Saanich, B.C., looks to reduce parking requirements for new housing

Saanich, B.C., is looking to changeparking requirementfor new builds in an effort to increase green space and make housing more affordable.

Single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and attached housing in the district municipality which is located just north of Victoria are required to have a minimum of two parking spots per unit, while apartments require1.5 spaces per unit.

Saanichcouncil approved a motion Monday directing staff to work on an interim zoningbylaw amendment so new developmentswith fewerthan 12 units willrequire a minimum of one stall per unit.

For new developments with more than 12 units, current minimumswill switchto maximums. Apartment developments would be allowedat most 1.5 spots per unit.

Coun. Zac de Vries, who put forwardthe motion withCoun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, described current parking requirements as "outdated,"resultingin the loss of green space.

"When you require a development to build a certain amount of parking, they obviously need to make space for that," de Vries said.

He said council has receivedmany applications for developments that do not meet minimum parking requirements, whichhave to go through a special approval process. Council often approves these requests, he said, so changingthe requirementswill result in streamlining thedevelopment process.

He says he hopes the changewill create more affordable housing options.

"The more parking we build, the more expensive housing becomes," de Vries said."This is an opportunity to make housing more affordable."

Luke Mari with Victoria-based Aryze Developments says current parking requirements are disconnected with the reality of car ownership.

"[Council is] really just getting in line with the demographic and culture shift away from car ownership,"Mari said.

He said those who need parking can still choose housing with parking options. The new bylaw, he says,will allow developers to create buildings for people who live car-free.

An amended bylaw, he says,will allow developers to spend less time in council chambers and more time building housing.

"These new policies ...will definitely result in housing getting delivered quicker," Mari said.

De Vries says the interim policy change will be followed bysubstantial researchto determine further steps.