LUNENBURG - Council has deferred a request from the Lunenburg Tennis Club to install six dedicated parking spaces in a grassy area off Green Street next to the tennis courts and the town playground.

 The request was originally made in anticipation that existing spaces used by club members on the northeast side of Green Street would be lost during a reconstruction of the intersection of Green and Falkland streets and Tannery Road.

 Council was advised that the cost of gravelling the area in question and installing concrete bumpers would be approximately $1,300.

 Town engineer Marc Belliveau said he had spoken with several neighbours in the area and none objected to the proposal.

 During discussion Councillor David Dauphinee raised the issue of safety considering the proposed parking area's proximity to the playground.

 "With the little children in there and the cars coming in, you know what little feet are like. They're here and gone, just like that," he said. "I think you need more than bumpers."

 There were also concerns voiced that vehicles may try to access the spaces by going the wrong way on the one-way section of Green Street between Victoria Road and the entrance to the community centre.

 Councillor Jamie Myra pointed out that the area in question is already utilized as a parking site, albeit not one with dedicated spaces.

 "They're parking there now every which way but loose," he said. "For the small cost of $1,300, I certainly have no problem if we get a little more information, probably at budget time, approving something like that. I wouldn't mind doing that for one year to see how it's used."

 Council requested time to visit the site to determine exactly how many, if any, parking spaces were lost by the tennis club during the street reconstruction, as well as to peruse the area in question where the proposed new parking spaces would be installed.

posted on 11/23/11