Proponents of the resolution say the city’s parking mandates encourage drunk driving and drive up construction costs for small businesses.

Austin could remove parking requirements for bars, taking a small step toward abolishing parking mandates citywide, reports James Rambin in Towers. “A resolution amending city code to eliminate non-accessible parking requirements for cocktail lounge land uses is on the agenda for this Thursday’s council meeting, introduced by CM Velásquez and co-sponsored by a downright bipartisan coalition of CMs Vela, Kelly, and Mayor Kirk Watson.”
Critics of parking requirements for bars argue the rules “effectively subsidize drunk driving” and encourage people to drive to bars. Additionally, the cost of building parking spots can be prohibitive for small bar owners. “It’s a small tweak that could subtly become one of the most broadly transformative land use changes Austin’s seen in years — but due to the wide-ranging effect of removing these parking minimums, we can already imagine the opposition.”
For Rambin, creating more opportunities for small neighborhood bars means more Austinites can “drink and socialize within walking distance of their homes, removing cars from the equation entirely.” As Rambin points out, “that ought to be a policy goal in a state where nearly 30 percent of traffic fatalities involve impairment from alcohol.”
FULL STORY: Raise a Glass to Austin’s Planned Abolition of Bar Parking Mandates

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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