OPINION — My name is Hayden, a resident of St. George and a concerned citizen about our city’s ever-growing sprawl of asphalt. Large empty lots throughout our city’s commercial districts rob us of valuable real estate because of our minimum business parking requirements.
The new parking structure built next to the new Washington County Administration Building in St. George, Utah, Sept. 14, 2023 | Photo by Mori Kessler, St. George News
As St. George tops the charts as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the nation, we need to think more critically about how we use our valuable land.
In an attempt to appeal to possible consumers, all businesses in the region are required to have a minimum number of parking spots based on their total possible occupancy. The downside to this, however, is that the majority of this space is never fully used in our commercial areas, costing businesses large sums of money and removing land that could be put to other uses.
Southern Utah’s housing crisis could be alleviated by transforming our seas of asphalt into affordable housing. Walkable, profitable communities could be constructed to produce more revenue for the city. Traffic in the city would be reduced by discouraging driving, as residents would be able to take a light stroll to their nearest stores if they were not separated by imposing parking lots.
Those who require extra support in our community, such as the elderly and the disabled, can still be provided preferential parking through the use of our already existing accessible parking system. This would remove the risk that reducing parking minimums poses by still supplying for the needs of vulnerable groups. Additionally, with the transformation of empty lots into valuable homes and businesses, these individuals would be more likely to be within walking distance of their points of interest. They wouldn’t have to drive or get a ride to complete daily tasks, they could take shorter trips using whatever accessibility measures are best suited for them.
I hope that you consider these pressing issues in our community and help bring attention to residents and our city council. The problems presented by minimum parking requirements can be corrected through public policy, and that will only happen if we the people make our desires known.
Submitted by HAYDEN JONES, St. George.
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