Binghamton zoning changes to eliminate parking requirements

BINGHAMTON, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – The City of Binghamton has proposed changes to its zoning laws that would eliminate parking requirements for new developments and speed up approvals.

Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham announced a proposal that would eliminate parking requirements for senior and affordable housing, reduce all parking requirements up to 75%, lower restrictions on townhouse and condo development, and modernize lot size, setback, and building height regulations.

Kraham says the proposal would reduce the amount of parking spaces that are legally required for senior and affordable housing, and make more land available to build units, and improve storm water infrastructure.

“By doing away with those restrictions, we make it a lot cheaper for somebody to develop on this site, and especially on those vacant sites that are in neighborhoods. We want to see more housing be built. A site like this could have probably two, large, single-family homes, if oriented in the right way. Under the current zoning, it would probably not be possible, but under the new rules, it would be possible. So, our ultimate goal here is to build more housing,” says Kraham.

Kraham says housing is one of the city’s biggest issues, and the change in zoning would also allow the construction of townhouses and condos in residential districts.

He says the proposal would increase housing density and fast-track the approval process for the construction of single-family homes.

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