California Eliminates Parking Minimums Near Public Transit Stops Statewide

    HALTOM CITY, TX, August 08, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) is an advocate for change in Haltom City. One of the many ideas presented by HUBA to the City Council is to create overlay districts that reduce or eliminate excessive parking requirements in the city's south and central areas, specifically along the older corridors of NE 28th Street, Carson, Belknap and Denton Highway.

Independent research on "parking minimums" makes one thing clear. Time and again, large and small cities across the country have found that excessive parking requirements raise costs and impede growth and revitalization of older areas. Conversely, the elimination of the obsolete laws tends to have a positive impact.

California is an example worth watching. According to an article in Time magazine entitled "Americans' Addiction to Parking Lots Is Bad for the Climate. California Wants to End It." Governor Newsom recently signed a law that will impact the entire state. As of January 2023, California cities will no longer be able to impose parking minimums for any housing or commercial developments located within half a mile of a major public transit stop. The policy is expected to spur more affordable housing and result in more walkable neighborhoods. Taking into account the positive impact on climate, the strategy is expected to be a win-win.

Another article worth reading is "Analysis: The Decline and Fall of Mandatory Parking Minimums" which claims that 2021 may have been the year that "U.S. planners finally lost faith in minimum parking requirements." The article calls out three reforms worth considering: removing off-street parking requirements, charging the right prices for on-street parking where appropriate, and spending parking revenue to improve public services. The article cites a number of cities that have made changes and ultimately concludes overall, parking minimums seem to be on the way out.

According to HUBA founder Ron Sturgeon, parking minimums are an impediment to getting small businesses back in the older buildings in the older corridors of Haltom City. Reducing or eliminating the need to have unattractive and unused asphalt in locations that could be better used would be a step in the right direction. "I've spoken with a number of applicants that could not move into a building in Haltom City for the sole reason of not enough parking spaces. Our economy is changing, and there are more and more folks using Uber, but it's easy to see lots of space taken up for parking that doesn't help anyone," Sturgeon says.

Unfortunately, current city council members have not been receptive to HUBA's ideas thus far. For that reason, Sturgeon recently launched a grass-roots movement called "Make Haltom City Thrive Again." The goal is to call attention to the issues and identify city council candidates who will dedicate themselves to revitalizing the city's declining areas. More information about the group's goals can be found at the Make Haltom City Thrive Again website.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses, and bring more restaurants including breweries and a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Make Haltom City Thrive Again
The Make Haltom City Thrive Again website offers information and resources about its purpose and goals. For more on Sturgeon's personal ideas and background, check out his book Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America's Small Cities and watch the videos on his Facebook page. Ron is also the founder of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) which represents existing business interests in Haltom City and promotes growth of diverse businesses as well. HUBA is not a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. If/when Ron endorses candidates, he will do so on his own with the Make Haltom City Thrive Again organization.

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