Developers and businesses opposed to the city's smart growth-friendly parking limits are fighting back with a proposed ballot measure to reinstate minimum parking requirements.
"A proposed fall ballot measure backed by downtown and developers threatens to reverse the city's innovative efforts to create a more pedestrian-friendly city center. Environmentalists and other smart-growth advocates say capping the number of parking spaces that can be built with each new housing unit discourages people from relying on cars. That stance, pushed by Planning Director Dean Macris and others, in 2005 became official city policy for the downtown core despite a veto by Mayor Gavin Newsom (who required some prodeveloper changes before signing it into law) and fierce opposition by his business community allies. Now the proauto crowd is fighting back with a confusing measure that threatens the city's transit-first values."
"Under the proposal, new housing projects throughout the city would be required to provide a minimum number of parking spaces per unit, whereas the 2005 law turned parking minimums into maximums. Studies have shown that the city's existing policies will lower housing costs and encourage transit use, but developers oppose the law because they say homes with parking spots are what buyers want and are willing to pay extra for."
FULL STORY: Car-first policy
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.