Editor:
Reflecting upon the City of Williams Lake’s policy of allowing patio platforms in curb parking positions, one has to wonder what asset value the City puts upon its downtown-core business taxpayers.
One business that is negatively affected by allowing patio platforms at its doorstep is Esquire Barber Shop, a business that has been paying taxes and located on lower Oliver Street for generations.
The three rules for the establishment of a business are said to be location, location, location.
City bylaws would not allow a new high-traffic business to be established within the City of Williams Lake without that business meeting established off-street parking bylaws.
For the City to allow a highly valued street-parking space to be occupied by a patio platform is taking from one business at the expense of another.
Esquire Barber Shop, a well-respected Williams Lake business, is virtually paying the price for the loss of a parking space without compensation that includes convenience for its customers.
Thanks to the Esquire Barber Shop’s long-time presence in this location, many of its customers are both young mothers and senior citizens.
When a parking space is not found within a reasonable walking distance for its clientele, the barber shop looses clientele to the competition. Thus not only is the barbershop required to pay city taxes for the right to be located where it is located, but also by having a patio platform occupying an adjacent valued street parking place, Esquire Barber Shop is now being additionally taxed, without compensation, for some loss of business.
The City taxation bylaws should operate on some fair taxation principle. Giving another enterprise the right to occupy a very necessary parking position at the expense of another’s business, without compensation, rates as the most unfair form of taxation.
Why not let the patio platform be set up in the high foot traffic area, such as the City Hall parking lot, rather than occupy a very valuable and possibly dangerous street-parking position.
Doug Wilson
Williams Lake