Cold Lake will be untightening the belt of downtown and lakeshore parking. Council voted in their previous meeting to drop the mandate of provided parking for businesses and restaurants with under 150 people and replace it with a more laissez-faire attitude. Cold Lake Mayor Craig Copeland says the new rules are a win for people heading downtown and business owners.
“Parking will be like a festival parking: Find your best spot. This way, we hope, it will stimulate some growth in the downtown core.”
Council had consulted with business and building owners who said the current rules made it hard to lease-out buildings or start new businesses. Copeland says the interest businesses and developers have shown was a catalyst for the change.
“People are looking at developing in Cold Lake. They’re relying hopefully on the economy picking up.”
Hotels and shopping centres were excluded from the new exemption.