The project design will only provide the number of parking spaces allowed by the local zoning requirements and no more. Because this project is located in a very urbanized area, and will only be providing minimum parking space, parking will be in very high demand and not always available to those who would like to park underneath the building. To meet the car and van pool requirement of this point, the owner will define and adopt a policy and administer a program that will issue car/van pool preferred parking permits allowing up to 5% the building occupants to participate. Holders of the car/van pool permits will be guaranteed access to the under building parking capacity, and that guarantee to access defines the preferential parking benefit to participants in the program. Will this policy meet the car/van pool preferred parking requirement of this point?
No. Guaranteed access to the entire parking garage does not constitute "preferred parking" spaces for carpool and vanpool users, whether or not there is sufficient parking provided in a high-demand area. The guarantee of preferred spaces is designed to encourage carpooling by providing assured, convenient parking, and thus reducing pollution and land development impacts from auto use. It would appear that carpool/vanpool users cannot be assured of a space if no spaces are designated specifically for carpools/vanpools. Unless you can show that the carpools/vanpools are provided with preferred parking, your project does not meet the requirements of this credit, even though it meets the minimum parking requirements allowed within your zoning codes as described in your inquiry.