Parksville council appeared satisfied with a staff report on parking at a proposed mixed-use development at Highway 19A and Shelly Road that they sent it on to the next step.
Residents at a Sept. 17 public hearing were generally supportive of the proposal for three commercial buildings of one and two stories and a four story residential building with 27 units and commercial on the ground floor, but several were concerned about a lack of parking.
After delaying third reading council received the report at their Oct. 15 regular meeting with the summary that the application, “has demonstrated that parking needs can be fully met on-site.”
It explains that the applicant hired the Boulevard Transportation Group to do a parking variance assessment report which found that while the city’s parking bylaw would require 130 parking spaces, they only actually need 101, meaning the proposed 119 spaces is less than the bylaw requires, but more than should be needed.
Councillor Sue Powell brought up concerns about the staff report being based on the proponent’s traffic study and that the parking numbers were based on a single restaurant, though there could be more.
City director of engineering Vaughn Figueira pointed out that along with the on-site parking the developer would also add some on street parking along Shelly Road and Stanford Avenue.
Mayor Chris Burger and coun. Marc Lefebvre excused themselves from the discussion due to their relationships with the proponent. The rest of council supported the third reading, just leaving final approval once all the final requirements and details have been met.