By Eliyahu Kamisher, The Mercury News, December 7, 2022
“The City Council axed the parking requirements for new developments in a unanimous vote on [December 6], shedding a post-World War II legacy that turned San Jose into one of the most ‘overparked’ cities in the state, according to transportation advocates. The rule was a key roadblock in San Jose’s efforts to build more housing and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But many residents, particularly in densely populated East San Jose, worry the policy could exacerbate parking woes in communities that have long been battlegrounds for curbside spaces.
“San Francisco fully eliminated its parking minimums along with more limited reductions in Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley and Oakland. In September, Newsom signed a law abolishing parking minimums statewide for developments within half a mile of major public transit stops.
“[N]o other city of San Jose’s size and population — roughly 1 million people — has moved to do away with parking minimums citywide.
“[Old parking minimum standards] — most of them unchanged since 1965 — are now gone and in their place are bicycle parking requirements, including one bike for every two lanes at bowling alleys and at least one bicycle spot for every 800 square feet at restaurants.
“Matt Mahan, San Jose’s mayor-elect, said he is supportive of the changes to parking requirements but added that…[“Eastside neighborhoods face ‘pretty significant challenges with parking,’ ”]…as he called for ‘good faith’ implementation of the city’s move away from parking.”
Read the full article here. (~3 min.)