HomeMy WebLinkAbout8-14-23 - Special Study Session PacketSPECIAL STUDY SESSION AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO August 14, 2023
6:30 pm
This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting, and in person, at 7500 West 29th
Avenue, Municipal Building, immediately following the regularly scheduled City Council meeting. City Council members and City staff members will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Attend the meeting in person at City Hall. Use the appropriate roster to sign up to speak
upon arrival. 2. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on August 14, 2023). 3. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone:
• Click here to join and provide public comment
• Or call +1-669-900-6833 with Access Code: 861 0030 1940
Passcode: 906959
4. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube
Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by
the City of Wheat Ridge. Contact the Public Information Officer at 303-235-2877 or
wrpio@ci.wheatridge.co.us with as much notice as possible if you are interested in
participating in a meeting and need inclusion assistance.
Public Comment on Agenda Items
1. Parking and Charging for Electric Vehicles and Bicycles
2. Staff Report(s)
3. Elected Officials’ Report(s)
Memorandum
TO:
THROUGH:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
Lauren Mikulak, Community Development Director Patrick Goff, City Manager
Scott Cutler, Senior Planner Jana Easley, Planning Manager Mary Hester, Sustainability Coordinator
July 28, 2023 (For August 14, 2023 Study Session)
Parking and Charging for Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Bicycles
PRIOR ACTIONS: In April 2023, City Council gave staff direction to return to a Study Session to discuss electric vehicle (EV) charging, EV parking and bicycle parking requirements, including the potential for e-bike charging. Since then, staff has completed additional research into the current City code,researched best practices and terminology, and researched requirements from the State and other
cities.
ISSUE: The current zoning code has minimal requirements for bicycle parking and has no EV charging or parking requirements. Current requirements are discussed at the end of this section. Likewise,
the City’s current adopted building codes and local amendments (2018 International Building Codes or IBC and 2020 National Electric Code or NEC) allow for EV charging, but current building codes do not mandate placement, design, or minimum quantities or percentages.
The Sustainability Action Plan, which was presented to Council in 2018, has transportation as
one of six focus areas, including goals to install electric vehicle charging stations strategically throughout the community, to promote the adoption of alternative fuel vehicles in local government and the City as a whole, to reduce vehicle parking requirements and incentivize bicycle/EV/shared mobility parking, and to provide for secure bicycle storage in new developments.
Current EV Parking/Charging Requirements There are currently no EV parking or charging requirements for private developments in the zoning code (Chapter 26). Chapter 22 (Public Works) also does not contemplate EV charging in the right-of-way. The IBC provides guidance for EV readiness and charging installations but
does not mandate EV parking spaces for any type of construction.
2
Current Bicycle Parking Requirements Ordinance 1766, passed on June 26, 2023, increases minimum bicycle parking requirements in
mixed use zone districts to 1 space for every 4 dwelling units for multi-unit residential
developments, and 1 space for every 10 vehicle parking spaces for commercial developments. No development can provide fewer than 4 total bicycle parking spaces. These requirements were essentially doubled from the previous version of the code. The ordinance also encourages secured indoor bicycle parking for multi-unit residential development, but it does not establish
any requirements for indoor parking. At the time, staff anticipated additional research being
needed in order to pass a more comprehensive bicycle parking/storage ordinance.
Developments in all other zone districts in the City must comply with the bicycle parking requirements in Section 26-501, which was adopted in 2001 and contains minimal bicycle
parking requirements. The table below describes some of the current requirements:
Use Number of Required Bicycle Spaces General commercial/institutional uses and multi-unit residential uses 5 percent of total required vehicle spaces (i.e. 1 space for every 20 vehicle spaces), but no less than 2 spaces
Auto-oriented uses (drive-thrus, gas stations, auto repair) None
Schools 1 space per 20 students
Section 26-501 allows for a reduction in vehicle parking spaces of up to 10 percent if additional bicycle parking beyond the above requirement is provided. For every 2 additional bicycle parking spaces beyond the minimum requirement, 1 vehicle parking space can be removed, up to a total of a 10 percent reduction.
Section 26-501 does not contemplate any indoor bicycle storage. The building code does not mandate electrical outlets in bicycle storage rooms but would allow them if included in the plans. E-bikes do not require upgraded electrical infrastructure like EVs do; further discussion isprovided below.
