Based on Steve’s post on his Councillor Ward 2 Facebook page, July 7, 2026
Very Hot Topics were on the agenda for the Special Council meeting July 7th that started at 4:00pm, as we discussed future building height limits and parking solutions for Downtown Paris.
I’ve seen and absorbed lots of varying opinions. These are some of my thoughts that I shared at the meeting.
I’m coming at this with perhaps a different perspective: I’m the only person around the Council table who has lived in an apartment in Downtown Paris.
The words that really caught my eye in the Staff Report were “thriving downtown”. When I lived Downtown 40 years ago, you could buy a TV, a pair of jeans, a barbecue and running shoes, all in the same block of Downtown. Now the retail landscape has obviously changed, but I do believe that adding 80 to 100 new residential units will help our Downtown businesses to thrive. Whether you sell paint and wallpaper or home decor, gift items, tea or Chinese food, having more people living and working in Downtown Paris is going to be good for our local businesses.
With all that said. I was firmly against new six or seven story (or higher) buildings in our Downtown core. And I still am.
Then, I watched as our staff listened and responded to feedback. They reduced the height limit recommendation to 20 meters (5 stories) that aligns closely with the new Royal building (shown in the graphic from the County of Brant, above). They also added a design control: any proposed new building would have to be 80% stepped back above the 3rd story. That’s one extra story higher than what is already allowed, and one story higher than the Wincey Mills.
I can live with that, especially with the new design control element attached.
Specific to the parking structure, I will say this: all the vocal people who today say we are ruining Paris with the idea of a parking garage, will be equally vocal in ten years. Paris is growing. If we don’t plan parking solutions now, in the future, those same voices will say we ruined Paris by not thinking ahead to meet our parking needs.
While parking structures are not typical (and not ideal) for small town charm – in our situation where we are landlocked by two rivers – the only solution and the proposed location that is favourable to me is tucked back along the Nith River near Wincey Mills.
If people who live and work in Downtown use this parking garage, Customers for Downtown businesses who do not live Downtown can use the traditional (surface) parking areas. I support this strategy.
And, while all this is being sorted out, I like the idea of turning the property beside the Wincey Mills into temporary extra surface parking.
I encourage you to watch the video of the Special Council Meeting:
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