As I outline in my prepared testimony, the move puts KCK in good company. Cities from Buffalo to Tulsa have found that relaxing or removing parking minimums can reduce costs, unlock older buildings, and foster mixed-use investment—especially in urban neighborhoods built before today’s zoning rules.
Buffalo’s 2017 repeal of all parking minimums cleared the way for over 1,500 new housing units in just five years, 63 percent of which wouldn’t have been permitted under the old rules. Seattle and Tulsa pursued more targeted strategies, reducing parking near transit and seeing increased development interest in small lots and historic corridors. Des Moines has also begun easing requirements to support adaptive reuse and infill.
The testimony notes that these reforms are backed by recent federal and academic research. The U.S. DOT’s 2025 ‘Parking Reforms’ brief notes that structured stalls can cost up to $50,000 each, compared with roughly $5,000 for surface spaces—costs that often make small infill projects infeasible. Practitioner surveys compiled by the Parking Reform Network in 2023 report little change in enforcement caseloads post-reform, suggesting most concerns can be managed through routine operations.
Importantly, KCK’s moratorium is not a blanket rollback. It retains residential parking rules and limits the change to certain areas and property types. It also sunsets in three years unless extended—giving officials time to monitor outcomes and make informed policy decisions.
The proposal reflects long-standing local planning goals. KCK’s 2023 Economic Development Strategy and Citywide Comprehensive Plan both flagged parking minimums as outdated obstacles to growth. The Downtown Area Plan calls for more active uses along street frontages, and the goDotte Strategic Mobility Plan prioritizes walkable development in key corridors.
The proposal is not a mandate against parking, but an invitation to build what’s needed without arbitrary constraints. In legacy cities across the country, such incremental reforms are helping revive neighborhoods and reduce regulatory friction—without sacrificing accessibility or function.
