Less Parking
The CBC reported on the reduced parking requirements for development in the uptown/south end area, in the proposed zoning by-law (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/city-s-proposed-bylaw-impacts-parking-rural-zones-1.2303655)
I think this will allow developers who want to develop sites in the central peninsula do so more cost effectively – putting in underground parking can be very expensive and really change the cost profile of a development.
One possible flaw in this plan is that reducing the parking needed for uptown development will increase the demand for parking (assuming at least some new residents want to own cars), possibly aggravated by the fact that developments often take place on parking lots, and this could incentivize owners of older buildings to tear them down to create parking lots rather than upgrade and improve them. This could be balanced out by the fact that land will be more valuable for development, if building apartments gets cheaper because of the reduced cost of development.
I don’t know how planners model all these things work together in making decisions, but overall I think its a good idea that will make south end/uptown development more viable.
November 5, 2013 at St. Marks church is another public meeting on the plan.
3 comments:
The proposed bylaw also explicitly states that parking lots cannot be built on sites in the Uptown where buildings are torn down or burnt down without an expensive rezoning process. If approved, they would also be subject to more stringent standards. This should cut down on nuisance illegal parking lots as well as to encourage redevelopment of existing buildings.
That seems like a good way to solve that issue.
It's always interesting to think about unintended consequences and how to address them.
I need to set aside a few hours to read the document.
That seems like a good way to solve that issue.
It's always interesting to think about unintended consequences and how to address them.
I need to set aside a few hours to read the document.
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