HomeMy WebLinkAboutZB-94-0000 - Decision - 0508 Shelburne RoadPLANNING COMMISSION
CITY OF SOUTH BURLINGTON
IN RE: Application of Heathcote Associates
This matter came before the Planning Commission of the City of
South Burlington on request of the Planning Commission to review
traffic conditions on the site of the Factory Outlet retail
facility located on Shelburne Road in the City of South Burlington.
The applicant's representative was present at all public meetings
held relative to this application. Based on evidence submitted at
the meetings and as part of the application, the Planning
Commission hereby renders the following decision on this
application:
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. The Planning Commission granted the applicant final plat
approval on 9/27/88 for the construction of a 15,460 square foot
addition to the Factory Outlet retail facility.
2. Condition 7(e) of said final plat approval required the conduct
of a three (3) year parking count study on the Factory Outlet
property. The parking count study began in November, 1990 and
ended September, 1993.
3. Condition 7(f) of said final plat approval states that if,
during the life of the project, the Planning Commission determines
that unreasonable traffic congestion or unsafe traffic conditions
are occurring on this site, it may direct the applicant to impose
measures to mitigate such conditions.
4. The purpose of this hearing is for the Planning Commission to
review the results of the parking study and determine whether
unsafe traffic conditions exist on the Factory Outlet property.
5. The results of the parking study indicate that there are 597
spaces available on the site. The average Saturday peak is 424
vehicles while the average Friday peak is 309 vehicles. The
highest peak recorded during the 3-year period was 521 vehicles on
Saturday 11/21/92.
6. Peak parking demand occurs on Saturdays. Peak months typically
include October, November and December. Lowest parking demand
generally occurs in June and July.
7. The parking spaces in front of the Factory Outlet Mall (i.e.,
areas #1 and #2) are over -utilized while the parking spaces in rear
of the site (i.e., areas #4 and #5) are under-utilized. For
Saturdays, the average peak utilization rate for areas #1 and #2 is
79% and 104%, respectively. The average peak utilization rate for
areas #4 and #5 is 47% and 50%, respectively. For Fridays, the
average peak utilization rate for areas #1 and #2 is 65% and 92%,
respectfully. Area #2 exceeded capacity on a number of occasions.
The average peak utilization rate for areas #4 and #5 is 28% and
30%, respectfully.
8. There is illegal parking occurring on the site, mostly in areas
#2 and V . Area #7 consists of the main circulation/fire lane
where no legal spaces are provided. Area #2 is the large parking
area in front of Grand Union. For Saturdays, the average peak
number of illegal parkers occurring at one time in areas #2 and #7
is 12 vehicles and 5 vehicles, respectively. Up to 30 illegal
parkers were observed in area #2 at one time while up to 8 were
observed in area V . For Fridays, the average peak number of
illegal parkers occurring at one time in areas #2 and #7 is 4
vehicles and 5 vehicles, respectfully. Up to 17 illegal parkers
were observed in area #2 at one time while up to 9 were observed in
area V .
9. In area #2, illegal parking occurs regularly on Saturdays
during the hours of 12:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. all months of the
year.
10. In area #7, illegal parking occurs regularly on Fridays during
the hours of 2:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. and on Saturdays during the
hours of 12:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M., during all months of the year.
11. The applicant provided information which indicates that the
occurrence of illegal parking in the vicinity of the bank facility
increased after the closure of the drive -through lanes.
CONCLUSIONS
1. The Planning Commission concludes that unsafe traffic
conditions exist on the site due to the occurrence of illegal
parkinq in the main access/fire lane in front of the Factory Outlet
Mall building and in the parking area in front of the Grand Union.
2. The Planning Commission concludes that parking areas in front
of the Factory Outlet property are over -utilized and congested
while parking areas in the rear of the property are under-utilized.
The under -utilization of parking areas in the rear is in part due
to the general layout of the site, including the building location
and access/circulation lanes, and to the shortfall of adequate
building access (i.e., doors) from the rear parking areas. The
presence of illegal parking in the main access/fire lane further
limits and impedes traffic circulation to the rear of the site.
3. The Planning Commission concludes that parking lot attendants
may be effective in directing parkers to legal parking spaces on
the site and therefore reduce the occurrence of illegal parking on
the property. This will result in more efficient traffic
circulation and safer traffic conditions on the site.
DECISION
Based on the above Findings of Fact and Conclusions, the South
Burlington Planning Commission hereby directs the applicant to hire
parking lot attendants to regulate circulation and parking within
the main access/fire lane and parking lots located in front of the
Factory Outlet Mall building. The parking lot attendants shall
regulate said circulation and parking on Fridays between the hours
of 2:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M. and on Saturdays between the hours of
12:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. "No Parking" signs shall be painted or
posted on the exterior south wall of the bank building and on the
exterior north side of the Factory Outlet building. The number and
location to be designated by the City Planner. In addition to this
corrective action, the Planning Commission will require in any
future review of this project (including the review presently under
consideration) that appropriate action be taken to improve traffic
circulation to the rear of the site and utilization of parking in
the rear.
Dated this ��i ' day of March, 1994 at South Burlington, Vermont.
Chairman 6r"Clerkl
South Burlington Planning Commission