Dear Editor: I write regarding the loss of resident-exempt parking for south end of the 1500-block of Eastern Avenue.
As residents, we have seen our street parking decreased by a few spots because the City of North Vancouver reconfigured the sidewalks to accommodate the new Local building. So we have seen a decrease in available street parking coinciding with a dramatic increase in upcoming residential units. The street has already become jammed by people looking to avoid the newly opened Loblaws City Market underground pay parking. We are happy to share our street with our soon to be neighbours of the Local building, but as soon as the Local building becomes occupied, I fear there will be no parking for anyone, and the problem will spill over into adjacent neighborhoods.
I understand the ground level businesses need to have parking available for their customers. These businesses are mostly dental offices with weekday business hours and average closing times around 4:30 p.m. Are we open to a compromise? Can we not have resident-exempt parking during the weekends when our vehicles are home and when the dental offices are closed? Could we have the 90 minute parking until 6 p.m. changed to 5 p.m. between Monday and Friday? It seems poorly timed and thought out, and punishes the Eastern Avenue residents by trying to accommodate businesses that may not even be open.
I'm open to a logical discussion.
Michael Montgomery
North Vancouver
