Hello Detroiters for Parking Reform!

Exciting news: the mayor’s office is proposing some changes to the zoning code that will increase infill housing in R2 zones and loosen minimum parking mandates for developments along transit corridors! While this is not the ideal scenario (getting rid of parking minimums citywide), it represents a big step forward here in the Motor City. You can find some more details of the proposal in this agenda for the City Planning Commission meeting. The City Planning Commission will vote on this change either on July 31st or in September, and then it will go to the city council in the fall.

Here’s how you can help show support for these positive changes in the city!

1. If you live in current District 4 or District 5 (see map here to find out), there are city council meetings happening this upcoming week. If you can go and do a public comment in support of the zoning changes, that would really help out, especially if you cannot attend the City Planning Commission Meeting.

• District 4 — July 28th, 2025 6:00pm to 7:30pm (IN PERSON ONLY) AB Ford Rec Center
• District 5 — July 30th, 2025 5:30pm to 7:00pm (IN PERSON ONLY) Butzel Family Recreation Center

2. Attend the City Planning Commission meeting on July 31st at 5:00 PM in-person or virtually. Share a public comment. We want a strong showing at that meeting because we anticipate there will be pushback on reducing parking minimums and because the CPC will be voting on this ordinance fairly soon!

3. If you cannot attend either district meeting or the City Planning Commission, you can call or email the City Planning Commission and your councilperson. Those who do attend may also wish to email them, it can only help!

4. Members of Strong Towns Detroit, a new nonprofit that is strongly supporting these zoning changes, have written an op ed that will be in Bridge Detroit on Monday. Share the op ed on social media or with your councilperson!

These are the things you can do this week, but the push is only beginning because the city council portion in the fall will likely draw more interest from naysayers. We need to establish strong support now, and then grow that support between now and fall.

Let’s reform parking, Detroiters!