BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Bellingham residents have a chance to weigh in one of the city’s latest efforts to address the housing crisis.

The city council is holding a public hearing on Monday, July 13, to discuss a permanent plan to eliminate parking minimums.

City code currently requires developers to include a certain amount of parking spaces based on how many people live at a residence or by square footage for non-residential buildings.

But an interim ordinance suspending parking minimums has allowed developers to choose how much parking they deem necessary for new projects for the past year and a half. The interim ordinance also established minimum parking requirements for bicycles that vary based on location.

The city’s planning commission has now recommended a set of permanent regulations that are similar to the interim ordinance, with a few changes.

According to city planning staff, studies have shown that adding more parking drives up the cost of housing and reduces the available land to create more of it.

Monday’s public hearing takes place at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall and people can also participate virtually or send written comments beforehand.