Downtown Lethbridge -- LNN

By Connor Gunn

Presentation highlights possible changes to parking for businesses in Lethbridge

Oct 27, 2020 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB- Owner of Theoretically Brewing Company, Kelti Baird made her presentation to Lethbridge City Council’s Community Issues Committee on Monday, to offer information on how parking is affecting her business.

Currently, for Baird’s business, it’s a difficult parking situation, with the company trying to expand the brewery.

The current parking “formula” is based on square footage for businesses, which calculates the allotted parking spots for the business in question.

Baird’s business problem is that the city is giving them too many parking spots but for their warehouse, seating area, and kitchen.

Baird would like to see fewer spots given to her business.

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The presentation reads the “importance of an open parking option”:

“Open Option Parking is expected to lead to improved development within the City by ensuring supply and demand are aligned and increasing the efficiency at which development permits can be reviewed and approved.”

Baird’s business is not alone in this struggle for too much parking and she maintains the problem has “turned away” business, as she is having to pay taxes on the parking spots alotted to her business.

Open parking would also:

“Supports more vibrant, walkable spaces, removes, barriers to economic development, reduces development costs for small businesses, and is a greater choice and flexibility for development.”

Baird’s business is not in the downtown core or part of the Downtown BRZ. Parking in downtown is in a separate jurisdiction.

The next step in the process for Baird, is to see if the city is willing to change anything with their current bylaw, and that will be discussed at a later council date.