A new parking lot on Fromme Mountain is either a belated solution to a parking nightmare or an environmental affront that benefits few, depending on who you believe.
The District of North Vancouver is holding an open house this Tuesday to unveil plans for a parking lot and staging area at the base of Fromme Mountain.
Slated for completion this fall, the parking lot includes washrooms and bike washing stations.
The project is an attempt to accommodate the steadily growing number of hikers and bikers who hit the trails while protecting the surrounding neighbourhood, according to a release from the district.
Fromme Mountain's 62 kilometres of trail are frequented by a diverse group of residents, including dog walkers, hikers, families out for a stroll as well as mountain bikers, according to Mark Wood, program manager for the North Shore Mountain Bike Association.
While the trails are plentiful, the parking is sparse, according to Wood.
"There's few recreational parks in the world that have such high (use) with no real parking or staging facilities," he said.
The area's lack of parking has created friction in the community, according to Wood.
"All they've done with the parking ban is move the problem down to Coleman Street," he said.
Wood congratulated council and staff for "taking the bull by the horns."
"The solution, in essence, is. .. long overdue," he said.
Not everyone is happy with the plan for a parking lot. Further examination of the wetlands is needed, according to district resident Wendy Qureshi.
Hard riding on soft terrain is not sustainable, said Qureshi, who added the parking lot was an example of the special treatment enjoyed by the mountain biking community.
"It's only for the mountain bikers," she said. "Why should we taxpayers of the district pay money to facilitate their hobby?" Parking for the area has been debated before, with Mayor Richard Walton warning against putting a lot at the top of Fromme Mountain in 2011.
"If you turn that to a staging area you're going to create a monster," he said.
The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m. at the North Vancouver Museum and Archives on Institute Road. The district is set to release their transportation and parking study at the meeting.
Construction of the parking lot is scheduled to begin this summer.
