Saskatoon property developers will no longer be forced to build a set number of parking stalls for most projects.
Property developers will no longer have to provide a minimum number of on-site parking stalls with their new projects in Saskatoon, after council unanimously approved a bylaw change this week.
Council heard from architect Bertrand Bartake and a few other speakers, most of whom came to council to voice support for the change.
Bartake suggested minimum requirements “don’t make sense for residents or business” by forcing developers to build excess parking, wasting space and creating costs that are passed on to consumers.
He suggested eliminating the minimums will allow the market to determine the appropriate level of on-site parking.
Council also heard voices against the proposed change.
“We already have hospital workers who have trouble finding parking because there’s not adequate parking at the hospital. We have families who rely on cars,” said Jonathan Naylor, a community association president who previously ran in 2020 for city council.
Grosvenor Park resident Hélène Philibert wrote council a letter calling the removal of parking requirements “a benefit and incentive for developers” with the potential to create “a powder keg for conflict” between residents, neighbours and others who she fears will be left to compete for limited on-street parking stalls.
Speaking prior to the vote, Mayor Charlie Clark said eliminating parking minimums is “a bold change” aimed at improving affordability in the face of a housing crisis.
“We know that there is excessive parking being built and raising the cost of a lot of housing in our city,” he noted, while suggesting most residents “wont even really notice” a difference when it comes to parking.
While the bylaw change removes parking minimums, regulations remain in place for things like accessible stalls, parking lot access and egress, loading spaces and visitor spaces for multi-unit dwellings.
The city may still require parking if developers seek a re-zoning by agreement or a discretionary use application.
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