Washington State's recent parking reform legislation offers a potential roadmap for cities struggling with development stagnation, particularly in areas where vacant commercial properties have become common. The Parking Reform and Modernization Act (SB 5184), enacted earlier this year, virtually eliminated the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to parking requirements, shifting decisions to property owners and developers instead of government mandates.
The reform movement gained momentum when advocates shifted the narrative from where parking reform might be appropriate to when it might be needed. This approach questioned whether different types of businesses should have identical parking requirements, such as whether a take-out restaurant needs the same number of spaces as a sit-down dining establishment, or whether parking mandates should prevent essential services like daycares from opening. The Strong Towns article, Washington Just Rewrote the Rules on Parking — Here's Why It Worked, details how this narrative attracted bipartisan support from homeowners, small business owners, and housing advocates.
For communities like Haltom City, Texas, Washington's approach offers a timely model. The Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has been raising parking reform issues with the City Council for nearly five years, arguing that current parking mandates have become "a roadblock to building homes, businesses, and essential services" in the city's declining south and central inner-city areas. Private investors and developers interested in revitalizing older commercial properties often encounter unrealistic and costly regulations, with parking minimums being a significant barrier.
HUBA has proposed several solutions, including creating mini "overlay" districts along corridors like Denton Highway, Carson, NE 28th Street, and Belknap where many older buildings sit vacant. This approach has seen success in other American cities, including Houston, where similar strategies have spurred renovation and growth. Another suggestion is to follow Austin's example by eliminating mandatory off-street parking requirements that may not align with actual business needs. As the Strong Towns article notes, "For communities struggling with housing shortages, inflated development costs, or underused land, Washington's approach offers a clear example of what's possible—not just in policy, but in political strategy, too."
Parking reform does not eliminate parking but rather limits what governments can require, allowing market forces and specific business needs to determine appropriate parking solutions. The Parking Reform Network provides resources including sample legislation, activism guides, and a Parking Mandates Map that tracks reform activities nationwide. HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer emphasized that "targeted strategies are needed to reverse decline and spur redevelopment of the ever-growing number of vacant buildings in these areas. Parking reform alone could make a real difference."
The Washington State Legislature's SB 5184 - 2025-26 webpage provides official documentation of the legislation that has become a national model. For Haltom City, which has seen a decline in small businesses despite financial health and growing median household income, regulatory reform could unlock the potential of undeveloped land and vacant buildings, particularly in major corridors close to the city's center. The city's diverse, majority working-class population, including approximately 10% Asian-American and 45% Hispanic residents, stands to benefit from increased business development and job opportunities.
