Buried deep within Tulsa Revised Ordinances, Chapter 42, Section 1300, Tulsa's off-street parking requirements set arbitrary standards for parking. They are completely inconsistent with today's land use patterns in Tulsa.
First of all, Tulsa can no longer grow out. The City is completely surrounded by fast growing suburban cities. The only way the City can increase its sales tax base is in-fill development.
According to Shawn Schaffer, OU Tulsa School of Architecture, Tulsa's parking spaces occupy almost 80 square miles. It's driven largely by the off-street parking requirements all developers wastes precious resources.
One, it's not cheap to acquire land area devoted to "free" parking on retail and commercial property. Even homeowners are taxed unnecessarily by the arbitrary off-street parking requirements.
Two, parking lots are non-revenue generating square footage, with expensive maintenance costs and associated debt service costs. Thus, retail prices must be high enough to pay for the "free" parking.
Three, parking lots don't generate sales tax either. Parking lots stretch the City's abilities to provide utilities. Water and sewer lines are longer. Police, fire, and ambulance drive longer distances.
Instead of arbitrary standards for parking spaces for different land uses, simply allow the market and developers to make parking decisions, WITHOUT government infringement.
Source: Tulsa Wins Golden Crater Award
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