If you're feeling like the city's current parking requirements are putting the brakes on community progress, the City of Dallas is steering towards change and wants your input. A special called City Plan Commission (CPC) meeting is gearing up to discuss amendments to the Off-Street Parking Code on January 16 and residents are encouraged to attend in person, tune in online, or submit their comments on the proposed changes. A briefing is set for 11 a.m., followed by a public hearing beginning no sooner than 12:30 p.m., as detailed in a City of Dallas bulletin.

The proposed amendments could shift the city landscape, with a push toward more flexible parking strategies allowing for right-sized parking that aims to accommodate only what is necessary rather than a one-size-fits-all government mandate which would. Commissioner Michael Wade pointed out in an informational video that the city's considering a Transportation Demand Management Plan (TDMP) to bundle its transportation review processes.

For those scratching their heads over "parking minimums," these are the quotas enforced by the city's Development Code mandating specific numbers of parking spaces for various property types—ranging from one per bedroom in apartment buildings to one per 100 square feet in restaurants. This code amendment would not affect curb parking, but, it would address these on-property requirements, which is separate from the city's previously adopted On-Street Parking & Curb Management Plan.