The Adaptive Performance Center is proposing to move into an existing building located at 1420 Broadwater Avenue.  The Adaptive Performance Center will provide a fitness environment for service members and veterans with disabilities.  Current city code for parking requirements, Section 6-1203(j), does not have a category for gyms, so we rely on a parking generation manual published by the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE).  The required parking for a gym is 1 parking stall per 200 square feet of building.  Using this ratio, this building would require 46 parking stalls, and the site currently has 20 stalls with no room for expansion.  The owner is requesting a variance due to the nature of the gym.  It will be used by veterans who, for the most part, will transported there by the VA, DAV, MET Transit, or by family members.  This would eliminate the need for a majority of the parking.  The owner has also discussed utilizing additional parking from surrounding businesses.  Attached is a letter with their justification for the variance.  Engineering has reviewed the letter and supports the variance.  If approved, the variance would be for this use only.  If a change in use is proposed in the future, the owner will have to re-evaluate the parking and obtain a variance if the parking is determined to be insufficient by city code.

The Council may:

• Approve the variance which allows the applicant to require 20 parking stalls; or
• Disapprove the variance. If the variance is not approved, the applicant will have to develop additional parking stalls nearby.

The administrative cost of the variance is offset by the application fee.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the variance from the site development ordinance to allow the new Adaptive Performance Center to require only 20 parking stalls.