Austin Debates Parking Reforms Near TOD Projects

As the city of Austin finalizes its equitable transit-oriented development (eTOD) plan, some officials are urging their peers to change parking requirements near transit stations, reports Jonathan Lee in the Austin Monitor.

João Paulo Connolly, a member of the Project Connect Community Advisory Committee, “said that eliminating parking minimums is ‘an absolute baseline must,’” urging the city council to also adopt maximum parking requirements. “By making developers build as little parking as possible near transit stations, such policies would mean people are more likely to ditch their cars for trains or buses, Connolly and others argued.”

The eTOD plan proposes three ways to reform parking requirements: eliminating minimums, creating parking maximums, and including parking in floor area ratio (FAR) calculations. The change in FAR is the most controversial of the proposed changes. “According to city staffers, some stakeholders said the policy could prevent some projects from obtaining financing. In response, staffers recommend against adopting the policy.”

Other policies promoted by the eTOD plan include density bonuses, the preservation of existing affordable housing, and incentives to help small businesses open in TODs.