Another domino has fallen in the parking reform movement.
The city of Durham approved a zoning reform initiative titled Simplifying Codes for Affordable Development (SCAD), which includes the end of parking mandates for new development.
Mary Helen Moore covers the story for The News & Observer, noting that “Monday’s vote, arriving at nearly midnight, followed four hours of debate in the last meeting before the newly elected City Council takes office next month.” The city is the ninth largest in the country to eliminate parking requirements, according to the Parking Reform Network.
The proposal, which was written by a group of developers, is controversial with both homeowner groups and affordable housing advocates like Habitat for Humanity, who withdrew their support.
In addition to removing parking mandates, SCAD eliminates maximum densities in commercial and office zones, allows places of worship to build ADUs, and requires mixed-use for certain developments. It also streamlines site plan review and adjust regulations to encourage infill development.
FULL STORY: ‘Closer and higher’: Durham becomes 9th largest city in US to end required parking
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