If the most popular florist in town has ample parking available at 12pm on Valentines Day, it’s probably not necessary to have these parking mandates in our code!
One-size-fits-all parking for “retail” is arbitrary, hurts small businesses, and isn’t needed!
Eliminating parking minimums is not banning parking. Capping minimum lot size requirements at 5,000 square feet is not banning lots under 5,000 square feet.
Dishonest status quo advocates ragebaiting people by falsely calling everything a ban is my newest pet peeve.
Downtown Atlanta: 1919 versus 2022. Ouch!
And thanks to November’s HB 8002, onerous parking mandates are eliminated for developments w/16 units and under *statewide.”
And for those over, developers can submit 🅿️ needs assessments that include factors like nearby spots and public transit—bringing parking flexibility to the entire state.
An apartment complex "has been leasing 23 parking spots at an off-site Ninth Square garage for over a year — which, according to the developer, no one has been using.
Now, the developer is seeking zoning relief to reduce its parking requirement — and free up those parking spots for public use.”
6/ in fact, we @ctparkingreform.bsky.social mapped Shelton downtown.
24% of it is off-street parking, and that undercounts garage spaces. Again, this is a parking management issue, not a quantity issue.
ctparkingreform.org
I want to talk about this article. On the surface, it’s straightforward business reporting…but it’s really a radical piece written by a NIMBY-leaning reporter.
Its singular focus on parking—without any evidence besides anecdotes—is worth diving into.
A Shelton 🧵/
www.ctinsider.com/news/article...
Developers & leasing companies have every incentive to provide the right amount of parking to meet market demand, and car-free residents shouldn’t have to pay for spaces they won’t use.
Parking mandates come with a heavy cost in dollars, labor and lost opportunities for the land that lots take up.
Would you believe us if we told you New Canaan Connecticut's widely acclaimed “hallmark” town center was actually 35% parking lot?
#MappingMondays
Fairfield CT map of parking in the downtown commercial district
Would you believe us if we told you Fairfield Connecticut's widely acclaimed town center was actually 39% parking lot?
#MappingMondays
Also worth noting: there’s plenty of parking available in downtown New Haven.
We at @ctparkingreform.bsky.social mapped every town and city center in the state, and New Haven’s is 22% parking (which is an undercount, as we used satellite space, so only one floor of a parking garage is factored in).
Good rundown from CT Public here:
www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-10...
The tldr is that CT Fire Marshall’s don’t believe the overwhelming evidence from both NYC, Seattle, and abroad, and were trying to neuter the law that was passed.
However, it may turn out well still!
I’m cautiously optimistic that it will only be the most lunatic NIMBY towns that don’t take advantage of one of the programs.
Here’s a rundown on one of the state programs you can choose—as of the writing in September 26/169 towns in the state were signing up.
ctmirror.org/2025/09/17/c...
I'm honored to have my own Talking Headways episode. I learned about @patricksiegmanca.bsky.social via this podcast - years and years ago.
It was really fun to chat with Jeff and I hope y'all enjoy it.
A collage of photos from PRN events throughout the year
Connecticut passed the strongest statewide legislative parking reforms in the country! Our maps & advocacy helped pass this historic reform.
Support more wins in 2026 by donating to our end of year campaign!
secure.givelively.org/donate/parki...
It goes without saying (so of course I’ll say it): the TOD provisions are opt-in and provide towns infrastructure incentives to build near transit…it is all the governor would sign, so while better than nothing by far, we’ll see how it plays out
Would love to see this!
Lord don’t we know it!
Quick answer: yes!!! CT just passed its most important housing bill in 30+ years.
✅Abolishes all parking mandates for 16 units and under, functionally abolishes them for those over, too
✅ gives towns the option of choosing a program to build more homes around a transit node
Single stair 🤝 parking reform
Connecticut’s now a national leader in parking flexibility, if the upcoming single stair codes are modernized we’ll have a recipe for infill housing on those hard-to-build lots in our towns and cities
I've read the full report. It's compelling. I'm looking forward to the podcast.
America's fire code has become one of the biggest obstacles to reducing traffic deaths in the U.S. (which, as any good safety researcher knows, are more than 10 times as common as fire deaths).
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) have introduced legislation in Congress that directs HUD to write "model code language, best practices, and technical guidelines" for single-stair buildings up to five stories docs.house.gov/meetings/BA/...
With the holiday season in full swing, we’re thinking about one of @4freedoms.es best columns:
“to bring back the (Hallmark) Christmas spirit and the cute Connecticut towns we all seem to love so much, we must abolish parking minimums across the state.”
ctexaminer.com/2024/12/17/c...
Satellite image of a commercial development along a stroad. On the left there's a big box store that says "Property taxes: $102,485, Parcel Size: 17,766 meter square. On the right there's two apartment buildings that read "Property taxes: $626,002, Parcel Size: 10,930 meter square"
Minimum parking requirements create financially insolvent land use patterns.
The two apartment buildings on the right generate six times more in property taxes than the big box store on the left, while occupying almost half the space!
#BlackFridayParking
#Illinois "lifted minimum parking requirements near transit, which is expected to give developers the flexibility they need to lower rents where parking isn’t needed.”
Fact check: true!
www.illinoispolicy.org/blacker-frid...
Nonpoint source pollution…it’s really bad!
www.epa.gov/nps/basic-in...
#BlackFridayParking
Why does this matter? For so many reasons, but the Danbury Mall and the surrounding strip plazas were built over a massive wetlands area (you can see them right next to the huge parking lot).
Every excess parking space means more runoff pollution that goes into Connecticut’s precious ecosystems.
It’s #BlackFridayParking day, so we took a visit to the Danbury Fair Mall in Danbury, CT.
Even on the busiest day of the year—a day where the front side of the mall is packed—the back side and parking garage has more than enough space!
You love to see it! 💪 🅿️ 🫡 👏
New Bedford is quintessentially New England, and ending arbitrary parking mandates will help keep and expand its downtown charm.
Tomorrow is #BlackFridayParking!
Join us in highlighting why costly mandatory parking requirements are unnecessary by showcasing all the excess parking on the busiest shopping day of the year.
Take some pics and post them with the #BlackFridayParking tag!
parkingreform.org/2025/11/19/b...
