The San Diego Union-Tribune, February 6, 2019
David Garrick • Help in solving “San Diego’s housing crisis by wiping out parking requirements for new [multifamily] complexes near mass transit moved forward on February 6. The City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee voted 3-1 to forward the proposal for council approval on March 4.
“Council members in favor of the plan said reducing local reliance on automobiles [will make] housing cheaper and help the city meet the goals of its legally binding climate action plan.
“ ‘The cost of parking is incredibly detrimental to the cost of housing,’ said Councilman Scott Sherman, and as more young people choose to commute by transit, bicycle, and ride-booking services, ‘This provides flexibility to deal with the market as it is today and could be in the future.’
“Councilman Chris Ward noted that many other large cities have made similar policy changes based on emerging trends, including San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, Santa Monica, Portland, Seattle, and Minneapolis. [Eligible San Diego projects must be] within half a mile of a trolley line, a bus rapid transit station, or two high-frequency bus routes. The transit must either be already operating or scheduled to begin operating within five years.
“Councilwoman Dr. Jennifer Campbell, the lone ‘no’ vote, said wiping out parking requirements would be premature despite its potential to help solve the housing crisis, noting that nearly 94 percent of San Diego adults own a car.” Read more here.