Another domino has fallen in the parking reform movement.

The city of Durham approved a zoning reform initiative titled Simplifying Codes for Affordable Development (SCAD), which includes the end of parking mandates for new development.
Mary Helen Moore covers the story for The News & Observer, noting that “Monday’s vote, arriving at nearly midnight, followed four hours of debate in the last meeting before the newly elected City Council takes office next month.” The city is the ninth largest in the country to eliminate parking requirements, according to the Parking Reform Network.
The proposal, which was written by a group of developers, is controversial with both homeowner groups and affordable housing advocates like Habitat for Humanity, who withdrew their support.
In addition to removing parking mandates, SCAD eliminates maximum densities in commercial and office zones, allows places of worship to build ADUs, and requires mixed-use for certain developments. It also streamlines site plan review and adjust regulations to encourage infill development.
FULL STORY: ‘Closer and higher’: Durham becomes 9th largest city in US to end required parking

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power
The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing
Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths
Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply
New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?
Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas
The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.
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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
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