Dedicated parking, along with high foot traffic and frontage, was among the top ‘site needs’ mentioned by local businesses in a study of retail space conducted by the District of Squamish.
District staff conducted interviews with 64 companies operating in Squamish, with the remainder conducted with companies operating in Lower Mainland or Whistler.
Parking surfaced as a critical need for businesses.
“Many businesses determine parking needs in relation to workforce size, and many want to have dedicated parking that they can allocate flexibly between staff and visitors,” the study notes.
Ample parking is also needed to accommodate employees with young families who do childcare pickups and drop-offs, and for accessibility for clients who may be seniors or people with disabilities.
The more parking spaces, the merrier, businesses told district researchers.
“Access to a parking lot in the immediate vicinity and the business area is strongly desired,” the report says.
Lack of space and concerns over rising lease rates were other concerns, although businesses were also excited about growth in the business park area.
Well duh! If you give up parking spaces to motor bikes that are never there , to police cars that are never there, to cafe eating spaces on the street ( all pre covid) and now sitting areas next to unused sitting areas , then of course you are short of space. All those empty lots waiting developmeny , unused because of “insurance risk” why not have the City “blanket insure” the parking risk and open up the spaces. Eh!
Because.