The wheels have been set in motion for a new parking lot in Britannia Beach.
A motion to look into new parking space put forth by SLRD director Tony Rainbow, who oversees Electoral Area D, received approval from the regional district’s board at its latest meeting.
If all goes according to plan, vehicles will be able to park on a piece of land along Copper Drive between the Britannia Beach Fire Hall and the Britannia Beach Mine Museum.
“I would like to have this developed as a parking lot that would serve mainly Britannia Mine Museum staff during the day and [Britannia Beach Volunteer Fire Department] volunteers on practice nights and when called out,” said Rainbow in a written report for the regional district board meeting.
“This would accomplish two things: increased capacity for visitors at the Museum and safer parking for BBVFD personnel who currently park on the side of Copper Drive. I am currently in conversation with [Ministry of Transportation] and will contact [the Ministry of Forests.]”
The ministries of transportation and forests have jurisdiction over the area.
As per the motion, SLRD staff have been instructed to contact those two ministries to ask if a tenancy can be granted to use the land.
Staffers will also have a look at whether any zoning changes will be needed. Funding has been approved for the project.
Macdonald Development, which is responsible for a nearby residential-commercial development in Britannia helped survey the land for free, according to Rainbow.
This sparked a rumour that the parking lot would be owned and operated by Macdonald Development.
When asked about this, Macdonald project manager Bill Baker acknowledged the company surveyed the land for the SLRD at no cost.
However, he said that Macdonald will not be owning or operating the proposed parking lot.
Baker said the surveying was done as a courtesy, because the company often has surveyors in the area, anyway. He added that the developer does not expect anything in return.
