Denver considers ditching minimum parking mandates
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Denver could eliminate parking minimums citywide, a move supporters say will bolster transit use, reduce housing costs and streamline local laws.
Why it matters: In a city where cars are king, dropping parking regulations could fundamentally shift how Denver's new and much-needed housing develops in the future.
Yes, but: Opponents, including residents, say the change could give developers too much leeway and potentially cause more street parking woes in neighborhoods already crammed with cars.
- Council President Amanda Sandoval said Tuesday she supports ditching minimums but doesn't back the current plan, suggesting many residents in her northwest Denver district are likely to object.
State of play: The plan, presented Tuesday during a Denver City Council committee, consists of three bills collectively removing minimum parking requirements for new developments.
- Parking requirements currently vary by area; downtown, for example, has no such mandates.
Between the lines: The proposal would bring Denver into compliance with a state law passed last year requiring cities and towns to eliminate parking minimums near most new housing developments along transit lines.
- But Denver's plan goes further, proposing to remove parking mandates citywide — including for commercial developments.
Zoom in: Councilmember Chris Hinds, who's co-sponsoring the plan, said Tuesday that removing parking requirements would help streamline the city's permitting process because it will eliminate the "complicated" process to determine minimums for every development.
What they're saying: More than 300 public comments were submitted, with a majority supporting the proposal, per city documents.
- Opposition focused on parking spillover in neighborhoods, reduction in accessibility for elderly residents, and suggestions developers could take advantage of the lack of regulations.
- Mayor Mike Johnston supports the plan, his office tells us.
What's next: The measure heads to the full Denver City Council for final consideration this summer.