Chicago Eliminates Parking Minimums Near Transit
Changes to a city ordinance make it easier to build ‘by-right’ car-free developments near train stations and pave the way for more affordable housing.
A CTA train in downtown Chicago, Illinois. | Andrew Bayda / Adobe Stock
Writing in Streetsblog Chicago, Steven Vance and John Greenfield praise the city of Chicago’s recent move to eliminate parking minimums near train stations and bus routes.
The new rules amend the city’s 2022 Connected Communities Ordinance to eliminate red tape and make building without parking “as of right” near transit. “Developments in transit-served locations in all but ‘D’ (downtown) zoning districts can provide zero parking without having to get an ‘administrative adjustment,’ which was previously a requirement for providing less than 50 percent of otherwise-required car parking.”
Adjustments are still required if a Metra station is the only transit service nearby. The ordinance expands parking relief to more neighborhoods, including many zoned for detached homes and small multifamily developments. Owners will be able to add new units to existing homes (zoning permitting) without adding parking.
The authors express optimism that the changes will lower costs for developers and encourage more car-light or car-free building near transit. “That in turn means less driving on Chicago streets, fewer car crashes, and less congestion and pollution, which will benefit all of us.”