Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges Hilliard to remove parking minimums, says they drive up housing costs
Summary
During public comment, resident and student Anthony Schonfeld urged council to remove or reduce parking minimums in Chapter 1127 of the city code, arguing minimums raise housing costs, impede small businesses and harm the environment.
HILLIARD, Ohio — In a public‑comment appearance at the April 14 council meeting, resident and local student Anthony Schonfeld urged council to remove or reduce minimum parking requirements in the city code (Chapter 1127).
Schonfeld said mandatory parking spaces add roughly $20,000 per housing unit built and that those costs are passed to renters or homebuyers. He argued minimums disadvantage small businesses and adaptive reuse of historic buildings by forcing developers to add parking they may not need or afford, and said changes would support walkable, transit‑oriented development and reduce stormwater runoff and heat island effects.
Schonfeld cited other cities that have reduced or eliminated parking minimums, including Lexington, Ky.; South Bend, Ind.; Birmingham, Ala.; and downtown Columbus, and said such changes can increase housing supply and support local businesses without banning parking.
His remarks were delivered during the public comment portion of the meeting; council did not take immediate action on city code 1127 during the session.
