Whitby has developed a Parking Master Plan, under which it is recommended that off-street parking rates be increased in 2023 by $0.50 – and then parking rates be increased every five years by $0.25.
Lease rates and daily parking rates would be increased appropriately, according to the plan’s recommendations.
The review considered the parking prices of other Southern Ontario municipalities to determine if Whitby was consistent with others and then reviewed the historical financial performance. Parking within Whitby is intended to be financially sustainable.
The plan states that a parking structure is needed to support parking needs [which] yet cannot be fully funded through the existing Parking Reserve. Options such as a Private Public Partnership (3P) are recommended to be explored. Once the parking structure payment period has passed, the Whitby parking system is anticipated to generate a surplus and any parking structure loan can be paid.
Parking supply and demand
There is a need for additional future on-street parking in both Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin as well as a need for additional off-street parking in Downtown Whitby. It is recommended that additional on-street parking be provided through parking meters, pay and display machines or pay by phone mobile on key streets within the Downtown core.
As well, a future parking structure is needed in Downtown Whitby to support parking, particularly following the redevelopment of Municipal Lot 4 (Fire Hall site) and anticipated growth. It is recommended to increase the duration of permitted on-street and municipal lot parking where practical and permitting overnight parking in select municipal lots.
In order to provide better connectivity to the municipal parking system, a number of pedestrian traffic signals are recommended. It is recommended that controlled pedestrian crossings be provided at Brock Street/Colborne Street, Dundas Street/Athol Street, Dundas Street/Centre Street in Downtown Whitby and also at Baldwin Street/Cassels Road in Downtown Brooklin.
Consideration of potential paid parking in Downtown Brooklin resulted in the identification of approximately 80-100 parking spaces where paid parking is considered appropriate,the plan says.
The identified parking spaces are at strategically determined locations on Baldwin Street, Cassels Road, Roebuck Street, Campbell Street, and Way Street. It is recommended that paid parking be implemented once the Town has jurisdiction of Baldwin Street.
In summary, the following additional parking recommendations are identified:
New on-street paid parking in Downtown Whitby and Downtown Brooklin;
New parking structure parking in Downtown Whitby;
On-street lease parking on key streets in Downtown Whitby;
Increase 2 hour limit to 3 hour maximum parking on key streets in Downtown Whitby;
Offer overnight seasonal parking in specified municipal lots; and
Consider paid parking at the Centennial Building.
Cash-in-Lieu of Parking
Cash-in-lieu of parking is a main component of the Parking Master Plan. Industry best practice suggests that cash-in-lieu of parking rates are optimally set at approximately 50% of the costs to construct parking. The rationale for this is the shared use nature of the municipal parking supply, where a single space is able to serve the parking needs of various land uses.
Given that structured parking is needed in the near future, and that structured parking can cost between $35,000 and $45,000 per space, it is recommended to increase the current cash-in-lieu to $5,000 and then increase the rate by 5% per year to $10,000 per space. This is an increase from the current cash-in-lieu rate of $3,750, the plan said.