Ted Tyndorf, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. Subject: Parking Space Dimensions Zoning Review - Supplementary Report No.

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1 STAFF REPORT February 10, 2006 To: From: Planning and Transportation Committee Ted Tyndorf, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Subject: Parking Space Dimensions Zoning Review - Supplementary Report No. 1 Purpose: This report responds to Council's direction and recommends the adoption of harmonized zoning regulations for parking space dimensions. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. Recommendations: It is recommended that: (1) the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, bring forward zoning by-law amendments dealing with parking space dimensions to the next meeting of Planning and Transportation Committee; (2) a Public Meeting under the Planning Act be scheduled for the next meeting of Planning and Transportation Committee; and (3) the Bills not be introduced at City Council until its meeting of September 25, 26, and 27, Background: A City Planning report dated December 21, 2005 (see Attachment 1) recommends the adoption of harmonized zoning regulations for parking space dimensions: - Minimum 2.7 m width and 5.7 m length for a parking space; - Minimum 2.7 m width and 6.7 m length for a parallel parking space; - Minimum 3.0 m width for a parking space accessed by a drive aisle having a width of less than 6 m.

2 - Increase the parking space width where there is an obstruction; and - Minimum 2 m height for a parking space. Planning and Transportation Committee at its meeting of January 9, 2006 recommended that City Council adopt the staff recommendations and added the following: 2 Notwithstanding any reduction previously granted on a site specific zoning by-law or Official Plan amendment or by a Committee of Adjustment decision, the new standards shall apply to all properties within the City of Toronto on a go-forward basis and that any new parking spaces established shall be at the new standard. City Council at its meeting of January 31, February 1 and 2, 2006, referred this Clause to the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, with a request that he address the following issues and report to the Planning and Transportation Committee: (a) (b) (c) the matter of the size and dimensions of disabled parking spaces and a standardized format for their identification; a process for dealing with applications currently pending; and a process for transitioning between the new and revised by-law. This report responds to Council s direction. Comment: Transitioning to the New Standards Some of the proposed parking space dimensions are more stringent than those that currently exist in some of the area municipal zoning by-laws. This could result in some development proposals that are currently under review and which have not yet obtained building permits, having to revise their building plans. Staff have reviewed this matter and suggest that the by-laws amending the zoning by-law parking space dimensions be enacted by Council at its meeting scheduled to be held on September 25-27, This would provide applicants with 6 months in which to obtain the necessary approvals and permits prior to enactment of the by-laws or revise their plans accordingly. Disabled Parking Spaces In July 2004, City Council approved amendments to the City of Toronto Municipal Code dealing with parking for disabled persons (Chapter 945), which includes regulations for disabled parking space dimensions and signage. The Bills to adopt these amendments have not yet been brought forward to Council. Also in 2004 the City of Toronto s Accessibility Design Guidelines document was published which includes directions on the number, size and location of disabled parking spaces.

3 3 Currently, only Etobicoke and York contain disabled parking space dimensions in their zoning by-laws. The other area municipalities have separate by-laws dealing with this. Harmonized zoning by-law dimensions for disabled parking spaces will be addressed as part of the parking studies currently in progress and will be coordinated with the new Municipal Code regulations and work involving the Accessibility Design Guidelines. This does not affect the dimensions for standard parking spaces. Site Specific Zoning By-laws and Committee of Adjustment Decisions Planning and Transportation Committee has recommended that notwithstanding any reduction previously granted by a site specific zoning by-law or by a Committee of Adjustment decision, any new parking spaces established shall be at the new standard. Where a property qualifies as legal non-conforming under Section 34(9) of the Planning Act or has a site specific zoning bylaw which prevails and which sets out different parking space dimensions, these specific permissions remain. In all other cases, the new parking space dimensions will apply to any new parking spaces. Conclusions: It is appropriate to have uniform parking space dimensions that apply throughout the City. The report recommends that a Public Meeting under the Planning Act be scheduled and that the zoning by-law amendments be brought forward. Contact: Joe D Abramo Manager, Policy and Research City Planning Division Tel: (416) Fax: (416) jdabramo@toronto.ca Ted Tyndorf Chief Planner and Executive Director City Planning Division Attachments Attachment 1: Parking Space Dimensions Zoning Review, December 21, 2005 [p:/2006/upd/ doc]

