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Parking problem only in two blocks of downtown: District official

Gagandeep Ghuman
September 7, 2021 12:12pm

Parking in Downtown Squamish was a problem only in the two blocks of Downtown Squamish, the ‘heart’ of Cleveland Avenue, a top district official says.

“The District’s parking utilization study suggested that parking was only a problem in the heart of Cleveland Avenue (approximately two blocks) at certain times of the week. It may be necessary to walk a couple of blocks, but generally, parking is readily available,” said Gary Buxton, the General Manager of Community Planning and Infrastructure.

“Parking directly in front of the store a person is visiting is not a reasonable expectation in most thriving downtowns,” Buxton said.

Buxton was responding to citizens concerned about the parking problem in Downtown Squamish.

He said the district estimated there was parking available within the downtown core for approximately 550 cars, including 12 accessible on-street parking stalls.

He said typically problems with parking usually manifested in behaviours such as circling the block, cruising, double parking, or parking in illegal or inappropriate locations. He said such issues were not readily evident at this time in Squamish.

The district, he said, was keenly aware that there were negative implications from over-supply of parking and poor parking policy, which include subsidizing car ownership, encouraging sprawl, degrading urban design, inhibiting walkability, increasing housing costs, and penalizing people who cannot afford or choose not to own a car.

Buxton said the district’s policy would see the current cash-in-lieu for parking rate increased significantly, and a paid parking program developed concurrently, to manage parking downtown and increase the potential for funding of a future parking structure.

He said that a parkade is estimated to cost between $10 million and $25 million or between 200-400 cars, a significant financial investment that must be weighed against competing infrastructure priorities and community environmental goals.

“These funds are not currently available to the District, so spending on a possible parkade has to be weighed against all of the other facility priorities that the District currently has planned,” he noted.

“There is plenty of good evidence that providing more roads and more free parking encourages more driving and more vehicle use, so the District is trying to balance its efforts and spending to encourage alternate modes of transportation, and not have one policy or program counteract others. Providing more free parking would be at direct cross purposes to our active transportation plans and Community Climate Action Plan,” he added.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Eleanore says

    September 7, 2021 at 2:06 pm

    Where Buxton says “ He said typically problems with parking usually manifested in behaviours such as circling the block, cruising, double parking, or parking in illegal or inappropriate locations. He said such issues were not readily evident at this time in Squamish.” not sure what planet he is on. I experience any or all of those issues on a regular basis when I try to park down town. Requiring developers to build in more parking for owners in condos would be a good start.

    • Glenn Stainton says

      September 7, 2021 at 5:49 pm

      Totally agree but this solves itself we quit going downtown and shop elsewhere a long time ago and shop only where it’s easy to park if enough of us make that choice downtown business will move away or close up particularly the medical offices Buxton response was to regurgitate the district planning guidelines without really listening you can expect a similar response on the garabaldi estates study

  2. Andy says

    September 7, 2021 at 2:20 pm

    Business owners and surrounding staff park on Cleveland all day,.. zero enforcement why wouldn’t they..

    • Murray says

      September 7, 2021 at 3:08 pm

      I see no evidence of this. Do you have any?

      I’m downtown a lot, and all I see is parking spots on Cleveland turning over constantly, which wouldn’t be happening if people were parking there all day.

      There was a time – a decade ago or more – when some business owners did indeed park right in front of their shops for the day, but they came to their senses and stopped doing that a long time ago.

  3. Donald Patrick says

    September 7, 2021 at 3:17 pm

    Guess the fellow is from Cache Creek. Just will not see me downtown …. after 50 years going to get a GH PO Bx. Of course means really nothing because I will not be around that many more years.

  4. Geraldine says

    September 7, 2021 at 3:33 pm

    I think the District must have conducted their survey in the middle of the night – I’m always having problems finding parking downtown and, like most people, don’t expect to park directly outside of where I’m going. The District is making assumptions.

  5. Jan says

    September 7, 2021 at 4:58 pm

    How about the BCR land along Loggers Ln. I know it is less parking than mentioned for a parkade, but hopefully cheaper. At least staff could park there and leave other spots open for customers. I was told years ago when the first Michael Hutchison building went up on Loggers Lane that the district had first right of refusal to purchase this unused portion of BC Rail land. It has probably tripled in price since then!

    • Kelly says

      September 11, 2021 at 10:46 am

      The District has been trying to acquire those lands for awhile. Like with most things BCR has been being uncooperative. I think the long term plans though are to not keep the parking but widen the road with bike lanes and sidewalks because of Oceanfront. Right now there isn’t even a shoulder on Logger’s.

  6. Alex says

    September 7, 2021 at 8:18 pm

    Allowing businesses to set up stalls in parking spaces on and around Cleveland is an absurdity and one step less stupid than building seating benches IN the street that are rarely used. Going round in circles for a parking space is a lesson learnt from my dog and her tail. about as pointless too.

  7. Douglas Day says

    September 7, 2021 at 10:31 pm

    I think Gary Buxton has it right actually
    There should be paid parking all over downtown Squamish as there is in almost every city in the world

    • Squaminator says

      September 9, 2021 at 10:08 am

      No thanks.

    • Jan says

      September 9, 2021 at 10:55 am

      This coming from a developer that has most likely had parking variances approved in the past

  8. jeff says

    September 7, 2021 at 10:40 pm

    I have been working downtown since 1990 and have seen many changes good and bad- Gary is just spouting the city’s byline- no realities or facts were presented here. I have been watching the growing parking issues and the problems it causes between neighbours over this time! lately I have noticed late at night and early in the morning cars parked in front of the Govt Agent offices-obviously overnight . And go figure, it coincides with the opening of the Vantage building (old Diamond Head Clinic) and that building received from the city a parking relaxation of 1.5 cars per unit.

    • Francine Lessard says

      September 8, 2021 at 10:42 am

      It’s a major issue cause by the district having had their heads in the sand for decades.
      Who would ever think that this tourist destination/bedroom community would not be in need parking.
      Oh yes, we will all be riding in on bikes to do sightseeing and do our shopping.
      Tell me if I am wrong ago the downtown was to be moved to where industrial park is but the idea was turned down guess hindsight is 20/20 …lots of parking there!

  9. Douglas Day says

    September 9, 2021 at 11:31 am

    Yes I am one of those dreaded Developers who is dumb and patient enough to bring on housing so that the public can actually buy a new home
    If the NIMBY Crew had their way all new housing projects would be halted and there would be zero new housing built at all
    With respect
    Douglas R Day

  10. Bridey says

    September 17, 2021 at 1:21 pm

    I only really have issues parking on the two main blocks of Cleveland and it is only at peak times. Parking issues would resolve if it was made into a one way Street that looped from 2nd Ave.

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