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City council denies Occu-Dent parking lot

Motion defeated at first reading

A proposal to build a temporary 20-stall commercial parking lot on a residential street in Riverside Meadows was defeated at city council at first reading.

The proposal was back before council on Monday after council requested administration explore options in regards to the request to build a parking lot at 5917 51st Ave.

The applicant, who owns the nearby Occu-Dent Professional Centre, wanted to develop a parking lot on the site for up to five years to provide temporary parking for staff at Occu-Dent.

The motion was defeated 5-3 with councillors Buck Buchanan, Lawrence Lee and Frank Wong voting in favour to allow a public hearing. Coun. Paul Harris was absent from the meeting.

Mayor Tara Veer said council grappled with the application, trying to balance the needs of the applicant while keeping to the planning vision for the area.

“Council ultimately said the duration on the application on the parking lot for five years didn’t keep with the planning vision for Riverside Meadows,” Veer said.

The city’s planning department recommended council defeat the proposed amendment of the Land Use Bylaw to allow the parking lot.