In the flurry of bills signed last month by Governor Newson was a potential game-changer for Los Angeles, long known as the Car Capital of the World.
AB2097 requires cities to approve projects without imposing a minimum number of parking spaces as long as the project is located within 0.5 miles of “public transit” (as defined by California Code).
Supporters of the bill say it will help reduce the cost of housing at a time when the state is falling further and further behind on its need to approve housing for its residents. The elimination of parking minimums is for all types of uses – residential, commercial, etc. – but supporters believe that developers of housing projects will be more likely to reduce or eliminate on-site parking than commercial developers which in turn will make housing projects less expensive to build.
The bill doesn’t take effect until Jan. 1, but unlike last year’s SB9 bill – which city leaders opposed – the city council voted to support AB2097 and urged Newsom to sign the assembly bill prior to its passing.
A few cities in Northern California have eliminated all parking requirements. Earlier this month, Culver City became the first city in Los Angeles County to go carless as well.
