Developers' cash contributions for parking considered by council

August 19, 2004

North Shore City Council is planning to change the rules so developers may sometimes contribute cash instead of providing parking spaces for new developments in some of the city's business areas.

The council's strategy and finance committee earlier this week agreed to proceed with consultation on proposed changes to the city's district plan governing the provision of parking spaces by developers in certain business zones.

Committee chairperson Tony Holman says the changes to the district plan, which would open the way for developers to pay the council to provide parking, have been initiated for two reasons.

"Firstly, we recognise some developers of small business sites find it difficult to meet their parking requirements on-site, but are willing to pay the council to provide alternative spaces.

"Secondly, we want to adopt a more co-ordinated approach to parking in some areas of the city and by accepting financial contributions from developers in lieu of parking provisions we will be better able to achieve this," he says.

"Individual parking provided by developers can be very fragmented, and we've also got areas where large scale public parking is needed.

"These rule changes will allow us to use financial contributions in those areas where we would prefer developers to contribute to a co-ordinated parking programme."

At present the council's district plan requires developers of sites within its business zones to provide enough parking spaces on site for employees and customers or residents with the amount needed calculated by parking standards in the district plan.

Councillor Holman says the proposed new rules will clearly set out the circumstances in which developers might offer, or the council might require, cash payments in lieu of parking provisions; and the means of calculating those contributions.

"Our council believes that while the responsibility for providing parking in business centres is the businesses themselves, we must also play a part.

"We have an important role in co-ordinating parking solutions, particularly where parking provided by numerous large and small businesses may result in inefficiencies and fragmentation, causing traffic congestion and confusion for users," he says.

ENDS

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