Making A Better Parking Lot

"A new set of city guidelines aims to improve environmental standards in all future private and municipal parking lots, with more trees, clear walkways and better drainage."

"The design guidelines, which were agreed on yesterday, would help officials determine which construction plans are worthy of being approved."

"They won't be applied retroactively to existing parking but are meant to 'encourage' the owners to implement the standards when upgrading their lots."

"None of the improvements is mandatory, but some may be integrated into city policies as the project evolves, said Robert J. Freedman, director of urban design for the city planning department."