Brooklyn pols call for an end to parking requirements in new rezonings
Policy shift would reduce car ownership in many areas
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, Councilmember Lincoln Restler (D-Heights-Downtown-DUMBO-Greenpoint) and other Brooklyn elected officials on Monday called on developers and the Department of City Planning to eliminate requirements for off-street parking in new construction in transit-rich Brooklyn neighborhoods, and instead prioritize a walkable city with more affordable housing.
The request was explained to the Department of City Planning (DCP) in a letter signed by Brooklyn elected officials. The letter’s supporters are calling on DCP to ask all residential developers to add special permits that would fully waive parking requirements for any rezoning projects in transit-rich areas as a measure to reduce car use and ownership.
“Right now, we need to be laser-focused on tackling the climate crisis and creating affordable housing for our neighbors,” said Restler. “We are leveraging the collective power of elected officials in the land use process to eliminate construction of new parking spots on top of subway stations.”
“Discouraging car ownership in transit-rich neighborhoods will provide more public benefits in the realm of climate change and affordable housing development than personal inconvenience,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “We thank Council Member Restler for leading the advocacy to have the Brooklyn Department of City Planning act on the right side of the issue and eliminate residential off-street parking requirements in these areas.”
In total, the borough president and nine Brooklyn councilmembers have embraced this new approach: Councilmember Restler, Councilmember Jennifer Gutierrez (District 34), Councilmember Crystal Hudson (District 35), Councilmember Chi Osse (District 36), Councilmember Sandy Nurse (District 37), Councilmember Alexa Avilés (District 38), Councilmember Shahana Hanif (District 39), Councilmember Rita Joseph (District 40), and Councilmember Farrah Louis (District 45).