TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT MEMORANDUM
MEETING DATE: July 7, 2025 Report No. DEV-25-033
TO: Council
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT: Proposed amendment to the Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089
INFORMATION:
At their June 9, 2025, meeting, Council gave first reading to Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089 and asked staff to:
1) Review the letter submitted by the UDI dated June 9, 2025 (Appendix “A”).
2) Present the Bylaw to the next Advisory Planning Commission meeting for their review.
Staff have completed both tasks and are suggesting amendments as outlined below.
Based on the letter from the UDI, staff are recommending the following amendments (proposed amendments are highlighted on the copy of the bylaw attached as Appendix “B”):
- The definition of Gross Floor Area be amended by adding the following to the end of the list in the definition:
o Electrical rooms including generator rooms.
o Rooms dedicated to communications equipment.
o Storage and locker rooms where the floor is a minimum of 1.8 m below finished grade.
These uses within a building do not generate parking and therefore should be exempted from the parking calculations.
- Section 5 (1) be amended by deleting subsections (d) and (e):
a. Bicycle Spaces (not including End-of-Trip Facilities), and
b. Mobility Scooter Parking Spaces.
Requiring any change of use to meet these requirements in an existing building could render the proposed use infeasible.
- Section 15 (2) be amended as follows:
o Energized Electric Vehicle Outlets shall not be placed within the minimum vehicle Parking Space dimensions or drive aisle as identified in this Bylaw.
Staff agree with the Urban Development Institute that Electric Vehicle Outlets can be accommodated within the Parking Stall.
- Table 5 be amended by reducing the “Minimum Energized Electric Vehicle Outlets” for “All other Commercial” from 20% to 10%. This may help reduce the costs associated with commercial development.
Staff believe that the proposed amendments outlined above respond appropriately to the concerns raised by the Urban Development Institute.
Staff presented the Parking Bylaw to the Advisory Planning Commission on June 17, 2025. The Commission had the following comments:
- Disappointment was expressed about the absence of an approach to permitted on-street parking as there is a high level of on-street parking in Esquimalt and enforcement of parking violations is an issue.
- The decision to treat electric vehicles differently than other vehicles was questioned, as electric vehicles still have a large carbon footprint.
- The lack of parking for affordable housing units was questioned.
- A bolder approach would be appreciated, would prefer to see a more holistic approach to parking instead of piecemeal.
- This is a good first step that should proceed, but further work is needed in relation to on-street parking.
- Considering cash in-lieu of parking would be beneficial, Council is encouraged to look at models that are currently in place in other municipalities.
Following the discussion, the Advisory Planning Commission unanimously passed the following motion:
That the Advisory Planning Commission recommends to Council that Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089 proceed to second and third reading as it meets the transportation needs of the community.
In addition to the proposed amendments outlined above in response to the issues raised by the Urban Development Institute, staff have also initiated an amendment. Staff are proposing amending “Section 11 - Parking Design and Layout” as follows:
- Deleting the word “complete” in subsection 2 as this may not be possible even in properly dimensioned Parking Stalls.
- Adding subsection 3 as follows to deal with the issues of columns that encroach into Parking Stalls but do not impact the opening of vehicle doors. This section is based on the City of Vancouver’s standards.
(3) Notwithstanding section 11. (2), structural columns may be located between Parking Spaces as follows:
a. Any column encroachment into a Parking Space shall be setback from the maneuvering aisle a minimum of 0.6 m and a maximum of 1.2 m
b. The maximum encroachment of a column into a Parking Space is 0.15m
- In Table 2, reference to “section 14” is changed to “section 13”.
These proposed amendments to Section 11 will help provide clarification for building designers and staff when dealing with columns in parkades. In addition, the proposed amendment in Table 2 is to correct the reference.
Note also that Section 15(3) has been deleted in its entirety. It is an issue to be determined by an electrical engineer and not by the Parking Bylaw.
As the proposed Parking Bylaw represents a significant change in the way on-site parking is regulated in the Township, it is likely that other issues will arise as the Bylaw is implemented. These issues may require Council to consider future amendments. Further, staff note that several development applications are currently awaiting the adoption of the Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089 before they can be approved.
REVIEWED BY:
1. Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services, Reviewed
2. Ian Irvine, Director of Finance, Reviewed
3. Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer, Concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
List all items attached to the Staff Report
1. Appendix “A” - Letter from the Urban Development Institute dated June 9, 2025.
2. Appendix “B” - Copy of “Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089 showing changes highlighted.
3. Appendix “C” - Copy of “Parking Bylaw, 2025, No. 3089 incorporating proposed amendments.