Urgent Parking Reform Opportunity

Important update! The Zoning Committee added parking reform to its agenda for tomorrow, Tuesday, 6/17. This ordinance would extend parking relief options to RS and RT zoning districts (RS = residential single family housing, RT = residential mixed use, 2 to 4-flats, townhouses, etc.) at transit-serviced locations. It would also remove the need to get an administrative adjustment to achieve zero parking.

Strong Towns Chicago encourages followers to urge their aldermen to support this ordinance. Eliminating parking mandates is potentially the single most impactful reform to increase the supply of housing.

Here is how you can support:

• Give public comment in-person - 6/17: The committee meets at City Hall (121 N LaSalle) at 10am. Arrive ~15 minutes early. No opaque backpacks are allowed. Laptops can be brought in tote bags. Strong Towns Chicago leads Chloe Groome and Josh Chodor will be there to help organize attendees and refine talking points. Eventbrite here.

• Email your alder: This is especially important if your alder serves on the zoning committee.

This article is also a good explainer on why parking minimums should be abolished.

TLDR: parking minimums unnecessarily raise the cost of development and further our dependence on car-centric infrastructure.

Hope to see you Tuesday!

-Aaron Feldman, Strong Towns Secretary