PROJECT DENSITY BY FAR
Steps 1 + 2 – Determine the density of the project’s site both before and after the project is developed using the floor area ratio (FAR) calculation.
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = Gross Building Area / Project Area
If the new FAR is greater than or equal to the original FAR, the project meets the requirements.
EXAMPLE CALCULATION
Assume a 2,000sm addition to a 6,000sm existing building on a 5,000sm site.
Existing Gross Building Area = 6,000sm
Gross Building Area of addition = 2,000sm
Total Gross Building Area after project completion = 8,000sm
Project Area = 5,000sm
Existing FAR = 6,000sm / 5,000sm = 1.2
New FAR = 8,000sm / 5,000sm = 1.6
1.6 > 1.2, therefore the project meets the requirement to maintain or increase the density of the project’s site.
STORAGE CAPACITY FOR HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES
Step 1 – Determine the maximum number of project occupants on a given day. This should include the full-time equivalent employees and the peak number of visitors.
- Full time equivalent (FTE) occupants = total number of hours worked by all occupants / number of hours in a full-time week
- Total number of occupants = FTE + peak number of visitors
Step 2 – Determine the appropriate percentage of storage needed for your project. This is typically storage for 15% of the project occupants, but may vary based on project type and location. Any variation below 15% must be pre-approved through a Request for Ruling.
Step 3 – Calculate the minimum amount of storage for human-powered vehicles required to meet the Imperative.
- Minimum amount of storage = Total number of occupants x percentage of storage needed
EXAMPLE CALCULATION
Assume an office building in an urban area with 80 full-time employees, 40 part-time employees who each work 20 hours per week, and 25 visitors at peak time.
Step 1 – Determine the maximum number of project occupants on a given day.
- Total number of hours worked by week by full-time employees = 80 people x 40 hours/person = 3,200 hours
- Total number of hours worked per week by part-time employees = 40 people x 20 hours/person = 800 hours
- Full time equivalent = Total number of hours worked / Number of hours in a full-time week = 4,000 hours / 40 hours = 100 FTE
- Total number of occupants = FTE + Peak number of visitors = 100 people + 25 people = 125 people
Step 2 – Verify the appropriate percentage of storage needed for your project. This is typically storage for 15% of the project occupants, but may vary based on project type and location.
- 15% is the recommended amount.
Step 3 – Calculate the minimum amount of storage for human-powered vehicles required to meet the Imperative.
- Minimum amount of storage = Total number of occupants x percentage of storage needed = 125 people x 15% = 125 people x 0.15 = 18.75
Always round up to the next whole number to determine the minimum amount of storage; therefore, 18.75 rounds up to 19. In this case, the project would need to incorporate 19 bike parking spaces.
EXAMPLE CALCULATION USING DOUBLE THE DOCUMENTED RATE
Assuming a new mixed-use building with restaurant and retail on the ground floor and seven floors of office space above.
Data are available from the locale’s Department of Transportation based on a comprehensive survey two years prior, which indicate that the rate of bicycle transit to the area is 2.7%.
Step 1 – Determine the maximum number of project occupants on a given day.
The working hours for the prospective occupants are unknown, but the building code occupant load is 1,992 occupants, including a total of 1,238 for all the office levels and 754 on the ground floor.
- Project occupants = 1,992
Step 2 – Verify the appropriate percentage of storage needed for your project.
- Current documented bicycle transit rate = 2.7%
- Double the current rate = 2.7% x 2 = 5.4%
Step 3 – Calculate the minimum amount of storage for human-powered vehicles required to meet the Imperative.
- Minimum amount of storage = Total number of occupants x Percentage of storage needed
- 1,992 people x 5.4% = 1,992 × 0.054 = 107.57
Always round up to the next whole number to determine the minimum amount of storage; therefore, 107.57 rounds up to 108. In this case, the project would need to incorporate 108 bike parking spaces.
