Sweeping Parking Reform Approved in Oakland

"For the first time in over half a century, the City Council voted Tuesday to approve sweeping reductions to its parking requirements, which advocates say will make it less expensive to develop housing, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of life for residents," according to an article by Erin Baldassari.

"The changes reduce the amount of parking required for residential and commercial buildings throughout the city, with the largest reductions concentrated in areas closest to major transit hubs, such as downtown Oakland or at BART stations," adds Baldassari. "In those areas, the new regulations reduce the required parking to zero and instead set a cap on the maximum amount of parking allowed."

Baldassari provides additional details of the approved ordinance in the article, along with soundbites from organizations voicing their support for the policy. Jeff Levin, the policy director for the East Bay Housing Organization, is even cited for his view that the new minimums don't go far enough.

In relation to making housing more affordable in the city, Baldassari also notes that $100 million of a $600 million bond proposal on the November ballot would go toward preserving affordable housing.

[This article was updated with the correct spelling of the author's name.]