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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPWD-006-23Clarftwn Staff Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Accessibility Coordinator at 905-623-3379 ext. 2131. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: September 11, 2023 Report Number: PWD-006-23 Submitted By: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works Reviewed By: File Number: Mary -Anne Dempster, CAO Resolution#: GG-150-23 Report Subject: Orono Parking Study Update Recommendations: By-law Number: 1. That Report PWD-006-23, and any related delegations or communication items, be received; 2. That residential rental property owners in Orono be encouraged to provide off-street parking for tenants wherever possible; 3. That all interested parties listed in Report PWD-006-23, and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-006-23 Report Overview Page 2 During a Regular Council meeting on May 15, 2023, staff were given direction to conduct another parking study during peak periods for the Downtown Orono area. In response, staff have carried out a more thorough data collection including parking duration and occupancy rates. This report discusses the findings of the follow-up parking study and provides recommendations for Council to consider. 1. Background 1.1 At the May 15, 2023 Council meeting, a request was made by a delegate Diana Stephenson of the Orono BIA that a more comprehensive parking study be conducted in downtown Orono aside from the previous study carried out by staff in April of same year. As a result, Public Works staff proceeded with a more extensive data collection, including duration and occupancy rates. 1.2 The purpose of this update was to re-examine the existing parking supply and demand for parking facilities that primarily serve retail, commercial, and institutional land uses in the commercial core of Orono. Key issues considered were related to: • the location and supply of parking • current parking standards and policies 1.3 For the purposes of this update, the Study Area was defined based on previous study limits and is generally associated with available on -street parking between 5270 and 5367 Main Street, Park and Centreview Streets between Main Street and Church Street and Church Street between Park Street and Centreview Street. 2. Data Collection Study Area 2.1 An inventory of the available on -street parking was conducted to confirm the study limits and verify any potential changes to the posted parking regulations. When compared to previous studies there was a decrease of one parking spot on Park Street due to the previously incorporated changes addressing intersection sightlines and operational safety. There are currently 59 available marked on -street parking spots within the study limits, including two stalls on the west side of Main Street marked and signed as accessible. Municipality of Clarington Page 3 Report PWD-006-23 2.2 For analysis and summary purposes, the study area was divided into five sections, as follows: • Section 1 — west side of Main Street, 19 spaces (including 2 accessible) • Section 2 — east side of Main Street, 19 spaces • Section 3 — south side of Park Street, 5 spaces • Section 4 — east side of Church Street, 10 spaces • Section 5 — north side of Centreview Street, 6 spaces The total on -street parking inventory included in the studies is 59 spaces. Parking Surveys 2.3 Parking surveys were conducted within the Study Area during a typical summer weekday and a typical summer weekend as follows: • Friday, July 7, 2023, 8 am to 6 pm • Saturday, July 8, 2023, 8 am to 6 pm These dates were selected based on the previous comments and requests by the Orono BIA delegation. The survey dates were selected to reflect days and times with typical parking demand and were carried out following specified routes and methodology. On -Street Parking 2.4 The data collection route for on -street parking was designed to allow data to be acquired at any given location in 15-minute intervals. The data collected includes: • parking occupancy and accumulation counts (number of vehicles parked by time of day) • duration (length of time parked) • turnover (arrivals and departures) Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-006-23 3. Analysis Page 4 3.1 The most recent Orono Parking Study update provides key benchmark information on parking in the downtown core area of Orono and includes a detailed inventory of parking demand characteristics for typical conditions in Orono. Conclusions from a review of the updated data shows in general that parking demand displayed the following characteristics: • Highest utilization rate for the west side of Main Street was 74% on Friday during one 15 minute period and 79% on Saturday during a one 15 minute period. The west side of Main Street was the most utilized area for parking with an average of just over 4 spaces or 25% of parking available during the data collection period; • Highest utilization rate for the east side of Main Street was 58% on Friday during two 15 minute periods and 89% on Saturday during one 15 minute period • Highest overall utilization rates were on Park Street on Friday at 100% during six non-consecutive 15 minute periods and on Church Steet on Saturday at 100% during 5 consecutive 15 minute periods and one isolated 15 minute period • Church Street had the longest duration occupancies and the lowest turnover rates on Saturday • At the time of the 100% utilization periods listed above, both sides of Main Street were only utilized in the 30-55% ranges, providing ample alternate parking spaces • Parking duration analysis showed the flowing trends: o West side of Main Street ■ on Friday 98.9% parked less than 3 hours, 33.3% parked less than 15 minutes ■ on Saturday 94.6% parked less than 3 hours, 41.3% parked less than 15 minutes o East side of Main Street ■ on Friday 98.8% parked less than 3 hours, 32.5% parked less than 15 minutes ■ on Saturday 96.6% parked less than 3 hours, 49.6% parked less than 15 minutes Municipality of Clarington Report PWD-006-23 o Park Street Page 5 ■ on Friday 92% parked less than 3 hours, 20% parked less than 15 minutes ■ on Saturday 72.2% parked less than 3 hours, 9.1 % parked less than 15 minutes o Church Street ■ on Friday 92.1 % parked less than 3 hours, 18.4% parked less than 15 minutes ■ on Saturday 30.8% parked less than 3 hours, 0% parked less than 15 minutes o Centerview Steet ■ on Friday 100% parked less than 3 hours, 36.1 % parked less than 15 minutes ■ on Saturday 91.3% parked less than 3 hours, 69.6% parked less than 15 minutes • Demand peaks at 77% utilization (or 23% available) between 12:30pm and 1:OOpm for the data collection period; 3.2 The results of the survey have shown that the overall parking demand on Friday was approximately 42% of the available inventory and the demand on Saturday was 53% of the available inventory. The busiest periods and sections appear to be along Park Street and Church Street. However, the remaining sections provided sufficient parking as alternatives. 3.3 While the complaint was to address suspected parking over the 3-hour limit which in turn prevents business patrons from finding parking the study demonstrated that there is a sufficient supply of parking spaces at various times during the typical business operating hours of the downtown Orono businesses. 3.4 As an added possibility, the option of issuing on -street parking passes for streets adjacent to the downtown area may be considered, should such a need arise. This option has been communicated to the Orono BIA by Municipal Law Enforcement Staff, and any interested party should contact the Municipal Law Enforcement Office to determine eligibility. Municipality of Clarington Page 6 Report PWD-006-23 4. Financial Considerations Not Applicable. 5. Concurrence This report has been reviewed by the Deputy CAO/Solicitor who concurs with the recommendations. 6. Conclusion The updated parking data verifies that there is currently a sufficient supply of on -street parking in Downtown Orono. It is also suggested that new studies are conducted if any significant triggers arise within the Orono Downtown Business Improvement Area that would create an increase in parking demand. Staff Contact: Slav Potrykus, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, 905-623-3379 extension 2315 or spotrykus@clarington.net. Attachments: Not Applicable Interested Parties: List of Interested Parties available from Department.