Thread by @ncoxbarrett

Second public engagement meeting starts at 8:30am this morning! Join in and support cleaner air, a stronger economy, and a better transportation system! No sign-up needed, just join here: bit.ly/ZOAC05202021

https://twitter.com/ncoxbarrett/status/1394736060928860167

About 1/2 the number of attendees as yesterday and I see some returning names.

Attendee list is going. I see members of the MEDIA and some industry groups in attendance. Good thing, this needs attention as the most impactful land use change in Dallas in 50 years!

Ok, with the stragglers logging in, we've got about the same crowd I saw online yesterday, about 50-60 people.

Presentation is over and now on to the exciting part: public comment!

First comment: Says parking DOES need to be reformed, BUT:

1) Parking needs to be tied to use in some areas (LG)
2) 330ft residential buffer (where parking still required) isn't enough, wants it to be ~1,200ft
3) Bars/restaurants shouldn't be reduced and should park patio areas.

2nd comment: An architect who lives/works in Cedars. Enthusiastically supports reforming parking requirements throughout the city.

On his infill and historic projects, parking makes many projects unviable right away. And says parking hurts our transit investments.

So far, 1 for and 1 against (kinda). 3rd Comment: Mandating parking is mandating car ownership and this hurts our communities of color the hardest. We should never prevent someone from doing business or being housed because of parking.

Note: hear hear! Score: 2-1 Parking Reform

4th Comment: Lives in Oak Cliff/Works in Uptown: supports parking reform. Says 3 reforms are needed:

1) Remove CPM-Prop Owners/businesses can decide parking needs
2) Charge right price for on-street parking
3) Invest parking money collected into nbhd.

Note: Shoupista alert! 🥳

5th Comment: Supports parking reform! Will help housing costs and businesses. Thanks those working towards this reform.

Score 4-1 Parking Reform.

6th Comment: @CoalitionNewDAL is here supporting elimination of costly parking mandates! Cities around the country are eliminating them because they're a failed policy: drive up cost of housing, create car dependence and pollution, and harm historic preservation efforts.

6th Comment cont: This results in us getting less of all the things that make urban living worthwhile. Quotes Bob Kennedy: "Some men see things as they are and ask, ""Why?"" I dream things that never were and ask, ""Why not?""

6th comment cont: Closes with exhortation for ZOAC to use this opportunity to make a better future for Dallas.

Hear Hear!

7th Comment from @bryangeorgetony on behalf of @24hourdallas. Says we already know the negative effects of parking reqs on the nighttime economy, including bars, restaurants, dance halls, and hotels.

7th continued: Parking prevents clustering of businesses, degrades patron experiences, and create longer walks for pedestrians. Reforming parking makes cycling, walking, and transit a more viable option for those enjoying our nighttime economy.

You love to hear it!

7th continued: Supports reform lets businesses/owners decide how much parking they need while preventing spillover parking into neighboring areas.

Score 6-1 parkin' reform!

8th comment: Lives near Lower Greenville and SUPPORTS parking reform!

Goin' to our call-in commenters now!

Well, none of the phone participants are here to speak. Side note: Webex desperately needs a "Public Meeting" version of their software.

9th Comment: Says we have a parking problem. Says we don't have enough parking anywhere in the city. Need more parking for safety and health reasons. Says we don't have a good transit system.

Score 7-2 in favor of parking reform.

Stepped away for a sec, so maybe missed a comment, so #10 by my count. Supports Parkin' reform and says we're wasting a lot of space that could be used for TODs, says we have a housing shortage and this reform could lower cost of living. Also parking lots are ugly!

11th (by the Barrett reckoning): Says some reforms are needed but they should be limited to High-density mixed-used areas and downtown with established mass transit and quality sidewalks.

Counting this as an against? So we're at an 8-3 count pro-reform.

Ok, I have to drop off so someone tell me whether the last few are for or against!