Nota Parkeernormen 2022 – Parking Standards and Regulations for Woerden
The Nota Parkeernormen 2022 is a formal municipal policy document (beleidsregel) issued by the Gemeente Woerden (Municipality of Woerden, Netherlands). Approved by the municipal council on October 13, 2022, and effective from November 2, 2022, this document replaces the previous 2014 memorandum. It establishes the legal framework for assessing car and bicycle parking requirements for all new construction, renovations, and function changes within the municipal boundaries, integrated into the permit assessment process under the Wet Ruimtelijke Ordening and the Omgevingswet.
The regulation categorizes the municipality into three distinct zones—Kerngebied (Core area), Schil (Shell area), and Restgebied (Remaining area)—to apply differentiated standards based on local transport dynamics and public transport accessibility. The document defines specific calculation methods for the Normatieve parkeerbehoefte (normative parking demand) using the Bruto Vloeroppervlak (BVO) as a baseline. It explicitly governs residential developments, commercial offices, retail spaces, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions, providing detailed annexes for walking distances, presence percentages for shared use, and specialized fietsparkeernormen (bicycle parking standards).
This policy aims to provide flexibility in urban development by allowing for double use of parking spaces and mobility corrections through shared transport concepts. The following sections detail the spatial zones, calculation criteria, and the conditions for deviating from standard norms via specific mobility plans.
Area Classification and Spatial Zoning
Parking requirements in Woerden are determined by the location of the project within one of three geographical zones as identified in Bijlage 5: Gebiedsindeling:
- Kerngebied: The central urban core, including the Autoluwe binnenstad (car-light city center), where higher accessibility to services typically results in lower car parking norms.
- Schil: The 'shell' or transition zone surrounding the core area.
- Restgebied: All other areas within the municipality, including peripheral residential zones and rural sections.
Within the Autoluwe binnenstad, specific restrictions apply. No new parking spaces are realized on-site for developments in this zone; instead, parking demand is assessed against existing capacity or specific maatwerk (customized) solutions.
Calculation of Normative Parking Demand
The calculation of the required number of parking spaces follows a structured methodology based on the primary function of the building and its size in BVO (Gross Floor Area). Detailed tables in Bijlage 1 provide values for various functions:
- Residential: Differentiated by housing type (e.g., Koop, huis, vrijstaand vs. Huur, appartement, sociale huur) and zone.
- Employment: Standards for offices with or without public counters and industrial buildings based on labor intensity.
- Retail: Specific norms for supermarkets (buurtsupermarkt, discountsupermarkt) and city center retail shops.
- Public Functions: Includes libraries, cinemas, sports halls, and healthcare practices (huisartsenpraktijk).
The total Parkeeropgave is the final calculated demand after accounting for double use and potential mobility corrections. Calculations are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Double Use and Shared Mobility Reductions
To optimize land use, the municipality allows for Dubbelgebruik (double use) of parking spaces when different functions have peak demands at different times. This is calculated using the Aanwezigheidspercentages (presence percentages) found in Bijlage 6:
- Workdays: Morning, afternoon, evening, and night shifts.
- Weekends: Saturday afternoon/evening and Sunday afternoon peaks.
- Function-specific peaks: For example, residential peak demand is 100% at night, while office demand is 100% during workday mornings.
Developers may also apply for a Mobiliteitscorrectie (mobility correction) if they provide a shared mobility concept. Category 1 developments (high-quality shared transport in regulated areas) can receive a maximum reduction of 50% on the parking demand, while Category 2 allows for up to 30% reduction.
Bicycle Parking Standards
The Nota Parkeernormen 2022 introduces mandatory standards for bicycle parking to encourage cycling. These are based on CROW guidelines and are detailed in Bijlage 3:
- Accessibility: Bicycle storage must be easily accessible, located within 30 meters of the entrance, and preferably at ground level.
- Residential Requirements: Standards range from 4 spaces for a large detached house to 2 spaces for social housing apartments.
- Commercial Requirements: For example, offices require 2.0 spaces per 100m2 BVO for employees plus 0.2 spaces for visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum acceptable walking distance for residents in the core area?
According to Bijlage 2, the maximum acceptable walking distance for residents in the Kerngebied is 300 meters, while in the Schil and Rest areas, it is 150 meters.
What is the POET-lijst in the Woerden parking regulations?
The POET-lijst (Parkeren Op Eigen Terrein) is a register of addresses that have realized their parking requirement on private property and are therefore excluded from eligibility for public parking permits or visitor schemes.
How is the parking norm calculated for a supermarket in the Schil zone?
A Discountsupermarkt in the Schil zone has a normative requirement of 6.5 spaces per 100m2 BVO, with a visitor share of 96%.
What happens if a building has been vacant for a long time?
According to Section 4.6, the settlement of existing parking rights does not apply if the building has been vacant or the previous function has been inactive for more than three years.
Are there specific parking requirements for electric vehicles?
The document references CROW publication 318 and expects developers to contribute to charging infrastructure based on the latest available market data and category requirements.
What is a MIVA parking space?
MIVA stands for Mindervalidenparkeerplaats (disabled parking space). On public parking lots, 5% of spaces must be designated and designed as MIVA spaces.
