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8 May 2014

AUCKLAND INNER CITY SUBURB PARKING ALLIANCE (AICSPA): AUCKLAND TRANSPORT REGIONAL PARKING STRATEGY REVIEW& WORKSHOP

The Auckland Inner City Suburb Parking Alliance (AICSPA) has been formed in response to the negative impact of growing ‘commuter’ parking pressure in residential and commercial areas. Members believe that this will worsen given e.g. the lack of ‘off street’ parking provision in the Proposed Unitary Plan. Auckland Transport (AT) has also displayed a disinterest in the impact of commuter parking on local residential and commercial Streets. Indeed, it appears AT regards inner city suburb streets as a ‘public car park’, even those streets in e.g. heritage areas which are simply not physically designed for public parking and or, capable of meeting residents’ current parking needs. The growing pressure of commuter parking on inner city suburb streets is destroying local amenity and the heritage character of these areas as well as, the economic viability of commercial areas. AICSPA Membership Includes Resident/Business Groups:

1. Saint Mary’s Bay Association Inc.(SMBA) 2. Herne Bay Residents Association Inc.(HBRAI) 3. Grafton Residents Association Inc.(GRAI) 4. Arch Hill Residents Inc. (Society) 5. Parnell Residents Association Incorporated (PRAI) 6. Grey Lynn Residents Association (GLRA) 7. Western Bays Residents Association (WBRA) 8. Ponsonby Residents Association (O’Neil Street Residents) 9. Freemans Bay Residents Association (FBRA) 10. Eden Park Neighbours Association Inc.(EPNAI) 11. Ponsonby Business Association (PBA).

Auckland Transport Regional Parking Strategy Workshop The Alliance is aware that AT is holding a ‘Parking Workshop’ with Auckland Council Councillors and local board members in mid-May to put in place a regional parking strategy. It’s concerned at the lack of prior consultation with affected communities and inadequate ‘commuter parking’ research on which to base the decision-making process. This could potentially result in a deeply flawed strategy which although lacking robustness, will carry a political commitment. The Alliance has prepared the following brief report for Councillors and Board members consideration before the workshop which covers:

1. The Alliances’ ‘overarching’ commuter parking strategy philosophy 2. Each Alliance member’s specific local parking issues 3. The Alliances’ overarching’ commuter parking strategy plan components.

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Proposed ‘Overarching’ Regional Parking Strategy Philosophy Protecting Inner City Suburbs - Residents before Commuters:

1. Recognition that the character and amenity of Auckland’s Inner City Suburbs (residential and commercial), streets and streetscapes should be protected from excess commuter parking

2. Agreement that all Auckland City ‘residents’ and ‘ratepayers’ have the right to expect safe and easy ingress and egress to their homes as required under the Local Government Act

3. Recognition that turning inner city suburbs into a public car parking area will not achieve Auckland Council’s goal of a sustainable and ‘liveable’ city

Dissuading Commuters from Driving to the Central City:

4. Recognition that commuters to the inner city must bear the full cost of taking their vehicle to the city and parking in inner city suburbs must not be a cheap or easy option

5. Agreement to a parking strategy that forces commuters going to Auckland City to leave their

cars at home and take public transport in accordance with Auckland Transport (AT) goals

6. Congestion charging may be a practical way of dissuading commuters from driving into the Central city however full consultation must take place before any consideration is given to this form of charge

Tailored and Interim Solutions Required:

7. Recognition that each AICSPA city-fringe area has specific parking problems affecting residents and hence some parking solutions will need to be tailored to the specific issues

8. Agreement that Interim parking solutions will need to be introduced to relieve current

commuter parking stress, prior to implementation of a regional parking strategy.

