A recent study by the University of Richmond in Virginia demonstrated that rats can be trained to drive, and given a choice, the rats would rather jump into their vehicles and ride instead of walk to food treats. While Richland’s city councilmembers didn’t mention rats, they seemed to agree that most Richland residents want to drive to their destinations. At the Dec. 9 special Richland City Council workshop, members discussed how many parking spots would satisfy residents’ desire to park their cars in convenient locations in the Central Business District (CBD), so any excess could be used for businesses and housing.
Richland City Councilmember Kurt Maier and two other councilmembers believe that 10,875 parking places in the CBD, one for every five residents of Richland, are too many in the wrong places, making the area unappealing for both customers and businesses and costing Richland tax revenue.
Maier, who was elected in 2023 campaigning to “reduce red tape for small businesses,” used a 2022 parking study (City Council Special Workshop Meeting • City of Richland – Agendas and Minutes • CivicClerk) by consultants for the Benton-Franklin Council of Governments and the city of Richland, to lead the workshop discussion about eliminating the mandated number of parking places that has lead to about half of them being empty most of the time.
In the CBD area bound by Williams Boulevard to the north, Stevens Drive to the west, Gillespie /Harding Street to the south and just past George Washington Way to the east, most parking spaces were less than 50% full throughout the day, according to consultants Stantec and Fehr & Peers:
The consultant recommended ending mandated parking requirements and allowing unused areas to be developed. They also recommended striping available on-street parking spots to make them more visible.
Handicap parking, required by federal law, wouldn’t be effected.
Although the parking issue isn’t new to the council, some members want more studies.
Councilmember Sandra Kent, who attended the meeting remotely, told the council that she had seen the “red map” before.
“There was a lot of discussion associated with reducing parking and also consolidating parking,” Councilmember Sandra Kent recalled during what she referred to as “the John Fox days” when she first joined the council in 2008, and Fox was mayor.
She was skeptical of any change to parking in the CBD and recommended collecting data on the change in the demographics to understand more fully who uses the parking places.
As council liaison to the Richland Planning Commission, Councilmember Shayne VanDyke attended that committee’s meetings in late 2023 and early 2024 when the members discussed the mandated parking minimums and how it would affect the development at Columbia Point North, the waterfront district just south of the CBD. The committee recommended that a portion of the parking requirement for buildings in that area taller than 55 ft. include a parking garage.
“I really appreciate that I’ve learned a lot, and I think you’ve made some good points,” Van Dyke told Maier. He concluded by asking City Manager Jon Amundson, “Jon, do we have any budget for subsequent parking study for 2025?”
“What are we waiting for?” Some councilmembers want to end delay.
Councilmember Jhoanna Jones wasn’t interested in more studies. “We know our problem We know we have a great report. Maybe we update a few areas but at the end of the day, I think we have the information that can help us make the decision in 2025.”
Jones suggested that the underutilized parking lots could be used for housing. “What are we waiting for? This is my question,” she asked her fellow councilmembers.
“Well, I would answer that because I need more information to make a good decision,” Mayor Theresa Richardson responded.
Councilmember Ryan Whitten, who lives closer to the CBD than any other councilmember, replied, “More information is great, but I feel like there’s enough red up there that removing the minimums from at least the Central Business District isn’t going to create any kind of crisis any time soon. So I would be okay going forward with that,”
Business owner noted that councilmembers resist change.
The parking study consultants asked business owners how the CBD could be improved. One owner said, “many community leaders don’t want to see a lot of change (e.g., park and walk
character), and the local culture/mindset do not consider other development opportunities,”
More studies to come
After some discussion the council decided that before they could vote, the matter had to go through the city committee process. The Richland Planning Commission and perhaps the Richland Economic Development Committee will have an opportunity to consider the matter.
Maier told the council that he was committed to change.
During the council comment section of the Dec. 17 council meeting, Maier told the city staff and his fellow councilmembers how much he appreciated their help during his first year on the council. He added, “Starting in January, I am going to be even more annoying about parking.”
Parking in the Parkade needs to be improved, but I have no idea how to do that. I just advise. Secondly, opening your newsletter, which I must enjoy, with an analogy of Richland drivers with rats is a bit questionable to say the least. Thank you. Happy New Year.
Hi rmw06, I appreciate your comment. As Councilmember Maier pointed out Richland has a lot of parking in the wrong places. As for the rat analogy, sometimes the writer just can’t resist. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy
Aren’t some of those red parking areas for businesses? For example, Kadlec parkade is for Kadlec, which doesn’t have enough parking. Others look like they are for hotels, restaurants. Does Richland own those parking lots? Usually businesses don’t want people parking in their lots unless you are doing business there. Go to the Art in the Park, there isn’t enough parking. Very minimal parking for Howard Amon and the Richland Rec center. During the summer, when they have the softball tournaments, there isn’t enough parking for the swimming pool, on the lower level. Library parking lot gets full when they have events. Where did people park for Cool Dessert Nights? Unless the council is expecting people to park several blocks away and walk. Some of the parking lots that surround these areas are for businesses. People don’t want to park over by the fingernail building to go to Howard Amon park with kids. There isn’t enough parking.
There are businesses across from Fred Meyer the could use parking and a place for trucks to unload. They changed up that road from two lanes in both directions to 2 lanes going south and 1 lane going north.
The streets in the older residential areas could use a refurbishment, gutters, proper sidewalks, new pavement. I could go on about storm drains in the south part of Richland, Queensgate and Keene Rd., Duportail Rd., the city spending $13M for smart meters that get replaced every 5 – 10 years, and the weird metal art on the round-a-bout on Queensgate (which is no longer there) Why would anyone want change, when the city’s idea of change is to do something nobody wants, put a bandaid on it and hope for the best, or not even address it. I’ve been here since 2000, and the parking has always been an issue during certain times. There isn’t enough parking in the area of the Richland Rec and Howard Amon play structure; parents don’t want to park over by the fingernail and lug kids and stuff over to the play area. There isn’t enough parking at the playground on Goethals Dr.
When I saw rats in the title, I thought you were going to mention south part of Richland having rat problems. First time we’ve had rats in the area since I moved here in 2000.
Hi Renee, I appreciate your comment. As you may have noted in the article, the study that Councilmember Maier used for his presentation says that some areas have too little parking and some have too much. The idea is to allow the businesses that have been required to have too much to build something in the unused areas. I don’t think anyone would argue that there are examples all over Richland of poor development choices. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy
Remote park-and-ride areas make sense for events.
Hi Jan, I appreciate your response. I think there are solutions to the parking issue that need to be explored and Councilmember Maier is trying to start the conversation. Thank you for reading the Observer. Randy