A City Council bill that sounds awfully dry on its face – it would eliminate parking space minimum requirements in certain situations, among other provisions – blew up recently into a heated debate that included accusations of classism, racism and more.
Parking has a way of doing that in Baltimore.
The measure, intended to make the city less car-centric, would end parking minimums in the city, including a zoning code requirement that any conversion of a single-family home into two or more apartments demonstrate that off-street parking can be provided.
Because on-site parking is generally impossible on a typical rowhouse lot, the zoning requirement has had the effect of preventing property owners from carving up houses into multiple units.
