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Council approves zoning changes to implement housing element and removes minimum parking requirement
Summary
After extended debate, the council approved zoning amendments implementing housing element sites, removed minimum residential parking requirements citywide for certain sites, and adopted associated fees for housing project reviews; the vote on parking removed minimums passed 5‑2.
The City Council adopted a package of zoning code amendments and fees intended to implement the city’s housing element and streamline review of housing projects.
Staff presented a broad set of amendments to Title 9 and Title 13 that remove regulatory barriers, streamline review, update group‑home language, and revise open‑space standards. Council had previously asked staff to remove minimum off‑street parking requirements; staff updated the ordinance to specify no minimums and to make open‑space standards more flexible. The package also included a resolution establishing development review fees to recover staff time for housing projects.
During discussion, council members and public speakers debated whether removing minimum parking requirements would reduce housing costs and encourage more compact development or create parking pressures on surrounding neighborhoods. Supporters said allowing developers to tailor parking to market demand will lower development costs and enable better site design. Opponents said minimums provide predictability for neighborhood impacts and asked for guardrails to avoid spillover parking.
The council considered a substitute motion to keep state‑allowed minimums; that motion failed 5‑4. The original motion to adopt the ordinances and the fees — with the no‑minimum parking approach and other amendments included in the April 3 staff memorandum — carried on a voice vote (5‑2 with Council Members Pettis and Buie voting no). Staff will proceed to finalize the ordinance language and ordinance adoption steps already begun at the March 17 introduction.
Council emphasized that the changes do not forbid parking — developers may still provide spaces — and directed staff to monitor impacts and to return with follow‑up reports as needed.
