Stratford City Council dove back into discussion around the Erie Street parking lot.
Council reviewed a report that outlined influences of the overall development of the lot.
They also looked at a tender for resurfacing the lot, which was ultimately awarded.
The two Erie Street reports made for interesting insight and commentary.
Coun. Mark Hunter noted that it can seem like they are “throwing money at something that might be dug up in a few years” but with it “pushed down the road so far already”, he suggested they act now so they can still have use of the parking lot.
Further, the resurfacing tender comes significantly under its $1.5 million budget, at just under $500,000.
Staff are hesitant to resurface the parking lot if council is keen to have “shovels in the ground in the next couple years.”
Taylor Crinklaw, Director of Infrastructure, said that “every year it doesn’t get resurfaced, it is a risk for the city,” in regards to trip, slip and fall hazards.
One idea for overall development is an underground parking garage, with either residential or commercial space above, but it is quite expensive to build a parking type structure on that site, according to staff.
Mayor Martin Ritsma said that by resurfacing they are “buying time” to explore options like developer interest in the site, easement considerations and community engagement.
In the vote to resurface the parking lot, only Coun. Cody Sebben was opposed.
