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Home My WebLink AboutWD-28-00 ~ -- /~. " , . THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON REPORT Meeting: --- - GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File # It? 3 b t'::= JUNE 5, 2000 Res. #({/19--,;1j, 9'-(;9 0 Date: Report No.: WD-28-00 Our File: 0.70.05 By-Law # Subject: INVESTIGATION INTO ON-STREET PERMIT PARKING Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Conunittee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-28-oo be received; 2. THAT the responsibility remain incwnbent on residents to ensure that their parking and storage needs can be accommodated on private property; and 3. THAT on-street permit parking not be introduced in Clarington due to the overwhelming nwnber of negative impacts. REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No.1: Table prepared by By-law Enforcement, March 2000, showing parking tickets issued and available adjacent parking 2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 At a meeting held on February 14, 2000, the Council of the Municipality of Clarington approved Recommendation #GP A-72-00: "THAT staff prepare a comprehensive report as soon as possible on the pros and cons of on-street parking in the Municipality of barington." (Clarification as permit parking.) 1122: I .. REPORT NO,: WD-28-00 PAGE 2 3.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3.1 General Purpose of On-Street Parking: Residents are responsible to ensure that their own parking needs are accommodated on personal property. On-street parking is intended only for short term parking not to exceed three hours to accommodate visitor parking. 3.2 Multiple Use of Roadways: Public roadways serve multiple functions including: . Basic transportation corridors for people, goods and services . Emergency access for fire trucks which are getting wider and longer . Short term parking for residents and visitors (requests by some for unlimited parking) . Cyclists who must compete with both moving traffic and parked cars . Developers and some traffic calming proposals are suggesting narrower roadways . Increased desire for bus routes requiring wider streets 3.3 Where Problems Occur: Many residents eliminate their own parking by using existing on-site parking for other purposes such as: . Garages used for storage of household or yard items, or converted to workshops . Storage of recreational equipment such as boats, campers or snowmobiles . Purchasing a larger vehicle which will not fit the existing garage . Refusing to shuftle vehicles, leaving one on the street with empty driveway space . Converting basement/storage areas into living space then using garage for storage . Increasing the number of licensed occupants and vehicles . Creation oflegal or illegal basement apartments . Using driveway as play area (hockey, basketball) then leaving vehicles on street A survey by parking enforcement staff, March 2000 (Attachment No.1), shows that a large number of vehicles ticketed were parked on the roadway when adjacent on-site parking was 1123 , REPORT NO.: WD-28-00 PAGE 3 still available. Of the 93 streets surveyed, 488 parking tickets were issued for parking on the street, although 142 driveways were empty and 243 driveways still had space for an additional vehicle. During this survey there was no way for staff to determine the nmnber of garages which were either empty or used for non-vehicle storage. There were also 242 driveways with apron space available. The driveway apron is the portion of the driveway between the sidewalk and the curb. Although driveway apron parking is also a violation of municipal by-laws, it is enforced to a lesser extent. Enforcement of driveway apron parking is usually only done on a complaint basis or when the vehicle is overhanging the sidewalk or roadway. 3.4 Previous Reports: Report PD-36-99, PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, dated April 19, 1999, made a nmnber of recommendations, approved by Council, to improve available parking, including the following lot layout changes: 1. Require a minimmn of two outdoor parking spaces on all lots subject to the transitional measures contained in report PD-36-99, with the exception of townhouse lots. 2. Enlarge the size of garages for townhouses to provide a minimmn of 27.87 square metres (300 square feet), subject to the transitional measures identified in report PD- 36-99. 