"I have trouble backing up my truck," said McNutt, 66. "The cars are parked too close and most cars are bigger. In many shopping centers, the compact stalls are just not big enough for SUVs and other four-door cars."

The planning commission understands McNutt's frustrations. In 2001, the commission asked the staff to evaluate the city's compact parking stall requirements because they were concerned that the size of compact stalls do not accommodate the increasing number of large vehicles. Because of the planning department's workload, work on the project didn't begin until this year.

The planning commission had its first public hearing on revising the city's parking lot policy on April 26, but the policy, which will have a citywide impact, received little feedback from the residents. The planning commission decided to hold another public hearing on May 24 to get more public input.

To fit bigger automobiles, the staff suggests using uni-size stalls, because many drivers often ignore the designation of compact spaces.

Right now, the parking ordinance allows parking lots to either provide a combination of compact (8 feet by 15 feet) and standard stalls (9 feet by 18 feet) or uni-size stalls (8.5 feet by 18 feet).

"There is a common misconception that the uni-size stalls require more land area to provide the same number of compact and standard stalls," said assistant city planner Gary Chao. "Both options in the same parking lot would yield the same number of parking stalls."

The staff also suggests adding land-use categories. Each land-use permit is required to have a reasonable parking ratio, but current regulations don't cover specific land uses that are common in Cupertino such as day-care centers; martial arts, dance and art studios; and tutorial services.

"With additional land-use categories, permit applicants don't need to provide an individual parking analysis. We can just tell them over the counter," Chao said.

Another important proposed revision to the parking lot regulation is to increase the permeable surface in most parking lots.

Since October of 2003, the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board has required Cupertino and 14 other public agencies to place additional conditions of approval on storm-water quality control. Cities should demand developers to limit paved area to allow water to naturally permeate, thus reducing storm-water runoff to the Bay.

McNutt said he likes the proposed changes. "It's about time," he said.

For more information, contact assistant planner Gary Chao at 408.777.3247.