Paving job doesn't mean that land is no longer for sale.

The empty lot adjacent to the Atlin Terminal gets a makeover, as the city has some asphalt put down.

The work creates a parking lot for now, where a hotel may go in the future...

Cow Bay parking area ‘beautified’
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Pages one and five

Paving of the temporary parking space in Cow Bay has gotten underway, in an effort to further beautify Prince Rupert's downtown.

However, that does not mean the city's goal for that piece of property has not changed.

"We know exactly what we want to do, we want to see that land developed for retail and office, potentially residential, a hotel, or whatever," said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

"That's still our goal, but it's become apparent that process may take a little longer than we would have liked.

"So we are going to take a little time to beautify the area a little more, and make it a little bit nicer for those of us that live here and those that are visiting."

The property is still for sale.

However, as the city has expressed in the past, the municipality would prefer to see the site developed by local business owners and operated year-round.

"Our plan is the same as it has always been," said Pond. "Sell that property or see it put into play as a development property."

Parking has been a contentious issue in the city for a long time, and many residents seeing that lot in the process of being paved over may wonder if it will become a pay-to-park lot, in a similar fashion to Rushbrook Floats.

"Anything is possible," said Pond.

"That's not part of this current plan," said Pond. "The parking committee has not reported back to council at this time, and we're not planning at this very moment to implement parking there. But that's not to say that won't be something we look at next."

Back in April, city council and the parking committee task force hired the Boulevard Transportation Group of Victoria to study parking in the downtown and Cow Bay areas for $28,500.

The group is set to report back to city council some time in August, when they will present ways to improve the use of underutilized parking areas, how to incorporate new parking into developments, parking zone requirements for handicap' and loading' zones, parking during the high tourist season in areas like Cow Bay, pay-parking technologies and recommend time limits and zone changes.

"At this point in time, the primary purpose is just getting the area a little bit beautified. It's been an empty lot for just bit too long."