HB23-1233 (Statewide EV Charging and Parking Requirements) The Colorado State Legislature, with the signature of Governor Jared Polis, approved HB23-1233 in June 2023 which requires the state electrical board to adopt rules facilitating electric vehicle charging at multi-unit buildings and creates regulations and requirements regarding EV
parking. The purpose of the state legislation is to further the State’s goals related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and to expand the charging infrastructure necessary to support a growing EV market share.
To that end, the bill also mandates that municipalities comply with the EV power transfer
infrastructure requirements in the statewide Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code. Staff will discuss how these changes relate to building code updates at a later date as part of the building code adoption process, but the purpose of including this information in the memo is to indicate that the City will need to update the zoning code and update the approach to EV
charging and parking as a whole. The portions of HB23-1233 most relevant to Wheat Ridge
when discussing EV parking and charging are:
3
•Requires compliance with all the EV requirements in the Model Electric Ready and Solar
Ready Code by March 1, 2024, including minimum parking requirements (described
further in the discussion section below).
•Prohibits unreasonable restrictions on EV installations for both tenants and owners.
•Prohibits local governments from banning EV parking or charging.
DISCUSSION:
EV Parking and Charging There are three tiers of EV charging facilities that are based on the amount of charging
infrastructure installed. These terms come from the federal Department of Energy and will be
used throughout this memo:
•EV Capable: This refers to a facility for which infrastructure is available for futureinstallation of an EV charging station (i.e. conduit, breaker space, and junction box), butno wiring or charging equipment is installed. EV Capable allows for easier future
installation when ready, since most of the pre-work is done including electrical panel
capacity.
o EV Capable Light: The State of Colorado created this term to refer to EV Capableinfrastructure that only includes the conduit, not any of the other breakerspace/electrical panel capacity required to be EV Capable. This is a lower-cost
install that simply places the conduit for future EV Capable/Ready/Installed.
•EV Ready: This refers to a facility for which the necessary infrastructure and wiring isinstalled, but no additional charging unit or adapter is installed. This usually means wiresterminate in a junction box, or in the case of a home garage a 240-volt wired outlet isprovided. EV Ready installations are typical for residential parking spaces especially
single-unit, duplex, townhome and condos where dwelling units are owned individually.These are often found in garages, which would allow a resident to plug directly into the240v outlet or have one easily installed from the junction box.
•EV Installed: This refers to a complete charging facility that includes all infrastructure,outlet, and charging station. This infrastructure is typical for commercial and some multi-
unit residential properties, as well as standalone charging facilities (like Tesla
Supercharger stations). Examples of EV Installed facilities are at City Hall, theRecreation Center, and Fruitdale School Lofts.
Additionally, there are different tiers of ready and installed EV infrastructure based on how
powerful the charging infrastructure is, resulting in different charging times. These terms will not
be used as frequently throughout this memo, but it is important to understand the differences:
•Level 1: Standard 120-volt power. This household outlet can be used to power a plug-inhybrid vehicle (PHEV) but is not typically used for a standard EV because it can take up
to 24 hours to fully charge.
•Level 2: 240-volt power. This service is already used in residential contexts for heavyduty appliances (such as dryers, electric ovens and central AC). When Level 2 outlets areinstalled in a garage, EVs can charge in 12 hours or less. Level 2 charging is very
common for at-home charging because such outlets can be pre-installed in homes or
installed with a simple retrofit (i.e. an EV Ready space in a garage). Level 2 charging is
4
also common for public charging stations for multi-unit residential and commercial sites, including the one at City Hall (an EV Installed space).
•Level 3: Rapid charging can take approximately 30 minutes to fully recharge. These arevery expensive to install and more likely to be built as dedicated, freestandinginfrastructure. Some can be proprietary, i.e., only work for certain types or models ofEVs. These are always considered EV Installed spaces.
Surrounding Communities EV Parking/Charging Area communities have a mix of requirements which were created prior to the approval of HB23-1233. Some communities, like Wheat Ridge, do not have any EV parking mandates, although communities are increasingly adopting EV parking requirements, including Edgewater
which is working on an EV-friendly ordinance. Others require some level of EV parking, often
depending on use or number of dwelling units. Requirements also vary between the number of EV Capable, Ready, or Installed spaces. Multi-unit residential developments are more typically required to provide a certain percentage of EV Installed spaces, and a larger percentage need to be EV Capable and/or EV Ready.