Alliances’ Proposed Regional Parking Strategy Plan Components

1. Draft strategy to be preceded by consultation (genuine) with affected inner city suburbs as

the only way to achieve a sound and robust regional parking strategy

2. Peer review of Auckland Transport’s research on parking and release of this review and other related research to affected inner city residents and businesses for discussion

3. A policy that prohibits commuters parking in inner city streets, applicable seven days a week. Auckland Transport may wish to extend this to other suburbs beyond the central area

4. Substantial Increase in parking fines based on a change in law. Heavier fines would

encourage more intensive use of public transport leading to a revenue increase for AT

5. Review of the parking provisions in the Proposed Unitary Plan and amendments to ensure sufficient onsite parking (residential and commercial) in e.g. Central City or Wynyard Quarter.

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SUBURBAN SPECIFIC COMMUTER PARKING ISSUES APPENDIX

Suburban specific issues from the following Associations:

Arch Hill

St Marys Bay

Freemans Bay

Grafton

Herne Bay

O’Neill St (Ponsonby)

Parnell.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE ARCH HILL RESIDENTS INC.

Arch Hill is a community loosely defined as situated between Newton and Grey Lynn on the southern side of Great North Road extending down to the North Western Motorway. The overt face as viewed from Great North Rd is zoned Mixed Use small / medium businesses interspersed with apartment dwellings with or without ground floor business occupancy. Usually one block back the zoning changes to Res 1 heritage typically turn of the century villas and workers cottages on small plots with little off street parking and narrow / blocked off streets.

While some businesses have off street parking, staff do park in the adjacent residential streets but parking in AH during the week is dominated by commuters who work in the CBD or adjacent inner city suburbs. Easy access to public transport on Great North Road and lack of restrictions make commuter parking in AH cost effective and convenient.

Two Childcare / Kindergarten facilities and Newton Central School create extra pressure on parking and traffic density at specific times during week days.

Issues of access for emergency and rubbish removal vehicles regularly occur – street cleaning and maintenance is avoided by Auckland Council operatives due to the lack of access

Businesses in the ‘Mixed Use’ zone have the right of enjoyment of access for both staff and customers but accesses via narrow streets create regular bottlenecks.

Home based residents and businesses owners depend on access to adjacent on-street parking which is often not available during business hours.

Any green light for the proposed Bunnings ‘Big Box’ development may lead to a reconfiguration of street access and reduction in available on street parking, inevitable increase in traffic volumes with resultant reduction in resident amenity value.

Arch Hill Residents Inc. wants to see the following parking related issues investigated:

Sufficient on-street parking for residents accessible 24/7 Parking solutions for local business needs that do not encroach on or reduce access to adjacent

resident zones Resident visitor permits which allow for short term parking by tradespeople / customers /

friends/family during the day and or imposition of time limited casual parking (2 hours) to dissuade commuters

The elimination of minimum parking requirements (MPRs) in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan - this means new apartment or any other residential development do not need to provide

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parking, consequently more cars requiring on street parking. There is no evidential basis for this proposal and no residents proposed or supported the elimination of MPRs.

Whether the criteria for permit eligibility extends to residents in dwellings that were not required to include parking as part of their building consent.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE ST MARY’S BAY ASSOCIATION

General Principles to be considered: St Mary’s Bay and other inner city suburbs should not be used as a public carpark to service

commuters and CBD residents who use inner city streets to ‘garage’ cars when not in use. Commuters should be dissuaded from parking in the city fringe – dissuaded financially and by

restricted time zones and resident-only parking. Definitely no coupon parking system for commuters. This simply provides affordable parking in

heritage areas for travelling workers to the detriment of resident parking The inner city should be treated differently from the suburbs. These early inner areas were built

long before the invention of the motor car. The streets are often extremely narrow and unsuited to intensive parking. On the other hand the suburbs (e.g. Mt Roskill, Manurewa, Te Atatu etc.) were built because of the motor car. This should inform parking strategy thinking and enable the lessons of the successful St Mary’s Bay Zonal Parking Trial to be extended to similar historic areas, where appropriate, and integrated into the wider parking strategy

Inner city streets clogged by commuter vehicles are incompatible with the aim of Auckland Council by-laws designed to protect the heritage streetscapes of inner city areas. These commuter-vehicle-lined streets do not uphold the Mayor’s aim to make Auckland “the world’s most liveable city”.

