Deep Cove is so darn popular that it’s beset by a turf war over who should be allowed to park there.
The District of North Vancouver has stepped up parking enforcement, is looking at using 120 spaces at nearby schools and issued permits to residents of Panorama Drive.
But there are no plans to pave paradise and put up a parking lot for the throngs of Quarry Rock hikers — at least not yet.
“You could put parking lot after parking lot after parking lot in Deep Cove and you are never going to solve the problem,“ exclaimed Coun. Lisa Muri, at a committee of the whole meeting Tuesday.
Also discussed was whether the district should offer a life raft to boat-access-only Indian Arm residents who are on the Belcarra or Electoral Area A tax role but moor, and therefore park a vehicle, in Deep Cove.
Some Indian Arm residents moor at a small marina at the tip of Panorama Drive, where a parking deficit in that cramped lot has forced many boaters to park on the narrow roadway. Last fall, a group of Indian Arm residents claimed unfair treatment when the district issued them a single pass, while Panorama Drive residents received three.
Council has conceded on that matter, recently allowing 12 more permits on Panorama Drive — five of which will go to non-district Indian Arm residents.
The district, to date, has allotted 230 parking passes for 55 possible spots on Panorama Drive.
Muri spoke in support of non-district Indian Arm residents, saying to uproot their lives by denying them parking on Panorama is “just not very neighbourly.”
Coun. Robin Hicks suggested, on a one-year basis, the district provide sufficient passes to anyone currently relying on the marina to commute.
Parking conflicts in Deep Cove came to a head a couple summers ago. Frustrated Panorama Drive residents voiced their concerns about traffic problems that have plagued their narrow street and created a perilous situation.
There have been reports of damaged vehicles, blocked driveways, noise pollution and traffic congestion. The district addressed some of those concerns by instituting residents-only parking on Panorama Drive at the outset of last summer.
In February the district decided to get a greater picture of the Deep Cove parking situation and commissioned Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue to host a meeting with area stakeholders. Their suggestions were included in a report that informed a parking implementation plan prepared by district staff.
One of the measures approved by council in March and currently being implemented is the addition of 10 spaces in the Panorama Drive and Rockcliff Road parking lots.
As another busy tourist season approaches, the district says it’s anticipating more complaints. A large part of the problem is Quarry Rock trail, which has surged in popularity of late.
Mayor Richard Walton was firm on his position Tuesday that anyone hiking that trail can walk an extra 10 to 15 minutes to a parking lot at Myrtle Park or Cove Cliff or Seycove schools.
Councillors rejected a proposal for a parking lot at Indian River Drive. Hicks was in favour of putting in a pay parking lot separate from the Cove, where tour buses could park.
Meanwhile, Coun. Roger Bassam was adamant that the district should not be using more taxpayers’ money — $43,000 in direct costs to date, he estimated — to fix “what is really quite a small problem.”
A motion to support the longer term parking strategy, which includes giving five permits to non-district Indian Arm residents, looking at allowing overnight parking in parks and to halt the study of a new parking lot was approved 4-1, with Bassam dissenting.
Coun. Jim Hanson recused himself from the discussion because his family owns a boat-access-only property on Indian Arm, while Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn was absent.
