November 22, 2021
To: Planning and Housing Committee Re: Proposed Parking Requirements for New Residential Developments (PH29.3) The City of Toronto’s one-size-fits-all proposal to abruptly eliminate minimum residential parking requirements for all new developments citywide is an idea that simply won’t work. If passed, the current minimum parking requirements would immediately become the maximum requirements everywhere. FoSTRA recognizes the need to prepare for a climate-changing future and accepts the City’s initiative to encourage the reduction of private vehicle ownership. However, Torontonians need time to adjust to owning fewer cars – especially when the pandemic has raised fears about relying solely on public transit, heightening the need for car ownership. Vehicle sales dropped by 45% in 2020 and rose 254% by April 2021 (CTV news, 4 May 2021). To introduce such a proposal universally – without thorough study and meaningful consultation – will create hardship for many residents and lead to disruptive workarounds. We are therefore recommending a phased-in implementation of these no-minimum and minimal maximum-parking requirements for residential and mixed-use developments. 22 November 2021 To: Toronto City Planning and Housing Committee Comments on Proposed Amendments to Existing Bylaws Governing Laneway Suites With regards to the PHC agenda item number PH29.2, following are FoSTRA’s recommendations and comments. 1.Height Limitations: The existing height limit is 6.0 metres: There is an amendment to increase this to 6.3 metres. Builders proposed and presented arguments during the 27 October 2021 public consultation to increase the height limit to 6.7 metres or more. The height of 6.3 metres is a compromise position proposed by the Planning Department to forestall the many expected requests to the Committee of Adjustment from owners and builders for height increases. FoSTRA would support 6.3 metres (approximately an additional foot), provided that this becomes a hard rule and “height creep” is vigorously opposed. |