A visitor parking scarcity could ripple out to cause tension in many neighbourhoods surrounding new multifamily developments, a Toronto Councillor maintains. Lily Cheng, who represents the north central Willowdale ward, is calling for clearer rules that account for the differing availability of public parking options in various areas of the city.

In a motion to be presented to Council later this week, Cheng petitions for consideration of the need for more visitor parking spaces in mid-rise and high-rise residential developments located beyond the downtown core. She cites the example of a recently approved 513-unit tower in her ward that will provide just 14 visitor parking spots.

“The impact of limited visitor parking will spill over to the surrounding areas resulting in illegal parking or having no parking left for visitors of those who live in longstanding surrounding communities. Taxpayers will have to absorb the costs of dealing with these challenges,” the motion states.

If a majority of Council agrees, City staff would be instructed to examine the issue as part of an in-progress review of the parking requirements in Toronto’s zoning bylaw. That would also involve an assessment of recently proposed provincial legislation aimed at removing barriers to new housing construction, which would effectively prevent municipalities from setting minimum thresholds for parking spaces in areas that are within 800 metres of a major transit station.