3. Maintain the minimmn width for all future townhouse lots at 6.0 metres where the lot is accessed by a rear lane. 4. Enlarge the minimmn width of all future freehold townhouse lots from 6.0 metres to 7.5 metres for all future draft plans of subdivision to be considered for Council approval. 1124 : REPORT NO.: WD-28-00 PAGE 4 5. Encourage parking in the side and rear yards by reducing setbacks requirements for detached garages where it is demonstrated that grading can adequately be addressed. 3.5 Advantages of On-Street Parking: . Provides for visitor parking . Provides free temporary parking . May reduce the operating speed of some traffic 3.6 Disadvantages of On-Street Parking: . hnpedes normal traffic flow, particularly during the winter due to snowbanks encroaching onto the travelled portion of the roadway. . Generates complaints from neighbours regarding safety and aesthetics. . Interferes with snow clearing and snow storage operations. . Interferes with garbage/recycling collection with items hidden behind parked vehicles. . Vehic1es often leave oil or other deposits, which harm the road surface or make it slippery. . Increases accident potential by: - Creating visibility problems for residents exiting from their driveways. - Creating visibility problems between motorists and pedestrians (children). _ Reducing manoeuvring room causing some drivers to back into vehicles parked across the street. - Moving or parked vehicles being sideswiped. - Forcing cyclists to weave away from the curbs. _ Motorists opening doors into traffic and occupants exiting into traffic rather than the safety of a driveway. . Obstrnction of access to residential driveways. . Obstrncted traffic flow for larger vehicles if vehicles are parked across from each other on both sides of the street (snow plows, fire trncks or garbage trncks). 3.7 Advantages of a Permit Parking System: . Solves a parking or storage problem for a resident or his tenant on a temporary basis. 1125 , REPORT NO,: WD-28-00 PAGE 5 . May generate some municipal revenue dependent upon the fees that are charged and the associated administration costs. 3.8 Disadvantages of a Permit Parking System: Disadvantages to Permit Holders: Permit holders become upset when they are still issued tickets for other infractions such as parking too close to driveways or fire hydrants, interfering with snow removal or obstructing traffic. Permit holders would also be angered if they have a valid parking permit but there are no legal parking spaces left on the street. Disadvantages to Neighbours: Neighbours lose their ability to report and have long-term parked vehicles ticketed. They could become upset when their view is constantly obstrncted, creating a constant hazard for them when backing out of their driveway. A pennitholder may not have enough space in front of their own property due to narrow frontage or fire hydrants. As a result, they may constantly park in front of their neighbour's home. The introduction of an on-street parking permit system could encourage the creation of basement apartments, by creating additional parking off-site, thereby causing inconvenience for neighbours. Disadvantages to Administration and Enforcement: The permit approval process could be based either on an individual needs basis or on a matter-of-right approach. If individual needs were to be assessed, each application and property would need to be inspected to determine the extent of existing on-site parking and number of registered family or tenant vehicles. This should require a non-refundable inspection fee to offset costs. If a matter-of-right approach is taken, anyone applying could obtain a permit. The next problem arises when apartment, townhouse or basement-apartment applicants request more than one on-street permit. If there are five legal parking spaces on a street but seven requests for permits, how are they distributed? If there are five legal spaces, should permits only be sold for three so other neighbours can still have some three-hour parking for 1126 , REPORT NO.: WD-28-00 PAGE 6 their visitors? The cost of administration and the investigation of additional complaints may exceed any funds generated. On a moral stand, this may be seen as simply a money making venture at the expense of neighbourhood safety, and only provided to those who can afford it or can pass the costs onto tenants. Council, if it were to follow the Toronto example, would designate certain areas, developments or streets as being deficient in regards to parking in order to qualify for permits. If specific on-street spaces were issued permits and had signs posted, enforcement would be a problem when a permit holder's family members or visitors use it rather than the registered holder. Neighbours unhappy with the permit arrangement may remove the sigus so their visitors may park. For safety reasons, permit holders who had parked all summer and fall on the street, could not be exempt from interfering with snow plowing. Therefore, in the winter, they would be faced with the same problem they had before they requested permit parking. 