Now that council has given their blessing for the relocation of Shagg, it's time for changes to be made to fit in newcomer Wholesale Sports.
During tonight's council meeting, a public hearing will be held on the application for a handful of variances to the 1601 Victoria St. property. These include reducing the number of parking spaces as well as reducing the size of the parking stalls.
According to a staff report, the property currently has 128 off-street parking stalls, but 33 of them need to be removed to "facilitate an addition, an improved building entrance, full loading access and sufficient clearance from the city-owned boulevard."
Another 10 stalls could be taken up through a private agreement with a neighbouring property, leaving 85 spaces for Wholesale Sports - which is less than the required 161 (five stalls per 100 metres square of gross floor area).
The reduction in parking spaces is rationalized in the report by the location, which is said to be located close enough to the downtown core and Parkwood Place mall for pedestrians to access; to have access to frequent public transportation routes along 15th Avenue and Victoria Street; and to be in a growth priority area as designated in the official community plan, which prioritizes investment for transit service, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
There is also bicycle parking and rear-lane loading for trucks included in the development proposal.
And though the application calls for a 0.22-metre reduction in the width of the parking stalls, that is the size of the spaces already in place at the property.
A letter from the property managers and owners at Redwood Square expressed concern about both the amount of proposed parking and the size of the stalls.
"For example, a Ford F250 is just over 2m wide leaving less than one foot on either side of the vehicle. A stall that is 2.58m wide will not allow for the vehicle doors to open properly without hitting nearby vehicles," the letter states. "It's not to say it's impossible for everyone to park, but most people will not be able to do this comfortably or perfectly."
The letter writers also said they're already experiencing customers of 1601 Victoria St. and Victoria Medical Building patrons using their parking lot because of inadequate space.
Another Redwood Square tenant, Dr. Terrance Warawa, said he may not be able to continue operating his chiropractic practice at his location without adequate parking, since his patients often have mobility issues. "The thing is that the general public does not see the property line. They don't care. They just need a place to park," he wrote.
The provincial Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure supports the proposed plan to reduce parking spaces, but recommended that the exit on to Victoria Street be restricted to right turns only, and signed.
Public hearings begin at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
