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Planning staff seeks 1:1 residential parking minimum citywide; board recommends approval
Summary
City staff proposed a zoning code amendment to set a 1-to-1 on-site parking minimum for residential units citywide and allow other small adjustments; planning staff and several proponents argued the change will reduce development cost and support transit-oriented redevelopment. The board approved the recommendation to forward the amendment.
City planning staff presented a zoning code amendment to change the city's residential parking requirements to a 1:1 on-site parking stall per residential unit standard regardless of housing type, along with limited technical adjustments for parking setbacks and counting a driveway space in some infill situations.
Assistant Planning Director Eric England told the board the comprehensive plan and recent code revisions support the change and that the 1:1 ratio has been used successfully on prior PURs and infill projects: "The proposed code amendment would, modify and reduce the parking requirements to 1 parking stall on-site per residential unit, no matter what that type is," he said.
Proponents said the change can lower costs and make development more feasible. Zeke Rous of the nonprofit Spark cited construction-cost savings: "Every required parking space can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 according to Strong Towns," he said, and called the amendment a tool to allow more housing options. Local resident Lucas Saud and others said lower minimums better align with transit-oriented development goals.
Planning staff recommended approval and the board voted to forward the amendment to city council as the next step. Staff noted that the amendment does not ban additional parking; developers may still provide more spaces if they wish.
