Parking requirements for new developments increased

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

New developments in Tillsonburg must provide more parking spaces per unit after the town approved a change to its zoning bylaw.

At their April 13 meeting, council members directed planning staff to increase the number of parking spaces per residential dwelling unit from 1.25 to 1.5 spaces. Oxford County planner Amy Hartley presented council with a report at the Sept. 14 meeting on the issue.

The report suggested changing the requirement to 1.5 spaces per unit for developments with fewer than 10 units, while keeping developments with more than 10 units at 1.25, but adding a requirement for a visitor parking space for every 10 parking spaces.

For instance, Hartley provided the example that a 30-unit development would require 38 parking spaces at 1.25 spaces per unit, 41 with the new visitor parking requirement, and 45 at 1.5 per unit.

The policy also clarifies parking-related matters, such as electric vehicle charging spaces not counting toward the total, but accessible parking spaces do. The policy will apply to existing developments that did not request a parking reduction and haven’t yet filed for a building permit.

The only recently approved application that would be impacted is at 75 Hale Street, and the policy would require one more parking space to be added.

Coun. Bob Parsons, the town’s representative on the Downtown Tillsonburg BIA, said the organization's comments suggest less parking may be required in the downtown core. He asked if that could be accommodated.

Mayor Deb Gilvesy noted that Woodstock only requires one space per residential dwelling unit in the downtown. She also pointed out the comparison accompanying the report shows many other centres, such as Norfolk County, Ingersoll and Woodstock require more than 1.5 spaces per unit.

Deputy Mayor Dave Beres asked if it’s appropriate to change the suggested motion to add only one space is required in the BIA area.

Hartley answered that the BIA area isn’t defined in the zoning bylaw, but a specific exemption could be added for the CC zone.

Coun. Chris Parker fears the town will be seeing more on-street parking because there isn’t enough parking in residential developments.

“I don’t think it does enough to alleviate the on-street parking issues we currently have,” he said.

Parker also didn’t agree with one visitor per unit, pointing out that it means only one person can visit at a time per 10 units.

The policy passed with an alteration requiring only one space per unit in the CC zone.