At a council meeting on November 18, West Vancouver council will discuss plans to expand the pay parking program to Cypress Falls Park, Seaview Walk, Ambleside Park, John Lawson Park, and Dundarave Park. This second phase will bring pay parking to 700 parking spots in these areas.
District staff plans to hire a temporary full-time parking coordinator to implement the pay parking program. District expects to bring in an estimated $1.05 million yearly from pay parking.
Cypress Falls Park would see parking charges for its 24 gravel stalls, while Seaview Walk, near the Glen Eagles Golf Course, includes nine marked spaces, two of which are accessible. Ambleside Park, the largest destination in the district, has 529 spaces, some located on land owned by the Squamish Nation. Other areas include John Lawson Park, with 71 spaces across District-owned and leased BC Hydro land, and Dundarave Park, featuring 84 stalls along Bellevue Avenue. Current parking limits in some locations, such as Dundarave Park’s four-hour restrictions, could also be reevaluated under this new program.
ADBIA concerned about impact on businesses
In meetings with District staff, the Ambleside Dundarave Business Improvement Association (ADBIA) has raised concerns regarding the locations on Argyle Avenue, John Lawson Park and in Dundarave as the current time limits in the commercial areas are not strictly enforced. Cars are often parked well beyond the time limit, sometimes the entire day, with no fines, said Maureen O’Brien, the executive director of the ADBIA.
She is also concerned that those wanting to avoid paying will take up valuable commercial space, impacting local businesses. The ADBIA is asking for a resolution to the current parking situation in commercial areas before implementing pay parking near the businesses and is calling for a phased approach.
“We have a real issue in Ambleside and Dundarave with our on street parking and the lack of enforcement,” Maureen O’Brien said. “We do understand that cost of the maintenance of our parks is quite high, particularly in the summer months when there is an increase in visitors. Many of these are non-residents who enjoy the beauty of the parks but leave behind their garbage or mess for District staff to clean up. The message we are trying to relay to staff and council is that those who don’t want to pay for parking will simply park in our commercial area for free, knowing they will not be ticketed or towed. We aren’t saying never put pay parking on Argyle, John Lawson Park or Dundarave, but please start enforcing the current restrictions before that. We simply ask for a phased approach, beginning in Ambleside Park.”
West Vancouver’s pay parking program began in February 2024 with three parks—Lighthouse, Nelson Canyon, and Whytecliff—as part of a phased rollout. The current hourly parking rate is $3.75, totalling $5.22 after taxes and fees while residents have the option of a $20 annual exemption pass.
The District staff plans to engage various landowners, including the Squamish Nation, West Vancouver School District, and BC Hydro, to secure agreements necessary for using their land for parking. The District will also develop a Parking Policy to address concerns about on-street impacts, such as potential congestion in nearby residential and commercial areas. Several bylaws, including the Traffic and Parking Bylaw, will be amended to reflect updated enforcement measures and fines.
These updates aim to ensure consistency in penalties between on-street and park-based parking violations. District has discussed the issue for several years, though paid parking at its popular parks hasn’t gone smoothly. In September of this year, a family from Ontario wrote to the council about their frustrating pay parking ordeal at Lighthouse Park.
At last night’s council meeting, council voted to delay the consideration of expanding pay parking to Ambleside Park, John Lawson Park, Argyle Avenue and Dundarave Park. This means that until further engagement takes place and other options can be considered, council will not be expanding the pay parking program. There is new, modern technology available that will be explored and has potential to be the perfect solution to many of the complex parking issues that we face in both our commercial areas as well as our parks. Thanks to our businesses and residents who contacted council to share their thoughts and concerns. It takes a village!
What vested interest in West Vancouver do you have? I have lived in West Vancouver since 1952. I am appalled and disgusted that West Vancouver residents will be charged to park in their own city and district. This is unnecessary and it should not happen. WV City Hall has already given its employees low-cost housing even though they are earning well above average income!!!! This is lunacy and it can only come from the employees of West Vancouver, who keep wanting more and more and more from taxpayers. Shame on them all!
I am only speaking on behalf of the commercial area. The ADBIA advocates for no pay parking in or near our commercial areas but we also ask that the time limits we currently have are enforced. Currently that is not happening and people are parking far longer than the two hour time limit, making turnover very low and difficult for patrons to our businesses to find convenient parking. The ADBIA has no stance on pay parking in the parks as that is not within our boundaries.
NO PAY PARKING PERIOD AND ESPECIALLY AT ANY PARKS. I grew up in West Van, since the age of 3 in 1952. West Vancouver is all about its natural beauty. We must protect our right to experience the natural beauty of West Vancouver free of charge. Not everyone can ride a bicycle or even walk. People need to drive cars. Free parking is one of the things that makes West Vancouver a unique and special place to live. I would rather see property taxes rise than pay parking everywhere. Do not kill what makes West Vancouver special. The only reason WV City Hall is doing this is to make more money to hire more employees. Why should I care about WV’s employees? They do not have a vested interest in West Vancouver. WV City Hall already has “affordable” housing for those who earn the most money – teachers, fire department employees, police. Why did WV City Hall do that? It was completely unnecessary. Is West Vancouver for residents or for its employees? Something is definitely fishy at WV City Hall.
It’s really difficult finding parking on Marine Drive in either Dundarave or Ambleside when I’m running errands, I.e. supporting local busi assessment. Clearly the existing parking duration limits aren’t being enforced. That inconveniences all of us except the few who park their all day.