Planning requirements for car parking

Beechworth Goods Shed following refurbishment

Most planning applications that are related to any type of business use will need to consider and address car parking to ensure that it is appropriate to the proposed use.

Council needs to ensure that the provision for car parking is appropriate to the proposed use while maintaining traffic flow efficiency, improving traffic and pedestrian safety, protecting amenity and enhancing streetscapes.

Please see below more details in relation to car parking requirements of download a copy of our Fact-sheet-Car-parking.pdf(PDF, 489KB)

Determining car parking requirements

The Indigo Planning Scheme provides the statutory framework for the assessment of planning applications across Indigo Shire. The Planning Scheme specifies amongst other things, car parking rates for various types of land uses—see Clause 52.06 of the planning scheme. Rates have been based on studies of specific land uses and their car parking requirements.

In order to determine the car parking requirement for a proposal against the parking table, Council will require the following detail:
  • Scaled and dimensioned plans of the site and building
  • Floor area of buildings
  • Number of tables and chairs
  • Number of employees

Note: It is vitally important that all existing uses as well as areas to be used are identified up front to allow for an accurate assessment 

Construction and Design

Construction requirements of a car park will be specified by conditions on a Planning Permit in consultation with Councils Assets Department. Generally, car parking areas are required to be properly constructed (either sealed or gravel), drained to an appropriate discharge point and line marked. Clause 52.06 of the Indigo Shire Planning Scheme also sets relevant design and construction standards.
 
Signage may also be required directing customers to the location and availability of off street parking.
 
Design features of car parks (ie dimensions, spacing and landscaping) are specified within the parking provisions of the Planning Scheme at Clause 52.06.
 
Car parking normally needs to be completed and signed off prior to the commencement of the approved use. Clause 52.06 also sets relevant design and construction standards. 

Change of use: car parking requirements

While a change of use of a building or land may not require a Planning Permit, the car parking required under the Indigo Planning Scheme may be increased as a result of the change in use. In this instance the normal practices (as specified above) for determining car parking requirements apply.
 

Reducing/Waiving Car Parking

The car parking requirements determined in accordance with the provisions of the Planning Scheme are consistently applied. There may however, be some instances where the requirement is impractical or not able to be provided on the land and that it should be reduced or waived.
 
Under Clause 52.06 of the Planning Scheme, Council may reduce or waive the car parking requirement for a particular use if the applicant can justify the variation under the relevant criteria.
 
Following receipt of the applicant’s justification, a review of the car parking requirement will be made. Council then may impose the full requirement, reduce the number of spaces required or allow for the requirement to be waived.

 

 

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