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<\/a>Photo:\u00a0ingalin<\/a> \/ Adobe Stock\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nFor developments proposed in Toronto, a newly-introduced policy is shifting buildings away from car dependency.<\/p>\n
In a press release<\/a> issued this week, the City of Toronto announced that changes to regulations for car and bike parking spaces in new developments have been approved.<\/p>\n The City said that Council has officially adopted zoning bylaw amendments that will remove most requirements for new developments to produce a minimum number of parking spaces. Instead, new rules will be introduced to limit the quantity of parking spaces that can be included in a development.<\/p>\n\n In an effort to create healthy and sustainable communities, the City said that the new regulations will help to manage car dependency while offering a balance between \u201ctoo much and too little parking.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToday, City Council took real action for a healthier, more sustainable city,\u201d said Mayor John Tory in the press release on Wednesday. \u201cThis decision means that developers will no longer be required to build parking spaces that home buyers don’t want, making it easier for residents who live without a car to purchase a home.\u201d<\/p>\n According to City of Toronto documents, the Planning and Housing Committee asked staff to review bike and car parking requirements back in January 2021<\/a> so that they better align with Toronto\u2019s Official Plan, which includes goals to reduce<\/a> private auto dependency. Prior to City Council\u2019s approval, parking requirement recommendations for developments were considered and adopted by the Planning and Housing Committee on November 25th.<\/p>\n \u201cHousing affordability is a significant challenge in Toronto. The cost of constructing and maintaining parking is significant; minimum parking requirements limits households’ ability to avoid those costs,\u201d said the recommendations<\/a>. \u201cFurther, minimum parking requirements may result in households in multi-unit residential buildings who do not own automobiles subsidizing the cost of parking for other residents of the building who do.\u201d<\/p>\n