Our project follows the design guidelines set forth in the United Facilities Criteria (UFC). The specific UFC that we are required to follow contains a minimum requirement for VIP parking stalls to be placed along the entrance driveway and/or the area in closest proximity to the facility. Our site layout has a very small parking lot that contains the handicapped stalls and VIP stalls, and this parking lot is the closest to the building entrance. Further away (but within 1/4-mile distance) is a large parking garage that serves a majority of the facility, but this garage does not fall within the LEED project boundary. Two questions, (1) We are unable to locate the LEED "preferred parking" stalls in this small parking lot, but will locate them in the parking garage with the most convenience to the elevators/stairs/exits. Is this approach acceptable? (2) Our parking total count is 1100 stalls, so we have designated 55 carpool/vanpool stalls. Of the 55 stalls, we have located 5 vanpool stalls right outside the parking garage, as these are meant for larger sized vans that may not make the height clearance within the parking garage. The location of these stalls fall within the 1/4-mile distance from the building entry, but are approximately 60-ft further to the side of the parking garage. Is this acceptable?
The project is inquiring if SSc4.4 Option 1 can be earned by designating preferred parking spaces in a parking garage outside of the LEED Project Boundary, but within one-fourth mile of the project, even though an on-site surface parking lot contains handicapped and VIP stalls (per the Unified Facilities Criteria). The project is also inquiring if preferred spaces can be located on multiple levels of a parking garage, adjacent to elevators/stair/exits. Finally, the project is inquiring if locating 5 of the 55 required carpool/vanpool spaces adjacent to the parking garage for use by vans that will not fit in the limited height of the parking garage is acceptable. While LEED Interpretation 5147, states that it is acceptable to have all or a portion of the parking stalls dedicated as preferred parking outside the LEED Project Boundary, Consistent with LEED Interpretation 2516 dated 3/31/2009 which further clarified the previous ruling, it is acceptable to have both VIP parking stalls (within the on-site handicapped and VIP parking lot--per the Unified Facilities Criteria) and parking outside the LEED Project Boundary in the adjacent lot dedicated as preferred parking, consistent with credit requirement. Parking not included within the LEED Project Boundary should be within 1/4 mile of the building entrance(s) or served by a shuttle bus and these preferred parking spaces are to be designated for the LEED project building occupants. Because VIP vehicles are not precluded from SSc4.3 & 4.4 requirements, the project must designate 5% of the VIP parking and 5% of the main parking area or garage as preferred parking space for this credit. Preferred parking spaces in a garage are those that are the shortest combined driving distance from the parking garage entrance and walking distance to the project building\'s main entrance(s). While locating ADA accessible parking spaces adjacent to elevators on multiple levels of a parking garage may be preferred for mobility/access reasons, these are not always considered preferred within SSc4.3 and 4.4 for carpool or low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicle users. These spaces should be located on the main vehicle entrance level. The location of preferred parking for structures with multiple entrances can be further evaluated during project review. For LEED submission purposes, the project team should provide a narrative with a detailed description of the building occupants\' parking needs which are unique to the project.Accommodating the height of full-sized shuttle vans by locating 5 of the 55 required carpool/vanpool stalls outside of and immediately adjacent to the parking garage is an acceptable approach. Please ensure the location of all spaces is clearly communicated to all building occupants.