One-Size-Fits-All Parking Rules Are a Roadblock to Progress

Revitalization of Haltom City's older commercial areas requires parking reform now.

HALTOM CITY, TX, February 17, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- According to an article published by the non-profit group Strong Towns, the following question helped advance innovative parking reform in Washington State: "What if parking rules weren't just a zoning footnote, but a roadblock to building homes, businesses, and essential services?"

By focusing on that question, the narrative shifted from "where" parking reform might be appropriate (e.g., near local transit) to the more important "when" (or in what instance) it might it be needed. For example, should a take-out restaurant require the same number of parking spaces as a restaurant designed for in-house dining? Should mandated parking rules prevent a daycare from opening? Should old parking rules add so much to development costs that it's virtually impossible to build affordable housing?

The new narrative attracted the interest of homeowners, small business owners, housing advocates and others, ultimately leading to support from a bipartisan group of government leaders. Earlier this year, the Parking Reform and Modernization Act (SB 5184) was enacted, virtually eliminating the old one-size-fits-all approach and putting parking decisions in the hands of property owners and developers instead. Further details about SB 5184 can be found in the Strong Towns article, Washington Just Rewrote the Rules on Parking — Here's Why It Worked, as well as on the Washington State Legislature SB 5184 - 2025-26 webpage.

Haltom City would be wise to take a page from Washington State's approach. For years, homeowners, small business owners, private investors, and even real estate professionals have found that current parking mandates have indeed been "a roadblock to building homes, businesses, and essential services," especially in the south/central inner-city areas which have long been in decline. Time and again, private investors and developers interested in buying or renting an older commercial property (many of which currently sit vacant) have been stopped by unrealistic and/or costly regulations, parking minimum mandates among them.

For close to five years, the members of the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) have been raising this issue with the City Council and making recommendations for change. One such recommendation is to create mini "overlay" districts along corridors (e.g., Denton Highway, Carson, NE 28th Street, Belknap) where so many older buildings sit vacant and unused. There are a number of American cities, Houston among them, that have done something similar and have already seen a surge in renovation and growth. Another suggestion is to follow Austin's example and stop requiring business to have a mandated number of off-street parking spaces whether needed for their business or not. Regardless of the approach, parking reform does not limit parking, it just limits what the government can require.

As stated in the Strong Town article, "For communities struggling with housing shortages, inflated development costs, or underused land, Washington's approach offers a clear example of what's possible—not just in policy, but in political strategy, too. And if your city is ready to do something similar, repealing parking mandates is a great place to start."

Said HUBA Communications Director Joe Palmer, "Targeted strategies are needed to reverse decline and spur redevelopment of the ever-growing number of vacant buildings in these areas. Parking reform alone could make a real difference."

To learn more about this issue, feel free to contact Joe at HUBAgrp@gmail.com. You might also be interested in the resources available at the Parking Reform Network. Among other things, the organization offers sample legislation, guides for activism, blogs, podcasts, and even a Parking Mandates Map that attempts to keep track of parking reform activities as they occur across the country and beyond.

About Haltom United Business Alliance
Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) wants to give members of Haltom City's business community an advocate and to keep those businesses informed about issues that affect them. They want to make sure Haltom City is business friendly and nurtures small business growth, including automotive businesses, and bring more restaurants including breweries and a major grocery store to the city. New businesses and growth in existing businesses will create a stronger tax base which will allow the city to pay its first responders wages that are competitive with surrounding cities while improving Haltom City's facilities and infrastructure. HUBA believes that the southern and central parts of the city need a revitalization plan, to prevent further degradation in those areas, and wants that to happen before the inner-city experiences increased crime and more blight. As retail and office uses are in decline, it's more critical than ever to attract new businesses. They believe that such a plan requires a strong relationship and support of the business community. Anyone who owns a business in Haltom City is eligible to join HUBA. Dues are $20 annually or $50 for a lifetime membership, and membership is 100% confidential. To join, contact Joe Palmer at (682) 310-0591 or by email at HUBAgrp@gmail.com. Visit the group's Facebook at Haltom United Business Alliance.

About Haltom City
Haltom City is a medium-sized city between Dallas and Fort Worth in Tarrant County, TX. The city is diverse and majority working class, with a growing population that is approximately 10% Asian-American and 45% Hispanic. Haltom City benefits from being only minutes from both DFW Airport and Downtown Fort Worth, with direct access to major highways including I-820 and SH-121. Small businesses that have historically provided products, services, and jobs to residents included a once thriving automotive industry. The city has seen a decline in small businesses, especially automotive businesses. The city is healthy financially, with median household income growing around 8% in the past year. Haltom City has an opportunity for continued growth through undeveloped land and many vacant buildings, especially in major corridors close to the city's center. The city has good staff and a city manager who is interested in seeing more businesses come to Haltom City, but they can only do as directed by City Council.

Read the full story here: https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/528000/one-size-fits-all-parking-rules-are-a-roadblock-to-progress

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