Austin City Council Votes to Eliminate Parking Minimums

    HALTOM CITY, TX, February 16, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For more than three years, the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has been asking the City Council to create a revitalization plan for the south and central areas of the city. One aspect of such a plan would be to eliminate decades-old regulations that require a certain number of parking spaces be provided when an older property is redeveloped or occupied.

The suggestion to eliminate parking minimums is not a new one. A growing number of cities across the country have discovered that their old parking requirements have become a deterrent to redevelopment of older properties. Not only do they add to the cost of housing, but they make it much more difficult for small business start-ups to find a property that works.

Recently, Austin Texas joined the growing list of cities to see the light. In November 2023, Austin's city council approved an amendment which eliminates parking minimums for houses, apartment communities, stores, restaurants, and just about every other type of real estate. Property and business owners are now able to decide for themselves just how much parking will actually be needed based on their assessment of the individual property.

Along Haltom City's older corridors such as Denton Highway, Carson, Belknap and NE28th Street, affordable housing is in short supply, and commercial vacancy is on the rise. HUBA knows of more than one business that was turned away from leasing a vacant property due to insufficient room to add parking spaces to meet the decades-old code.

Said HUBA Communication Director Joe Palmer, "The vacant buildings in the declining areas of Haltom City need to be renovated and reoccupied and we need developers and small businesses to get involved. We cannot afford to turn away investors because of overly restrictive parking requirements or other overly rigid codes."

In a continuing effort to advocate for change and encourage citizens to vote in local elections, HUBA teamed up with the Make Haltom City Thrive Again (MHCTA) campaign last year to create brief educational videos about the issues at hand. In a video entitled Reforming Parking Requirements, Palmer speaks with MHCTA founder Ron Sturgeon about the problem. Ron has personally heard from more than one business owner who was turned away over parking in Haltom City. He suggests that the city at least consider amending regulations in the declining areas of the city where revitalization is so badly needed, adding that you can "Search parking minimums and redevelopment of cities" to see just how many cities and states across the country have already made a change.

The Texas Tribune has a great article about the situation in Austin entitled "To fight climate change and housing shortage, Austin becomes largest U.S. city to drop parking-spot requirements." The article explains the thinking behind the amendment, talks about a number of other American cities that have made a change, and mentions that Dallas may possibly follow suit. According to the members of HUBA, it's past time for Haltom City to get on board.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses in the industrial districts, and bring more restaurants including breweries and eventually a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at [email protected]. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Make Haltom City Thrive Again
Make Haltom City Thrive Again is a movement to return prosperity to the older parts of South and Central Haltom City by luring the small businesses that have left over the past decades back to Haltom City. A vibrant business community not only allows for greater employment and choice of goods and services, but also can ease the tax burden on residents. The movement is led by local entrepreneur and business owner Ron Sturgeon. For more on Sturgeon's ideas and background, check out his book, Keeping the Lights on Downtown in America's Small Cities and watch the videos on his Facebook page. Ron is also the founder of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) which represents existing business interests in Haltom City and promotes growth of diverse businesses. HUBA is not a political action committee and does not endorse candidates. If/when Ron endorses candidates, he will do so on his own via the Make Haltom City Thrive Again organization.

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