Dec. 10, 2021—The owner of a small auto repair shop in Pasadena, Texas sued the city on Thursday over a new parking ordinance, Houston Public Media reported.
Azael Sepulveda, owner of Oz Mechanics, is suing the city after an ordinance passed by Pasadena City Council in January, which requires auto repair shops to have at least 10 parking spaces per 1,000 square feet of floor space.
In Sepulveda’s case, he would have to build a lot with 28 parking spaces, which he said would cost $40,000 — nearly half of what he spent to purchase the entire property and well outside what he could afford.
“I don't know if my business will survive at that point,” he said.
Under the ordinance, car dealerships only need to provide five-and-a-half spaces per 1,000 square feet, nearly half of what garages like Sepulveda's have to provide.
Under the lawsuit, Sepulveda is asking for a declaration that Pasadena's parking requirements for auto repair shops are unconstitutional.
