Making Parking Pad Rules Clearer and Creating a Path for Electric Vehicle Charging on Residential Streets

Currently the rules surrounding parking pad permissions in Ward 19 are complicated and confusing for residents. We also know that we have a real challenge with building out infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, particularly for residents relying on on-street parking. The recommendations before you are meant to help us make meaningful progress on improving parking pad rules and building out EV infrastructure. First, they make the parking pad rules consistent across Ward 19. They do not introduce any new or previously unused site-related standards for getting a parking pad. They maintain the important, clear requirements protecting trees, minimizing storm water management impacts, and prioritizing access to on-street parking. The recommendations also begin developing a strategy to include EV charging infrastructure as a requirement for receiving parking pad permissions. This would only be in Ward 19. I have been working with staff to look at two implementation models. Short-term, the strategy will look at requiring a private EV charging station as a condition for receiving parking pad permission. Long term, the strategy will look at how parking pad applicants, along with the annual fee contributions, could be used to contribute to infrastructure to be used by vehicles on-street. There is rarely a perfect solution to meeting the many, sometimes competing needs of our residents. I believe these recommendations make important steps delivering better, consistent service to Beaches-East York residents, and even more importantly, helping us meet our city's increasingly critical climate goals.

Despite any other provisions in this chapter, § 918-8C(2) and (3) do not apply to an application for front yard parking and/or to an application for a license to park on any portion of a boulevard where the application is for a residential property located within the area of the former City of Toronto in Ward 32 or within the area of the former City of Toronto in Ward 31 where: 1. a. The application is for a front yard parking pad adjacent to an existing mutual driveway which has a width of less than 2.2 metres measured at the narrowest point; or b. Additional ramping is not required or, if any additional ramping is required, there is no loss of an on-street permit parking space; and 2. The property meets all other requirements of this chapter. Despite any other provisions in this chapter, § 918-9D and E do not apply to a front yard parking pad in the area of the former City of Toronto in Ward 32 or in Ward 31 where any additional ramping is not required. 3. City Council authorize the direct and appropriate staff to take the necessary steps to give effect the Council's decision, including the introduction in Council of any bills that may be necessary to give effect to Council's decision. 4. City Council request the General Manager, Transportation Services, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, to develop a strategy to introduce a requirement for all new front yard parking pads approved under Chapter 918 in the former City of Toronto in Wards 31 and 32 to include electric vehicle charging outlets, including strategies for a payment in lieu of the installation of such charging outlets, and options for creating a City of Toronto Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Fund with the ability to direct payments to this fund, and report back to the relevant standing committee in Q2 2020.