A sample table of various municipal requirements is provided below, as well as the new HB23-1233 requirements for comparison:
Municipality Commercial EV Parking Requirements Multi-Unit Residential EV Parking Requirements
Single-Unit, Duplex, and TH EV Parking Requirements
Lakewood 2% EV Installed, 13-18% EV Capable (depending on use), for all uses requiring over 10 parking spaces
2% EV Installed, 18% EV Capable, for all developments requiring over 10 parking spaces
1 EV Capable space per dwelling unit
Golden 1 EV Installed space per 15 required spaces, plus 15% EV Capable spaces, for all
uses requiring 15+ parking spaces
1 EV Installed space per 15 parking spaces, plus 15% EV capable spaces,
for all developments requiring 15+ parking spaces
Lafayette 2% EV Installed, 5% EV Ready, 10% EV Capable 2 EV Ready spaces or 10% (whichever is greater), plus 20% EV Capable
1 EV Ready space per dwelling unit
Louisville 5-7% EV Installed, 10%EV Ready, 10-15% EVCapable
10% EV Installed, 50% EV Ready, 10% EV Capable
1 EV Ready space plus 1 EV Capable space per dwelling
unit (assumes 2
spaces per unit is required)
Denver 10% EV Installed, 5% EV Ready, 10% EV Capable 2-15% EV Installed, 0-5% EV Ready, 5-40%EV Capable (rangesbased on building type)
1 EV Ready space per dwelling unit if parking is in a dedicated garage
5
HB23-1233 (Model Electric and Solar Ready Code)
2 EV Ready spaces if fewer than 10 parking spaces required; for all others: 2% EV Installed, 8% EV Ready, 10% EV
Capable, 10% EV Capable Light
5% EV Installed, 15% EV Ready, 10% EV Capable, 15-30% EV Capable Light (no EV installed required if 10
fewer than 10 spaces is required, ranges based on # of units/required spaces)
1 EV Ready space per dwelling unit (if designated garage or assigned parking space is provided)
As of the date of this memo, Arvada, Edgewater, Englewood, Westminster, and Brighton do not have defined EV parking requirements in the zoning code. However, Edgewater is working on an EV-friendly ordinance. Jefferson County is also initiating an EV Action Plan in 2023.
Additional Considerations City Code does not have a definition for commercial Level 3 electric vehicle charging facilities (i.e., freestanding rapid-chargers with multiple parking spaces) which are becoming more prevalent nationally. As part of a potential future ordinance, it is important to consider
recognizing and allowing these standalone land uses. Occasionally they are also found as
accessory uses to a primary use, such as a collection of chargers in a parking lot of a big-box commercial retailer. Typically, they are permitted in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones, particularly highway-oriented zones. The use is somewhat similar to gas stations in that they are auto-oriented, but can be built on a smaller footprint and have fewer negative
externalities such as idling vehicles and large fuel trucks.
Current and Future Market The City is not seeing the private market deliver EV spaces in new developments, beyond a couple of spaces here and there. This is despite a nationwide increase in the prevalence of EVs,
with almost 6% of new car sales in 2022 being EVs, a 55% increase from 2021. The City has
also seen limited interest in building freestanding EV charging facilities despite the City’s proximity to Interstate 70 and Highway 58. However, HB23-1233 encourages the department of transportation to collaborate with public or private entities to develop projects for the construction of electric vehicle charging systems along state and interstate highway systems
which could increase the level of interest.
Recommendations & Discussion – EV Parking & Charging Based on the above discussion and research, staff is making the following recommendations and seeking policy direction from City Council on this topic. Staff had originally created some
different recommendations to align Wheat Ridge with requirements of surrounding communities
but is now recommending the below requirements in order to comply with new state law. 1. Staff recommends a certain percentage of parking spaces at new commercial developments to be EV Installed and EV Capable. The percentages are based on the
minimum number of required parking spaces, not the number of provided spaces. The
percentages will comply with the requirements of HB23-1233. a. EV Installed: 2% b. EV Ready: 8% c. EV Capable: 10% (plus 10% additional EV Capable Light)
6
d. For buildings requiring less than 10 parking spaces, only 2 EV Ready spaces arerequired.
Does Council agree? (For reference, staff’s original recommendation was 2% EV
Installed and 15% EV Capable).
