The District of Sechelt is going ahead with plans to make Cowrie a one-way street this summer, despite warnings of serious ramifications by transit and highways authorities and "very real concerns about emergency response" by Sunshine Coast RCMP.
Facing an overwhelmingly critical reception from referral agencies, council voted in committee Wednesday to delay the move by five weeks to June 21.
Council will also consider a second option proposed by staff that would retain two-way traffic on the eastern block of Cowrie, between Wharf and Inlet avenues, before switching to one-way westbound traffic to Ocean Avenue.
The staff proposal comes after business owners and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) raised concerns about traffic access issues between Wharf and Inlet under a one-way system.
The change, however, would not address the section between Trail and Ocean avenues, which the RCMP has asked to be exempted from the plan, as it will cut off one of the two key access points for emergency response from the Sunshine Coast detachment.
If the one-way system goes ahead as proposed, Sgt. Mike McCarthy wrote, "emergency response from our department will be reduced primarily to the one very limiting option, the Highway 101 exit. We have already experienced a similar situation with the seasonal farmers' market on Cowrie and the limitations and congestion this places on our ability to respond to emergencies."
The Trail to Ocean section of Cowrie is also the primary transit exchange point for the Coast, with bus stops serving all four routes and providing a layover location. Warning that the bus stops might have to be moved to Teredo Street (Highway 101), transit officials requested the District defer the plan until September.
The District's own accessibility advisory committee also panned the idea, saying it would create confusion, extra walking distance and safety issues for bus passengers. Seniors, mothers with strollers and citizens with disabilities will be especially impacted, noted committee chair Bill Conway, who called the District's move "unusual."
"The referral responses do not favour a one-way traffic system on Cowrie Street," Ray Parfitt, director of development services, concluded in his report to council.
Adding to the growing opposition to the plan, a Sechelt and District Chamber of Commerce survey released after Wed-nesday's meeting found 78 per cent of the 263 respondents were against the proposal, and only 22 per cent were in favour.
A survey of Sechelt Downtown Business Association (SDBA) members, which was part of council's referral package, found nine members opposed the plan, five supported it, and three gave qualified support.
In his report, Parfitt recommended council postpone implementation pending more discussion with affected agencies and further public consultation.
Coun. Alice Lutes moved the recommendation, pointing to the concerns raised by transit and MOTI officials, as well as emergency providers.
"I think we really need to slow down on this and do it right so that we're not causing ourselves more trouble and more work than necessary," Lutes said.
However, Coun. Chris Moore said he would not support the recommendation without a set date, and Coun. Doug Hockley, who originally pushed for the change, suggested the first day of summer.
Coun. Mike Shanks said an extra five weeks wasn't enough time to fully consult with the public and consider all options.
Coun. Darnelda Siegers, participating via Skype, said the downtown revitalization advisory committee had been discussing the issue for more than a year, with SDBA represented on the committee.
"So it's not like we're springing this on them," Siegers said.
Shanks disagreed, saying many business people knew nothing of the proposal until they read about it in the newspaper earlier this month. He also noted the "overwhelming opposition to it from various regulatory agencies and other players."
Acknowledging it was "a bit of a flip of a coin" whether affected merchants would support the change or oppose it, Moore said the primary goal was to get more parking downtown to help the struggling retail sector.
"I'm not prepared to spend months and months on studies," he said, calling the planned changeover "an opportunity to do a live study. It may well be that we fall flat on our nose on this but on the other hand, there are a lot of people who think there's a good opportunity here. And to reassess this in the fall, after we've had the one-way street with increased parking, will be an interesting conversation."
The motion passed with Shanks opposed.
In his report, Parfitt said the District's estimated cost for implementing the system is $30,000 and noted the funds were not included in the 2013 budget.
