Haltom City Urged to Follow Texas Cities in Reducing Parking Mandates
TL;DR
Cities like Austin are eliminating off-street parking mandates, giving businesses a competitive advantage in land use and development.
Parking minimums, once based on land abundance and rising car ownership, now hinder progress and development of commercial properties.
Eliminating parking minimums promotes progress by allowing for more housing development and boosting small businesses, ultimately revitalizing communities.
The movement to eliminate parking minimums is gaining momentum, with over 1,400 cities adopting reforms to promote commerce and housing development.
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In 2023, Austin became the largest city in the United States to stop requiring businesses to maintain a minimum number of off-street parking spaces. This movement is gaining traction across Texas, with cities like Taylor, Bandera, and Bastrop joining the initiative. The Texas Tribune has highlighted why some Texas cities are getting rid of their minimum parking rules.
Decades-old regulations requiring a set number of parking spaces based on property use are now seen as barriers to progress. They often prevent the renovation of older commercial properties and limit housing development. Tony Jordan, founder of the non-profit Parking Reform Network, calls these constraints "completely artificial." The organization maintains a Parking Mandates map showcasing over 1,400 cities and towns that have adopted some form of reform.
Haltom City is a prime candidate for such changes, particularly in its south and central areas where business growth is crucial for revitalization. The Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has advocated for the City Council to eliminate parking minimums and adopt business-friendly policies. Ron Sturgeon, a founder of HUBA, launched the Make Haltom City Thrive Again initiative to educate the public and push for actionable changes.
Sturgeon experienced firsthand the challenges posed by parking mandates. His plans to redevelop a derelict skating rink in Azle, Texas into a Salon and Spa were thwarted by parking requirements, despite securing permission to share an adjacent church's parking lot. The property remains vacant, highlighting the need for reform.
Even the American Planning Association supports parking reform, noting a "tidal wave" of changes across the country in 2022. These reforms are reported to boost small businesses, promote housing development, and prioritize people over parking.
As more Texas cities embrace these changes, the question remains: will Haltom City follow suit to unlock its potential for growth and revitalization?
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
