Council amends parking rules to add motorized-cart and bicycle parking; cart stalls set to 6 feet

Peachtree City Council approved a text amendment to the city’s off-street parking code to recognize "alternative parking" for motorized carts, low-speed vehicles and bicycles, to set guidance for cart and bike stall dimensions and ratios, and to update related definitions. Planning staff said the change will require new developments and major redevelopments to provide cart and bicycle parking that meets the new standards.

Shayla Reed, who presented the item on behalf of planning, explained the amendment adds definitions, location guidance, rack standards and the option to substitute some standard car spaces with cart spaces under defined ratios. Staff recommended changing the cart-stall width from 5 feet to 6 feet to allow safer ingress and e-bike accommodation. "We recommend that it will be changed to 6 feet, just to give a little bit more room," she said.

Public commenters urged additional detail on ADA accessibility for cart parking, charging infrastructure for e-bikes and clearer short-term versus long-term bicycle parking definitions. Keith Larson encouraged the council to adopt national standards and to consider charging and sheltered bike facilities for long-term use.

Council approved the ordinance with legal-language edits to reference the latest ADA guidance for disabled parking terminology and with the staff-recommended change increasing cart-stall width to 6 feet. The motion passed 4–1. Councilmembers said the amendment establishes a foundation that staff and planning bodies can refine during the city’s ongoing Unified Development Ordinance review.