Getting ready for another look at downtown parking | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Mostly Cloudy  4.7°C

Getting ready for another look at downtown parking

This concept drawing shows the original proposed Lorne Street parkade, which met heavy opposition in 2011.

Kamloops city council will give the public one good look at new options for downtown parking amid a tight deadline if it wants to act immediately.

Mayor Peter Milobar said at council today he expects the report outlining short and long term options for downtown parking by the end of next week. Council hasn't seen the report yet but quickly scheduled Feb. 26 for a public information session. 

Several councillors said they've been getting questions from the media, the Kamloops Central Business Improvement Area and the public wanting to see the plans. Coun. Nelly Dever, however, can't make the meeting. She will be out of the country but the timeline is so tight no other dates could be set. Milobar wondered aloud what the public turnout would be given recent sparse attendance and reiterated—if council wants to act this year, it has to hit budget due this spring.

The city originally proposed a two-level parkade on Lorne Street as part of the Lorne Street beautification project. The 348-stall parkade met heavy opposition and after much public debate—as well as a heavily-supported petition—the plan was cancelled. Many of those opposed to the project agreed more parking was needed, they questioned the $8 million price tag and the location. Not wanting to lose any parkland, the Friends of Riverside Park collected more than 9,400 valid signatures, enough to force a referendum. Instead council unanimously withdrew the parkade plan last October.

Council has since been looking at alternatives to help bring more parking to downtown and hopes the report will bring forward some favourable options.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013
iNFOnews

  • Popular kamloops News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile