With time running out on its interim control bylaw for parking in Windsor's Business Improvement Areas and other commercial districts, the city is looking for some insight from its residents.
The City of Windsor's Planning Department is holding a public meeting Wednesday to talk about parking needs in the city. It is on the fourth floor of 400 City Hall Square starting at 4pm.
Back in September 2015, the City of Windsor temporarily banned new and expanded off-street parking, but the bylaw runs out this September. Right now, municipal planners are researching ways to increase parking without changing the character of the BIAs.
"The concern is that commercial and mixed-use buildings are being demolished to way for surface parking," says Senior Planner Greg Atkinson. "If the trend continues, we'll have no more buildings left. We'll just be left with parking in these areas. So we want to strike a balance."
Not enough parking and customers will park on residential streets. Too much, and the BIAs will have a glut of empty space.
"It is an art to balance parking needs with building stock that's there and the residents that live close by," he says.
Atkinson says he does not have any statistics showing it, but he believes Windsor has enough parking to encourage commerce. However, as the population grows and parking needs increase, his staff faces a real challenge.
"Because they weren't designed for parking. They pre-date widespread vehicle use. It really is finding all those little pockets where you can add parking," adds Atkinson.
Where the city is doing it right includes Ottawa St. and Erie St. where much of the surface parking is located behind businesses.
As for where the city is doing it wrong, he says is where buildings have been torn down. In the worst cases, the parking lots have not even been paved.
"We want anyone who has an opinion or guidance or an example they saw in another city that works well," says Atkinson. "We want to hear from the business owners. What works or doesn't work for them."
A land use study is currently underway to create a framework to present to city council at a later date.