Description
Updating zoning codes to reduce or eliminate minimum residential parking requirements, particularly near transit, discourages vehicle reliance, allows for denser development, and allows for more land that would otherwise be dedicated to parking to be provided to active transportation. Note that AB 2097 eliminates parking minimums for certain project types within ½ mile of a major transit stop.
Implementation Details
- Create zoning overlays near Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) pathway/Great Redwood Trail and Marin Transit routes that eliminate minimum parking requirements for residential developments within high-frequency transit areas.
- Introduce maximum parking allowances or tiered limits in mixed-use zones and Specific Plans to support active transportation and reduce vehicle dependence.
- Align with statewide reforms such as Assembly Bill 2097 and apply reforms in locations such as mixed-use nodes.
Mitigation Potential
Limiting parking supply increases the time, cost, and effort to own a car, decreasing the convenience of driving as well as allows for land to be dedicated to other uses such as active transportation modes. This encourages alternative modes such as biking, walking, or transit, reducing VMT.
For more details, see CAPCOA, T-15. Limit Residential Parking Supply, pg. 122-125 and CALTRANS SB743 Program Mitigation Playbook, Parking, pg. 39-41 for VMT reduction quantification.
Linked Strategies
Equity Considerations
Encouraging reduced parking supply helps lower housing construction costs, which can benefit affordable housing developers. Prioritize implementation in high-transit areas to reduce car dependency among low-income households. Include community outreach to ensure understanding of trade-offs, especially in areas where car ownership is a necessity. Pair with mobility benefits (e.g., subsidized transit passes, shared mobility access) for tenants in under-resourced communities.
Funding Sources
Requires staff time to implement. Planning for alternative parking strategies can be funded through Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grants and CMAQ. Proximity to transit and active transportation networks may impact eligibility to a broader range of funding programs.
Implemented in TAM Area
Current TDM Implementation
Mill Valley recently made a sweeping rewrite of the city parking code, drastically reducing parking requirements for businesses. At the county level, upcoming updates to the Development Code will reduce parking requirements for new housing developments.
TDM Benefit Locations
Marin should evaluate and right-size parking in transit dense areas, like Downtown San Rafael, near the Larkspur SMART station and ferry terminal, and near the Novato SMART stations.