Denton city leaders are considering code changes that would force many developers to start providing parking when they build or redevelop downtown.

The City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on whether to strike an existing code provision that allows developers to build in the central business district without offering new parking spaces. The provision, meant to spur development, has contributed to a lack of off-street parking in the area, city planners say.

The planners describe the move as a temporary solution to make sure developers don’t rush to file applications for projects before the spring, when the council is expected to consider a widespread review of downtown codes.

Critics — including prominent downtown business owners and developers — say the city is jumping the gun with the new parking requirement and pushing a change that could stifle development.

Those concerns helped lead the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission to recommend denial of the change by a 5-1 vote last week. The change now needs a supermajority, or six votes from the seven-member City Council, to pass.

The activity is part of the city’s drive to put a 2002 downtown master plan into practice. City staff members are working with a consultant, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., to finish the plan ahead of an expected council vote in April.

The downtown implementation plan is expected to include recommendations for parking, architectural design, land use, bicycle lanes, parks and open space, among other things.

In the meantime, city planners want to take away the exemption that gives downtown developers a pass on parking requirements. If the change is approved, new construction and some redevelopment projects in the area would have to meet the city’s general parking standards or secure a variance.

LOWELL BROWN can be reached at 940-566-6882. His e-mail address is lmbrown@dentonrc.com .