Thread by @ncoxbarrett

We're back at ZOAC today after being delayed by last week's winter storm.

We're talking parking ratios. The planner wants to focus on what are the City's goals and how do parking reqs prevent us from reaching these goals.

In case you have forgotten where we've been:

*Swoon*

The ratios are actually better than proposed last time dropped for offices and Residential Hotels (basically what Dallas calls SROs):

Now on to the good stuff: residential parking. I like these cities they're drawing on

"You can't separate parking from housing affordability". Yeah, that's the good stuff!

tl;dr: Parking reqs are a big reason we can't have nice things.

When the Cons are actually Pros. This is an upgrade from the status quo!

Urban form examples with and w/o parking reqs:

At best, in Dallas, with parking requirements you get something like Bryan Place or State/Thomas:

Now on to the SCENARIOS. Scenario 1 no parking for Residential

Scenario 2...it's complicated

Beyond the townhouse scale, on the left is what we get in Dallas with the req parking: wrapped parking garages. We could have a lot more housing and better transit without the parking reqs.

Note: This is just the beginning of what's possible. So many other things become possible

ZOAC Member Behring: Expresses desire to have reduced requirements for smaller projects and step things up as scale of projects (and impacts) increase.

ZOAC Rieves: Asks about simply increasing the allowable reductions allowed at the board of adjustment, e.g. increasing the allowable reduction from 25% to 50%.

Note: This is a BAD idea because simply having to ask means some people won't. Has a big chilling effect.

Parking reform haters are already pointing to how developers AREN'T asking for reductions as a reason not to change things. Counterpoint: Time/money of asking PLUS the RISK of receiving a "No" means not worth asking for. Remove the ask and devs may actually do it.

ZOAC Bagley: Wants to know what the city is doing about the ROW management? Are people just going to park in the street?

Staff: Curb management and design reqs are part of the next pillars of parking reform to be addressed.

Note: Streets staff told me back in November they were starting a study on Curb mgmt reform. I've sent them a note asking where that is.

Fun fact from staff: Minimum residential lot width to meet platting requirements is 10ft.

Preview of design discussion to come: Number, location, and width of curb cuts, location of parking on the lot etc.

Now open for public comment!

Loving the parking reform energy. Good momentum and looking forward to sending this to City Council.