To IDEA Membership:
The City of Edmonton recently shared their upcoming report and supporting documentation going to Council regarding the move from the current Zoning Bylaw parking regulations to an Open Option Parking system. This report is still scheduled to go to Public Hearing on June 23, 2020.
While the overarching result is a major decrease in parking requirements, it does not mean full elimination of parking requirements. The documentation distributed by the City is incredibly detailed and populated with technical information leaving the full impacts of the proposed changes unclear to some members. As such, this letter will serve as a summary of the changes being proposed, and how they impact the infill industry in Edmonton. If there are additional questions, IDEA’s membership includes Professional Planners that can further help interpret regulations for specific circumstances.
The major changes to the regulations are as follows:
Minimum parking requirements have been eliminated for all uses. However, in accordance with the Alberta Building Code, builders are still required to provide barrier-free parking stalls.
Minimum bicycle parking requirements have increased for multi-family and non-residential developments (multi-family: 1 space/2 dwellings or 1 space/140m2 floor area for non-residential – none for low density residential)
Loading space requirements have a maximum of 2 spaces required (multi-family/commercial)
The following chart illustrates the proposed changes:
*ABC refers to Alberta Building Code**Example reflects minimum requirements under proposed regulations and Alberta Building Code
As stated in the Draft Report from City Administration:
Open Option Parking is one of the most influential Zoning Bylaw amendments that can be made to ensure the urban form envisioned by the emerging City Plan policy is achieved. It improves choice for Edmontonians, reduces barriers to economic development, supports climate resilience, and has the potential to transform Edmonton’s urban form through gradual, incremental change toward a more compact, urban environment.
IDEA has been a major proponent and supporter of these proposed changes, and the paragraph above speaks directly to the infill industry. The proposed changes eliminate some of the barriers that infill builders face, and shows the commitment of Administration to supporting our industry.
IDEA is also currently working with the City of Edmonton to create clear expectations for when a Transportation Demand Management plan is needed, what it will look like, and what information an applicant should expect to provide. This will be extremely important to reduce uncertainty and delayed timelines.
If there are any additional questions about the information found in this summary report or the circulated documentation, please contact one of IDEA’s many Professional Planners. They are here to help.
Date: April 28, 2020
Prepared by: IDEA Policy Committee
