Regina Minute: Parking Hours, Harbour Landing, and Scarth Street Mall

Regina Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Regina politics

This Week In Regina:

• On Wednesday, at 1:00 pm, the Board of Revision will hold its Annual General Meeting. The Board will review a statistical overview of 2024 appeals, appoint legal counsel for the year, and approve the 2025 hearing schedule. The Board will request City Council’s approval for an extension to complete its 2025 duties and look to update its Decision Wording Precedent to support consistency in decision writing.
  
  
• Regina is set to roll back downtown paid parking hours to end at 5:00 pm instead of 6:00 pm, aiming to boost foot traffic and evening activity. Council approved the change in principle, but a final vote on bylaw amendments will take place on May 7th. The initiative aligns with broader efforts to make downtown “alive after five,” including the continued pedestrian-only zone at Scarth Street Mall. Mayor Chad Bachynski calls it a strong move to keep people downtown longer.
  
  
• A new food security program will operate out of Regina’s former #1 Firehall following City Council’s approval of a lease agreement at $1 per month. The Heritage FASTT Program, backed by several local organizations, will use the space to prepare over 800 meals weekly using food nearing the end of its shelf life. The City will also provide a property tax exemption and cover $33,000 in operational costs, which won’t affect broader budget savings goals. A report on the program’s outcomes and sustainability will be presented to Council after its first year.

Last Week In Regina:

• Council approved a zoning change restricting residential development near the airport, effectively halting the Harbour Landing North project. The decision followed over a year of debate and passed 10-1 after an earlier vote failed. Council cited concerns about aircraft noise, while still allowing commercial and industrial growth in the area. Airport officials welcomed the move, saying it protects future operations. However, homebuilders warned the city may soon run out of serviced lots for new housing if no alternative neighbourhoods are approved.
  
  
• Council also voted 10-1 to keep Scarth Street Mall closed to vehicles, reaffirming its status as a pedestrian-only space. The block has been car-free since 1975, and after two years of public consultation, 90% of survey respondents supported maintaining that status. The decision came ahead of planned infrastructure work in 2027, which will include street upgrades like new trees, lighting and seating. While some downtown businesses pushed for limited vehicle access to support deliveries and pickups, most residents and event organizers preferred preserving the pedestrian-friendly space.
  
  
• Namerind Housing Corp. released a five-year plan to end homelessness in Regina by 2030, with a projected cost of $111 million. The plan focuses on supportive housing, treatment services, affordable housing, and prevention. A recent count found 824 people experiencing homelessness, a steep rise since 2015. Namerind argued that investing now could save $133 million in public system costs. Funding requests were directed at federal, provincial, and municipal governments, as well as the private sector.