It seems like that would be more of a problem for the people who chose to pay less money and then can't find street parking than for the municipality. But if they really cared then they could just put parking meters on the street parking, priced such that it only gets 80-90% full instead of 110%.

That's a problem for the other residents, whose visitors now can't ever find parking, and any businesses in the area, whose customers can't either. Those people obviously wouldn't want meters in front of their homes and businesses, either. The politically easiest solution was the parking space minimum.

Parking space minimums solve a non-problem. If people want parking they will build it. They shouldn't be forced to though as it adds expense and makes things more car dependent, reinforcing the need for parking. It is a vicious car dependent cycle.

> If people want parking they will build it.

Maybe they will, but not before first overloading the existing available public parking, which may be a non-problem to you but apparently isn't to lots of people who vote.

Can confirm. Used to live in Hollywood, CA hot area. I had a parking space. Having a guest that drives a car - impossible.

However, in LA while it's required to have parking space minimum for new residential buildings it's not required to give those spaces for free to resident. I lived in a new apartment complex with tons of parking, but none of it was used. It was 200$ for extra spot and not guest parking.

Another issue is those dumb plaza everywhere. 50 businesses and 20 parking spots.

The municipality is the people. What's wrong with them wanting to guarantee that option b) exists?

> The municipality is the people.

The government officials pretty clearly have their own interests and incentives independent from the citizens, but we don't need to go down that road right now.

> What's wrong with them wanting to guarantee that option b) exists?

It's option b) that they're prohibiting. But if you want option a) then all you have to do is choose it -- nobody is requesting that housing with parking be prohibited. If you're willing to pay the premium it costs over housing without parking then go do that, just don't prevent other people from doing something different.

My guess is that the people who want that are a minority, at least for now.

Or at least the people who are willing to give up easily available street parking for visitors and consumers to get it.