Onni Group received a slap on the hand from the City of Richmond for erecting private parking signs on two above ground parking lots at its Imperial Landing development at the Steveston boardwalk.
Within days of receiving complaints from the public last week, the city told Onni to remove the signs.
Onni had hired WestPark to enforce permit-only parking even though the lots are protected by a covenant that makes them public space.
The lots are free for the public to use at any time, said city spokesperson Kim Decker, who added the city had not been contacted by Onni over the signs.
Last April, the development firm contentiously applied for the rezoning of the buildings adjacent to the parking lots.
That's because, after constructing the buildings Onni contended there was no demand for maritime-related business, for which the land is zoned. Rather, it wanted the city to rezone the land to commercial retail, which would also reap roughly double the rental rates.
To date, city council has refused to rezone Imperial Landing, contending the community amenities package being offered — about $2.5 million in value — is not enough and/or it wants the property to remain non-commercial retail.
The buildings were constructed in the summer of 2012 and have since sat empty, save for the rental condos on the second floor.
