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Planning commission approves parking exemption for Amarillo’s Sixth Street historic district
Summary
The Emerald Planning and Zoning Commission on June 15 approved a text amendment to exempt most nonresidential properties along Sixth Street (Route 66 historic district) from off‑street parking requirements while setting residential units at one off‑street space per dwelling; commissioners asked staff about ADA and building‑safety oversight before voting to approve.
Chair Fred called the Emerald Planning and Zoning Commission to order on June 15 and the commission voted to approve Zoning Text Amendment ZT 2601, which would add Section 410‑211(8) to the Amarillo Municipal Code to set off‑street parking rules for the US Route 66 Sixth Street Historic District.
Staff planner Emily presented the amendment and said it would align the Sixth Street corridor with the city’s central business district parking standards: nonresidential properties fronting Sixth Street would not be required to provide off‑street parking, and residential land uses would be required to provide one off‑street parking space per dwelling (a reduction from the roughly 1.5 spaces per unit often applied to new multifamily development). Emily told commissioners the boundary was adjusted to match the National Park Service historic district on the west and to extend one block east to Bryan Street to allow for a potential future intersection improvement at Georgia Street. She said city and external utility reviews found no conflicts, TxDOT (which maintains 6th Street) raised no objections, and outreach to the 6th Street Merchants Group and the San Jacinto neighborhood planning committee produced no written objections. "We are recommending approval of this code amendment as presented," Emily said.
Commissioners pressed staff to clarify accessibility implications. One commissioner said, "I personally would like to see handicap be required," reflecting concern that removing off‑street requirements not weaken ADA access. Staff replied that ADA and Texas Accessibility Standards reviews remain the responsibility of the building safety department and that the amendment would not change on‑street parking or existing curb ramps and ADA spaces installed during 1990s corridor improvements. Emily said the zoning change primarily codifies the existing built pattern — a largely built‑out district where most structures were constructed before modern parking requirements existed — and is intended to preserve the district’s historic character and support Route 66 tourism.
Commissioners also asked about boilerplate penalty language and landscaping; staff characterized penalties as standard ordinance language and said the amendment does not itself propose landscape changes, though a separately funded intersection project could add landscaping if granted. After discussion, Commissioner Noah moved to approve the amendment as presented; the motion was seconded and passed on an oral roll call.
The amendment was approved with the conditions and clarifications discussed; staff will carry forward the ordinance language and any implementation details related to building safety and ADA review.
