October 21, 2021
The City of Edmonton's trailblazing approach to eliminate parking minimums has received both national and now provincial planning recognition. The Alberta Professional Planners Institute (APPI) has honoured the City of Edmonton with an
Award of Merit for its
Open Option Parking project.
“Parking is a powerful, but often hidden force in shaping our communities,” said Kim Petrin, Development Services Branch Manager. “It influences many aspects of how we live, work and move around. This award recognizes the City’s efforts to continually serve Edmontonians by changing how we manage parking, which is a key part of achieving the vibrant, walkable and compact city envisioned by
The City Plan.”
Edmonton made history on June 23, 2020, by becoming the first major Canadian municipality to eliminate parking minimums city-wide, an approach known as Open Option Parking. This approach gives businesses and homeowners the ability to determine how much parking to provide on their properties, enabling it to result in the “right amount” of parking instead of arbitrary mandatory parking minimums.
“By increasing flexibility and choice in how homeowners and businesses use their properties, Open Option Parking helps remove economic and land-use barriers to new businesses and affordable housing,” said Lyla Peter Director of Development Approvals and Inspections. “Open Option Parking also supports more diverse transportation options and moves us closer to achieving the kind of city Edmontonians have told us they want.”
“Edmonton’s Open Option Parking strategy can transform the City and inspire other Canadian communities to look at similar changes,” said a statement from the Canadian Institute of Planners Awards jurors. “Crowd-sourcing data collection, and the effort to make parking discussions interesting and relevant, were both key factors that stood-out. This project will positively impact the sustainability of Edmonton’s future, while creating a more vibrant livable community.”
