Arena Expansion Impacts Parking

Kal Tire Place will have 658 parking stalls once the second arena is built as part of an expansion.

That’s less than the 917 required in the city’s bylaw — but local politicians say it won’t be a concern.

Council approved a variance to change the minimum number of required off-street spaces from 917 to 658 at Monday’s meeting.
However, Councillor Catherine Lord says that’s not how many stalls will be eliminated.

“The 917 is what would be in our bylaw, that would be required, and I don’t think the spaces in there now comply with that bylaw. I think there was a variance for that at the time,” Lord tells Kiss FM.

Mayor Akbal Mund says the facility has far more on-site parking than two other arenas in the region.

“It isn’t a big deal and I’ve said that from day one. You go to Kamloops (Sandman Inn Place), their parking ratio is 5.4 per 100 people. Kelowna (Prospera Place) is 3.1 per 100 people, and Kal Tire Place has 19.4 parking spots for every 100 seats,” says Mund.

A consultant who looked into the traffic at KTP, says off-site parking will be needed — as is the case now — along with the possibility of shuttle service during major events.

“Based on the demand calculations, the design plans have plenty of parking for most activities that will occur at the site,” says the report from McElhanney Consulting Services. “However, for events that fill the KTP to capacity, and especially in conjunction with regular programming at that new ice sheet, off-site parking will be required. The maximum off-site parking requirement will be approximately 310 vehicles, which can be accommodated within a convenient distance of the KTP.”