Small Cities Reap Big Rewards by Ditching Parking Mandates

Smaller cities across the United States are experiencing significant financial and revitalization benefits by eliminating mandatory parking minimums, challenging the perception that such reforms are only for major urban centers. According to the Parking Reform Network's mandates map, for every large city that has removed these requirements, two smaller towns have successfully followed suit. Examples include Port Townsend, Washington, which converted minimum parking requirements to recommendations in 2024, and Charlottesville, Virginia, which passed a comprehensive zoning code eliminating parking mandates in late 2023. These smaller municipalities, with populations similar to Haltom City, Texas, are demonstrating that parking reform can unlock economic potential and community rejuvenation.

In Haltom City, the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) is advocating for the removal of parking mandates, particularly in the city's south and central areas like Denton Highway and Carson, Belknap, and Northeast 28th streets. Joe Palmer, HUBA's communications director, emphasizes that eliminating costly and outdated parking requirements would help attract small businesses to fill vacant properties, boost local employment, and improve the city's aesthetics. Founder Ron Sturgeon identifies parking mandates as the primary barrier to redeveloping vacant buildings, arguing that these regulations hinder prosperity and increase the tax burden on residents. The alliance believes that reforming parking laws is a straightforward solution to revitalize older commercial corridors and foster a thriving business community.

Historically, Haltom City's development was shaped by automobile-centric planning, leading to current challenges with stringent parking requirements that no longer reflect actual demand. This has resulted in an overabundance of parking spaces and stalled redevelopment, as vacant properties often lack the space to meet mandates. HUBA contends that removing these barriers would not only attract businesses but also support the city's goal of diverse economic growth, competitive wages for first responders, and improved infrastructure. By learning from the success stories of other small cities, Haltom City has an opportunity to reverse decline and create a more vibrant, business-friendly environment for its working-class community.