Things are moving along with the gymnastics club’s Facility Expansion Project.
The town of Smithers recently gave the Northern Edge Sport Association (NESA), formerly known as the Bulkley Valley Gymnastics Association, a development variance permit to reduce the number of parking stalls.
The club wants to expand the recreation facility it currently operates in the town-leased property at 1621 Main Street.
The proposed project would have required 126 parking stalls for the upgraded facility. However, given the space constraints, the association asked to only have 55 parking stalls, including the four accessible stalls, and two electric vehicle charging stations as required by the Zoning Bylaw.
Town staff supported their request to reduce the amount of parking because the current parking standard does not reflect their operational requirements and the parking need. With most of the participants either walking to the facility or dropped off on-site by family members or friends, the on-site parking requirement is considerably lower than what is required for facilities that offer passive recreation participation and public seating.
The association is also working with Cycle 16 and a consultant to incorporate active transportation infrastructure into the site and facility design.
Town planner Deepa Chandran told Smithers council that creating parking stalls that will remain underutilized does not support the principle of good land use planning. She also said recognizing the issues with adopting a one-size-fits-all parking standard for cultural, assembly and recreation facilities, staff have identified it as a housekeeping item to be included in a future Zoning Bylaw amendment.
The renovation is currently in the design stage. Northern Edge Sports Association (NESA) hopes to finalize the design phase by this fall, before submitting grant applications for construction funding.
At the same time, on the other side of the town-owned property, on Main St, there are plans in the works for an affordable housing development.
NESA is working closely with the Town of Smithers and the Dze L ‘Kant Housing Society to create a well-integrated site for the facility expansion, the planned housing development, and the surrounding residential area.
NESA executive director Laura Collingwood said the site design is being developed to ensure safe flow for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists as well as scooters.
The planning teams from both projects have been proactive in ensuring the site planning is safe for all current residents surrounding the site, future residents of the housing development and community members using the expanded Northern Edge Sport and Recreation Centre, she said.
She also noted the Town of Smithers staff, NESA and the Dze L ’Kant Housing Society are all bringing different perspectives and an understanding that the long-term co-existence of these developments will thrive by working together in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding.
READ MORE: Gymnastics building to expand
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