Controversy over parking review

Where we park and how much it costs will be affected by a review of Auckland Transport’s (AT) Parking Strategy.

AT will soon ask the public for feedback as it reviews its six-year-old strategy document.

One goal of the review is to use parking supply and pricing as a tool to get people out of cars and onto public transport.

Planning for growth and managing demand at park and rides is another focus – last year Panuku Development was asked to investigate a proposal to sell the airspace at the Hibiscus Coast Bus Station for development – a process that is still underway. 

Parking on residential streets is also in the spotlight. Currently the Unitary Plan sets out a minimum of one carpark per dwelling in residential areas, and no minimums in Terraced Housing and Apartment, and Mixed Housing zones. The review will take into consideration the government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development, which came out last year and requires Council to remove even those minimum parking requirements from the Unitary Plan. This means that new developments will not be required to provide any parking, leading to more pressure on kerbside parking.

At its September 16 meeting, the Hibiscus and Bays Local Board noted that aspects of this review were bound to be controversial. It also requested more information and recommended that implementation of restricted or paid parking in an area should trigger an investigation of public transport links to that area.

Public consultation is expected to begin this month or next. The updated Parking Strategy should go to Council’s Planning Committee for adoption next May.

Government mandates more density

The government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development aims to improve housing affordability. By law Council must implement it. It includes requiring Council to:  • Enable greater building height and density across the city • Be more responsive to private plan changes adding significant numbers of new homes and businesses connected by transport corridors – even in places it’s not planned for • Remove rules for minimum off-street car-parking for new developments from the Unitary Plan. Council is in the process of considering the necessary changes to its Unitary Plan and there will be public consultation on those proposed changes next August.