Opinion – Too many cooks and not enough parking.

This article was originally published in the April edition of the Burlington Independent

During its March 3^rd meeting, council discussed parking downtown. Parking fees and downtown businesses contribute to a Parking Reserve Fund now totalling $12.5 million. Brian Dean from the Downtown Business Association said that almost 70% of surveyed members have employees who can’t find adequate parking. Where does that leave customers? Dean also said: “Delivering strategically located long-term parking supply is not a nice-to-have and not an issue that can wait till 2032”.

Construction costs per spot for a multi-level, above-grade garage can reach $45,000, and for an underground garage, $120,000. Burlington’s budget has planning for a new garage starting in 2029, with completion in 2032, and allocates $18.5 million for the project. Assuming above-ground and on city-owned land, that works out to over 400 spots.

Exit the taxpaying businesses, struggling with an ever-worsening parking problem.

Enter the cooks.

First up, Burlington Green, partially funded by taxpayers. “We need or have cars, but just like we don’t build more roads as the one-stop solution to address traffic, we don’t just add more parking spaces.” Followed by “we’re looking at parking that supports bike racks and e-mobility, active transportation, public transit”.

Our next cook, a full-time city staff member, said, “We need to build in redundancy for a new structure. There’s also looking towards newer facilities, like in Calgary. They’re actually designed in a manner that, as the need for autos goes down, they can be converted into affordable housing.” And “without engineering, without land, we’re looking at probably closer to $70,000 per stall above ground.” Now we’re down to about 265 spots.

Our next cook, our mayor, acknowledged the pressure caused by new condo buildings approved with fewer parking spots than units. In the case of 535-551 Brant St, the 2023 OLT report states, “The Subject Property is well serviced with public transit and is approximately 450m (five-minute walk) to the Downtown John Street Bus Terminal.” And now that the bus terminal has closed? The mayor also stated the cost of a new parking garage might be $51 million. Staff said this is for a “Cadillac” and also that 100 to 200 spots is the number staff and Stantec Consulting were thinking about.

Next, Councillor Stolte: “We’ve had a lot of conversations over the last few years about not moving forward with city-owned assets without giving consideration to whether affordable housing is part of the project.” Did the number of spots just drop again?

Next, Councillor Nisan asks about social housing on top of the garage and requests that funding for a study be allocated from reserve funds, this year, rather than budgeted for 2027. Social housing is the responsibility of Halton, not Burlington. Next, Councillor Kearns asks that a fire station be integrated into the garage; a downtown fire station has been discussed for many years, and this is an efficient use of land. Our last cook, Councillor Galbraith, suggests using the garage’s first level for retail space.

Will this be a parking garage or a layer cake, fire hall and retail, with e-bike parking, topped with parking, topped with social housing and affordable housing? A $51 million project for 200 spots works out to $225,000 per spot. Underground parking would cost less. While our council is considering a very expensive parking garage that will likely see multiple design changes and rising costs, downtown businesses will continue to struggle. As a taxpayer, I’m hoping the city finds a gold mine when they dig the foundation. Is this a case of too many cooks spoiling the layer cake (broth)?