In support of zoning for neighborhood walkability and small-scale infill
On Tuesday, March 21st, Tucson Mayor & Council will hold a public hearing on a code amendment package to simplify Planning & Zoning processes, promote small-scale infill, and reduce mandatory parking minimums.
Living Streets Alliance supports these amendments for their potential to increase housing stock and affordability, while creating more walkable, livable streets in Tucson.
Below is our letter of support for the Unified Development Code Amendment Package outlining several benefits of these zoning code updates. We are encouraging them to vote yes, in support of the Planning and Development Services Code Update Package, and we encourage you to do the same!
Here’s how you can help:
Send a message or letter of support to Mayor & Council (feel free to crib from our letter below if that’s helpful)
Attend the Mayor & Council meeting on 3/21/23 at 5:30pm and speak in support of the amendment during the Call to the Audience
Spread the word—encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to do the same!
On behalf of the board and staff of Living Streets Alliance this letter is to voice our strong support for the proposed code amendment package that will improve Planning and Development Services processes, simplify development standards, and remove barriers to small-scale infill. We are particularly excited about three of the proposed amendments, namely, standardizing building setbacks on Major Streets and Routes, removing setback requirements between townhouse units, and reducing parking requirements for small multi-family residential development.
These code changes are in close alignment with our mission to advocate for a thriving Tucson by creating great streets for all of us. The proposed amendments will broaden Tucson’s options for creating desperately-needed housing within the city. They will also allow for transforming land that is currently underutilized and/or used only for parking, providing an alternative to the sprawling development that puts immense strain on our remaining natural areas and resources while reinforcing automobile-oriented street designs that are hostile for people walking.
Living Streets Alliance envisions streets as living public spaces that connect people to places and to each other. Current setback requirements on our Major Streets and Routes have incentivized car-dependent development which has resulted in an urban environment that is inhospitable to people traveling outside of a vehicle along our urban arterials. They have led to more traffic and pollution, as well as a reduction in safety on our streets for everyone using them. We are excited about the reduced setback requirements to help create more walkable and inviting streetscapes and encourage more walking trips to everyday destinations such as grocery stores, restaurants, and other shops and services. An improved walking environment would also support walking trips that are essential for connecting to public transit services.
Another amendment included in this package would make it easier to develop townhomes which is a housing type we would like to see more of in Tucson. Infill development can increase Tucson’s housing stock without requiring costly taxpayer investment into new streets and utility infrastructures. Creating pathways to missing middle housing supports affordability and accessibility within Tucson neighborhoods for families at diverse income levels, allowing for greater access to schools and other nearby resources. Small-scale infill development such as townhomes also supports multi-modal transportation and walkable neighborhoods while allowing for more efficient use of spaces on building sites.
Living Streets Alliance is firmly in favor of eliminating parking minimums for small multi-family and other types of development. Minimum parking requirements often pose a barrier to the development of housing and other community amenities, while forcing us, as a community, to leave valuable space in our city unused much of the time. Reducing mandatory parking minimums can help mitigate the stormwater runoff and heat island effect issues associated with excess pavement and hardscape surfaces in our urban environment. Building on these amendments, which were largely drawn from community input, we encourage the Mayor and Council to look into eliminating parking minimums and other barriers to infill across our development code.
The amendments proposed align with principles around housing affordability and density described in the Tucson Resilient Together plan adopted earlier this month as part of our city’s response to the climate crisis. For these reasons, among others, we hope that you will align with the City of Tucson Planning Commission’s vote and adopt the proposed code amendments toward a zoning system that supports housing and livable communities for all.
