Parking Reform Moving Forward in Minneapolis

"The Minneapolis Planning Commission approved an ordinance last week that would get rid of parking minimums for new developments beginning in late May as an attempt to make the city less car-dependent," reports Emalyn Mazzy.

The zoning text amendment approved by the Minneapolis Planning Commission on April 12, 2021 will implement policies recommended the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan and the Minneapolis Transportation Action Plan.

"The ordinance would also reduce the maximum number of parking spaces and adds bedroom limits," according to Mazzy. Minneapolis currently requires one parking space for every two bedrooms. The new bedroom limit would restrict "single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes to nine bedrooms at maximum […] to prevent dorm-style housing from popping up in residential neighborhoods."

The City Council is scheduled to consider the ordinance for approval on May 15. The article focuses on the politics of parking reform in the Southeast Como neighborhood of Minneapolis.