PARKING

1. The Colorado Simulation

The City points to a study out of Colorado as proof. But dig deeper:
It wasn’t based on Bellingham.
It didn’t measure single-family neighborhoods.
It only modeled large apartment buildings with garages.
So why use it here? Because it gave the result planners wanted: an excuse to eliminate parking requirements and push density into every neighborhood.

2. The Local Impact

When parking mandates disappear, here’s what happens:
Crowded Streets — Cars line both sides, leaving no space for kids to ride bikes or play.
Safety Risks — A child chasing a ball into a blocked street. Emergency vehicles delayed by congestion.
Overflow Problems — Tenants and visitors spill into nearby streets, stressing neighborhoods that were never designed for this.
This doesn’t create affordability. It creates danger and frustration.

3. Who Really Benefits?

Developers cut costs by skipping parking spaces.
City Hall collects more fees when denser projects squeeze into small lots.
Homeowners & Families? They pay the price in lost safety, crowded neighborhoods, and declining property values.

4. What You Can Do

Stay Informed — Follow the Real Issues Podcast for weekly breakdowns of these policy myths.
Talk to Neighbors — Share the facts before the narrative takes over.
Push Back — Demand that City Hall uses local data, not out-of-state models, before rewriting your neighborhood.