By Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce/Vernon Matters Staff

Chamber speaks out on Vernon parking bylaw

Aug 1, 2019 | 12:07 PM

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has advocated on behalf of its members in regards to new parking regulations downtown.

On July 29, the chamber spoke during a public hearing about the City of Vernon’s zoning text (parking and loading) amendment bylaw.

“We still want assurances through clear wording that the scope of the bylaw shifts the trigger from change of use to one that impacts new development and additional square footage,” Chamber Director Deb White said.

White also asked for information on the availability in current parking lots and when will new parking spaces be developed.

City staff confirmed that the bylaw only applies to new construction in the C7 and C8 zones or an expanded footprint to an existing building, and change of use within an existing building (ie. restaurant to clothing store) will not trigger the bylaw.

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The addition of a patio is not considered an expanded footprint to an existing building.

According to the city, there have been no parking requirements for the C7 and C8 zones since the 1970s and there is growing pressure on the city to provide parking.

The bylaw states that in lieu of providing the required number of commercial off-street parking spaces in the C7 and C8 zones, a property owner may provide the city a sum of money equal to the number of eligible parking spaces not provided multiplied by the applicable cash in-lieu of parking amount of $10,000. The money will go into a reserve fund designated for future public parking.

Kim Flick, director of community development and infrastructure, said the bylaw is about equity in the community.

“Every other business in the city outside of C7 and C8 must provide onsite parking,” she said, adding that additional public parking will benefit businesses that don’t expand their footprint.

Coun. Scott Anderson expressed concern about the timeline for new public parking.

“It could be 30 years before they (business) sees a parking spot for their $10,000,” he said.

Flick would not anticipate when new parking could be created but she said the city is motivated to acquire the necessary land for parking lots as funds become available.

In the end, city council approved the bylaw, with Coun. Dalvir Nahal opposed.

Mayor Victor Cumming was absent.

by Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce/Vernon Matters Staff

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