The District of Sechelt has agreed to allow the Coasters Car Club to continue to use Hackett Park and Cowrie Street for the annual Sleepy Hollow Rod Run and Show and Shine event.
However, the decision didn’t come without some controversy.
Councillor Matt McLean expressed some concern about the closure of Cowrie Street at a number of intersections that results in snarled traffic.
“Car show day is one of the best days of the year but it’s one of the worst traffic days of the year in Sechelt. The traffic impact on our whole community is quite severe and I would really like to see us think critically about how we can reduce this traffic impact on a whole community without impacting the event.”
Councillor Brenda Rowe disagreed with an idea to keep the intersection at Trail Avenue open.
“It’s one day a year, it’s such a flagship event that I just can’t believe that we can’t cope for a day. I would be worried but, no matter how many flaggers you have, there are 2,000 people down there during the day, even having one of those intersections open during the day sounds like sirens in my nurses head.”
Staff reported to the council there is a provision in the agreement with the Car Club to provide a traffic management plan for the event.
Council determined that would be sufficient for the one-day annual event.
