Other options being pondered to deal with parking worries

The dust-up over boat launch parking at Port Moody’s Rocky Point Park ruffled enough feathers at city hall to warrant a town hall meeting June 29.

City manager Gaetan Royer announced the meeting at Tuesday’s council meeting before a crowd of more than 100 boaters from throughout Tri-City and beyond had a chance to voice their frustrations during the public input period. Mayor Joe Trasolini had steadfastly refused earlier calls for a public meeting on the boat launch parking issue, saying that due process had been followed, including a public hearing.

Parking for vehicles and trailers at Rocky Point will go from 76 to 15, with 81 regular-size stalls, once the Spectra Group builds its Boathouse Restaurant there.

Another surprise came when Royer detailed several vehicle and trailer parking options being considered by staff. In addition to 50 spots available at the West Coast Express lot, available on evenings and weekends, Royer proposed another 25 at the Mill and Timber site, 10 on a lot east of the Inlet Community Garden (requiring tree clearing and approval from the parks and recreation commission), eight in front of the park service building at Rocky Point and 20 on nearby city streets.

“The objective is to replace the trailer parking stalls one-for-one, so there is no net loss of parking for boaters,” Trasolini said.

“Certainly there will be a loss of convenience – people will have to walk farther away,” Royer added, “but the target is one-for-one.”

The options didn’t sit well with the boaters, however, many of whom detailed concerns about the potential back-up of vehicles and trailers while those launching, or returning at the end of the day, look for dock spaces to tie up.

Others pointed out safety issues for kids and others walking to and from the Old Mill Boathouse with large, heavy boats.

Many said there would be “chaos” in the parking lot and streets while boaters went from one lot to the next looking for parking, all the while tying up dock space and sending a vehicle line-up well over the Moody Street overpass.

A few, including PoMo resident Wendy Swalwell, questioned how the Boathouse lease can go ahead given the “significant” changes in the restaurant’s location in the park, as well as its size, from what was approved in September 2004.

“Something of this magnitude shouldn’t have been a surprise to the entire community,” Swalwell said in a presentation to council. “There’s been no public consultation regarding the loss of boat launch parking, which is why you have so many people here so upset.”

Swalwell pointed out the zoning bylaw amendment approved in 2004 to allow the restaurant was for one that would overhang the mud flats area, include marine features inside and out, would not obstruct views of the inlet and would maintain two thirds of the parking lot for boat trailer parking.

“Almost all the stipulations which originally allowed for a restaurant in the park are not there anymore,” she said. She requested a view impact study of the Boathouse Restaurant, and wants council to look for alternate parking for cars instead of the more cumbersome trailers. Swalwell also asked that council use its revenues from the restaurant to pay for extending the dock the entire length of the pier.

“I would hate to see a percentage of proceeds of a for-profit restaurant ruin Port Moody’s greatest asset,” she said.

Construction of the Boathouse Restaurant is scheduled to begin in August for opening in spring 2007. The open house is at city hall June 29 beginning at 6 p.m., with a town hall-style meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Council is expected to consider the development permit application from Spectra Group July 11.