Committee advances bill reducing parking minimums near transit to spur housing development

The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee released S-2974, which revises parking-space requirements in the statewide site improvement standards so fewer spaces are required for residential developments located near public transportation.

Proponents said lower parking minimums near transit would make housing cheaper and unlock redevelopment of surface lots. "Right now, Downtown Newark has the same mandate for parking requirements that a suburban community in South Jersey does, and that's crazy," said Chris Strom of New Jersey Future. He said reducing parking mandates near transit is a "common sense approach" used in other states.

Alex Ambrose of New Jersey Policy Perspective said younger residents and evolving transportation trends reduce reliance on cars and that uniform parking mandates do not fit transit-rich places. He and other witnesses cited examples in other states, including California and Colorado, that have limited parking requirements near transit.

The New Jersey League of Municipalities opposed the bill, saying it would restrict local land-use decisions and that municipalities should retain the ability to grant variances or adopt local standards. "The bill would restrict the municipality's ability to make land use decisions that best suit its community and reflected in the master plan," said Erin Niedler of the League.

The committee released the bill as substituted; Senators Wimberly, Burgess and Chairman Singleton recorded affirmative votes.

Why it matters: Supporters say lowering parking mandates near transit reduces housing costs and encourages transit-oriented development; opponents warn of a top-down mandate that would limit local control.

Votes at the committee: Motion to release S-2974 as substituted — released (yes: Senator Wimberly; Senator Burgess; Chairman Singleton).