What single change accelerates homebuilding, eliminates red tape for small businesses, reduces pollution and sprawl, revitalizes downtowns, and streamlines permitting?
Parking reform.
@citizen-cate.bsky.social and @ronpdavis.bsky.social break it down:
Parking reform.
@citizen-cate.bsky.social and @ronpdavis.bsky.social break it down:
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This backyard cottage was one of the first detached ADUs permitted after Seattle made off-street parking optional in a 2019 code change. Even one parking spot can render a backyard cottage impossible to build.
A parking lot with capacity for 10 vehicles could legally support an apartment building of 20 homes in Olympia. But the same 10-spot lot in Mercer Island would only support 5 homes.
When they don’t have to negotiate over parking spaces or apply for a zoning variance, builders and businesses save time and money—and so do local governments.