Parking and Transportation Demand Management Standards Update
Preliminary Parking Considerations
The preliminary parking considerations from the Study are as follows:
Introduce a Parking Zone system where updated parking rates will apply to various land uses across the City
Incorporate parking rate requirements tied to the Parking Zone system with lower requirements in Parking Zone 1 and 2, and higher requirements in Parking Zone 3 and 4
Consider lower parking rates for Affordable Housing
Consider end-of-trip amenities to support cycling, such as shower/change facilities and bicycle repair stations
Consider stacked bicycle parking in meeting bicycle parking requirements
Address the impacts of Bill 185, Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, by introducing TDM requirements and maximum parking rates
These recommendations will be incorporated into the Comprehensive Zoning By-law.
What is a Key Development Area?
Key development areas are intensification areas in Markham where rapid transit services intersect with major nodes of retail and commercial development. It is also where opportunities exist for redevelopment of large land parcels that support new public streets and mixed-use development.
What is a Major Transit Station Area (MTSA)?
The area including and around any existing or planned higher order transit station or stop within a settlement area; or the area including and around a major bus depot in an urban core. Major transit station areas generally are defined as the area within an approximate 500 to 800 metre radius of a transit station, representing about a 10-minute walk.
Parking Zone System
As part of the recommendations in the Citywide Parking Strategy, the Parking Zone System will be comprised of four (4) zones which range in characteristics related to built form, density, transit availability, and availability of alternate forms of travel such as car-share and bike-share.
Parking Zone 1: Markham Centre and MTSAs along Yonge Street and at Langstaff GO-Bridge
Parking Zone 2: Other Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs)/KDAs along Highway 7, and Milliken and Mount Joy Secondary Plan Areas
Parking Zone 3: Intensification areas along Highway 7, and at Main St Markham, Steeles/Don Mills, and Bayview/John
Parking Zone 4: Rest of Markham
Figure 1: Citywide Parking Strategy Parking Zone System
What is Bill 185?
Bill 185 has the effect that a zoning by-law may not require an owner or occupant of a building or structure to provide and maintain parking facilities, other than parking facilities for bicycles in designated areas such as MTSAs.
MTSAs are shown with dark black borders in the graphic above.
Removing minimum parking requirements in MTSAs, as required by Bill 185, may reduce the number of parking spaces being provided.
The City will not be able to enforce minimum parking rates through the Zoning By-law.
However, the City plans on implementing maximum parking rates in areas impacted by Bill 185 as well as requesting enhanced TDM requirements to offset lower parking availability.
Preliminary TDM Considerations
The preliminary TDM considerations from the Study are as follows:
Build on the City’s current TDM approach and expand the list of acceptable TDM measures
Provide greater clarity and consistency regarding TDM requirements for developers / applicants
Incorporate TDM requirements tied to the Parking Zone System with higher requirements in Parking Zone 1 and 2, and lower requirements in Parking Zone 3 and 4
What are examples of TDM measures?
Car-share program
Bike share program / Micro-mobility services
Smart Commute membership
Financial incentives
Shuttle bus service
Work-from-Home support
Illumination, waste receptacles, benches
Active transportation connections
Short-term bicycle parking
Secured long-term bicycle parking
End of trip amenities (bicycle repair station, shower/change facilities)
Information Session (i.e., learn to bike)
Carpool parking
Unbundled parking