Tofino is adding a new parking lot to accommodate RV’s and boat trailers that are struggling to find space in town.
The district’s director of infrastructure and public works Aaron Rodgers presented the idea to the town’s municipal council on June 25, explaining that the new, temporary, lot will be built at the former bike park location next to the community hall.
The new lot is expected to offer 11 parking spaces and will carry different fees and time limits than the downtown core with 2 hours costing $5, 12 hours costing $12.50, 24 hours costing $15.50, seven days costing $44, and 14 days costing $81.
Rodgers report suggests the added lot is expected to bring in an additional $5,948 in revenue through the pay parking program.
Elsewhere in town, parking for regular sized vehicles costs $2.50 an hour and RV’s are charged $5 an hour with overnight parking prohibited.
Coun. Sarah Sloman asked if owners of regular-sized vehicles could take advantage of the longer time slots being offered in the new parking lot, but Rodgers said the spots would be reserved for oversized vehicles because of the limited options for them in town.
“These are our larger spots, so we might be able to accommodate some of the vehicles that we can’t accommodate on the road,” he said.
Sloman also asked if trailers would need to be connected to a vehicle to park in the new lot and Rodgers responded that they would not.
“As long as they’re being paid for, then we’ll be OK with it, but we’re also OK if they are,” he said.
Coun. Kat Thomas asked if the new lot would carry additional costs, like new kiosks or increases in the contract with Robbins.
Rodgers responded that an existing and underused kiosk will be relocated to the area and the new spaces will be added to the existing contract with Robbins, which includes a 5.5 per cent commission fee.
Coun. Ali Sawyer asked about the potential for people to be living or camping in their RV’s while parked in the longer-term time slots.
“Given that we’re enforcing very stringently in the summer, just to be fair to everyone that we’re not creating a campground,” she said.
Rodgers said the lots will be patrolled and overnight stays will be prohibited.
Anderson suggested signage should be looked into to ensure parkers are aware that camping is prohibited in the area.
