HALTOM CITY, TX, December 09, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- You probably have read the success stories about how major urban areas such as New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Minneapolis eliminated parking minimums. It might come as a surprise, however, to learn about the financial boost smaller cities are enjoying after implementing parking reforms.

According to the Parking Reform Network's mandates map, for every large city in the United States that has removed parking minimums, there are two smaller towns that have successfully done the same.

Just look at Port Townsend, a historic waterfront town located about two hours from Seattle on Washington state's Olympic Peninsula. Boasting a population of just over 10,000, Port Townsend successfully eliminated parking mandates in 2024, ahead of many of the state's larger municipalities. In changing the city code, lawmakers decided to convert the minimum parking requirement to a minimum parking recommendation instead. This action followed in-depth research and community input indicating that the city was using too many parking spaces that could be put to better use.

And in late 2023, Charlottesville, Virginia lawmakers passed a comprehensive zoning code that did away with parking requirements. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains and home to the historic University of Virginia, the city features a population of 47,000, a figure similar to that of Haltom City.

"It's interesting that many people in Haltom City think parking reform is just for big cities," said Joe Palmer, communications director for Haltom United Business Alliance. "I think they'd be pleasantly surprised to learn about the success stories of smaller cities just like Haltom City that have reaped benefits from getting rid of parking mandates."

For starters, eliminating costly parking mandates would help bring small businesses back to Haltom City. And from an economic standpoint, that's certainly something that Haltom City could take advantage of, especially in the older commercial corridors, Palmer said.

"If the city could entice small businesses to set up shop here, it would provide a real boost to rejuvenating the area in so many ways," Palmer said. "As it is now, people driving through see all the vacant businesses, and simply don't want to live here. Not only could we improve the aesthetics of the city, it also would provide much-needed jobs for residents of the south and central Haltom City areas," he added.

Haltom City was founded in 1932 and incorporated in 1949. Its main thoroughfares originally were lined with businesses, so it's easy to see that the city was laid out primarily for automobile traffic.

A bit of historical perspective can offer insight into how Haltom City and other small municipalities became mired in an overabundance of parking. Prior to the late 1800s, the focus in many cities and towns was on walking, by necessity. Around 1880, streetcars started becoming popular as a form of transportation. Paved streets in the late 19th century helped with bicycles, wagons and carriages.

The early 20th century marked the dawn of an era for the automobile industry. By 1930, the car had transformed American cities, as streets became predominantly vehicle-focused. By the mid- 20th century, more and more Americans became car owners, and the automobile became an essential part of the modern American landscape. It afforded people convenience, speed, efficiency, and independence from urban transit. For many American families, individual car ownership became the norm, as it allowed them ready accessibility to travel, privacy, and the personal enjoyment of being able to drive a vehicle. It allowed car owners the flexibility of working, shopping, and enjoying recreational activities whenever and wherever they wanted.

But the rise in personal car ownership inevitably led to traffic congestion, and kept people from considering alternative public transit options, such as streetcars or trolleys, and later, buses and trains.

In the latter half of the 20th century and through the early 21st century, local zoning codes began to spiral out of control. They required developers to construct more parking areas, regardless of need. In reality, those zoning requirements did not accurately reflect the actual parking demand. This led to an overabundance of parking, which resulted in problems.

For municipalities such as Haltom City, one of the biggest issues is current stringent parking requirements. Complying with these outdated laws means that the redevelopment of the city's vacant buildings has ground to a halt.

"Haltom City has a lot of vacant property, with smaller, older buildings," Palmer said. "Frequently, these properties don't have enough space available to meet the current parking requirements. The problem is, when someone comes along and shows interest in leasing a property, they find out there isn't enough space to meet the city's parking mandates. Business owners really have no other choice but to set up shop elsewhere."

Palmer believes eliminating cumbersome parking mandates would help rejuvenate the older areas of Haltom City by reviving development, adding that they're effectively costing the city money and simply aren't necessary. That's why HUBA is urging the city to specifically remove parking minimums in the city's south and central areas, such as Denton Highway, and Carson, Belknap and Northeast 28th streets.

"Just imagine what Haltom City would look like if businesses occupied all those vacant buildings," Palmer said. "And it's such an easy fix, too. There's simply no reason it can't be done."

Haltom United Business Alliance Founder Ron Sturgeon believes that parking mandates are the number one reason vacant properties in Haltom City can't attract tenants. Sturgeon is a huge proponent of bringing small businesses back to Haltom City, and knows that a flourishing business community translates to higher employment rates.

"These unnecessary parking regulations serve no useful purpose, other than to hamper the city's ability to bring prosperity back to the area," Sturgeon said, noting that businesses operating in the city would help ease the tax burden on Haltom City's residents.

About Haltom City
Haltom City is a diverse, majority working-class city located between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. Haltom City is minutes from both the DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Due to an outdated and restrictive use matrix that discourages new business and deters growth, several areas of Haltom City have seen a decline in small businesses that provided goods and services and were a significant source of jobs, including the once-thriving automotive industry. However, Haltom City can reverse this trend and should prioritize development of inner-city land and vacant buildings, particularly in the major corridors close to the city's center. The city is financially healthy, with a capable manager and staff who would like to see diverse business development occur, and need the support of the Haltom City Council to make it happen.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses in the industrial districts, and bring more restaurants including breweries and eventually a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at HUBAgrp@gmail.com. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

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