4 4 STAFF REPORT December 20, 2005 To: From: Subject: Planning and Transportation Committee Ted Tyndorf, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Parking Space Dimensions Zoning Review Purpose: This report recommends the adoption of harmonized zoning regulations for parking space dimensions. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. Recommendations: It is recommended that: 1. The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning bring forward zoning by-law amendments dealing with parking space dimensions as set out in the report to the next meeting of Planning and Transportation Committee. 2. A Public Meeting under the Planning Act be scheduled for the next meeting of Planning and Transportation Committee. Background: A City Planning report dated May 12, 2005 presented the results of the Phase 1 review of the parking and loading standards, and recommended a harmonization of the zoning by-law parking space dimensions. City Council, at its meeting of June 14, 15, 16, 2005 adopted a recommendation that the Chief Planner and Executive Director of City Planning Division report on recommended by-law amendments on the matter of uniform dimensions for parking spaces and aisle widths, after consulting with the public, and that the public be invited to review and comment on this matter at This report summarizes the results of the public consultation, and recommends zoning by-law changes to adopt harmonized parking space dimensions.

5 5 Comments: 1. Harmonizing Parking Space Dimensions Currently, the area municipal zoning by-laws have different definitions of parking spaces (perpendicular, parallel and angle) and aisles (one and two-way) to which varying dimensions apply. These circumstances lead to inconsistencies, inequities and possible confusion that can prompt applications for variances or amendments to the current zoning provisions. In order to deal with these situations, planning staff in consultation with transportation staff have developed uniform parking space dimensions for application throughout the City. The proposed dimensions are set out in the table below. The driveway dimensions for single residential uses (such as detached, semi-detached and duplex dwellings) are being reported on in a separate report. Proposed Parking Space Dimensions Two-Way Driveway Aisle Width (min.) Parking Space Length (min.) Parking Space 5.5 m to <6.0 m 5.7 m 3.0m 6.0 m 5.7 m 2.7 m Parallel Parking Space 6.7 m 2.7 m Parking Space Width (min.) The existing zoning by-laws have a parking stall width ranging from 2.4 m (in East York) to 2.7 m (in the former cities of Etobicoke, North York and Scarborough). Toronto has a parking stall width of 2.6 m and York has a width of 2.5 m. Parking space lengths range from 5.5 m in North York and East York (Leaside) to 5.9 m in Toronto and 6.0 m in Etobicoke. For a parallel parking space (a parking space which is parallel to a driveway aisle), North York, Scarborough, and Etobicoke have a minimum length requirement of 6.7 m and York has 7 m. The Toronto and East York zoning by-laws do not have a specific parallel parking space dimension. There are three components to a parking module: width of a parking space, length of a parking space and width of a driveway aisle. If the length of a parking space is reduced, then the width of the driveway aisle may need to be increased in order to achieve an appropriate parking module. Stall width is related to aisle width. A narrower aisle width requires a greater stall width to accommodate a tighter turning movement. For aisle widths equal to or greater than 6.0 m it is proposed that the minimum stall width be 2.7 m. Where a two-way aisle width is reduced to 5.5 m, it is proposed that an associated minimum stall width of 3.0 m be provided. Transportation staff indicates that this wider stall width is needed in order to deal with the tighter turning movement. Currently, 5.5 m two-way aisle widths are only permitted in the former City of Toronto where the associated minimum stall width is specified at 2.6 m.

6 6 To address the problem of not being able to open vehicle doors where the parking space is next to a wall or other fixed obstruction, it is proposed that the minimum parking space width be increased by 0.3 m (or 0.6 m if both sides are obstructed) to a maximum width of 3.3 metres. This would apply where a fixed object such as a wall, column or bollard is located within 0.3 m of the side of the parking space, and is more than 1 metre from the front or rear of the parking space. The proposed regulation would ensure, among other things that garages attached to grade-related residential dwellings are of sufficient size to make them functional. Parking spaces should also have a minimum vertical clearance of 2.0 m for the entire dimension of the parking space, which is similar to the requirement specified in the Ontario Building Code for a 2 m access clearance to a parking space. The lay-out of parking spaces, whether in surface lots or garages, along with such related issues as ramp gradients, would be addressed through the site plan approval process. 2. Vehicle Dimensions Staff have undertaken a review of a sample of vehicle types and their dimensions and found that the vehicle length ranges from 4.3 m to 5.8 m, width ranges from 1.7 m to 2 m and height ranges from 1.4 m to 2 m. In addition, vehicle sales information indicates that while compact cars account for about 30% of market share, over 40% of market share is comprised of sport utility vehicles, pick-up trucks and vans. The proposed parking space size of 2.7 m width and 5.7 m length will be able to accommodate most of these vehicle types. 3. Public Consultation In June of this year, staff initiated a public consultation on the proposed changes to the parking space and aisle dimensions through the zoning by-law web site which featured an interactive display of the proposals and enabled on-line comments from the public on the specific proposed by-law changes. In addition, a public meeting to present information on the proposed parking space and aisle dimensions was held on September 8, Over 800 comments have been received from the zoning by-law web site, most indicating support for the proposed changes. - Some comments indicate there is a need to accommodate larger vehicles such as trucks and SUV s while others suggest that the City should be encouraging the use of smaller cars by making parking spaces smaller. - A few comments indicate that the proposed parking space standard is applying a suburban standard to the entire City and that a one size approach is not suitable for a diverse City. The Greater Toronto Home Builders Association (GTHBA) has expressed concern that the change in the size of a parking space will reduce the number of residential units which does not support the City s goal of increased density and intensification. GTHBA

