Eight Oregon Metros Set to Eliminate Minimum Parking Requirements

Driven by efforts to address the statewide lack of housing and slow the effects of climate change, Oregon is set to adopt new permanent land-use rules in July that will do away with minimum parking requirements for homes and businesses in the eight most populous metro areas, the Oregonian reports. 

"In both Oregon and California, eliminating minimum parking mandates is seen as a way of encouraging compact, climate-friendly communities that address severe housing shortages by making it easier, safer, and more affordable to live and work without a car."

The article cites a Parking Reform Network study that found the cost of building individual parking spots starts at $20,000 for surface lots and can surpass $60,000 for underground garages. This cost is absorbed into the costs of building homes or businesses and is passed off in rent, and land is devoted to parking that could instead be used to build more desperately needed housing. 

The new rules are part of a greater effort dubbed Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rulemaking that was launched following an executive order by Gov. Kate Brown instructing state agencies to slow greenhouse gas emissions and address the affordable housing crisis. Under these rules, Oregon's eight most populous metros — Portland, Salem-Keizer, Albany, Corvallis, Central Lane, Bend, Middle Rogue, and Rogue Valley — to 

"change their local transportation and land use plans to do more to ensure Oregonians have more safe, comfortable ways to get around, and don’t have to drive long distances just to meet their daily needs. The rules also aim to improve equity, and help community transportation, housing, and planning."  

These changes, the Department of Land Conservation and Development explains, "ask cities to designate climate-friendly areas and to allow people to build taller buildings providing more housing."

Read the Oregonian's coverage at OregonLive.com, and download more information about Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities rulemaking at Oregon.gov.