Over 70 percent business owners say paid parking will be harmful: Downtown BIA survey

The Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) has opposed the paid parking plan for Downtown Squamish, citing concerns from local business owners. In a letter to the District, the local BIA said it had surveyed its members and found 70.4% were against the proposal, with 52.1% strongly opposed. The council has decided to move forward with paid parking at tourism locations, starting with a pilot project at Darrell Bay.

Business owners fear paid parking would reduce customer access, increase costs for businesses and employees, and negatively affect vulnerable groups such as seniors and low-income residents. Concerns were also raised about potential impacts on tourism and accessibility for people with mobility challenges.

While some respondents acknowledged potential benefits—such as improved turnover and revenue for the District—the majority urged the District to delay implementation until better transportation options are available. Suggested alternatives include enhanced transit service, construction of a multi-level parkade, and designated employee parking.

See the entire letter below:

“On behalf of the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA), we wish to formally present our official position regarding the proposed implementation of paid parking in downtown Squamish.

As part of our efforts to ensure that the voices of local businesses are heard, and following a comprehensive presentation to the DSBIA Members on January 30 from Brent McMurtry, Manager of Transportation, District of Squamish, the BIA surveyed its members to gather feedback.

The survey results provide valuable insight into the concerns and views of downtown business owners on this matter. Out of 71 responses, the overwhelming majority expressed strong opposition to paid parking, with 52.1% of respondents indicating they “strongly oppose” the proposal and 18.3% more expressing opposition, totaling 70.4%.

This opposition is largely driven by concerns that paid parking would have a detrimental impact on local businesses, particularly in terms of customer accessibility, employee parking, and increased costs. A significant portion of our members (70.4%) believe that the introduction of paid parking would have a negative effect on their operations.

There are several key concerns that our members have raised regarding paid parking, including

1. Economic Impact on Businesses: Many respondents are concerned about the increased financial burden on both customers and businesses, which could lead to decreased customer foot traffic and, consequently, reduced revenue.
2. Accessibility Issues: The introduction of paid parking could create challenges for seniors, low-income residents, and workers who depend on free, accessible parking. Some business owners have also expressed concern about the availability of parking spaces for customers with mobility issues. “We need to put infrastructure and services in place to make our community more accessible by foot, bike, and transit BEFORE introducing paid parking. At the very least, this means more bus service. We need to take care of people in our community with physical mobility limitations, people with lower incomes, parents with small children. Putting paid parking in place before we have a whole system to support alternative modes of transportation downtown has a greater cost to those who are least able to afford it”
3. Impact on Tourism: The majority of respondents believe that paid parking would discourage visitors from coming to downtown Squamish, potentially harming the local tourism industry. This is especially concerning given the significance of tourism to our community. While there are some who see potential benefits of paid parking, such as improving parking availability and generating revenue for the district, the negative sentiment far outweighs the positive. The BIA suggests that alternative solutions be explored before implementing paid parking.

These alternatives include: Improved Public Transportation: Many respondents are calling for better transportation infrastructure before considering the implementation of paid parking.

● Multi-Level Parkade: The creation of additional parking structures, particularly a multi-story parkade, would help address the demand for parking without negatively impacting businesses and customers.

● Dedicated Employee Parking: A suggestion has been made for the introduction of employee parking passes or designated parking areas for staff, ensuring that they can access downtown without difficulty.

As a result of the survey findings, the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) is strongly recommending that the District of Squamish reconsider the proposal for paid parking as it is currently presented. We urge you to consider alternative solutions that will ensure the continued success and vibrancy of our downtown businesses while addressing the needs of our downtown employees, residents, and visitors.