The City of Regina has delayed a final vote on a proposed parking lot after it was found out that there was already one there.

During Wednesday’s city council meeting, it was found that a company may have bypassed council’s will.

The lots at 2158 and 2160 Scarth Street were once two unused homes set for demolition to make way for a newly paved parking lot that would serve as a private lot for an office building on Scarth Street.

However, the council found that both homes were gone, and the empty lot was used for parking.

The owner of the lots, which is listed as 628470 Saskatchewan Ltd, was supposed to wait for the council’s approval to turn the space into a parking lot.

Councillor Bob Hawkins emplored the city administration to look into the reasons why this happened and how the City can prevent it from happening again.

“It’s clear that the democratic will of council has been short-circuited by this process,” he said. “This is a loophole. I think it requires examining by the administration.”

An attempt to read the bylaw changes a third time failed 5-4 as unanimous was needed in order to proceed.

Council now must do another reading and final vote that, if passed, would result in the amendments becoming law.

That vote is expected to happen at the next city council meeting in two weeks.