Commuters should be encouraged to travel into the CBD and city fringe by using public transport. The City Zone bus fares could be eliminated and absorbed into the Isthmus Zone. Commuters who still choose to park and ride would then be doing so from a wider perimeter, with significantly more on-street parking. More frequent buses would be required at peak hours to make this a viable option, otherwise the Link bus route would remain the commuter target

Commuters should be encouraged to use the CBD parking buildings, which are apparently under-parked

Council and Auckland Transport should not see inner-city parking as a money-making target but as a tool to promote a sustainable and livable city

Recognition that each city-fringe area has specific parking problems affecting residents and hence solutions need to be tailored to the specific issues

AT to have direct, proactive, genuine, timely and open consultation with Residents Associations, residents and Business Associations including the Ponsonby Business Association.

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ST MARY’S BAY SPECIFIC ISSUES

Request permanent implementation of the St Mary’s Bay Zonal Parking Trial.

Implementation to include Hackett St, Swift Ave, Ring Tce, Percival Pde and Amiria St. Hackett St, in the first block between St Mary’s Rd and Swift Ave, is narrow, curving and it is extremely difficult to see approaching cars. Drivers speed here and with the intensive parking now pushed into this non zonal area, it is only a matter of time before a major accident occurs involving a pedestrian or another vehicle. Near misses are seen every day.

St Mary’s Bay is a target for increasing numbers of commuter cars. This heritage area is sandwiched between the Link bus route and the pedestrian overbridge leading directly to Fanshawe St and Wynyard Quarter (Air New Zealand, Vodafone, ASB etc). Wynyard Quarter is expected to accommodate 16,000 workers/residents when completed – with absolutely minimal parking. The streets of St Mary’s Bay and Freemans Bay would be the closest street parking for these 16,000 people - about a 5-10 minute walk to their work or apartment. Residents have been amenable to paying a fee to be assured of parking in their own streets. Residents pay among the highest rates in New Zealand and should not be prevented from finding a car parking space near their homes because out-of-area commuters and apartment dwellers without a carpark choose to use the streets of St Mary’s Bay as a de facto carpark. At the same time, these commuters (who likely pay lower rates) can park easily outside their own homes anytime they wish.

The SMBA opposes the elimination of minimum parking requirements (MPRs) in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan - this means new builds do not need to provide parking, translating to more cars requiring to be housed on the street. Until public transport can offer short waiting times of, say, 10 minutes, residents in the new intensified housing blocks will continue to own cars – and in tenanted properties that can mean multiple cars per apartment.

The SMBA acknowledges the lack of parking availability due to the heritage status of certain commercial buildings within the areas and endorses acceptable parking solutions for local business needs. As part of the zonal parking trial the SMBA and Auckland Transport agreed on the provision of a number of all-day permits for local businesses and pupils of St Mary’s College.

FREEMANS BAY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION SPECIFIC ISSUES

Freemans Bay (“FB”) has many old character houses on historically small plots of land with narrow streets and without allowance for off-street parking

Social housing comprises 14% of FB dwellings with limited or no off street parking. Parking in FB during the week is dominated by commuters who work in the CBD or inner city

suburbs. The high cost of car parking in the CBD; lack of affordable and convenient public transport options; and under parking in green buildings has pushed commuters into FB.

The small number of P120 zones with ‘resident-exempt’ parking are no longer effective for residents as commuters working nearby are moving their cars every 2 hours. Visitors also cannot not find parking

Elderly and young families are becoming ‘prisoners’ in their own home as they are fearful of not getting a park when returning home. Some residents choose to stay out all day.

FB residents with home based businesses depend on having access to street parking.

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FBRA opposes the elimination of minimum parking requirements (MPRs) in the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan - this means new builds do not need to provide parking, translating to more cars requiring to be housed on the street. There is no evidential basis for this proposal and no residents proposed or supported the elimination of MPRs.

