The price to pay for parking in a pair of regional parks is set to rise following a vote a month in the making at the Capital Regional District.
Despite being tweaked to a more gradual approach, the proposed increase to parking fees at two popular regional parks drove CRD directors in opposite directions when the bylaw first appeared at the table Nov. 13.
While the parks committee altered its recommendations to reflect a gradual increase before coming before the CRD board, those changes weren’t enough to deter some directors opposed to pay parking in general. Of primary concern is that the Sooke Potholes and Thetis Lake parks are the only two under the CRD purview where users pay to park.
Director Maja Tait, also the mayor of Sooke, noted her appreciation at the effort to seek a more palatable increase, but couldn’t ignore that no other regional parks have users pay. The potholes in particular are not easily accessible by bus or bike, she noted.
When it came time to vote, the required bylaw squeaked past the third reading but didn’t achieve adoption – which procedurally requires a two-thirds approval if voted on the same day as the first three readings.
Director Colin Plant, also a Saanich councillor, made the motion to bring the item back to the December meeting.
Passed during the Dec. 11 meeting, the bylaw will see prices to park at both sites increase each year from now through 2027. Those changes would include the addition of short-term, two-hour parking for $2 in 2025 and remain unchanged for the next two years. The daily and seasonal rates, however, would go up; from $2.25 daily this year to $4 in 2025, $5.50 in 2026 and $7 in 2027. Season rates would go up from $20 this year to $30 next year, $45 in 2026 and $60 in 2027.
The changes would ultimately generate $400,000 in additional annual revenue.
In line with previous conversations and votes on the bylaw, directors Tait, Doug Kobayashi (Mayor of Colwood), Sid Tobias (Mayor of View Royal), Al Wickheim (Juan de Fuca electoral area) and Gary Holman (Salt Spring Island electoral area) opposed.
