84S129~QUEST~ ~ ~:
August 6, 1984
EO, Box 1990
Midlothian
Virginia 23113
804.744.9005
Ms. Beverly Rogers
Planning Department
Chesterfield County
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Dear Veverly:
The following is a summary of our various conversations
concerning parking in Market Square. While we are sympathetic
with the problems that have o¢cured at Midlothian Cinemas,
we believe that the situation in Market Square is quite
different. Requiring a full 367 additional parking spaces
for the theater alone would seem to be overkill, especially
when you project the land area required for this many more
spaces relative to existing parking areas. It would require
more than doubling the parking area presently existing in front
of Safeway.
This requirement would be even more ludicrous when
different operating hours are taken into account. The peak
hours for a convenience center (like Market Square) are 4:00-
6:00 P.M. when only 2 spaces per 1000 square feet are required,
whereas the peak hours for theaters do not occur until after
7:00 P.M. when there is little patronage of retail facilities.
There is no overlapping of available parking use at Midlothian
Cinemas due to distances involved. This theater is basically
a free standing theater, while the Market Square theaters will
be an integral part of the shopping center.
In addition, the operator of the theaters in Brandermill
is proposing to dedicate one theater (225 seats) exclusively for
children, with specially designed seating, etc. Experience has
shown that such a theater generates primarily drop off and
pedestrian traffic (not requiring parking spaces). Also, the
bicycle/pedestrian system in Brandermill would encourage an
even greater degree of pedestrian and other nonautomobile
traffic.
In recent studies the Urban Land Institute has made the
following recommendations:
Ms. Beverly Rogers
August 6, 1984
Page Two
For centers of 25,000 to 400,000 square feet, only
4.0 spaces per 1000 square feet are required;
e
For centers of 100,000 to 200,000 square feet and having
cinemas with 450 seats, no additional parking is
required; however, for larger cinemas, such centers
require only 3 spaces per 100 seats.
Utilizing these findings, we think that a recommendation
for approval can be based on the following:
I. Existing Conditions
Existing retail space
Existing Safeway
Proposed retail (includin~ the
theater square footage)
20,500 sq. ft.
38,590 sq. ft.
60,220 sq. ft.
Total
119,310 sq. ft. of retail
B. Total parking available*
584 spaces
II. Parking Demand
Case A: Utilizing Chesterfield County requirements for
retail and the ULI recommendations for theaters:
@ 4.4 spaces/1000 sq. ft., 119,310 sq. ft. requires:
525 parking spaces
@ 3 spaces/100 seats, 1100 seats requires:
33 parking spaces
Total spaces required 558
Total spaces provided* 584
Yields
Case B: Utilizing ULI recommendations for retail and
theaters:
@ 4.0 spaces/1000 sq. ft. 119,310 sq. ft. requires:
477 parking spaces
26 extra spaces
Ms. Beverly Rogers
August 6, 1984
Page Three
@ 3 spaces/100 seats, 1100 seats requires:
33 parking spaces
Total spaces required 510
Total spaces provided* 584
Yields
* These spaces devoted to retail are summarized as follows:
Area A (in front of Market Square)
Area B (behind Investors)
Area C (around Safeway)
Area D (to be provided by modifications)
Total Spaces
74 extra spaces
109 spaces
67 spaces
382 spaces
26 spaces
584 spaces
It should be noted that there are an additional 119 spaces
in Market Square available for employee and office/bank parking
throughout the day as well as. for parking for retail and
theater use during non-office/bank hours. Additionally,
there are several non-retail uses (realty offices, post office,
etc.) which currently occupy areas included as retail square
footages in this report.
It would seem, therefore, that the parking provided is
more than adequate to meet the peak demands of a convenience
center such as Market Square and that to assume 100% of all
spaces for retail are consumed by retail patrons during peak
theater hours is not a valid conclusion based on extensive
research by The Urban Land Institute. We therefore request a
recommendation for approval by the staff based on the above
information.
Managing Partner
JCP/lsd
COLLABORATIVE
August 15, 1984
Member'~
RO. Box 1990
Midlothian
Virginia 23113
804-744.9005
Mr. Stan Balderson
Director, Planning Department
Chesterfield County
Chesterfield, VA 23832
Dear Stan:
Pursuant to our conversation re: rezoning case #84S129, the
developer is willing to accept as an additional condition the
following:
"At the time of site plan review for Phase II (which
includes the proposed theater) a specific schedule
for the theater will be made a part of the conditions
for site plan approval in order to address the
parking issues and number of theater seats."
I believe that, with this condition, the parking issues and
Size of theater can be more aqcurately addressed at a more
specific phase of the development process, while clearing the
way for rezoning of the theater at this time.
I appreciate your help in this matter.
questions, please feel free to call.
If you have any
Managing P'~rtner
JCP/lsd
cc: J. B. Campbell
Max Gardner
Beverly Rogers