LGC 12.20 - Places to Live, Not Places to Park Act - STATUTE

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

AN ACT.
To ensure housing takes priority over parking when possible

Places to Live, Not Places to Park Act

Section I: Naming
a. This bill shall be titles the Places to Live, Not Places to Park Act.

Section II: Ban on Parking Minimums
a. A public agency shall not impose or enforce any minimum automobile parking requirement on a residential, commercial, or other development project.

b. Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a city, county, municipality, or other local government body may impose or enforce minimum automobile parking requirements on a singular project if the public agency makes written findings, within 30 days of the receipt of a completed application, that not imposing or enforcing minimum automobile parking requirements on the development would have a substantially negative impact, supported by a preponderance of the evidence in the record, due to a combination of at least two of the following:

1. Lack of parking within 1 (one) mile of the development.
2. Lack of public transportation within 1 (one) mile of the development.
3. Lack of sidewalks or similar improved walkable areas along roadways leading to parking within 1 (one) mile of the development. Gravel and dirt paths are not considered improved walkable areas for the purposes of this legislation.

Section III: Timing
a. This legislation will go into effect 10 (ten) days after passage.

Sponsor: Weatherboy
Occupying: Slot 2 of 10

Sponsor, please advocate for your bill

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

This bill would help alleviate the housing affordability issue by restricting the use of parking minimums, except for cases where developments are in locations where public transportation doesn't exist within a mile, and one of the following: parking within one mile being inaccessible via sidewalks or similar means, or parking not existing within one mile. This should hopefully ensure that developments care more about places for people to live, rather than places to park. By doing so, we increase the supply of housing and thus decrease the price via basic supply and demand rules.

[Sirius_]

As a citizen, I would like to say that this is an excellent bill and a step that needs to be taken to address the housing affordability crisis. It also compliments that Lincoln Transportation Improvement Act and the Lincoln Grants for Public Transit Act which were previously passed by providing for more transit oriented development.

[FairBol]

Mr. Speaker,

I'm supportive of the bill in general.  Nevertheless, I have some concern with its possible application to commercial real estate.  Would the sponsor be open to an amendment excluding such properties from the bill?

I yield.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Respectfully, I do not think such an amendment would be a good idea. By allowing such a large exemption we would be severely neutering the impact this bill would have.

[FairBol]

Respectfully, I do not think such an amendment would be a good idea. By allowing such a large exemption we would be severely neutering the impact this bill would have.

Mr. Speaker,

After further research on the matter, I have decided to withdraw my proposed amendment, and support the bill as written. 

I was not previously aware of this, but according to the latest studies, enforced parking minimums raise the average construction fee by a large amount (reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_minimums_and_maximums). 

That is because they put the cost of parking (and the construction of parking spaces) on developers, rather than those using the parking spots.  This usually results in the necessity to charge higher rents. 

Realizing this, if we're trying to make housing and other buildings more affordable, it would be especially appropriate for us to discourage the use of parking minimums, which is what this bill aims to do.  As such, I stand in support of it. 

I yield. 

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Pursuant to final business rules, a vote on this is beginning.

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye!

[FairBol]

Aye. 

[Vice President Christian Man]

Aye

[ZMUN M441]

Aye.

[Attorney General, Senator-Elect, & Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

Passes 5-0

[Adam Griffin]

Signed.

Adam Griffin