Yachats is a city of about 1,000 on the Oregon Coast, but on summer weekends the population can triple or more as visitors flock to “The Gem of the Oregon Coast.” Studio Davis prepared a comprehensive parking management plan for the downtown area. The planning process convened with a site visit and inventory of all public and non-residential private parking facilities within the study area. An initial set of interviews was conducted with local stakeholders, followed by a broad public outreach campaign that generated a robust set of feedback. A detailed set of demand observations during peak season provided data on the exact timing, location, and severity of parking issues experienced by visitors.
Yachats’ has a sizable population of retirees who are often active in community affairs, so there was keen interest in the parking plan. Accordingly, the work included a significant outreach and education component, with the team interviewing business owners throughout the City and hosting a well-attended public workshop.
True to form, via diligent collaboration with the Yachats Planning Commission and City staff, we were able to able to deliver a plan that identifies underutilized parking resources throughout the downtown area and includes a comprehensive set of recommendations to activate these resources rather than create unnecessary additional supply. The plan is currently in draft form and will be heard by Council later in September.