7 7 recommends that the status quo remain for projects in the city core and for those areas intended for increased density. Staff note that the current parking space length in the Toronto zoning by-law is 5.9 m whereas the proposed length is 5.7 metres a reduction of 0.2 metres. The existing Toronto parking space width is 2.6 m whereas the proposed width is 2.7 metres an increase of 0.1 m. The overall effect on the parking module (comprised of a driveway aisle with parking spaces on both sides) from the former Toronto standard is an increase of 0.1m where a 6.0 m aisle is used. A standard parking space size should apply across the City. Vehicles in the Central Area of the City and other areas intended for intensification are the same types of vehicles found throughout the City. A more significant parking criterion for intensification areas is the parking rate related to high transit accessibility and proximity to rapid transit. These factors are being considered as part of the review of the parking standards. - BA Consulting Group has written to staff recommending an overall parking module of 17.3 m comprised of a 2.6 m stall width, 5.15 m stall length and 7 m aisle width. While their recommended stall length and aisle width differ from those proposed by staff, the overall parking module of 17.3 m is similar to the 17.4 m module recommended in this report. - Some comments question why a length of 5.7 m is needed as most vehicles are smaller than this. A clearance factor is needed as most people do not park their vehicle right up to the front of a parking space, especially when there is another vehicle or a wall opposite the space. In addition, if the parking space length is reduced, then the driveway aisle width would need to be increased in order to achieve an appropriate parking module. - A few comments indicate the parking space width should be increased while others support a reduced width. The proposed parking space width of 2.7 m recognizes the width of existing vehicles and provides for vehicle doors to open partially within the parking space and fully using part of the adjacent space. Where a fixed obstruction exists adjacent to the parking space, the proposal is to require an additional 0.3 m width in order to enable the vehicle doors to open. - Some building representatives have questioned the proposal to require the parking space to have a 2.0 m clear height with no obstructions in the space. Examples cited were to allow pipes and ductwork to allow pipes and ductwork to encroach into the space. This height reflects the height of vans, pick-up trucks and SUV s. The proposal ensures that a wide range of vehicle types can park in the parking space without having obstructions hanging from the roof or wall thereby precluding some types of vehicles from fitting into the parking space. Based on the comments, staff have reviewed the proposed changes and are not recommending any modifications to the proposals.

8 8 Conclusions: The area municipal zoning by-laws currently have different parking space and aisle dimensions. It is appropriate to have uniform parking space dimensions that apply throughout the City. The proposed parking space size of minimum 2.7 m width and 5.7 m length is within the size range found in the existing zoning by-laws and will be able to accommodate most types of vehicles. Where a parking space is adjacent to a fixed obstruction, it is proposed to increase the width of the parking space by 0.3 m each side to ensure that vehicle doors can be opened. The report also recommends that a parking space also have a 2 m height clearance with no obstructions in the space. These regulations will ensure that garages and other parking spaces are of sufficient size to make them functional. Contact: Joe D Abramo Manager, Policy and Research City Planning Division Tel: (416) Fax: (416) jdabramo@toronto.ca Ted Tyndorf Chief Planner and Executive Director City Planning Division Attachments Attachment 1: Parking space sizes [p:2005/upd/pln/ doc]

9 9 ATTACHMENT 1 Parking Space Sizes Area Parking Space Parallel Parking Space Proposed 5.7 m x 3.0 m with a 5.5 m aisle 6.7 m x 2.7 m 5.7 m x 2.7 m with a 6.0 m aisle Toronto 5.9 m x 2.6 m with a 5.5 m aisle East York BL#6752 BL# m width and 16.5 sq.m. area 5.5 m length and 14.5 sq.m. area York 5.7 m x 2.5 m with a 6.0 m aisle 7.0 m x 2.5 m Etobicoke 6.0 m x 2.7 m with a 6.0 m aisle 6.7 m x 2.7 m North York 5.5 m x 2.7 m with a 6.0 m aisle 6.7 m x 2.7 m Scarborough 5.7 m x 2.7 m with a 6.0 m aisle 6.7 m x 2.7 m