Saanich, B.C., is looking to change parking requirement for new builds in an effort to increase green space and make housing more affordable.
Single-family homes, two-family dwellings, and attached housing in the district municipality — which is located just north of Victoria — are required to have a minimum of two parking spots per unit, while apartments require 1.5 spaces per unit.
Saanich council approved a motion Monday directing staff to work on an interim zoning bylaw amendment so new developments with fewer than 12 units will require a minimum of one stall per unit.
For new developments with more than 12 units, current minimums will switch to maximums. Apartment developments would be allowed at most 1.5 spots per unit.
Having lived in Saanich and seen people fighting over street parking, is this a good idea? It seems like it’ll just make it worse; and it’s not like Saanich has good (ie rail-backed) transit or any kind of density that it can actually move to car-independent life.
This smells like another half-measure so that someone feels better about not actually addressing a problem of sprawl and asphalt .