Parking spaces are not required for new developments downtown. However, the downtown zoning bylaw has a bunch of dimensional standards for whatever parking a developer may wish to add. For example, parking spaces and drive aisles need to be a certain width.
The CBC article on this story is a little misleading, because the dimensional standards of the proposed parking area were insufficient, not the number of parking spaces. Under the bylaw, the developer could provide no parking spaces if they wanted to.
If you read
the City’s report, it’s clear their concern isn’t with the number of parking spaces, but with the dimensions of the parking area.
The report also notes that the main variance the planners are concerned with is having no setback on the north side of the property, which they argue would block out too much light and air from the residential building next door.
But I think this is mostly being opposed because the City’s Urban Design Advisory Committee and its Historical Buildings Committee both seem to (rightfully) hate this project because it’s a dark monster that hangs over the sidewalk and blocks the front façade of an important heritage building, in an important neighbourhood. If this wasn’t the case, I’d imagine the City could live with the variances in order to get the project completed.