MattersTransportationFirst seen Dec 15, 2025
Parking bylaw and downtown parking strategy
The city is preparing changes to off-street parking rules based on a consultant’s recommendations, alongside work on a downtown on-street parking strategy. A policy will also require off-street parking requirements to be reviewed at least every five years.
Where it stands: Staff directed to prepare parking bylaw changes and a review policy Dec 16, 2025; work remains pending.
Background
Earlier and later steps of the same initiative.
Dec 16, 2025
Parking bylaw modernization
This item concerns modernization of the city’s parking bylaw. The supplied record does not describe proposed changes, costs or effects on residents.
Dec 16, 2025
Downtown and off-street parking review
Watt Consulting presented recommendations for managing downtown street parking and modernizing off-street parking requirements. The proposals include better time limits, signs and enforcement, and reducing or removing minimum parking requirements in the city centre alongside travel-demand measures.
Apr 20, 2026 – May 19, 2026
Off-street parking standards
The updated rules set vehicle and bicycle parking requirements by area and introduce standards for accessible parking, electric-vehicle charging, loading and end-of-trip facilities. Developers can pay in lieu of some parking spaces at $30,000 per space, or $15,000 for rental apartments.
Timeline
Every time this matter appeared in council records, newest first.
Staff directed to update parking rules and require five-year reviews
Council directed staff to prepare a bylaw to update Part 4 (Off‑Street Parking & Bicycle Regulations) of Zoning Bylaw No. 300 based on Watt Consulting's nine recommendations (including options 1A and 4A); Council also directed staff to create a policy requiring a review of off‑street parking requirements at least every five years (amendment by Cllr Yacucha).
Discussion
Extensive discussion: councillors asked about transit dependency of removing parking minimums, risk of spillover parking to adjacent neighbourhoods, enforcement capacity, cash‑in‑lieu rates, loading and impacts on businesses; amendment added a five‑year review requirement. The motion carried as amended (main motion moved by Szpak; amendment moved by Yacucha and carried).
Decision: Directed staff to prepare an updated off-street parking bylaw based on Watt Consulting recommendations.
Passed
Decision: Directed staff to create a policy requiring off-street parking reviews at least every five years.
Passed