Vancouver ditches some minimum parking requirements for new builds

It was a big day for drivers at Vancouver city council Wednesday, as councillors approved a suite of changes to how parking is created and managed in the city.

Council members unanimously voted to remove Vancouver’s minimum parking requirements for new developments in the West End and Broadway Plan areas, effective Jan. 1 next year.

The city says minimum parking requirements have, in the past, been used to make sure residents’ parked vehicles don’t “spill over” into nearby streets, but notes the West End and Broadway areas are “dense and walkable” and less dependent on vehicles.

“The new regulations approved for the West End and Broadway are similar to requirements for new developments in the downtown area implemented in January 2019. Accessible spots for people with disabilities, visitor spaces, bike parking spaces, and loading spaces will continue to be required,” it said in a statement.

The city also says these specific areas are welcoming and conducive to shorter, “more active trips.”

“Eliminating parking requirements for new builds is one of the key strategies we’re taking to speed up the development process and build more homes faster,” said Mayor Ken Sim.

“This is a smart change and it will have a direct influence, particularly on the affordability of non-market housing for low to middle-income families.”

The city says the change will also require developers to submit a “Transport Demand Management” plan, which it adds encourages active transportation like walking, biking, or taking transit.

The city says as part of the requirement removal, staff will come back to council next year with next steps in eliminating parking requirements across more areas of Vancouver.

Meanwhile, the three-hour maximum time limit has also been removed for residents on streets in the city that do not have parking signs.

The previous by-law only allowed you to park on your street for more than three hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., and only if you parked right out front of your home.

“You can now park anywhere on your block for more than 3 hours without issue,” the city noted. “We made the change to highlight that on-street parking is a shared public space and to recognize that it’s not always possible to park in front of your own residence.”

The response online to the change has been mostly positive, with some noting that their neighbours will need to move their “buckets” from outside their homes.

“But what of the people leaving passive-aggressive notes? Did you even think about how this would affect them?” one Reddit user noted.

“This is so damn huge!” another said. “The City needs to plant this notice in every mailbox in the city with an addendum to STOP LEAVING YOUR GALLON BUCKETS on the street!”

Another is looking forward to parking in a different spot on their street.

“Now I almost want to park in front of my neighbours house (the one who called to get me a ticket) out of spite,” they said.