In addition to adjustment to the parking bylaw and the addition of the former Canadian Hotel land as a parking lot, Kimberley City Council is also considering another move to improve traffic flow in, out and around the Platzl.
That move would be to make Howard Street on the north end of the Platzl a one way, which would then allow for angle parking. Mayor Ron McRae says Council and staff are looking at it. The one way would likely be west to east, he said.
“It’s all in the interest of better traffic flow,” McRae said.
If the one way is created, it would lead to a change in an intersection that is somewhat problematic — that being where Howard St. meets the upper part of Wallinger Ave.
If that intersection changes, it would allow an additional exit from the parking lot beside the youth centre, something that would improve congestion in that lot.
As promised, Council did give first three readings to rescind the Surface Parking Specified Area Bylaw on Monday evening, which charged property owners within the area a total of $26,763 per year for parking in the downtown area.
Coun. Albert Hoglund was not in favour of rescinding the bylaw, saying the parking is there for businesses, and they should pay for part of it.
However, Coun. Don McCormick said that there were clearly issues with the bylaw, and the message the City was trying to project was that they are friendly to business.