Some businesses will be able to offer fewer parking spaces due to a parking reduction incentive pilot program unanimously approved by Austin City Council at the March 28th meeting.

The pilot program is limited to five businesses, and will reduce the number of parking spaces they are required to provide if they offer ways to promote alternate forms of transportation. For businesses to qualify for the program, they must be outside the downtown area, consist of buildings that are proposed to expand and trigger additional parking needs and include uses that promote non-motorized vehicles. Strategies businesses could use to promote alternative means of transportation include guaranteed rides home, bike sharing and additional bike parking.

During the discussion of the program, Councilwoman Laura Morrison amended the ordinance to track the number of parking spaces eliminated through the program and Morrison and Councilman Chris Riley said the program should collect additional information on residential permit parking areas.

Riley said he believes the additional information will be useful in evaluating the program.

"This is great," said Councilman Bill Spelman about the project and amendments.

When the project is finished, staff will report to council about results such as the number of parking spaces eliminated, total number of participants in the program, and customer and public complaints to the business or city. The program will last for one year, expiring on Nov. 3, 2014

According to the ordinance, the goal of the program is in keeping with the goals of the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan to adopt a reduced parking incentives program. The amount of parking reduction allowed will be negotiated by staff and based on the incentives businesses decide to implement.

"I think this looks like an exciting possibility," Morrison said about the project at a meeting March 21.