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Action alert: Getting rid of excessive parking mandates

Action alert: Getting rid of excessive parking mandates

March 13, 2024

Action Alert

Parking minimums — requirements that new construction provide off-street parking, regardless of whether the builder wants it — are a bad idea for many reasons, but the most important are:

They waste space that could be better used for business activities or housing.
They increase our already-high building costs, which contributes to high housing costs.
They invite more cars into our community, which means more pollution, more traffic, and more car crashes.

For an affordable and sustainable future, Somerville should set limits on the number of additional cars we bring into the community, and simultaneously make it easier and faster to get around without a car.

That’s why we’re thrilled to see two major developments coming up this week.

First, there’s a Carbon Free Somerville petition to eliminate mandatory parking minimums citywide for all building uses, develop maximum off-street parking limits, and expand our bus lane network. Great idea. We wholeheartedly endorse this petition and encourage everyone to sign it.

Sign the petition here

Second, Councilors Ben Ewen-Campen and Willie Burnley, Jr. are about to introduce a resolution to implement the first step in that process: removing the requirement to build excessive parking. We encourage you to come to this week’s City Council meeting on Thursday the 14th at 7 pm, and, if possible, speak in favor.

Sincerely,

Somerville YIMBY Steering Committee