Rent empty parking stalls

Photo: Google Street View

Residents in downtown Kelowna could be able to rent out their unused parking stalls.

The idea is one of several being discussed as part of an overall downtown parking strategy.

"The thought is to unlock unused occupancy that does exist on some properties. We know there are some properties that utilize all of their parking, but we do know there are others who don't," said parking facilities manager Dave Duncan.

"If somebody has three legal parking spaces on their property and they only use one, they would have the potential to rent out the other two stalls."

Coun. Maxine DeHart said she sees a number of problems with such a practice. She said she would not want to see people just creating spaces.

"There's a fine line to me," said DeHart.

Duncan cautioned there would be a need for regulation, adding it's just an idea, while city manager Doug Gilchrist told council the idea is about using existing infrastructure before spending tax money on new.

"If we find there is an excess of parking in certain zones of our city, we should try and find some creative means of utilizing that before we spend public tax money on new infrastructure such as a parkade," said Gilchrist.

"This is not unusual in larger, more dense cities. In Seattle they use this model for residential."

Council endorsed the broad ideas brought forward Monday.

Duncan says staff will do more research and bring together a final downtown parking plan later in the spring.