2.Staff recommends the same percentage of parking spaces at new multi-unitapartment/condo developments to be EV Installed and EV Capable. The percentages are
based on the minimum number of required parking spaces, not the number of provided
spaces. The percentages will comply with the requirements of HB23-1233.a.EV Installed: 5%b.EV Ready: 15%c. EV Capable: 10% (plus 30% additional EV Capable Light)
d.For sites requiring less than 10 parking spaces, no EV Installed spaces are
required, 15% must be EV Ready, and 10% + 10% must be EV Capable + Light.
Does Council agree? (For reference, staff’s original recommendation was 2% EV Installed and 15% EV Capable).
3.Staff recommends at least 1 EV Ready space (240v outlet) per dwelling unit (if
designated garage or assigned parking space is provided) for new single-unit, duplex,and townhome developments when designated garage spaces for each unit are provided.Does Council agree? (This was also staff’s original recommendation)
4.Staff recommends new EV installations (Installed and Capable) when major additions
are occurring on commercial/industrial and multi-unit residential sites. This thresholdwould be any expansion resulting in a 60% increase in floor area; this is the samethreshold by which the code triggers required public improvements. The count of new EVinstallations would be on a proportional basis based on the increased floor area (not based
on the total parking required). Does Council agree?
a. State law also requires that full EV upgrades take place when renovations thatchange a minimum of 50% or more of a parking area take place.
5.Staff recommends expressly allowing freestanding EV charging facilities in commercial,
industrial, and mixed-use zone districts as a permitted primary and accessory use. Does
Council agree?
The above recommendations will require modifications to the zoning code to establish minimum EV parking requirements and modifications to the building code to define terms and provide
technical requirements. Staff will need to explore what building code amendments or adoption is
required, particularly with new state mandates regarding electrical codes.
Bike Parking and Storage When considering bike parking, there is a notable difference in experience between a typical
outdoor u-rack bicycle parking space and a secured indoor facility. While u-racks are reasonable
for temporary bicycle parking, especially when placed near areas of congregation or building entrances, they are often not a secure solution for long-term bicycle storage. Long-term bicycle parking can come in the form of covered and gated exterior storage, bicycle lockers, or bicycle storage rooms within buildings or parking garages. Some new apartment developments in Wheat
7
Ridge are voluntarily providing small bicycle storage rooms either within the building or parking garage, including West End 38, Edison, and Parallel. Others are electing not to unless required
by code. The image below is from the Parallel bicycle storage room which includes a couple of
electrical outlets.
Surrounding Communities Bicycle Parking
Most surrounding communities require some form of long-term bicycle parking for residential uses, and some also require long-term bike parking for commercial or educational uses. Some communities also require shower and changing facilities in employment-based buildings over a certain size, which result in some vehicle parking reduction incentives. Some communities, like
Wheat Ridge, provide allowances for reduced vehicle parking if additional bike parking beyond
the minimum requirement is provided.
Typically, the number of required long-term spaces (generally indoor/secured spaces) is a smaller percentage of the overall bicycle parking requirement. For example, in Denver and
Arvada, 1 in 5 bicycle spaces for multi-unit residential must be enclosed indoors. In more urban
zone districts in Denver, up to 4 in 5 bicycle spaces must be enclosed indoors. In Lakewood, half of bicycle parking needs to be long-term. These long-term bicycle parking requirements often result in small bicycle rooms or parking garage enclosures in most new apartments.
E-bikes: Storage and Charging
E-bikes, defined in Chapter 17 of the City Code as “Electrical Assisted Bicycles”, areincreasingly prevalent as prices have lowered and some communities and states have providedvouchers to help residents purchase them. E-bikes are put into three classes based on their powerand requirement for human input:
8
•Class 1: An e-bike equipped with a motor that only provides assistance when the rider is
pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 20
miles per hour. This type of e-bike is considered a bicycle by City Code and permitted
wherever bicycles are.
•Class 2: An e-bike equipped with a motor that provides assistance regardless of whetherthe rider is pedaling but ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 miles
per hour. This type of e-bike is considered a bicycle by City Code and permitted wherever
bicycles are.
•Class 3: An e-bike equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider ispedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of 28
miles per hour. This type of e-bike is considered a motor vehicle (similar to a moped) and
prohibited on City paths and trails.The above requirements were approved by City Council in 2018 through Ordinance 1660, and are very similar to surrounding communities. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes look and feel like regular bikes and are regulated as such. This study session is not meant to cover the nuances of e-bike
regulation and a bicycle storage ordinance will not make any changes to the above requirements.
