Updated: Sun Aug. 17 2008 17:44:41

ctvbc.ca

Call it a Pacific National Exhibition tradition.

A man finds a place to park on someone's property. He reaches in his wallet and hands over $15.

He's smiling because he's saved a little money. The owner of the property is happy because he's a little richer.

It's only the city of Vancouver that isn't pleased.

City hall has sent out a warning telling residents that selling parking spaces near the PNE has got to stop.

As of September 13, anyone caught luring drivers to sell parking spots could be fined.

The city has received complaints about that as well -- some complain it's unsightly, and is pushing property values down.

It's troubling, because some days this is the only option that's available.

A survey conducted by the PNE found that almost half of fairgoers park in the neighbourhood, not on the fair grounds.

Take opening day, for example. There are 2,500 spots available on the fair grounds. By 10 a.m., they were all full.

"There's certainly days during the fair that we do not have enough parking," admitted PNE spokeswoman Laura Balance.

It's at such a premium that school playing fields are turned into parking spots during the fair.

Ones neighbours use to walk their dogs, or play little league baseball.

Once the crackdown begins, these entrepreneurs will also need a licence if they want to sell more than one space.

The other issue is enforcement.

That will be up to police, and they're already short-staffed, and have their hands full in other parts of the city.

Please Add Comments(8)

Carter
The PNE has to be moved out of the neighbourhood - simple as that. I've always enjoyed the fair but they are not good neighbours to have for tens of thousands of people. This problem will never go away and besides, the laws are only valid when there's teeth to them. The anti-smoking laws banning smoking from doorways etc hasn't worked. People do it anyway...the police have better things to do than to walk around giving tickets to otherwise lawabiding people. Now we have the PNE to contend with? I don't think so.

rose
This is stupid!!
Those people have to put up with their neighbourhood being invaded for two and a half weeks each year.I say let them make their small windfall!!
Whenever I've been they seem to have a good thing going, and the city should stay out of it.

Former PNE Parker
Didn't the City of Vancouver do this 20 years ago? We had to get a permit to park cars in our own lot. Very few people in the neighbourhood bought them - majority didn't. City never followed up on the permits. Nobody took them seriously. City implemented a bylaw reducing our limit from 4 cars to 3 cars for parking in our lot (depending on size of lots).

City implemented PNE Residential Parking Permit for our cars to be allowed to park in front of our own houses for a nominal fee along with a Visitor Pass. The honeymoon was over. Blame the parkers on 2800 Dundas, Triumph, Pandora and Franklin block for renting visitor passes to unsuspected PNE goers .... selling the visitor pass was a contravention of the by-law. Even selling parking spots on the public street. This was pure greed by these people. City discontinued the visitor pass.

Why didn't the City fix this back in ie. 1960's.

Don't think it's the complaints...We think it's an image problem due to the 2010 Olympics. City of Vancouver doesn't want this on world stage. Also, City & Revenue Canada are pretty peeved that they're not collecting money from the parkers. We're sure Revenue Canada is wondering how much money these parkers are really making under the table. As soon the as the business permits are implemented,.money have to be declared as income.

Joanne
I'm glad they are finally cracking down on this. The people who live there complained about never having any parking due to people visiting the PNE and going to shows, so the City of Vancouver issued them all Parking Permits, so the public could not park in front of their homes. So to allow some residents to make money off of this is wrong.

The other Trent
I don't care what people do with their own property but they do not own the city street in front of their house.

I have just as much right to park there as the homeowner whose house is sitting behind the curb.

Jim
Well if the PNE was moved out to the valley there should no be anymore parking issues as there is lots of land out there and then Vancouver Residents wouldn't have to put up with other residents offering parking as the PNE doesn't have enough to facilitate those attracted to the fair!

RealityCheck
Take away the "resident only" parking city signage and make it consistent with the rest of the city. Otherwise, I'd like to charge my neighbours for parking their vehicles in front of my home leaving my visitors without any parking for blocks.

Clen
This is so typically narrow minded by the city. As the article says there is not enough parking to accomodate PNE visitors, not to mention that every year cars get broken into. Personally I feel much better if my car is safely tucked away in someones driveway or garage, and so what if the owners make a little money on that? They also put up with the inconvenience of increased traffic in their neighbourhood.