in increased stormwater runoff, heat island effect, loss of habitat, and an unpleasant environment for members of the community. Too little parking can impact economic development, traffic movement, and aesthetics. In addition, parking requirements can affect housing affordability and site design. The proposed amendments address: reduced parking minimums, tiered parking maximums, modern design standards, bicycle parking requirements, parking structure requirements with electric vehicle spaces, shared parking, and on-street parking. Summary of Process While there have been some modifications to Section 8.3 of the UDO since it was first adopted in 2000, there has not been a comprehensive review and update. This effort involved a comprehensive update using Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) parking demand studies, peer city ordinances, site plan analysis, and current parking literature. Each of the requirements has been designed within the context of Apex, focused on existing and future transportation needs. This update has been an ongoing, collaborative process since May 2017. Timeline of Review Senior Planners and Planning Manager (December 2017) Planning Director (February and March 2018) Police, Traffic Engineer, Parks Planner, and Planning Staff review (March and April 2018) Development Community (April 2018) Planning Committee (May 2018) Planning Board and Town Council (July 2018) Organization of Proposed Amendments Document The Proposed Amendments document, attached, is organized into tables by section of the Apex UDO. Each table has a column for row number, UDO section, existing requirement (if applicable), proposed requirement, reasoning, support, and source. The reasoning and support sections are included to present a case for each of the proposed amendments. A full citation for each source can be found at the end of the document. TO: Town of Apex Planning Board FROM: Jenna Shouse, Transportation Planning Intern DATE: 22 May 2018 SUBJECT: Electric Vehicle Parking The purpose of this memo is to present background information on electric vehicle (EV) charging to inform how EV parking requirements may be addressed in the Apex UDO. Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly common and it is important that the off-street parking requirements reflect existing and future transportation needs. EV Demand and Supply As of December 2016, there were 7,075 electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in North Carolina.1 In 2015, North Carolina ranked 12th highest state for the number of EV charging stations.2 In 2016, the US sold over 159,000 electric vehicles, a 38 percent increase over 2015.3 There are currently three known EV charging stations in Apex available for public use. These stations are located in downtown Apex in the public parking lot off Saunders Street.4 EV Charging Station Specifications There are three types of EV charging stations: Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Charging. Level 1 charging is plugging in to a standard electrical outlet. Level 2 charging is 240 volt AC charging, requiring a 40 amp circuit. Level 2 charging equipment is compatible with all electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles. Level 2 chargers have a cord that plugs directly into the vehicle in the same connector location used for Level 1 equipment. Level 2 charging works up to six times faster than Level 1 charging.5 DC Fast Charging stations are designed to charge electric vehicles quickly with an electric output ranging between 50 kW - 120 kW. There are multiple DC Fast Charger connector types including: CHAdeMO, Combined Charging System (CCS), and Tesla Supercharger (Tesla offers an optional CHAdeMO adapter). Currently, there are no plug-in hybrids sold in the US with a DC Fast Charging port.6 The most common connector is the Level 2 J1772 EV plug. All vehicles can use this connector standard in Canada and the US.7 1 “Autos Drive North Carolina Forward,” Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, 2016. 2 “North Carolina Plug-In Electric Vehicle Taskforce: 2015 Annual Report,” www.pluginnc.com, 2015. 3 “Electric Vehicles in North Carolina,” Plug In America, 2017. 4 “Electric Vehicle Charging Stations,” Town of Apex. 5 “Levels of Charging.” EV Town Bloomington – Normal, Illinois, 2015. 6 McDonald, Zach, “A Simple Guide to DC Fast Charging,” FleetCarma, 2016. 