The Town of Yarmouth developed a Parking Management Strategy as an initiative of the Town’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) Action Plan. WSP Canada Inc. (WSP) completed the work.

The Town of Yarmouth serves as a regional housing and service hub for southwestern Nova Scotia. The Parking Management Strategy aims to improve efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of parking in Yarmouth to support new and existing housing, local businesses, residents, and visitors.

The Parking Management Strategy will:

• Assess supply, demand, and utilization of public parking
• Determine parking needs and patterns in residential and commercial areas
• Review current management practices, policies, and bylaws associated with parking
• Develop a framework that prioritizes users and makes efficient use of land
• Enable additional housing and support walkability and sustainability

Providing space for parking, particularly in downtowns, is a balancing act. Too little parking and both shoppers and workers driving to downtown will be inconvenienced. Too much parking occupies land that could be better used for other things and breaks up the continuity of the downtown. Adding more housing opportunities within the town and downtown, in particular, can be hindered by the cost and space required for on-site parking. Innovative approaches to managing parking demand and needs can enhance housing opportunities.

You can read the final strategy reports in the "Document Library" to the right side of this page.