Orangeville Council has voted to amend special parking provisions it had previously imposed on a Veterans Way subdivision development, with the aim of allowing the developer to offer different model designs and enhanced architectural features.

The subdivision is located east of Veterans Way, north of Broadway and the town-owned railway, and southwest of Pheasant Court.

The developer, Devonleigh Homes, had asked the town to reduce requirements, on some of the lots, from two outdoor parking spaces to one.

A report to Council by the town’s planning department supported Devonleigh’s application.

“They have designed models which aim to maximize the residential floor area and respond to market demand,” the report stated, “while providing for a varied and attractive streetscape.”

Of the 25 different designs on the table, six were of the bungalow type; which the report noted is in demand in Orangeville.

These specific designs have 1.5-car garages (instead of two-car garages) and cannot accommodate the two now required.

With the front wall or front porch of the affected models, it is not possible to widen the driveway beyond the width of the garage in front of the house to accommodate a second outdoor parking space.

The report recommended an amendment to permit the minimum number of outdoor parking spaces to be reduced from two to one for house models that have a front wall of the dwelling or a front porch which extends beyond the front face of the garage.

Councillor Mary Rose presented a motion to approve the amendment for 41 building lots.

The motion passed, but not without some resistance from Councillor Scott Wilson and Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock.

Mr. Maycock was concerned that Ms. Rose’s motion contravened council procedural rules.

Since the motion goes against a prior Council decision, he reasoned that a “motion to reconsider” was needed. According to rules, in this case, a motion to reconsider can only be presented by a councillor who had previously voted in favour of the two parking-space requirement.

Mr. Wilson, meanwhile, expressed his feelings that Council should stick by its decisions. “At what point does a vote by Council state its intentions?” He asked.

The original parking space requirement was spurred by concerns that allowing for less would lead to more on-street parking that could hinder the mobility of emergency vehicles.

Throughout the subdivision design process, on-street parking has been restricted to one side of the local streets only, to protect access for emergency vehicles and winter maintenance. In accordance with town policy, overnight on-street parking will be prohibited in the winter months.