WEST Vancouver council will serve up more parking near the community centre at the expense of tennis courts, much to the dismay of nearby residents and court users.
The plan, first suggested by Mayor Michael Smith at a meeting in November, is an alternative to a staff recommendation to close a lane of Marine Drive for parking and construction staging. Council voted to approve the change Dec. 12, with construction starting immediately the next morning. The parking lot should be open by Christmas.
The district has been struggling with how to accommodate an increased number of workers and deal with the loss of 50 spots that were on the Pacific Arbour site. The parking lot is described as temporary and would last two years or until the nearby construction sites are finished, but there's no indication of what will happen next.
Chris Stead, director of the district's own tennis program, isn't feeling the love. He was informed late last week and told the move was a done deal. His classes are moving to Ambleside, which will mean a lot more driving back and forth for him, his players and for their equipment, not to mention the loss of access to the tennis club's facilities.
"I'm not impressed at all. There's been no communication whatsoever and I'm very disappointed. Just the way it's been handled is very unprofessional and very disrespectful," said Stead, who has managed the program for more than 15 years.
"We've been able to use club and facilities and washrooms, now they're saying they will have a portapotty for us. That's a challenge, especially for the kids," he added. "So I have a feeling it's going to have an impact, not just logistically but it could have an impact on people not wanting to participate if it's in a place they had to drive a lot more to."
Gill Eston, president of the West Vancouver Tennis Club, said that while it won't impact them directly, the situation is "less than ideal."
"We are concerned about any erosion of tennis facilities available to members of the public," she said, adding that she has been assured the tennis courts will return in two years.
Originally on the consent agenda, council only discussed the decision publicly after Paul Stott, president of the strata council of a townhouse across the street on Gordon Avenue, signed up to speak to the item. He said the new parking would jam up his street with cars, creating a safety hazard, and would destroy a valuable community amenity that is used "from dawn until dusk" in the summertime.
"The tennis courts are very popular," he said. "We fear this supposedly temporary parking lot will become a permanent fixture."
He lobbed the idea of paid parking at council, which would encourage drivers to park their car at home or park for a shorter period of time. Stricter time limits should also be implemented, he said - the new parking lot will limit drivers to four hours.
Anne Mooi, director of parks and community services for the district, said staff at the community centre constantly hear complaints of parking problems, telling council the loss of 50 spots to construction at Pacific Arbour has had a "significant impact on people."
She also said she had spoken to the president of the West Vancouver Tennis Club, who at the time was Hal Hartman, and to Stead, and said there were no concerns. Both groups, however, said they were told of the parking lot as information only, not consultation, and weren't asked for feedback.
Mooi said there would be no impact on the tennis program with the move to Ambleside.
Councillors voted for the parking lot option. "We don't know what to say to you," said Coun. Bill Soprovich to Stott. "During the construction this is going to be difficult for everybody."
Added Smith, "This area's going to be jammed . . . (but) we really don't see a lot of options."
Stead, however, countered that had they consulted, maybe they would have found an alternative. Despite the construction, he's hoping there's still time.
"To give up a perfectly healthy facility for the needs of a few parking spots, it just seems to make absolutely no sense whatsoever," he said. "I'm hoping that they can overturn this and put the courts back."
