General Commercial (GC) Parking Reductions and BRT Proximity
General Commercial (GC) properties are Level 2 Parking Districts. If a GC property is within 600 feet of a Level 1 or Downtown district (common near the Virginia Street BRT), parking requirements are calculated as an average of the two districts' minimums. Level 1 districts within 1/4 mile of the BRT line receive a reduction to 60% of the standard minimum. Other credits include 5% for solar and up to 50% for on-street parking.
In Reno, NV, properties within the General Commercial (GC) zoning district are governed by specific parking standards based on their location relative to transit corridors and higher-intensity urban districts. Because the GC district is intended to transition suburban corridors into higher-density, service-oriented uses, the development code provides several mechanisms for reducing required off-street parking [Source 1].
Parking District Classifications
Parking requirements are determined by the "Parking District" in which a property is located.
- Level 1 Parking District: Includes Mixed-Use Urban (MU) and Mixed-Use Midtown Commercial (MU-MC) districts [§ 18.04.705(a)(1)b].
- Level 2 Parking District: Includes all zoning districts not designated as Downtown or Level 1. The General Commercial (GC) district falls into the Level 2 Parking District category [§ 18.04.705(a)(1)c].
Reductions for Proximity to Virginia Street BRT
While the code provides a specific reduction for the Level 1 district (MU and MU-MC) when located near transit, GC properties benefit from proximity via "averaging" rules.
Proximity to Level 1 and Downtown Districts
If a property in the GC district (Level 2) is located within 600 feet of a Level 1 or Downtown parking district, it may provide parking at the average of the Level 2 district minimum and the nearby parking district minimum [§ 18.04.705(a)(1)c.2].
Level 1 Transit Reduction Context
For context, the code specifies that properties in the Level 1 district located within 1/4 mile of the centerline of the Virginia Street or Fourth Street bus rapid transit (BRT) routes may reduce their parking to 60 percent of the Level 1 minimum [§ 18.04.705(a)(1)b.2].
Additional Parking Reductions and Adjustments
Regardless of transit proximity, GC properties may qualify for the following parking alternatives and credits under Article 7:
1. On-Street Parking Credit
Required off-street parking may be substituted with on-street parking that abuts the project site. This substitution cannot exceed 50 percent of the total required off-street parking [§ 18.04.706(b)(1)].
2. Shared and Off-Site Parking
For nonresidential uses in the GC district, shared or off-site parking is permitted if located within 600 feet of the property. This distance may be increased if shuttle services are provided [§ 18.04.706(c)(1)]. Parking totals may be adjusted based on the "Time of Day" factors for joint use (e.g., sharing spaces between a daytime office and an evening restaurant) [§ 18.04.706(c)(2)].
3. Solar Panel Reduction
Parking requirements may be reduced by 5% when solar panels are installed on the building/site or when solar parking structures are installed in the lot [§ 18.04.706(e)].
4. Affordable Housing Reductions
Residential projects meeting affordability guidelines may receive the following reductions if public transportation availability is demonstrated [§ 18.04.706(d)]:
- 80% Area Median Income (AMI): 20% reduction.
- 60% AMI: 30% reduction.
- 40% AMI or less: 45% reduction.
Summary of Calculation Standards
- Gross Floor Area: All square footage calculations for parking are based on the gross floor area. Structured parking inside a building does not count toward the floor area for these calculations [§ 18.04.704(a)].
- Fractions: Any fractional results in parking calculations are rounded according to standard city rounding rules [§ 18.04.704(b)].