How many Shreveport shopping centers have massive parking lots that are widely underused, even during Christmas shopping?
How many local restaurants have an excess of parking spaces that exist only to hold the earth together?
How many strip centers need more shops and customers than parking areas?
The simple answer to all of the above is "too many", as in way, way too many.
Concrete pavement is expensive. It creates drainage issues and has long term maintenance issues.
Simply put, concrete is not environmentally friendly.
The Shreveport City Council has an Oct. 28 agenda item that addresses the required parking under the City's Unified Development Code (UDC), which includes zoning and building restrictions. This ordinance will amend various articles of the UDC regarding minimum off-street vehicular parking requirements. These 29 amendments remove ALL references to required minimum off-street vehicular parking requirements.
MPC Executive Director Alan Clarke advised the Shreveport City Council that these amendments reflect current best practices in land use regulation that are intended to create conditions and climate to the growth to support growth of local businesses and to attract investment and entrepreneurs. This change will mean less construction cost, less land needed for new businesses, and a reduction in needed drainage control measures.
The Shreveport MPC Board and the MPC staff are to be commended for this progressive action. No doubt the Council will approve these changes unanimously.
The Caddo Commission may also want to have the parking lot requirements in the Parish UDC, which differs from the City, reviewed soon. No doubt these standards should be removed Parish UDC ordinances.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.