There are serious issues facing the suburb as a result of its location to the city centre:

Inaccessible streets with residents being unable to access their driveways The pedestrian feel of the area has declined The suburb is exposed to excessive noise from 5.30am as commuters look for parks with stereos

at volume, doors slamming and car alarms being set Elderly residents are moving their cars out of the garage and onto the street at night, in order to

create a park for their visitor the following day. CBD residents are housing their cars on the streets during the week Road and footpath repairs are occurring during the weekend Residents often need to park across their driveways because of the lack of parking, an offence

under the current road code. Auckland Transport have shown leniency in ticketing owners, however there are recent examples where this has occurred. The road code needs to be revisited as the basis for this practice being considered illegal is no longer valid.

A reduced attractiveness of the area to all people, particularly elderly independent residents and young families. Owners then move out and tenants move in, increasing the number of cars per household

Businesses located on the boundary areas of Freemans Bay have limited opportunities to attract customers to their premises during weekdays.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE GRAFTON RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Grafton is an old suburb with many 19th century houses in narrow streets. Many do not have

off-street parking and so rely on street parking. It should also be noted that many Grafton

people work from home and hence their businesses depend on having access to street parking.

Parking in Grafton is dominated by staff and visitors to Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital

and the Medical School. Although parking buildings are provided at the hospital, many

commuters prefer to hunt for free parking. Grafton is also well provided with public transport:

Park Road busway and Grafton Station.

Since the mid-1980s Grafton has had a working system of ‘resident-only’ and resident-exempt’

parking based on permits issued by council and now by Auckland Transport.

The Grafton Residents Association wants to see the following policies for its suburb:

1. That the present system of ‘resident-only’ and resident-exempt’ parking continue for the long term.

2. That a system of visitor permits be provided to residents with the above parking permits. This would allow for short term parking for tradespeople and friends/family to visit during the day. It is understood that this has been successful in the St Mary’s Bay trial.

3. That the permit fee of $155 per year is excessive. Fees should be commensurate with the administrative costs of issuing the permit.

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4. HERNE BAY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED (HBRAI)

HBRAI argues Herne Bay streets should not be used as a ‘public car park’ and that commuters should

be discouraged from driving their cars into the central city. The area has, over the years, been

intensified and is under significant stress in terms of both increased traffic and parking volumes.

This has had a negative impact on the amenity of the suburb and reduced residents’ enjoyment.

This will be significantly exacerbated by:

Auckland Council’s Proposed Unitary Plan (PUP) is predicated on intensification and

increased development in a number of commercial areas such as, the central city

and Wynyard Quarter. There is no minimum parking requirement in the PUP rules

Auckland Council’s plans for the Westhaven Marina and surrounds, while desirable

in terms of increasing pedestrian access to the harbour through walkways and cycle

ways, will also worsen the parking situation due to minimum parking provisions

In addition to minimum provision being made for parking in Commercial zones, the

PUP also allows in the Residential zones, houses in the ‘Single House’ zone to

convert to two units and there’s no provision for the second unit for onsite parking.

Large tracts of land in Herne Bay are zoned as ‘Single House’

With Planners requiring little or no parking in these areas, commuters will naturally

park in Herne Bay streets – ‘park and ride’. This is already happening in streets such

as, Shelly Beach Road, Curran Street and, as far away as Herne Bay Road

Herne Bay Streets such as Sarsfield, Shelly Beach Road and Curran Street already

carry significant traffic volumes and it’s arguable that there should be restricted

parking except for residents and permit holders e.g. Ponsonby Primary School staff.

HBRAI Seek a Change in Parking Strategy

1. Recognition that the character and amenity of Auckland’s Inner City Suburbs and

should be protected and this includes our streets and streetscape

2. Agreement that ‘residents’ and ‘ratepayers’ have the right to expect safe and easy

ingress and egress to their homes as required under the Local Government Act

3. Recognition that commuters to the inner city must bear the full cost of taking their

vehicle to the city and parking in inner city suburbs must not be a cheap/easy option

4. Acceptance that congestion charging is a practical way of dissuading commuters

from driving to the Central city and should be implemented

5. A parking solution that forces commuters going to Auckland City to leave their cars

at home and take public transport – which is what Auckland Transport (AT) wants.

