Automated and Mechanical Parking Facilities

PA18-058 Automated Parking Systems Rendering

Project Description

The City of San Mateo is evaluating an amendment to the zoning code to address automated parking facilities, which have been on the rise throughout California and the Bay Area. 

  • Automated parking systems are mechanical facilities that store and retrieve vehicles for the user.  
  • These systems allow vehicles to be stacked/parked vertically, in less area and/or volume than is required for traditional parking and can offer a way to reduce development costs that constrain project feasibility. .

Project Update

  • 2021-2022
    • Staff is updating the City’s “Standard Drawings and Specifications” to include objective standards for mechanical and automated off-street parking facilities located multi-family or mixed-used residential projects.
    • These objective standards are interim in nature and seek to establish basic dimensional and performance requirements that can be applied to multi-family residential projects.  Interim standards approved by the City Council on January 3, 2022 can be found in the City’s updated “Standard Drawings and Specifications” here.
    • Comprehensive standards will be drafted and brought back to the Planning Commission for consideration in 2022/2023.
  • 2018-2019
    • In 2018 the City retained the services of a parking design and consulting design firm and initiated a code amendment to establish standards for mechanical and/or automated parking facilities.
    • On November 13, 2018 a Planning Commission Study Session was held to review draft standards.
    • On March 12, 2019 revised development standards were brought back to the Planning Commission for review and recommendation to the City Council.  The item was continued with a request for more information on system requirements.

Meetings

  • City Council Public Hearing
    Date:  January 3, 2022
    Time:  7:00 PM
    Meeting Materials:  Meeting Materials and Meeting Video
  • Planning Commission Public Hearing
    Date: December 14, 2021
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Meeting Materials:  Meeting Materials
  • Planning Commission Public Hearing (continued)
    Date: March 12, 2019
    Meeting Materials: Meeting Video 
  • Planning Commission Study Session
    Date: November 13, 2018
    Meeting Materials: Meeting Video 

City Contact Information

Laura Richstone
Associate Planner
(650) 522-7205
LRichstone@cityofsanmateo.org