Towards the end of 2016 the City of Penticton installed new parking meters downtown and now the residents of Braid Street between Eckhart Street and Government Street are paying the price.
Those who work downtown are choosing to utilize Braid Street residents’ parking spaces rather than feed the newly installed meters creating hardships for Braid Street residents. We also have to deal with construction workers’ vehicles and equipment which takes up any available parking.
We go out grocery shopping and return home to discover we can’t park in front of our homes to unload our groceries. It is not fun having to park more than half a block from your residence to unload your groceries and carry them to your home. The same problem occurs when we invite friends over and they have to park a long distance from where we live.
On Jan. 19 Penticton’s Bylaw Services Department at city hall was contacted about this issue three times.
On Jan. 19 the first response to an inquiry came from the Bylaw Services supervisor who stated council has put the Resident Parking Only Program on hold.
On Jan. 19 we were asked who is disputing the Resident Parking Only Program. The bylaw supervisor forwarded a second response to this additional inquiry and stated primarily downtown employees who don’t want to pay for parking and choose to park on Braid Street and walk to work.
On Jan. 23 the bylaw supervisor stated Bylaw Services has to consider the impact of the Resident Parking Only Program not only to the residents but others including downtown businesses. She also stated a survey will soon be sent to residents to gather input and feedback. That was six weeks ago and still no sign of a survey. We aren’t interested in a survey, fix the problem.
The Resident Parking Only Program exists on Van Horne Street and Ellis Street. Now more construction of townhouses is taking place on Braid Street which only makes this problem worse. Soon the Penticton Market will get underway and the issue of not being able to park in front of your home will skyrocket.
I think it is time for council and Bylaw Services to get motivated and solve this problem ASAP. The residents of Braid Street pay for the irrigation and lawn maintenance of the boulevards in front of their homes and pay property taxes including the five per cent increase recently announced. I’m sure the members of council don’t have to walk very far from where they park to get home.
Quit stalling and fix this problem before things get out of hand. There have already been confrontations with those who are parking in front of our homes.
Lil Lohrenz
Penticton