Oversupply of parking has economic consequences, group studying how best to modernize

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — It might be time to start modernizing how we park.

“There's more people working from home. There's autonomous vehicles coming, more car sharing,” said Julie Bjornstad, senior transportation planner with the Wasatch Front Regional Council.

Bjornstad said too much land dedicated to parking can reduce economic development, increase housing costs and reduce revenue for cities.

There’s a risk to not getting parking in the future right.

Work from home life, micro commuting, scooters, bicycling and ride share have changed parking needs.

The Wasatch Front Regional Council will create a guidebook with suggestions for local communities on how to modernize their parking, re-purpose lots and garages and free up land for more affordable housing.

“We're not taking away parking that they're using we're saying there's a lot of parking that you're not using and what else can we do with that to make things more convenient to you” Bjornstad said.

Investor and developer David Werts turned extra parking space on a property he owns on State Street into new commercial properties.

“It's worked out well for us as well as the tenants, it reduces the cost for all the tenants because now we're sharing costs,” Werts said.

With the high price of land and need for more space to build affordable housing, Werts said always re-evaluating for more efficient land use is smart.

“It's in every negotiation in every lease and it's in every development, every city is demanding certain requirements,” Werts said.

Once the guide book is finished – the group will present to cities with fresh ideas on what they call “right size” parking.