Front Yard Parking By-law Passed

By John Ellis

In July the new, GTA-wide, conditions on front yard parking were approved by City Council. These may be viewed at www.toronto.ca/transportation/offstreet/res_fy.htm. Following is a summary of the conditions.

Qualifications:

• No other access to the property.
• Compliance with Permit Parking restrictions.
• Where a basement or grade-level garage is removed and converted into habitable space.
• Not a corner property.
• House types: converted, detached, semi-detached, duplex, row or rowplex, triplex, or semi-detached triplex.
• Parking isn’t possible behind the main front wall of the building and there is no access to the rear of the property with a minimum width of 2.6m.
• The results of a poll must be positive and are valid for a two-year period.
• There has been no poll within the last two years where the result was negative.
• Joint applications can be submitted where a wait list has continuously existed for a minimum of six months.
• Over-sized vehicles are not permitted.

Conditions:

• Maximum of one space.
• Maximum size not to exceed 2.6 m x 5.9 m (8’5” x 19’4”).
• Minimum setback of 0.31 m (approximately 1’) from a sidewalk.
• Standard clearances from all trees (depending on size).
• Construction immediately back of and perpendicular to the sidewalk.
• Vehicles parked on the pad must have a valid license plate.
• For joint front yard parking applications, where the pad cannot be perpendicular to the sidewalk, the pad must be set back a minimum of 2 m from the sidewalk.
• Paved with a permeable surface.
• For properties less than 9.15 m wide (approximately 30’) a minimum of 50% of the front yard on private property must be landscaped open space, of which 30% must be soft landscaping.
• For properties more than 9.15 m wide (approximately 30’) a minimum of 50% of the front yard on private property must be landscaped open space, of which 40% must be soft landscaping.
• On the city boulevard portion of the front yard, all areas other than the driveway, walkway, and parking pad must be soft landscaping with a minimum of 20% soft landscaping.
• Width of private approach is not to exceed 1.06 m (approximately 3’5”).
• Applicant must plant a tree or fund planting of a tree.
• Applicant must obtain a permit prior to any work within the City boulevard.
• Applicant must pay for the installation of an access ramp.
• Applicant must sign a parking agreement or license.

Application Documentation:

• Completed Front Yard Parking Application submitted with payment to Transportation Services, Right of Way Management, 433 Eastern Avenue, 2nd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M4M 1B7.
• Copy of Vehicle Registration.
• Sketch of the proposed pad with relevant dimensions.
• Detailed plans may be required for proposals that require a grade change of greater than 0.6 m (approximately 2’).

Fees:

• Non-refundable Application Fee: $264.42 (+GST)
• Non-refundable Transfer Fee: $61.02 (+GST)
• Parking Pad Construction Permit: $117.34
• Tree Planting Fee: $475.00
• Ramp Installation: (Varies by ramp size and sidewalk bays affected.)
• Sidewalk Reconstruction Costs and Fees: (Must be paid by the applicant.)
• Total Initial Cost (plus Ramp Installation): $917.78 (+ Applicable GST)
• Annual Fee: $122.04 (+GST)

Appeals:

• Appeals are not permitted in Ward 32.

Removal of Parking Pads (two incentive programs are provided):

1. Licensed Locations: The City will, at its own expense:
• Plant a tree in the boulevard in front of the house.
• Re-sod the area.
• Remove the curb cut.
• Provide free downspout disconnection.
• Offer a free water conservation audit.
• Provide one year’s free Permit Parking, for one vehicle.
Note: Reinstallation is not permitted for a period of five years.
2. Unauthorized Parking Pads: The City will, at its own expense:
• Re-sod the area.
• Provide free downspout disconnection.
• Offer a free water conservation audit.
Note: This is limited to a maximum of five locations per year.

Maximizing Landscaped Open Space:

• Limit paved areas to the driveway, parking pad and walkway.
• Limit the size of the parking pad to 2.6 m x 5.9 m (8’5” x 19’4”).
• Locate the parking pad at a right angle to the sidewalk, set back no more than 1.5 m (4.9’).
• Permit the parking pad on each lot to be angled to the sidewalk only if one mutual curb ramp is used for two adjacent lots (Joint Front Yard Parking Application).
• Limit the width of the walkway to 1.06 m (3.5’).
• Parking pad and driveway to be paved with semi-permeable materials.
• Locate the parking pad, driveway and walkway adjacent to one another to consolidate soft landscaping and tree planting areas.
• Landscaped Open Space requirements of the Zoning By-law must be met on private property.
• At least 15% of the area on the City boulevard must have soft landscaping, and all of the front yard area other than the driveway, walkway and parking pad must have soft landscaping.

Protection of Street Trees: Paving next to City trees must comply with the following:

1. Small Trees (under 10 cm (4”)):
• Permeable surface 1.2 to 2.4 m (4”- 8’) from the tree.
• No mechanical excavation within 2.4 m of the tree.
2. Medium Trees (10-50 cm (4”- 20”)):
• Permeable surface 1.6 to 2.4 m (5’2”- 8’) from the tree.
• No mechanical excavation within 2.4 m of the tree.
3. Large Trees (over 50 cm (20”)):
• Permeable surface 2.4 to 4 m (8’-13’) from the tree.
• No mechanical excavation within 4 m of the tree.

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