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Parking
Current Configuration
The UUCP has 124 lined spaces in the paved northeast lot. The unmarked northwest lot has accommodated 41 automobiles. Finally, the unpaved area at the far-east end of the northeast lot has accommodated 15 automobiles. Therefore, our capacity is about 184.
Usage
The past six weeks, we have had up to 189 vehicles in the lot during the service. We have averaged 1.3 persons in the sanctuary per vehicle in the lot (range 1.14 - 1.47), based on the count of the vehicles and the sound person's count of the attendance.
Master Plan
The 2005 traffic study (pg 19) stated that there were 267 seats in the sanctuary, and PV requires 1 parking space per three seats, for a minimum of 89. It reported that 142 spaces exist. The number of seats seems reasonable, although the parking space count is low.
The Master Plan requires us to lose the parking spaces in the northeast lot that encroach on the 25' setback from Lincoln to become part of the site drainage. There is also reference to a 60' setback from single-family residences, and the drawing show that the parking on the east dirt respects that setback, albeit not the dust issue.
The final Landscape plan has 74 spaces in the Phase II configuration with the administrative building on the south side of a reconfigured northeast lot (down 50 from what we have now). Combined with the 44 spaces in the west lot, and losing about 4 to the retained west exit to Lincoln, the master plan appears to provide 114 spaces total. The new lot proposed to the southeast along 40th Place does not replace all of the lost spaces.
The Issue
The existing parking barely accommodates a comfortably full house. Because of the setback and drainage control issues, we appear to need to lose at least the spaces in the east lot that face and are closest to Lincoln. The guideline of one space for every three people was not checked against real data. The Renovation Committee is looking at options to increase the parking density in the current lots. Consideration is being given to:
• Making an area striped for compact cars
• Reducing island size where feasible without significantly affecting appearance
• Looking at straight in (not diagonal) spaces where they will fit
The Congregation and visitors may help as well. If you ride to the UUCP with a friend, you not only reduce parking demand, but you can also reduce your carbon footprint.