Item - 2017.PW22.5

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council amend Chapter 918 to add a new subsection 918-21C substantially as follows:

a. C.  Despite 918-21A, in addition to any other appeal requirement and/or right under this chapter, no appeal shall be accepted for a front yard parking application or boulevard parking application unless the grounds for that appeal is:

i. a refusal of the application on the basis of a negative poll result; and/or

ii. a refusal of the application on the basis of 918-8C(3) (the permit parking subscription threshold requirement).

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee:

1.  Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to provide to City Council a copy of all addresses with licensed parking pads.

2.  Requested the General Manager, Transportation Services to report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee on:

a.  a process or regulatory change which will assist bringing unlicensed parking pads into compliance, including an option where  meeting certain conditions could result in a non-transferrable permit which may be granted and restricted to only the current homeowner so long as they live in the home.

b. explore the ability to place the parking pad licence fee onto the tax or utility bill.

The Senior Strategic Director, Business Operations and Improvements, Transportation Services gave a presentation on Front Yard Parking Regulations.

The provision of a parking area on the boulevard and/or front yard originated in the area of the former City of Toronto to provide parking for residents where no parking was available on-site in the form of a garage or driveway. It was later expanded and introduced to a number of other areas in the former municipalities of York and East York as the City grew and demand for parking continued to increase.

The purpose of this report is to respond to a request from Public Works and Infrastructure Committee to:

- provide information on the current front yard parking regulations;

 
- the general impact of parking pads on the natural environment, storm-water operations and property values;

 
- the current challenges of implementing the policy; and

 
- identify a mechanism to bring unauthorized parking pad locations with existing legal ramps into compliance.
 

As a consequence of this review, staff recommend that the current Front Yard Parking program be brought to a close, and that no further Front Yard Parking pads be approved in the City of Toronto. This recommendation is based on:

- a belief that based on the length of the program, that the majority of those parking pads that can be legally permitted have been;

 
- the cumulative environmental impacts of parking pads, specifically as it pertains to stormwater runoff; and

 
- administrative challenges arising from an inconsistent and frequently modified by-law.