Yorkton Council gave an amendment to its Zoning Bylaw unanimous first reading support to allow for smaller parking areas under certain multi-unit development circumstances.
City Planner Michael Eger told the regular meeting of Council the City was in receipt of a Development Permit application for a four-storey, 24 unit apartment-style condominium building at 333 Morrison Drive. The proposed building is designed identically to the existing structure at 345 Morrison Drive.
"In order to receive a Development Permit for the previous structure, the applicant/owner was granted Contract Zoning which provided for a reduction in parking stall width and manoeuvring aisle to the enclosed parking area. Without the relaxations, the applicant/owner would have been forced to redesign the structure of the building, leading to increased costs that could have made the project not feasible," detailed a report circulated to Council Monday.
"The applicant/owner would like to proceed with the same development on the adjacent site, while providing identical enclosed parking facilities."
Eger said the process this time had to be different.
"Past practice was for the City to pursue Contract Zoning to relax requirements of the Zoning Bylaw. However, that practice has been discontinued at the direction of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, Community Planning Branch. Now, options for relaxing requirements are limited to an appeal to the Development Appeals Board, or to amending the Zoning Bylaw in a manner that is not site specific," he said.
Eger said Administration did study the issue.
"Administration has reviewed other cities' parking requirements. Consideration was given to municipalities with a similar median age, to those with a significant contingent of large light trucks, and to those where the applicant/owner has constructed the same building design," stated the report.
"Administration is of the understanding that Council has previously desired wider parking stalls to mitigate 'door dings' and to give drivers a greater sense of comfort when using parking facilities.
As such, Administration is of the opinion that reductions to parking regulations should only be pursued for underground and/or enclosed parking facilities/structures, and should be at the discretion of the Development Officer. This will account for a variety of circumstances, not just this one in particular, while ultimately providing for the highest parking standard possible for any given underground or enclosed parking facility without creating cost prohibitive structural changes ," added Eger.
With the passage of first reading Administration will proceed with Public Notice Process.
