Ridgeway Elementary’s parent community is protesting the loss of greenspace on the school property for more staff parking.
Parents lined up along Moody Avenue Friday morning to ward off any deliveries of construction materials.
“We are protesting for a lack of dialogue around the decision to pursue a parking lot instead of alternative solutions,” Arieanna Schweber, president of the school’s parent advisory council.
The controversy stems from the addition of the larger modular building on the east side of the property to hold more classrooms in 2016. The City of North Vancouver granted a temporary occupancy permit that is due to expire next month. The city’s zoning bylaw requires an additional 14 parking spots be added to the site, according to the district.
“We believe that, after taking 30 per cent of our school play area away for the addition of the modular, that any further reduction in available play space should be taken only if absolutely necessary,” Schweber said.
The area at the northeast corner of school property is a popular place for education assistants to take special needs kids who can otherwise become overwhelmed by 571 Ridgeway kids running around on the playground, Schweber added. It’s also one of the only shady areas on the property.
Schweber said she and the parents would like to see the school district apply to the city for a variance exempting them from the extra parking spaces. Both the city and the school district encourage staff and students to use active transportation to get to school, Schweber noted.
Another alternative would be to make the west side of Moody permit parking, available exclusively to Ridgeway staff during school hours, Schweber suggested.
At the very least, the district should be having a dialogue with the PAC. Schweber said.
“I think, in a public school system, we have a right to a say in our children’s education and the availability of greenspace is primal to that discussion,” she said.
The school district, meanwhile, said the extra parking spaces are needed.
“We are expecting enrolment at both Ridgeway and Queen Mary to continue to increase until a new Lower Lonsdale school is built (currently proposed for the Cloverley site),” a statement from district read. “With the growing number of students and staff expected over the next few years, the North Vancouver School District chose not to pursue a variance with the CNV.”
As for the protest, district administrators say they have tried to find a balanced approach to groups with competing interests.
“There are regular concerns from the community about traffic safety during drop-off/pickup times and the lack of parking causing congestion around the school. The additional parking spots will help to alleviate some pressures on street parking. Walking, biking, carpooling or taking transit is always encouraged,” their statement read.
