Permits Johnston to require 2 parking spaces for each studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom low- or moderate-income housing unit upon the determination that limited or no local public transportation or off-street parking is available near these units.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would give the town of Johnston, Rhode Island a specific legal authority to require developers to include at least two parking spaces for each affordable housing unit — including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments — built in the town. This requirement would only apply when Johnston officials determine that there is little or no public transportation nearby and limited off-street parking available in the area where the housing is being built.

Currently, state law limits how much towns can restrict affordable housing developments, including rules about parking. This bill carves out an exception specifically for Johnston, allowing the town to set stricter parking standards for affordable housing projects than state law might otherwise permit. The idea is that if residents of these units have no bus service or other public transit nearby, they are more likely to depend on personal vehicles and therefore need guaranteed parking spaces.

This bill primarily affects developers who build low- or moderate-income (affordable) housing in Johnston, as well as the people who would live in those units. Developers may face higher construction costs if they are required to provide more parking spaces, which could influence whether and where they choose to build affordable housing in Johnston. Residents of these units would benefit from having dedicated parking available. The bill is specific to Johnston and does not apply to any other Rhode Island city or town.