Reductions to parking spaces coming to affordable housing in Belleville

By Evan Doherty

BELLEVILLE – Belleville city council has approved cutting the number of parking spaces it requires for affordable-housing projects.

A report to the council at its meeting this week by Stephen Ashton, the city’s director of engineering and development, recommended the reduction as a way to create more units.

The report cited research done for the city by Dillon Consulting whick found that tenants at an affordable-housing unit on Starling Street in Belleville only use three of the 23 parking spots available.

The plan is to cut the amount of parking spaces in half based on how close they are to amenities and accessible transit. Photo courtesy of the City of Belleville

According to the report, the number of parking spaces to be cut would depend on how easy it is to get around the neighbourhood by walking to amenities and accessible transit.

Council voted without discussion to approve the recommendation.

The new parking requirements will be part of a zoning by-law that’s set to be finished by 2021.

The recommendation was approved without the need for further discussion.