DESPITE a request from the owner to waive a cash-in-lieu fee, the City of Swan will charge an Ellenbrook business $50,050 for not meeting the parking requirements of its new business.
The fee was implemented because the proposed indoor play centre only had 13 bays available, which is half the number stipulated in the town’s parking strategy.
The recommendation said the City should charge the business for half of the short fall at a cost of $7700 a bay.
Proponent Adrian McKeon requested the council waive the fee as the business was helping to employ local families, entertain children and help boost Ellenbrook’s commercial offerings.
Cr Natasha Cheung said the council should support the business by giving it 24 months to pay the fee because it was providing local jobs for local people in an area full of young families that could use the business.
“The area is still quiet and needs as much economic stimulus as possible,” she said.
However, Cr Mel Congerton said that by allowing the business 24 months to pay the fee, the City was setting a bad precedent for the rest of the community.
After the meeting, the owners said it would take several months to get the business up and running.