Environment Texas Supports Parking Reforms to Build a Greener, Walkable Dallas

On December 5th, Environment Texas City Hall Advocate Ian Seamans addressed the Dallas City Plan and Zoning Commission (CPC) to advocate for proposed reforms to the city’s off-street parking codes. These reforms mark a pivotal step toward creating a more sustainable, livable Dallas. They aim to eliminate parking minimums in city code, require developers to adopt transportation demand management plans, enhance parking lot walkability, and update bike parking standards.

In his testimony, Seamans highlighted the urgent need for these changes to address the city’s environmental challenges, including flash flooding, water pollution, and urban heat islands.

As we wrote two years ago, when these ideas were first debated, “To save paradise, we need to stop putting up pointless parking lots.” Now, the reforms are gaining momentum and could bring significant environmental and community benefits, aligning with Dallas’s Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP). The CPC will revisit the proposal, along with potential amendments, at their January 16th, 2025, meeting.