The Citizen Kane of Parking Cartoons

The City of Ottawa (Canada) has produced an animated video to engage the public as it goes about reviewing its minimum parking standards, some of which date back to the 1960s.

1 minute read

December 4, 2015, 6:00 AM PST

By tjmoerman


Empty Parking Garage

Comrade Foot / flickr

The City of Ottawa, Canada recently embarked on a review of the minimum parking requirements in its Zoning By-law. Despite some piecemeal and localized updates over the years, the parking minima for the urban area had not seen a comprehensive review in decades; in some cases, the rules remain unchanged from when they were adopted in 1964.

Recognizing that zoning is a challenging (not to mention controversial) topic, City staff produced a short animated video to engage the public and to help explain the rationale behind the review. The video focuses on how minimum parking requirements are directly at odds with widely-supported planning goals such as affordable housing, supporting small business, promoting quality urban design and encouraging active transportation modes.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015 in City of Ottawa

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Frosted plexiglass kiosks for outdoor dining installed on Washington DC sidewalk.

DC Extends Application Window for Outdoor Dining Permits

District restaurants will have until the end of November to apply, but businesses with permits in rush hour parking lanes must end operations on July 31.

45 minutes ago - DC News

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

April 15 - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

April 15 - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom