Does anyone know of any resources for parking lot planning?  For example, say you have one acre of land.  What is a good rule of thumb on the amount of spaces you can get on the property?  What is the standard size of a parking space?  Are there rules of thumb for garages and the number of spaces per level based on the size of the land?

 

Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.   

from Lynch's Site Planning 3rd Edition:

parking stall length=20 ft

parking stall width=8-9 ft

handicapped width=13 ft

one way aisle width (angled parking)= 12 ft

two way aisle width (perpendicular parking)=20 ft

total area of parking lot, per car=250-400 sq. ft.

1 acre=43,560 sq ft

so approx 109 to 174 spaces

 

garages I'm not so sure of, and of in any case, I'm sure actual results will vary even more than the standards depending on lot configuration and zoning codes

 

Well, X pretty much covered it!

 

But to take away from a stain on the Planning profession...I would clarify this a 'Parking Lot Design and/or Layout' not Parking Lot Planning...there is no planning involved in this.

 

[/out of nowhere rant]

*steps of soapbox*

^---- Well, technically, "planning" relates to a plan, or overhead view. Other views are elevation, profile, cross-section, etc. "Planning" a parking lot can mean laying one out on paper. (You guys crack me up sometimes, as if a real town planner would never recommend a parking lot.)  :-D

 

  I agree with X. In addition, if you have a drawing of your area, start by laying off 9'x20' spaces with 24' wide aisles in a rectangular grid, making sure not to have any dead-end aisles that drivers will have to back out of. That should get you started.

 

  Garages are much more complicated because you will need space for stairs, elevators, ramps, columns, etc. To get a rough idea, do the same thing with your space and then multiply by the number of levels you want. That will give you an upper limit.

 

    Some codes require stormwater detention, landscaped islands, setbacks, etc. If you expect larger vehicles such as busses you will obviously need more room for them.

 

    Google "parking lot design" for more.

 

 

 

   

I know that planners recommend parking facilities and the like...I never claimed otherwise, but your definition of planning is the vague description that everyone knows.  A planner would never plan one specific parking facility, that would be done by an engineer or what not.  But a planner would create those codes you talked about that regulate the landscaping, spaces per sq. footage, etc.  That is actual planning you are planning for the future and for the community...not for one specific purpose (that would be your site plan you mentioned, but even then you would never have a planner involved with a parking lot site plan).  Usually those are drawn by hand by the person submitting it.  Trust me I've seen them come in before and they usually look like crap.

Does anyone know of any resources for parking lot planning?  For example, say you have one acre of land.  What is a good rule of thumb on the amount of spaces you can get on the property?  What is the standard size of a parking space?  Are there rules of thumb for garages and the number of spaces per level based on the size of the land?

 

Any help anyone can provide would be greatly appreciated.   

 

The details of the parking area may depend on where you plan on building it.  For example, some places may require a certain amount of the property to be set aside for landscaping/buffer areas, and the space sizes will vary as well as drive aisles.  Is the property in an urban or suburban setting and what use is it associated with?  A parking garage would be a gazillion times more expensive than surface parking...just some thoughts.

I know that planners recommend parking facilities and the like...I never claimed otherwise, but your definition of planning is the vague description that everyone knows.  A planner would never plan one specific parking facility, that would be done by an engineer or what not.  But a planner would create those codes you talked about that regulate the landscaping, spaces per sq. footage, etc.  That is actual planning you are planning for the future and for the community...not for one specific purpose (that would be your site plan you mentioned, but even then you would never have a planner involved with a parking lot site plan).  Usually those are drawn by hand by the person submitting it.  Trust me I've seen them come in before and they usually look like crap.

 

I consider myself a planner and I've done some parking lot design.  I suppose you're right if you're only referring to the public sector though.

If you don't mind me asking...what does 'I consider myself a planner' mean?  I don't know that there is much debate in the issue...unless of course you are one of the many architects who believe they are planners.

well, i'm finishing up my degree in planning which would make me a planner, although the actual title will likely be 'designer'.  I'm just saying that:

 

you would never have a planner involved with a parking lot site plan

and

A planner would never plan one specific parking facility, that would be done by an engineer or what not.

 

aren't necessarily true.

Well you're a planner then...stake your claim, don't be shy!  I must be unaware though of the private planning firms that do parking lot/parking facility designs.  I am in the public sector right now, but know many people in the private, and they are usually working on a wide variety of things...usually not parking facilities.  Now if you're saying you designed one within the larger scheme of a project...then yeah I've heard of that; but not on a specific basis.

Here is some info I found:

 

90 degree Stall Angle:

9' x 19' Stall

Aisle Width 25'

 

45 degree Stall Angle:

9' x 19' Stall

Aisle Width 13.5'

 

60 degree Stall Angle:

9' x 19' Stall

Aisle Width 18.5'

 

30 degree Stall Angle:

9' x 19' Stall

Aisle Width 11'

From the Hamilton County Zoning Resolution:

 

9 foot stall width for all

20 foot acess drive width for all

 

0 degree parking (curb side)

Length -23 ft.

Aisle width - 12 ft(one way), 18 ft (2 way)

 

30-53 degree parking

length- 18 ft

Aisle width - 13 ft (one way), 20 ft (2 way)

 

54-75 degree parking

length - 19 ft.

Aisle width - 18 ft (one way), 22 ft (2 way)

 

76-90 degree parking

length - 19 ft.

Aisle width - 22 ft (one way), 24 ft (2 way)

 

 

 

 

Doesn't any project have four phases -- planning, design, construction and management?