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What HBRAI Want in the Plan

1. Herne Bay area to be made a two hour maximum parking zone with Auckland

Transport monitoring this and policing parking in the area (same as St Mary’s Bay).

That in order to dissuade commuters parking, fines be $100 per infringement

2. Research be undertaken by AT into streets, such as Shelly Beach Road, Curran

Street, Tweed and Emmett streets which are under particular traffic stress. Streets

e.g. Curran Street includes Ponsonby Primary School which generates its own traffic

and parking issues, and may warrant special attention

3. In order to facilitate and encourage commuters taking public transport, HBRAI also

suggest AT invest in more suburban ‘park and drive’ facilities at transport hubs

4. Please NB: for the purposes of this discussion, the Herne Bay area reaches across the

Jervois Road ridge to the South to embrace e.g. angle parking e.g. around local

Jervois Road shops which is currently being used for all day parking by commuters.

O NEILL STREET RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

It is most important that Auckland Transport realise that one street planning solution does

not fit all, from what we have seen each group has their own priorities, some of the

problems are common.

Our priorities in O’Neill street are being able to park on the footpath on the north side of the

road without penalties, and a reduction in speed to 30-40 kph we have 80%+ agreement

from residents , for these proposals as a result of a full street survey.

RESIDENTIAL PARKING MATTERS OF CONCERN TO THE PARNELL COMMUNITY

Priority should be given to the needs of residents, schools/early childhood, resident focused healthcare, sports clubs/public swimming pools, churches, and main street retail shoppers/patrons over that of commuters of businesses and tertiary education operations.

Recognition that the time has come to make free all-day commuter parking restricted in all city and large town-centre fringe suburbs to help achieve a ‘tipping point’ into public transport and walking/cycling

Council and Auckland Transport should not see steet parking as a money-making system but as a tool to promote a sustainable and liveable city. We note this was the conclusion reported in Funding Auckland’s Transport Future released in 2013.

Recognition that each city-fringe area has specific parking issues affecting residents and hence solutions need to be tailored to the specific issues

It remains unclear/unsaid what impact the next wave of intensification provided by the notified Unitary Plan will have on inner city suburbs. A case in example in Parnell is the redevelopment of

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the State Flats on Parnell Rise that we understand will increase from 45 dwellings to 200. Also, extra on street parking demand from the conversion of a dwelling into two dwellings with off street parking not required for the second dwelling.

PARNELL SPECIFIC ISSUES

Parnell is Auckland’s oldest suburb with many 19th century houses in narrow streets. These

local streets are filling up year by year with commuter parking – free for them, tough on

residents

We have a significantly sized Business district that spans the CBD and Domain side of the

suburb, and adjacent residential streets are now clogged with all-day commuter parking.

Where the street is in close proximity to Parnell Rd the ‘commuter congestion’ extends up to

10pm – Monday to Saturday.

A smallish number of Parnell residences cannot access off-street parking and so rely on

street parking for both occupiers and visitors. Established ‘resident only’ parking are

configured to provide parking spaces per property and only available if you meet the criteria

of only ‘on street parking available’.

Parnell is very well provided with public transport: Inner and Outer Link Buses, the 709

travelling from Remuera to the CBD. The new Parnell Train Station should become operative

in 2015/16 and is likely to become Auckland’s 4th or 5th busiest as it connects with the

Learning Quarter, Domain/Museum, and Parnell/CBD businesses and attractions.

The Parnell Community Committee wants to see the following policies for its suburb:

To stop clogging of residential streets by commuters ALL residential streets (including arterial Gladstone Rd) should apply P240, P120, P60 and P30 depending on overall pressure.

That the present provision of ‘resident-only’ and ‘resident-exempt’ parking continues as it is PROVEN TO WORK for all. Where appropriate an extension into the evening and weekend days should be factored in.

Fees should always be commensurate with the administrative costs of issuing the permit. That a system of visitor permits be provided. This would allow for short term parking for

friends/family and trades people to visit during the day. It is understood that this has been successful in the St Mary’s Bay trial.