Small Towns Experience Economic Benefits After Removing Parking Minimums

Smaller municipalities across the United States are experiencing significant economic benefits after eliminating parking minimums, challenging the perception that such reforms only apply to major urban centers. According to the Parking Reform Network's mandates map, for every large city that has removed parking minimums, two smaller towns have successfully implemented similar changes.

Port Townsend, Washington, a historic waterfront town with approximately 10,000 residents, eliminated parking mandates in 2024, converting minimum parking requirements to recommendations instead. This decision followed research indicating the town was using too many parking spaces that could serve better purposes. Similarly, Charlottesville, Virginia, with a population of 47,000, passed comprehensive zoning code changes in late 2023 that removed parking requirements entirely.

Joe Palmer, communications director for Haltom United Business Alliance, noted that many Haltom City residents believe parking reform is exclusively for large cities. "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," Palmer said. Eliminating costly parking mandates could help bring small businesses back to Haltom City, particularly in older commercial corridors that have experienced decline.

Historical context reveals how American municipalities became burdened with excessive parking requirements. While 19th-century transportation focused on walking and streetcars, the automobile's rise in the early 20th century transformed urban landscapes. By the mid-20th century, car ownership became the norm, offering convenience but leading to traffic congestion and reduced public transit use. Throughout the latter 20th and early 21st centuries, local zoning codes increasingly required developers to construct more parking than necessary, creating an overabundance of parking spaces that didn't reflect actual demand.

For Haltom City, current stringent parking requirements present a significant obstacle to redevelopment. "Frequently, these properties don't have enough space available to meet the current parking requirements," Palmer explained. "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." This has halted redevelopment of vacant buildings throughout the city.

Haltom United Business Alliance Founder Ron Sturgeon identifies parking mandates as the primary reason vacant properties in Haltom City cannot attract tenants. "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. He emphasized that businesses operating in the city would help ease the tax burden on Haltom City's residents while creating employment opportunities.

The alliance is urging Haltom City to specifically remove parking minimums in south and central areas, including Denton Highway, and Carson, Belknap and Northeast 28th streets. Palmer believes eliminating cumbersome parking mandates would rejuvenate older areas by reviving development, noting they're effectively costing the city money without providing necessary benefits. "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."

The economic implications extend beyond individual businesses to broader community benefits. Revitalizing vacant properties could improve city aesthetics, create much-needed jobs for residents in south and central Haltom City areas, and make the community more attractive to potential residents. As smaller towns across the country demonstrate, parking reform represents a practical approach to addressing urban decline and stimulating local economic growth without requiring substantial public investment.