PERTH — A lively discussion unfolded at Perth council on April 21 as members debated whether higher fees would push developers to provide more on-site parking.
At the centre of the debate was a proposal to increase the fee developers can pay instead of providing required parking spaces to $10,000 per space, up from $5,000. While intended as a deterrent, several councillors questioned whether it would meaningfully curb the growing number of requests to reduce parking in new developments.
“Although $10,000 in lieu of one parking space may be discouraging a small developer, it may have little or limited impact on a larger developer who purchases an infill property and decides to build a three-floor apartment complex,” said Coun. Isabel Anne McRae.
Concerns focused on the impact already being felt on residential streets. Coun. Jim Boldt described how insufficient parking at a nearby apartment building has pushed vehicles onto surrounding roads, creating congestion and safety challenges for residents trying to access their driveways.
Joanna Bowes, director of development services, noted that parking requirements are already set out in Perth’s zoning bylaw, and that council can grant exceptions case by case. The cash-in-lieu option, she said, is one of several tools available, though its effectiveness remains under debate. To date, the town has collected only modest funds through the program, far short of what it would cost to build even one new parking space.
That financial gap became a key point in the discussion. Some councillors argued that allowing developers to pay instead of building parking shifts the burden elsewhere without generating enough revenue to address the issue. Others warned that removing the option entirely could discourage development.
The debate also touched on longer-term planning. McRae suggested setting aside funds to study or eventually build a parking garage in the downtown core, citing concerns from the business community about limited parking affecting customers.
Council did not move forward with that idea, with several members noting that a proposal of that scale requires a formal staff report and further analysis. The matter was deferred for consideration later this year.
Bowes also pointed to the need for a broader parking strategy, noting that decisions about major infrastructure should follow ongoing traffic and active transportation studies.
Council ultimately passed the bylaw increasing the cash-in-lieu parking fee to $10,000 per space and agreed to revisit the issue at a future committee of the whole meeting.
