Washington State's Parking Reform Success Offers Model for Struggling Cities Like Haltom City

According to an article published by the non-profit group Strong Towns, Washington State successfully advanced innovative parking reform by shifting the narrative from where parking reform might be appropriate to when it might be needed. This approach questioned whether different types of businesses, like a take-out restaurant versus a dine-in establishment, should require the same number of mandated parking spaces, or if old parking rules should prevent essential services like daycares from opening or make affordable housing virtually impossible to build. The new narrative attracted bipartisan support from government leaders, homeowners, small business owners, and housing advocates.

Earlier this year, this culminated in the enactment of the Parking Reform and Modernization Act (SB 5184), which virtually eliminated the old one-size-fits-all approach and placed parking decisions in the hands of property owners and developers instead. Further details about this legislative success are documented in the Strong Towns article, Washington Just Rewrote the Rules on Parking — Here's Why It Worked, as well as on the official Washington State Legislature SB 5184 - 2025-26 webpage. The article notes that for communities struggling with housing shortages, inflated development costs, or underused land, Washington's approach offers a clear example of what is possible in both policy and political strategy.

This model presents a relevant solution for Haltom City, Texas, where current parking mandates have been identified as a roadblock to building homes, businesses, and essential services, particularly in south and central inner-city areas in decline. For nearly five years, the Haltom United Business Alliance (HUBA) has raised this issue with the City Council. Private investors and developers interested in revitalizing older, vacant commercial properties are often stopped by unrealistic and costly regulations, including parking minimums. Joe Palmer, HUBA Communications Director, stated that targeted strategies are needed to reverse decline and spur redevelopment, and that parking reform alone could make a real difference.

HUBA recommendations include creating mini overlay districts along corridors like Denton Highway where many buildings sit vacant, following examples from cities like Houston that have seen renovation surges, or adopting Austin's model of eliminating mandated off-street parking spaces. As emphasized in the policy discussion, parking reform does not limit parking availability; it limits what the government can require, thereby reducing development costs and barriers. The resources available at organizations like the Parking Reform Network, which offers sample legislation and activism guides, underscore the growing national movement toward such regulatory changes. Washington State's demonstrated success provides a practical framework for Haltom City to consider in its efforts to foster business growth and address urban decline.