Proposed Chandler Zoning Changes Plan For A Future With Self-Driving Cars
Waymo’s self driving cars have been zipping around Chandler since 2016. Last fall, Google's autonomous car project took humans out of the driver’s seat.
As the technology advances, the city is considering a change to its rules to prepare for a future of autonomous vehicles. The city reports it would be the first in the country to adopt such regulations.
City Principal Planner David De La Torre said experts predict self driving cars will reduce the need for parking spaces.
“The autonomous vehicle will just keep going from one location to another without ever having to park the car in any of those locations,” de la Torre said.
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Chandler zoning code requires a certain number of parking space for developments. Chandler City Council will consider a proposal Thursday that would allow developers to reduce parking space by up to 40 percent if they can prove people’s needs are changing.
“First it allows the city to be flexible to reduce the amount of parking that’s required,” de la Torre said. “Second it encourages the installation of passenger loading zones.”
The new rules would apply to future and existing developments.
“It sends a message to the autonomous vehicle industry that Chandler’s open for business,” de la Torre said.
