01-11-2017, 06:51 PM
(01-11-2017, 05:58 PM)darts Wrote:(01-11-2017, 03:01 PM)MidTowner Wrote: Developers should be free to build whatever number of spots the market requires. If they think they can market a four bedroom, 1800 square foot unit to a family who only needs one spot, they should be allowed to build and market that unit. If they think they can market it with no spots, likewise.
Is that a great idea? Developers don't have to deal with any of the long term consequences. In Cambridge on Kovac Rd there was a small development done about 20 years ago, houses have space for 2 cars. Now they have cars parked all over, their boulevards. I could only imagine trying to hold a bbq and inviting people over, there wasn't much in terms of on street parking when I was in the neighbourhood.
Firstly, you're comparing apples and oranges; a suburban car dependent neighbourhood to an urban setting with all walk-able amenities on an LRT line. Toronto, downtown has allowed for condos with no parking and less than one spot per unit for years without the consequences you envision. Enforcement, demographics and walk-ability are more than likely going to serve as an offset.
Besides, even the scenario you describe is likely a demographic blip that usually plays out (and I'm guessing based on the age of this neighbourhood this is the case) like this:
New subdivision fills with young families, two car driveway is adequate, they have children who reach driving age around same time, two car driveways become inadequate as kids acquire own car, some kids go off to post secondary, parking strain is reduced, rest of kids move away with jobs, two car driveways are adequate again, parents retire, two car driveways become excessive, parents die / are replaces with new young couples and the trend repeats.
Even in this suburban scenario it would be inefficient to build towards predicting an average family will have 2.5 kids, will need 4.5 car driveways/garages in 20 years because you should be designing to meet the needs of that neighbourhood for the majority of its life and not for a peak period. Its what we have done with roads and parking for generations and look at the issues that has created (this debate case in point).