Front yard parking could be allowed in Windsor — but only for the Walkerville area
CBC
Windsor, Ont., residents might be able to park vehicles on their front yards in the years to come — if they live in Ward 4.
A motion for a two-year pilot program allowing front yard parking in Ward 4 has been passed by the city's environment, transportation, and public safety standing committee.
"We're a growing city," said Ward 4 Coun. Mark McKenzie. "We've got to start looking into the future."
As envisioned by McKenzie, the program would make it possible to have "front yard driveways and on-street accessible parking spots."
Further details remain to be determined.
The idea still needs approval from city council before it can become a reality.
Windsor's current rules and regulations are strict about not permitting parking on front yards. The municipal bylaw 9023 states that no persons "shall park, stand, or stop a motor vehicle on a front yard in a residential district except on a driveway."
The city has cracked down on front yard parking in past years. In 2013, it warned that owners of vehicles found to be parking on lawns could be subject to fines up to $25,000.
But McKenzie said he's heard from many residents of his ward who need more parking on their properties — and the need is growing with the more electric vehicles and additional dwelling units.
"We heard today that this policy hasn't been updated since 2009 or 2010," McKenzie said.
City administration agreed that Ward 4 has the most neighbourhoods where residents are parking in paved back alleys out of necessity.
McKenzie brought up issues with alley safety.
"If we're not going to be upgrading those alleys, if we're not going to make these alleys safe, then I feel that we have to do something."
McKenzie has been pushing the issue since last year. He first brought it up at city council in May 2023, asking city administration to take another look at the policy.
