There will be no parking of any kind on 80 Avenue, but there could be a gravel lot with 13 spaces and time-limited parking on side streets to improve visitor parking in the area.
The attempt at a cure for residents’ complaints about a shortage of street parking was approved by council on Monday, Sept. 29.
The vote came after Township transportation engineering manager Paul Cordeiro warned against any move to allow temporary parking on a four-lane stretch of 80 Avenue until the rest of the road has been widened from two lanes to four.
Cordeiro said that is something that no other municipality in Metro Vancouver has done, would pose potential safety problems and set a precedent that would bring other neighbourhoods to council who want more on-street parking.
He added 80 Avenue is designated an arterial road that will become “probably one of the most critical east-west corridors” in Langley.
Cordeiro said the best way to improve on-street parking would be to impose time limits during the day to ensure a turnover of vehicles.
He said building temporary off-street parking spaces on a grassy stretch of 80 Avenue near 212 would be preferable to parking on 80 Avenue itself, but that would cost about $50,000.
Ashish Kapoor, one of the residents who has lobbied for a parking solution, told council his neighbours favour a “two-pronged strategy” that would combine temporary parking with time limits.
Council obliged by approving a referendum of Yorkson residents on time limited parking, something that will need a two-thirds vote to pass.
The mayor and councillors also voted to have Township staff see if money can be found for the “grassy stretch” parking option.