Overall, communities do not differentiate between e-bikes (Class 1 & 2) and standard bicycles when considering parking and storage requirements. Some e-bikes may require slightly more space but can typically be stored in a standard bicycle room or enclosure, if not within a dwelling
unit. Communities do not address the need for electrical outlets in bicycle storage rooms, and as discussed in the Issue section above, the building code does not mandate outlets in these rooms but does allow them. There is no need to make specific changes to the zoning code in this instance. The 2024 IBC update is the time and place to discuss additional changes and mandates, such as requiring outlets for charging e-bike batteries in bike storage rooms. Because e-bike
batteries are much smaller than EV batteries, they do not require upgraded electrical infrastructure like EVs do and can be changed on a standard 120v outlet.
Recommendations & Discussion – Bicycle Parking and Storage Based on the above discussion and research, staff is making the following recommendations and
seeking policy direction from City Council on this topic.
1.Staff recommends increasing the bicycle parking requirements found in 26-501 andmodernizing and simplifying that section to align with the recently-updated requirementsin 26-1109 (mixed-use). Does Council agree?
2.Staff recommends requiring secured, indoor bicycle storage for multi-unit residentialdevelopments over 50 dwelling units in this way:a.50% of all required bicycle parking must be long-term storage indoors.b. If building a parking garage, which implies a more urban/dense context, then 75%
of all required bicycle parking must be long-term storage indoors.c.Requirement for indoor bicycle storage does not exclude the minimum exteriorbicycle parking requirements, which can be achieved with a standard u-rack (i.e.there will still be some exterior guest parking for all buildings).Does Council agree?
9
3.Staff recommends additional vehicle parking reduction incentives for office andinstitutional uses up to an additional 10% if the following are provided:
a.Secured, indoor bicycle storage meeting the requirements for multi-unit
residential development (additional 5% vehicle parking reduction).b.Shower and changing facilities accessible to employees nearby the bicycle storagearea (additional 5% vehicle parking reduction).
The above recommendations will only require modifications to the zoning code. If Council
wishes to mandate 120v outlets in bicycle storage rooms for e-bike battery charging, which is currently voluntary, the 2024 IBC code adoption cycle is the place to discuss adding that requirement.
NEXT STEPS
Based on this direction and discussion, a future study session will be necessary to present potential zoning code amendments and Council consensus in more detail. Changes to the building code, if any, are better suited to discuss during that code adoption process, though any requested changes can be added to the list for consideration.
ATTACHMENT:
1.Letter of Support from Sustainable Wheat Ridge
City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building 7500 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-8001 P: 303.235.2819 F: 303.234.5924
1
July 27, 2023
Dear Wheat Ridge City Council: Thank you for taking the time to consider electric vehicle (EV) charging, electric bike (e-bike) charging), and bike parking requirements in the City of Wheat Ridge. Sustainable Wheat Ridge (SWR), an all-volunteer advisory committee, focuses on transportation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, water, and
waste in Wheat Ridge. Our committee includes multiple community members with expertise in building codes and sustainable transportation, and we would like to offer our support and recommendations for considering updating city requirements in these areas. EV parking and EV readiness ● Adopt as soon as possible to not miss development opportunities: Addressing building and
zoning codes to ensure more sustainable development is one of the top levers local governments have to reduce emissions. We encourage Council to support staff’s proposal and pursue adoption of EV-ready codes that meet or exceed the newly issued minimum state codes and passed legislation as soon as possible so as not to miss out on the opportunity of new developments going through the pipeline in the next few years, prior to the full building code update anticipated in 2026. We also support staff’s recommendation to define major additions and apply the requirements proportionally to those projects. In addition to EV-readiness, we encourage Council and staff to consider also adopting the new minimum state codes for electric-ready and solar-ready for new construction and major additions as soon as possible for the same reasons. ● Additional recommendations: Sustainable Wheat Ridge offers the following additional recommendations to staff’s proposal for consideration:
○ HB23-1233 also requires local governments to count EV parking spaces towards minimum parking requirements and to allow ADA accessible EV charging spaces to count as 2 spaces. We encourage Council and staff to ensure any code updates in these areas reflect these new requirements. ○ Staff notes that there have been limited standards related specifically to EV charging in the zoning and building codes to date. Recent reports have noted that jurisdictions
without a clear and efficient process for permitting EV charging (particularly DC fast chargers) through zoning and building codes can slow deployment and see EV charging providers choose to locate elsewhere. Some of the best practices identified that we urge Council and staff to consider developing and adopting include: having a clearly communicated and standardized process for EV charging station permitting, applying objective standards for approval, designating EV charging as a permitted accessory or primary use subject to administrative approval, limiting aesthetic standards such as landscaping requirements, and training staff on the processes.
