Langford council is hoping plans to cut back parking requirements for three-bedroom units will free up space for housing.

During its Monday meeting, Langford council passed second and third readings of a bylaw that cuts the requirement for three-bedroom units to have at least two car parking spaces in the city centre or mixed-use employment centre.

The requirement was added in 2018, along with upping requirements for off-street parking outside the downtown core and certain mixed-use areas in the hopes of discouraging urban sprawl, according to a city staff report. While the new requirements will still demand more parking outside of the downtown core, it cuts the requirement back from 3.75 for more than two units to 2.75. In addition, units within the city centre will now be required to have 1.25 parking spots per dwelling, 0.25 of which has to go to visitor parking.

Citing a staff report, Coun. Keith Yacucha said the city had heard from developers that the requirement discouraged companies from building three-bedroom units, something in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 housing needs report.

B次元官网网址淚 would much rather see rooms being built for people, than rooms being built for cars,B次元官网网址� said Yacucha.

Speaking during the public hearing, resident Nirmal Johal said cutting parking before improving transit and other methods of transportation B次元官网网址渄oesnB次元官网网址檛 work.B次元官网网址� Lisa Foxall pointed to concerns residents in Belmont Market had flagged about parking rule changes there B次元官网网址� the area would be within the impacted mixed-use employment centre zone B次元官网网址� leaving some without a spot to park their second car and facing tickets after rule changes came in last week.

Yacucha acknowledged those concerns and Coun. Mary Wagner added this solution was developed by staff in collaboration with developers.

B次元官网网址淧arking is always a thorny issue, but this was an identified barrier that we are hoping to remove,B次元官网网址� said Wagner.

Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson initially sought to abstain, but then voted in favour along with the six other councillors.

A vote on adopting the bylaw will come forward at a future council meeting.

READ MORE: B次元官网网址榃e are fed upB次元官网网址�: Langford resident protests new parking rules and fines