Downtown properties appear to be acting as parking lots without council approval
A pair of properties in downtown Regina appear to be acting as a parking lot without the proper approval from city council.
An application has been submitted to rezone the lots, located at 2158 and 2160 Scarth Street, in order to develop a 13-paved stall parking lot with “vehicular access provided the rear alley and for the exclusive use of occupants of the office building located at 2161 Scarth Street," according to the city.
The bylaw amendment has yet to receive the official stamp of approval, yet one resident told council the parking lot appears to already be in use.
“The fact that the bylaw has been carried out before actually being read indicates a curiously pessimistic view of what legislation and public consultation are for. It seems to indicate reading a bylaw once, let alone three times is a formality,” said resident Anna Norris during the city council meeting.
“But the bylaw has not been passed and this is only a formality if we choose to make it one.”
City council voted on the bylaw amendment at Wednesday’s meeting. The motion needed unanimous approval from council in the third reading. However, it was lost with a vote of five to four in favour of the bylaw. Councillors Hawkins, Stevens, Stadnichuk and Zachidniak voted against the motion.
The bylaw will go to a final reading at a future council meeting where it will not require unanimous approval.
Norris spoke against surface parking lots in general, saying they contribute to safety concerns in the area.
“Downtown Regina is indeed an often frightening and unpleasant place to walk,” she said.
“The reason it is so frightening and unpleasant is in large part because of the parking lots, which turn the area into a wasteland that is convenient only for car storage and for crime.”
Mayor Sandra Masters said the parking lot is in violation with the current bylaw, adding bylaw officers will be following up with the landowner.
Masters, who voted in favour of the bylaw amendment, agreed there is “ample parking downtown,” and council along with administration are working together to figure out incentives for people to build.
“I think what you’re seeing in our downtown is a lack of investment that has gone on for the last number of years,” she said.
“We want everyone to feel safe, and so investments from the city, grand and small, are necessary to assist our downtown to continue to grow its vibrancy.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.