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Request by Angie Streckenbach, Thrive Architects, on behalf of Dika Dermatology, for an exception to the parking regulations of Wauwatosa Municipal Code (WMC) 24.11.020 at 6027 Vliet Street
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Submitted by:
Art Piñon
Department:
Development
A. Issue
Request by Angie Streckenbach, Thrive Architects, on behalf of Dika Dermatology, for an exception to the parking regulations of Wauwatosa Municipal Code (WMC) 24.11.020
B. Background/Options
The applicant is requesting an exception to the required parking ratio for a 4,138 square foot medical office at 6027 Vliet Street. The required parking ratio for a medical office is 6.67 parking spaces for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 28 spaces. The previous general office use required 3 spaces for every 1,000 square feet of gross floor area or 12 spaces, although was grandfathered in with less parking. In accordance with WMC 24.11.010.B.4.a, if the number of parking spaces required for a new use exceeds the number of spaces required for the previous use, additional spaces are required only to make up the difference between the number of spaces required for the previous use and the number of spaces required for the new use. Therefore, the medical office is required to provide 16 additional parking spaces.
The proposed medical office will occupy a portion of the building while the remaining building square footage is occupied by a clothing screen printing business. The required parking for the screen-printing business is 1 parking space per employee. With two employees, the facility is required to provide two parking spaces.
There are ten parking spaces onsite, which includes one handicap space. According to a business plan submitted by the applicant, the medical facility will contain no more than seven patrons at any given time (2 staff and 3-5 patients). To substantiate the anticipated occupancy of the medical office, the applicant has submitted patient schedules for their current facility for four weekdays demonstrating maximum occupancy within the space will not exceed seven patrons. The medical office operator will continue the same schedule at the proposed facility.
Based on the documentation provided, a sufficient amount of parking has been demonstrated to be available onsite to accommodate the proposed medical office use as well as the existing tenant.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Economic Development & Financial Resilience
D. Fiscal Impact
No financial impact to the City.
E. Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the exception to the parking regulations of Wauwatosa Municipal Code (WMC) 24.11.020 subject to:
1. Limiting number of staff and patients (combined) to a maximum of seven at any given time.
2. Short- and long-term bicycle parking must be provided in compliance with City Code prior to issuing occupancy permit.
3. If the City receives complaints regarding parking, the applicant shall take corrective action to resolve all parking issues to the satisfaction of the Planning Manager and Public Works Director. This may include but not be limited to reducing number of patients and staff, schedule modifications, etc.
4. Changes to facility operations, square footage, or tenant mix for the site may be approved by the Planning Division if deemed substantially conforming with said approval. Changes deemed by the Planning Division to increase or potentially increase parking demand requires approval from the Board of Public Works.