If you're going to this area, either drive to a park and ride, take transit, walk or ride your bike. Whyte Ave has enough traffic as is.
LRT connection to this area is horrible, and I honestly doubt a lot of people who live in the suburbs (who are still patrons of Whyte Ave businesses) will be very interested in the Drive+LRT+Bus to get there, especially I the winter. I certainly am not, as much as I am a transit enthusiast in general, it doesn't make sense.
if I'm already going to be driving 10 minutes to Millwoods, or 12-15 to Century Park, for the park-and-ride (and pay for parking), to then pay the transit fare and spend another 10-15 on the LRT, and then another 10+ on a bus (not counting waiting times), I might as well drive all the way to Whyte. It's faster and cheaper.
If the park-and-ride was free, the direct connection to Whyte was faster and less convoluted, I'd be willing to take transit. As is, I'd probably not go, if I can't park there. A 20min ride with $10-15 parking, becomes a 40-50 minute trip with the same $10-15 parking + $7 transit fares.
If we can have off-street parking (preferably accessible through back alleys and side streets) that can help enhance the walkability of the area by reducing on-street parking and giving more of the street back to pedestrians, then I'm all for it.