05-15-2016, 02:49 PM
(05-14-2016, 08:55 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(05-12-2016, 10:08 AM)mpd618 Wrote: The thing about looking at projects like Arrow Lofts is that they're expensive luxury condos - those kinds of purchasers are more likely to want to store their cars even if they don't plan to use them much. But our parking requirements force every development to build to that level, and that starts to matter a whole lot more if your condos could be in the $200-250K range (or rental equivalent). For more affordable housing in the city, it matters a great deal if people can save money by forgoing parking. The city's parking requirements say that whatever your choice of transportation, you cannot save money by not paying for a parking spot.
This. Sometimes more parking is needed, sometimes less. The problem is that the city's rules mandate a parking minimum regardless of the builder or the buyer demographics.
As someone else said, let the builders make the business decision about how much parking to provide. Or at least drop the requirement way down, to 0.5 or less.
I wouldn't trust builders to make the best decision for the community and not what would make them the most money.
Ten-twenty years form now the people living their may really need the parking if they don't work nearby or have kids in hockey.