7 “Electric Vehicle Charging Guide,” ChargeHub, 2017. EV Charging Type Power (kW) Connector Approximate Charging Time Level 1 1 Standard wall outlet 8 to 15 hours Level 2 3 to 20, typically 6 Typical EV plug 3 to 8 hours DC Fast Charging Typically 50, occasionally CHAdeMo, CCS, Tesla 20 minutes to 1 hour 20 Supercharger Source: ChargeHub EV Equipment and Installation Costs There are wide ranges of equipment and installation costs associated with EV charging spaces. The following cost estimates were provided by evChargesolutions.com. Cost of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment: Level 2: $2,000 DC Fast Charging (50kW): $25,000 - $35,000 Installation costs: Level 2: $3,000 - $4,000 DC Fast Charging: $30,000 A large portion of the installation costs for DC Fast Charging spaces is the labor, permitting, and installation of a 480-volt transformer, accounting for roughly two thirds of the final cost.8 EV Parking Requirements found in referenced UDOs and Parking Structure Guidelines In the research completed for the Parking UDO update, EV parking requirements were found in multiple UDOs and in parking structure guidelines. The Town of Davidson, North Carolina requires one EV charging station in all parking lots greater than 50 spaces. In lots greater than 100 spaces, two EV charging stations are required. In a parking deck, one EV charging station per 100 spaces is required.9 The City of Mountlake Terrace, Washington (population 21,182) requires new and expanded developments that are 10,000 square feet or larger to install electric vehicle charging stations in 1% - 3% of all parking spaces. Multifamily residential developments that are 10,000 square feet or larger are required to install electric charging stations in 10% of all parking spaces.10 Parksmart Certification Program (LEED equivalent for parking structures) requires parking structures to have two or more DC Fast Chargers to receive the maximum number of points for EV charging stations. To receive the minimum number of points for EV charging stations, at least 0.5% of all parking spaces must be equipped for Level 1 charging.11 8 McDonald, Zach, “A Simple Guide to DC Fast Charging,” FleetCarma, 2016. 9 “Davidson Planning Ordinance,” Town of Davidson, 2017. 10 “Ready Set Charge California: A Guide to EV-Ready Communities,” Association of Bay Area Governments, 2011. 11 “Parksmart Planning Worksheet,” Green Business Certification, 2018. Works Cited “Accessibility for Public Charging Stations.” North Carolina Plug-In Electric Vehicle Taskforce. 2013. http://www.ncdoi.com/OSFM/Engineering_and_Codes/Documents/Code_Enforcement_Resour ces/Handouts-Specific%20Topics/PEV%20Planning%20Toolbox,%20ADARev_.pdf “Autos Drive North Carolina Forward.” Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. 2016. https://autoalliance.org/in-your-state/NC/ “Davidson Planning Ordinance,” Town of Davidson, 2017. https://www.ci.davidson.nc.us/DocumentCenter/View/8080 “Electric Vehicle Charging Guide.” ChargeHub. 2017. https://chargehub.com/en/electric-car-charging-guide.html “Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.” Town of Apex. https://www.apexnc.org/265/Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Stations “Electric Vehicles in North Carolina.” Plug In America. 2017. https://pluginamerica.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/04/North_Carolina_Electric_Vehicle_Facts heet_May_20171.pdf “Levels of Charging.” EV Town Bloomington – Normal, Illinois. 2015. http://www.evtown.org/about-ev-town/ev-charging/charging-levels.html McDonald, Zach, “A Simple Guide to DC Fast Charging,” FleetCarma. 2016. https://www.fleetcarma.com/dc-fast-charging-guide/ North Carolina Plug-In Electric Vehicle Taskforce: 2015 Annual Report.” www.pluginnc.com. 2015, www.pluginnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/5-2015_Transporation_Report_v5.pdf “Parksmart Planning Worksheet,” Green Business Certification, 2018. http://parksmart.gbci.org/certification “Ready Set Charge California: A Guide to EV-Ready Communities,” Association of Bay Area Governments, 2011. http://www.prospectsv.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Ready-Set- Charge-California-EV-Communities-Guide.pdf STAFF REPORT Amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance July 9, 2018 Planning Board Meeting Proposed amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance: Requested by staff and the Planning Committee: 1. Amendments to Sec. 8.2.2 General Landscaping Design Standards,