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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEGD-018-16 Clarin 9- ton Engineering Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: General Government Committee Date of Meeting: March 7, 2016 Report Number: EGD-016-16 File Number: By-law Number: Report Subject: Long Term Plan for the West Beach Parkette Recommendations: 1. That Report EGD-018-16 be received for information. Municipality of Clarington Report EGD-018-16 Page 2 Report Overview This Report was prepared in response to a request from Council at the January 25, 2016 General Government meeting to provide information regarding the use of the West Beach Parkette, future plans as well as some safety concerns raised by an area resident. This Report and previous Reports EGD-022-12 and EGD-027-12 provide responses to the questions raised and a course of action to address concerns over night time activities at the parkette. 1 . Background 1.1 At the January 25th General Government meeting the following resolution was passed: That Staff be directed to provide a report on the following, with respect to the West Beach Parkette, by the March 7, 2016 General Government Committee meeting: The long term plan for the West Beach Parkette; Solutions to the problems associated with unauthorized night time use of the parkette; and Solutions to address the safety issues associated with the West Beach Parkette parking lot, including (but not limited to): • Pedestrian Safety, particularly, those walking along West Beach Road, • Visibility for drivers backing out of spaces in West Beach Parkette lot, • Visibility for drivers exiting West Beach Road and turning north, and • The absence of a three way stop sign, especially during peak season. 1.2 Previous Reports EGD-022-12 and EGD-027-12 —West Beach Park and Parkette In 2012, staff reviewed the need for and use of the West Beach Parkette. For many years Council has been committed, through its Strategic Plan, to provide improved public access to the waterfront on both the East and West Beach sides of Bowmanville Creek. The West Beach Parkette is a popular place which is enjoyed by residents who prefer this area because of the relatively short distance to the lake, its mature trees and sandy beach. In a report to GP&A in Oct. 2012, staff reviewed the parkette parking lot in the context of ongoing development of the Port Darlington West Beach Waterfront Park. The report states, "in the interim [prior to full development of the waterfront park], the parkette parking lot should remain in place at its current location as it provides accessibility to the waterfront for the driving public, cyclists as well as for easier waterfront access to those with accessibility or mobility issues. As the waterfront park develops in the future and further features are added that attract greater numbers of visitors to the area, it may well be appropriate to do a complete review of the parking and access to the waterfront. When that time comes [staff] will look to see if the parking at the parkette should be expanded, relocated or removed in its entirety." As there has been no Municipality of Clarington Report EGD-018-16 Page 3 substantial change at the parkette, the recommendations and information from the previous 2012 reports are still relevant. 1.3 Agency Comments Engineering staff have conferred with the Clerk's Department, Operations Department and Durham Region Police Services (DRPS) regarding any issues that their staff have encountered at the parkette since this matter was addressed in 2012. The Clerks Department has advised that 15 parking tickets have been issued in the area in the last two years, mostly pertaining to fisherman parking on the boulevard and in the No Parking zone on West Beach Rd. The search did not reveal any tickets specific to the parkette. A search for general complaints in the area did not reveal any complaints specific to the parkette. Other complaints such as reports of poison ivy have been recorded by this department. The Operations Department has advised that there have been two complaints in this area since 2013: one regarding damage during the ice storm in 2013, and one garbage complaint in 2015. DRPS has advised that they have received "several calls (in this area) over the last few years" pertaining to loitering and mischief. 2. Solutions 2.1 Solutions to the Problems Associated with Unauthorized Night Time Use of the Parkette In June 25, 2012, staff reported to GP&A (Report EGD-022-12) with respect to night time activities in the parkette. The report stated, "The Municipality does not intend to allow any night time activity in the parkette and associated parking lot", and staff recommended that the parkette be closed at night. Council approved the recommendation in the report that the Traffic By-law be amended "to prohibit parking `from Dusk to Dawn' adjacent to the West Beach Rd. parkette". Subsequent to that report, staff have posted No Parking From Dusk to Dawn at the parkette, have posted No Parking on the bend of West Beach Rd. which is applicable at all times, have trimmed overhanging limbs to increase visibility in the parkette and parking area, have installed bollards to prevent vehicular access to the beach, and have installed a streetlight immediately adjacent to the parking area to illuminate the area at night. Unauthorized use of a park which is closed at night and illegal parking are enforcement issues. Staff propose to set up a meeting with Engineering Services staff, Durham Region Police Services (DRPS) and Municipal Law Enforcement to discuss this matter. At that meeting, staff will commit, within the resources available, to increased night time Municipal Law Enforcement patrols, and to increased presence by DRPS. In discussions in 2012 (and since) with DRPS, they were clear that if any one suspects illegal activity or unauthorized night time use of the park, DRPS should be contacted. Municipality of Clarington Report EGD-016-16 Page 4 2.2 Solutions to the problems associated with the parkette parking lot (in order of the resolution) West Beach Rd. is a non-standard rural forced road. Sidewalks are not typically constructed in rural areas and, as stated in Report EGD-027-12, "the forced road section of West Beach Rd. is approximately 22 ft. [6.7 m] in width and can only accommodate the driving surface of the road." This area is not unlike many rural areas in Clarington, and pedestrians are encouraged to exercise caution here and in all areas of the Municipality where there are no sidewalks. The advantages that this area has are that the speed limit has been set at 40 kph on both West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd., both of which are dead end roads, and there is low traffic volume. Backing out of parking spaces at the parkette is not unlike any other place where cars park perpendicular to the direction of travel. Traffic volumes here are much lower than most shopping centre parking lots, and all drivers should exercise care when backing out of the space. The intersection of West Beach Rd. and Darlington Blvd., again, is a typical rural low volume intersection. The stop control for eastbound drivers on West Beach Rd. is appropriate, and drivers must follow the rules of the road when entering the intersection and turning north. Staff were requested to undertake an all-way stop control warrant in 2012 at West Beach Rd. and Cove Rd. This was also reported in Report EGD-027-12. The volumes required were well below (only 25% of) those required to install this type of traffic control at this intersection. Traffic would not have significantly changed since that warrant was undertaken. It is staff's experience, and those of a vast number of traffic engineers, that where all-way stop control is installed at an unwarranted intersection, drivers tend to ignore the signage. Those who do stop are often frustrated by the unwarranted delay and tend to speed as they leave the intersection. Staff do not support the installation of all-way stop control where it is not warranted. 3. Concurrence This Report has been reviewed by Anne Greentree, Municipal Clerk, who concurs with the recommendations. 4. Conclusion In conclusion, staff continue to stand by the recommendations made in Reports EGD- 022-12 and EGD-027-12 (both of which were endorsed by Council). Engineering staff will convene a meeting with DRPS and Municipal Law Enforcement to discuss this matter and plan a strategy for improved presence, patrolling and enforcement of prohibited activities in the area. Municipality of Clarington Report EGD-018-16 Page 5 5. Strategic Plan Application Not applicable. Submitted by: - Reviewed by: � .__ Anthony S. Cannella, C.E.T. Franklin Wu, Director of Engineering Services Chief Administrative Officer Staff Contact: Leslie Benson, Engineering Services, 905-623-3379 ext. 2304 or lbenson@clarington.net ASC/RA/LJB/nl/jb There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.