Dallas developers now have more flexibility when it comes to how much parking they must build for new developments.
The Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved reforms that reduce, and in some cases eliminate, mandates in the city code that told developers how much parking to build.
In a 14-1 vote, council members applauded the compromise proposal, the result of several rounds of debate and amendments across multiple committees.
“This marks a first and major milestone in a broader effort to reform and align the City of Dallas’ zoning code with the evolving needs of our city and with adopted city policies,” City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert said in a statement.
City staff have said that mandating developers build a certain number of off-street parking spaces curbs density, makes Dallas less walkable and slows development.
It could also help curb excess parking costs that are passed down to renters, staff say.
Related:Do parking minimums drive up housing costs?
“By allowing right-sized parking, we can encourage a safe, walkable city with more room for homes, more opportunity for small businesses and a more responsible impact on the environment,” Tolbert said.
The changes remove parking mandates across several uses and areas, including downtown, within a half-mile of transit stations and for offices and most retail developments.
Mandated minimums are reduced, rather than eliminated as first proposed, for residential uses and bars and restaurants larger than 2,500 square feet.
District 12 council member Cara Mendelsohn was the sole dissenting vote. She said the policy, which she called “overly urbanistic,” moved too quickly without adequate resident feedback.
“This policy does not meet the needs of Far North Dallas,” Mendelsohn said.
The reforms do not apply to planned developments that have parking lot ratios and do not impact on-street parking provisions.
