The city's planning committee has given thumbs-up to new regulations that would force property owners to build parking spaces behind existing commercial buildings in Windsor.
Chair Bill Marra says the concern is commercial buildings are being purchased and demolished to provide parking, which has a negative impact on streetscaping.
The Ward 8 councillor says the city and the BIA's will have to work together to implement the plan. "There's going to be an expectation that the BIA's pony up some investments and I think that's fair, but council's going also back this policy with some investment strategies as well. It's all going to be driven by resources to be honest. A decision will happen quickly, in the next month or so, but after that it's resourcing it and it could be a discussion in the 2018 budget process."
"Much of what's recommended is already in use within several BIA's," says Marra. "Specific policies around acquiring property that are budding commercial, to the rear of commercial properties. There's some really good examples already that exist along Ottawa St. and Erie St. and using those properties to provide off-street parking."
A report presented at Monday's committee meeting says since 1986, 43 buildings have been demolished to make way for parking lots.