Dallas authorities grapple with unresolved queries regarding parking refurbishment strategy
The Buzz Around Dallas' Parking Policy Update
City council members are still treading cautiously over a proposed plan to revamp Dallas' outdated parking policies, which could see the elimination of parking minimums. This move is aimed at spurring more housing, density, and economic development.
Since 2019, city staff have been working on amending the city's antiquated parking code. Planners believe that stripping away minimums across the city will help transform the cityscape, and Andreea Udrea, the deputy director for planning and development, sums it up perfectly: "One size does not fit all, and we need right-sized regulations for the city we want to become."
In a city briefing on Wednesday, Udrea shared that the new plan aligns with the city's transportation, environment, and land use goals. Notably, it proposes no parking minimums for areas around light rail and streetcar stations, downtown, office, and retail sectors — with a few exceptions. District 3 Council Member Zarin Gracey, however, raises concerns over the impact this new code could have on the quality of life for new residents.
"I'm still unsure about what this means for new residents or when there's a new development, and they don't have those parking spots they were accustomed to," expresses Gracey.
District 12 Council Member Cara Mendelsohn, who stands for Far North Dallas, echoes Gracey's thoughts, adding that the plan appears "ideologically urbanistic." Mendelsohn explains, "My district doesn't wanna be more urbanized. We like the suburban feel of things." She finds the plan controversial and notes its potential harm to her district.
The proposal has already passed through several commissions and committees, with City Council set to discuss it this week. Council Member Carolyn King Arnold believes there's room for improvement in communicating the proposed plan to the public.
"The public is not getting it. Our communities are not getting what they deserve in terms of information, and then they wake up one morning and have to suffer the consequences," Arnold expresses her concerns.
Udrea plans to reach out to more neighborhood associations to discuss parking reforms, urging them to register with the city.
"We ask you to recommend all your neighborhood associations and HOAs to register with us because we do inundate them with emails on everything that we do," Udrea advises.
The proposal is slated for a public hearing before the city council on May 14.
Pablo Arauz Peña is KERA's growth and infrastructure reporter, covering city developments like this one. If you have a tip, connect with him at [email protected].
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- Andreea Udrea, the deputy director for planning and development, expressed that the proposed plan to revamp Dallas' parking policies aligns with the city's transportation, environment, and land use goals.
- District 3 Council Member Zarin Gracey expressed concerns over the potential impact the new parking policy could have on the quality of life for new residents.
- District 12 Council Member Cara Mendelsohn finds the proposed parking policy controversial and notes its potential harm to her district, which prefers a suburban feel.
- City Council Member Carolyn King Arnold believes there's room for improvement in communicating the proposed parking policy to the public.
- Andreea Udrea plans to reach out to more neighborhood associations to discuss parking reforms, urging them to register with the city.
