Parking issues in downtown Black Diamond have grabbed the attention of town council, who are planning to have a meeting with residents and business owners to discuss the problems and possible solutions.
The parking issue emerged after town council voted to eliminate the angle parking on 1st Street SW, perpendicular to Centre Avenue, based on safety concerns and statistics from the town’s protective services committee. Data indicated 13 accidents in town were due to vehicles backing up in 2011.
Sandul’s Pharmacy owners Rose and Ron Sandul and One on One Hair Salon owner Noreen Hatchard expressed their concern with the decision to eliminate parking at council’s Jan. 4 meeting.
Rose Sandul told council at least 30 cars park there throughout the day and eliminating the stalls will have a substantial impact on their business.
“That’s a big deal to us,” she said, explaining they have many elderly patrons. “We need direct, accessible parking for our clientele.”
The group presented a petition to council with more than 300 signatures of people against the parking elimination.
Sandul said the parking availability downtown has not kept up with growth and expressed concern for the future of the businesses.
“We just can’t stay competitive,” she explained after the meeting. “We need to find ways of obtaining more land to make into parking lots and that’s kind of what I’m hoping the meeting will bring about.”
Sandul suggested large trucks should not be allowed to park in the angled stalls where driveways begin so no one parks in front of them and to look into acquiring nearby land for more parking.
Coun. Jim Deacon said the decision to eliminate the parking on 1st Street SW was made based on safety.
Mayor Sharlene Brown said the road was not wide enough for angle parking and there were serious safety concerns.
“If people knew how to park I don’t think it would be an issue,” she said.
Council passed a motion to hold a meeting with residents and business owners to discuss downtown parking issues.
Coun. Michel Jackson voted against the motion, saying it is problematic if council can’t make a decision without involving the public every time.
After the meeting, Sandul said she was pleased there would be a public parking discussion, noting one should have been held prior to the 1st Street SW parking decision.
“I just hope that conversation will keep going for the next few years so that we can find a solution.”
Sandul also said she wasn’t impressed with how council made the decision to eliminate 1st Street SW parking so quickly and the way they were notified of the decision by a bulletin on their billboard Dec. 24.
Sandul’s Pharmacy has been downtown for about 14 years and Sandul said the parking problem has been going on for about seven years.
“When we started out there was enough parking, it was perfect. Because the town has changed so much, we just have not kept up with the parking demand.”
Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce president Clayton Foster said the chamber will take part in the parking discussion and he views downtown parking from two perspectives.
“No question it is getting more congested than it ever was, but it’s still far better than a mid- sized town or the city (Calgary),” he explained.
A few business owners have complained to him about the parking situation, while he also hears positive feedback, Foster said. He never had any safety issues related to angled parking and didn’t hear about it from others, he added.
