Lakeshore Drive pay parking plan to be parked
Council is set today to officially kill off a plan to charge for parking along Lakeshore Drive. A staff report prepared for this afternoon’s meeting suggests public sentiment is overwhelmingly against putting a price tag on parking along the socalled Sunset Strip.
“The desire to keep the lakeshore free and accessible is not out of thriftiness, but reflects widespread concern about the affordability of Penticton for all residents and the desire to be welcoming of tourists,” engagement officer JoAnne Kleb wrote in her report to council.
“Given the very short tourist season, residents question the business case for pay parking along the lakeshore and potential negative impacts on affordability for locals.”
Staff is, however, recommending that parking stalls on Lakeshore Drive between Winnipeg and Power streets be limited to three hours only.
Other changes suggested for the city’s parking strategy include retaining the existing residents-only designations only in parts of the downtown and near the hospital, and tinkering with publicly owned lots to free up more spaces on evenings and weekends and provide more long-term stalls.
Expansion of the residents-only and paid parking programs were set to begin last year, but council instead referred the matter back to staff for more consultation after public backlash.
Also on council’s agenda is a request to end by mutual agreement a plan to build three towers up to 23 storeys tall on a vacant lot at 450 Martin St.
Planning manager Blake Laven explained in his report how the city in December 2009 signed a phased development agreement for the project with North Vancouver-based P2 Developments.
As proposed, the former site of the Super Valu grocery store would have become home to 298 residential units, 40 hotel suites and commercial space, all serviced by 542 parking stalls. Just one problem. “Shortly after signing the agreement into bylaw, it was discovered that the proposed height of the project did not conform to the Penticton Airport Zoning Regulations, which limits the heights of buildings and structures in the flight path of aircraft flying into and out of Penticton airport,” Laven wrote.
The regulations limit buildings on the flight path to just 10 storeys, making P2 Developments’ concept “untenable in its current form.”
Laven is suggesting the city also return $150,000 it received from P2 Developments for downtown planning work.
Today’s meeting is set to end with a notice of motion from Coun. Andre Martin, who wants staff to prepare an inventory of cityowned lands showing properties designated for future infrastructure needs, parks and potential development.
The meeting begins at 1 p.m. in council chambers and is open to the public.
Land matters to be considered at 6 p.m. include development variance permits for 273-275 Conklin Ave., 115 Preston Ave. and 453 Eckhardt Ave. W., plus a zoning amendment for 935 Forestbrook Dr. There are no public hearings scheduled.