WHEREAS the Provincial Greenhouse Gas GHG Reduction Targets Act requires a GHG emission reduction of 33 from 2007 levels by 2020 and a reduction of 80 from 2007 levels by 2050 with legislated targets for 2012 and 2016 to be put in place by December 31, 2008; AND WHEREAS sixty British Columbia BC local governments signed a Climate Action Charter with the Province and with the Union of BC Municipalities in 2007 to develop strategies to become carbon-neutral by 2012 and to create compact energy efficient communities by making environmentally responsible choices; AND WHEREAS BC municipalities have jurisdiction over land use and parking regulations to achieve community goals such as GHG emission reductions; AND WHEREAS BC municipalities do not currently have the authority to require developers to provide unbundled parking i.e. the separation of the sale price for a parking space from the sale price for a freehold or leasehold property or strata lot in new developments, which would provide home-buyers with purchasing flexibility and greater transparency regarding the cost of parking and would lead to more informed decision making about vehicle ownership and usage; AND WHEREAS if the authority is provided to BC municipalities to require developers to provide unbundled parking they have the option to exercise that authority as they deem appropriate: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities requests the Province to make the necessary legislative changes to provide BC municipalities the authority to have the option to require unbundled parking in new developments, in support of sustainability commitments.
Ministry of Community Development In the spring of 2008 the Government of British Columbia passed the Local Government Green Communities Statutes Amendment Act. This Act introduced amendments to the Local Government Act, Community Charter, and Vancouver Charter which give local governments expanded authority to aid them in achieving significant greenhouse gas emission reductions in their communities. Included in the legislative amendments was a change to enable local governments to collect cash-in-lieu of off-street parking and to use the cash-in-lieu to further develop alternative transportation infrastructure. In establishing a cash value for parking there is greater transparency regarding the cost of parking which could also lead to more informed decision making about vehicle ownership and usage while also generating funds for local alternative transportation infrastructure. The potential implications of unbundling parking are not known and would need to be explored. The Ministry of Community Development will review the proposal and refer the issue to the Development Finance Review Committee for discussion.