City of Powell River councillors voted to renew a temporary use permit to allow parking on a vacant property on Franklin Avenue.
At the May 22 city council meeting, director of planning services Jason Gow outlined the renewal requested by Mill Town Transport, which permits accessory parking as a principal use in the M1 zone, which is a general industrial zone. Gow said the permit was first approved on June 2, 2022, and it was coming up on its three-year renewal.
Gow said the permit allows Mill Town Transport to park vehicles on the property as part of its business operation.
“A temporary use permit is required because in the M1 zone, parking as a principal use is not permitted,” said Gow. “This is because no permanent structure exists on the property to house the principal industrial use. Standalone parking such as this would only be permitted as an accessory use.”
Gow said since the permit was first issued, the city has received no complaints with respect to noise, parking or any other disturbances.
“Planning staff are supportive of this renewal,” added Gow.
Councillor Earl Almeida said a written report from Gow did not reference anything for the future beyond the three-year renewal, so he was curious, because a temporary use permit can only be renewed one time, about what would be the plan down the road?
Gow said this is a city-owned property and the city leases it to Mill Town Transport. He said he was not sure if the manager of properties had had a conversation with the business about the future. He said this particular use doesn’t provide a great deal of revenue for the city and the city probably doesn’t want to see industrial properties used as parking lots.
“We want to see brick and mortar structures on properties where there is a taxable asset,” said Gow. “That would be one hesitation to supporting parking as a principal use.”
Gow said after expiration of the permit in three years, Mill Town Transport could reapply, and council could make determinations at that point about whether the temporary use could continue.
Council unanimously approved a motion that the permit be renewed for a final three-year term ending June 13, 2028.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday.
