New condo builds could have fewer parking spaces along LRT line in Mississauga

New condo and apartment buildings could have fewer parking spaces when built along the LRT in Mississauga.

The City of Mississauga planning department is looking into the feasibility of allowing developers to build fewer parking spaces into their designs for new condos and apartment buidlings, according to a report to the Planning and Development Committee this week.

Last June, council approved parking reduction requirements and currently developments along the LRT need to have .8 parking spaces per unit plus .15 to .2 spaces for visitors (shared with commercial parking).

The city has received about 20 requests from developers of condos or apartments along the future Hazel McCallion LRT line for reduced parking requirements, said Tim Lee, a city planner at the Oct. 23 meeting.

Developers working on new projects have asked for anywhere from .32 to .7 parking spaces per unit, and zero to .15 spaces per unit for visitors, said Lee.

None of the requests have been approved so far, he added.

There are benefits to reducing the number of parking spaces including an increase in transit ridership, lower carbon emissions and reduced traffic congestion.

It also saves building costs and perhaps homeownership costs.

Councillor Stephen Dasko said Ward 1 has lost hundreds of parking spaces and he doesn’t support a reduction for new builds in Port Credit.

But fewer parking spaces would mean less traffic congestion, Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla said.

Damerla said new developments along Hurontario Street could bring an additional 70,000 to 80,000 parking spaces in the new developments.

“Usually, if you have the spots, you have the cars,” said Damerla. “My question is where will these cars go? How are going add 70,000 to 80,000 cars on Hurontario when we are taking away two lanes?”

Damerla agreed that other areas need cars because they don’t have easy access to the LRT or transit.

But the .8 parking space requirement for Hurontario is too high, she added.

“We will have gridlock,” she said.

She suggested removing the parking space minimums for residents but keeping minimums for visitor spaces.

While the planning department wanted to prepare a further study, Damerla called a vote to completely remove resident parking space minimums for new developments along Hurontario. While unlikely, this could mean a developer could build a condo without resident parking.

But the committee voted against her recommendation.

The planning department will continue to study the issue, consult with stakeholders and investigate comparable cities that are reducing parking requirements, Lee said.

They will also look at completely eliminating parking space requirements entirely.

There will be a recommendation in early 2024, possibly in January.