Text Amendment - Downtown Parking Relief
The City of St. John's is considering a text amendment to the St. John’s Development Regulations to restore downtown parking relief.
At present, parking relief is available anywhere in the city except downtown. If an applicant can show that the amount of parking needed for a development is less than the City’s requirements, and Council agrees, Council can reduce the amount of parking needed.
In 2012, Council eliminated parking relief downtown as a result of the Downtown Parking Study, which identified a significant shortfall in available parking. Since then, applicants have had to provide the required parking on their site or close by, or else pay a cash-in-lieu payment of $21,160 per space. This money has gone toward funding the City’s share of 461 parking spaces in two (2) new downtown parking garages.
If the amendment is made, Council will be able to reduce parking requirements downtown. An applicant would still have to show why less parking spaces are required for their development.
Information regarding this amendment may be viewed at the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Regulatory Services, fourth floor, John Murphy Building (City Hall Annex). For further information, please phone 709-576-8220 or email planning@stjohns.ca.
Any person wishing to make a submission on this amendment must provide a signed written statement, including your name and street address, to the Office of the City Clerk by 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 19, 2019, either by mail: P.O. Box 908, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M2; fax: 709-576-8474 or email: cityclerk@stjohns.ca. Written submissions received will become a matter of public record and will be included in the agenda for the regular meeting of Council on Monday, March 25, 2019, at which time Council is scheduled to make a decision on this amendment. Any identifying information beyond your name (civic address, email and/or other contact information) will be redacted (removed) prior to the information being released publicly.