The same Wall Street Journal article as above also highlighted the growth of "parklets" in city neighborhoods.

..an Apple employee who takes the company bus to work, covered the driveway of his Victorian with a "parklet," a public space registered with the city featuring seating and greenery.  His crowning achievement: a topiary triceratops, dubbed Trixie, made of succulent plants.

I'm guessing the city registration is for insurance purposes so the public can use it.  Parklets are under discussion as part of the downtown specific area plan.  The idea is to take over a parking space, add boxed plants and seating, and allow people and businesses more outdoor seating.  I haven't seen anyone argue on the Voice for less downtown parking so I'm not sure whether this discussion has any legs or not, but note the example above was a driveway of a house owned by someone without a car.