A new parkade may be on its way to address Kelowna General Hospital’s parking woes.
According to a report presented to council by long-range planning manager James Moore during Monday’s council meeting , Interior Health has identified a need for a new parkade to address the on-street parking conflicts in the area.
Moore pointed out that both the city and IH reviewed the parking situation in the hospital area, and found there was a shortfall of 300 to 400 stalls for hospital staff. Around 62 spaces have been lost during the development of JoeAnna’s House.
Two locations are being considered for the parkade, part of KGH’s current campus location and on the west side of Speer Street. City staff prefer the parkade’s location to be on campus, but it may not be feasible without compromising a space for more vital medical use. Ultimately, however, it will be up to IH to decide.
“The first, and staff’s clear preference, is on campus in some of the under-developed portions of the campus,” he said, adding that anything “off campus” would trigger a fully public rezoning process.
Moore also recommends that sidewalk and cycling connections be improved, particularly between Royal Avenue and Richter Street. Cycle paths are also recommended for along Ethel Street and Rose Avenue and a share-use pathway be constructed though the KGH site.
In August, Kelowna city council approved a plan by Interior Health to build a new 90-stall parking lot near Kelowna General Hospital.
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