○ While staff notes that DC fast charging stations are often located in auto-oriented areas, Sustainable Wheat Ridge encourages facilitating siting in commercial areas as an economic development opportunity. Unlike fueling conventional vehicles, EV drivers
often have 30 minutes to an hour while charging to dine or shop at local businesses. ● State grants are available to support code adoption: Should it be needed for this effort, or pursuing adoption of the electric and solar-ready codes, the state has a new grant program available to support communities pursuing adoption of these codes. There are four rounds of
ATTACHMENT 1
City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building 7500 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-8001 P: 303.235.2819 F: 303.234.5924
2
funding, with the first open now, and communities can apply for between $15,000-$125,000 for
individual governments, with a 20% match required, in-kind match is acceptable (for more information: Energy Code Adoption & Enforcement Grant Program). ● Key reasons Sustainable Wheat Ridge encourages Council to act include: ○ Emissions reduction. While Wheat Ridge has limited to no authority over major ways to control emissions, including the electric grid mix or vehicle emissions standards, the City does have authority over its building and zoning codes to steer new development towards
more sustainable technologies and more compact development patterns. ○ Cost effectiveness. Costs to make parking EV Capable at the time of construction are typically small, but remove significant financial barriers for building owners to retrofit later—typically saving around 75% compared to retrofit costs. ○ Need for charging in multi-family. Most EV charging occurs at home, where vehicles are most often parked. This can be a particular challenge in multi-family buildings where
costs to retrofit parking lots or garages are typically much more expensive than simply adding a 240V outlet to a single family home. Ensuring that new multi-family homes have access to charging will be critical for supporting adoption for residents. ○ Future proofing. Because the parking structures and lots built this decade may last for several decades (25-40 years for parking structures, and at least 15 years for parking lots),
these investments will help future-proof developments. The state has a goal to achieve 70% of new car sales in Colorado to be electric by 2030 and, with a nearly complete electrification of the transportation system by midcentury. ○ Economic development. Tourists and others passing through Wheat Ridge and other communities will choose to shop and dine where they can charge their EV. Ensuring charging is not a barrier for doing business in Wheat Ridge is critical.
Bike and e-bike parking ● Recommendations:
○ We support staff’s proposed incentives to encourage developers to build more bike parking in order to build less vehicle parking. This can help incentivize bicycling over driving and less auto-oriented new development designs.
○ In modernizing the bike parking requirements, we encourage the city to otherwise decouple the amount of bike parking provided from the amount of vehicle parking required, and instead have the requirements relate to the number of residential units, square footage of the business, or other factors as relevant. We believe this approach is more in line with the city’s recent efforts to reduce vehicle parking requirements at multi-family housing, and hope they will pursue other efforts to reduce vehicle parking, which encourages driving and vehicle ownership. ○ We encourage the city to consider adopting standards to support e-bike charging with
indoor bicycle storage sooner than the anticipated 2026 code update to support the significant increase in e-bike usage in Colorado. ● Key reasons Sustainable Wheat Ridge encourages Council to act include: ○ Effect on emissions: Researchers have found that e-bike riders take longer trips compared to regular cyclists, and often use their e-bikes to replace car trips. Since most trips that Americans make are less than 3 miles, there is great potential for e-bikes to
replace car trips and therefore lessen our air and climate pollution. Many e-bike models
City of Wheat Ridge Municipal Building 7500 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-8001 P: 303.235.2819 F: 303.234.5924
3
are also designed to carry cargo - including kids, pets, or groceries - and so make
skipping the car trip even more possible. ○ Adoption is rising and there are new state incentives: E-bike adoption rates have been increasing rapidly since the start of the pandemic, and new state incentives will likely drive adoption rates further. This summer, the Colorado Energy Office will be launching a statewide e-bike rebate program to help low and moderate income Coloradans afford an e-bike through a local bike shop. In addition, the General Assembly passed legislation
establishing an e-bike tax credit that will go into effect next year. Also, the state will be continuing its grant programs to local governments and organizations to support local e-bike libraries, as well as a new e-cargo bike program for restaurants or other delivery needs. Thank you for your consideration,
2023 Members of Sustainable Wheat Ridge