3.9 Establishment of Permit Parking Areas: In Toronto, an area must be designated by Council as a "Permit Parking Area" The permit holder can be either (a) a resident; or (b) anon-resident "visitor" who must visit a resident of the street. Parking permit areas are usually only established in older type neighbourhoods, which were constructed with either no driveways or smaller shared driveways. In Clarington, the only location fitting this description is the row houses on the west side of Liberty Street between King Street and Queen Street. These homes had a rear lane for parking, which was sold by the owners to an adjacent property owner many years ago. The present policy is simply not to ticket that distinct area rather than enter into a permit parking system. 3.10 Price Comparisons of Parkin giSt or age Costs: $57.50 - Parking pass monthly at Clarington municipal parking lots $96.00 - Monthly rental of enclosed storage unit 10' x 15' to hold household and/or recreation items. 11.27 ; REPORT NO.: WD-28-00 PAGE 7 $120.00 - Monthly rental of enclosed storage unit 10' x 20' to hold household and/or recreational items. $30.00 - Monthly rental of outdoor space storage for car or small boat $26.75 - Monthly permit in Old City of Toronto for on-street permit (appears to be underpriced) $160.00 - One time, municipal inspection! curb cut, plus private costs to widen driveway $500.00 to $1,000.00 - One time, construction of shed on private property If the municipality were to consider introduction of a permit parking system, it should be intended only as a temporary measure and costs should be at a high enough level to encourage residents to implement other parking and storage alternatives. 3.11 Permit Boulevard Parking: As an alternative to on-street permit parking, some may suggest boulevard parking in front of individual residential property. This option would again lead to aesthetic, safety and property value concerns from neighbours. Many frontages are too narrow to accommodate this type of access without encroaching on a neighbour's driveway. The cost of curb cuts, excavation and paving would discourage most applicants from boulevard parking, who would prefer to widen their own driveway on private property. 3.12 Other Municipalities within Durham Region: The only municipality within Durham Region which has permit parking is Pickering, which has designated one location on nona Park Road at a townhouse development. 4.0 CONCLUSIONS 4.1 The municipality does not have large areas comparable to Toronto where permit parking is intended to resolve problems created by homes with no driveways or very small shared driveways. The introduction of residential permit parking would generate more public complaints and safety concerns than presently exist. 1128 .' REPORT NO.: WD-28-00 PAGE 8 4.2 Residents should be encouraged to find other solutions to their parking/storage needs such as driveway widening, on-site storage sheds or off-site rental of space. Respectfully submitted, ~-Jv<-- Stephen A. Vokes, P. Eng" Director of Public Works ~}& 'J f M-";W ? SA V*RB*ce 31/05/00 Reviewed by, d~~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer 1129 STREET VEHICLES TAGGED DRIVEWAY EMPTY ROOM IN DRIVEWAY LAWRENCE CRESCENT 12 3 8 TREWIN LANE 6 2 4 WRENN BLVD 1 0 1 FRY CRESCENT 8 1 5 SOPER CREEK DRIVE 6 2 3 BARLEY MILLS CRESCENT 2 0 1 DOWNHAM DRIVE 2 1 2 McFEETERS CRESCENT 1 2 0 CONCESSION STREET EAST 1 9 0 TRUDEAU DRIVE 6 4 4 MANN STREET 1 1 3 GLANVILLE CRESCENT 1 1 0 FARNCOMBE CRESCENT 1 1 0 APPLE BLOSSOM BLVD 3 1 1 TILLEY ROAD 4 2 1 HILLIER STREET 6 0 6 LOSCOMBE DRIVE 7 0 3 CARRUTHERS DRIVE 4 0 0 JOHN SCOTT AVE 8 4 2 RHONDA BLVD 2 0 2 DOREEN CRES 5 1 1 ROSER CRES 7 0 1 ALONA STREET 7 2 3 MARTIN ROAD 4 0 1 PENFOUND DRIVE 1 0 2 SQUIRES GATE 2 0 0 BONNYCASTLE DRIVE 3 0 5 VAIL MEADOWS CRES 10 0 0 LANDERVILLE LANE 7 0 1 FLAXMAN AVE 2 0 0 EDGERTON DR 2 1 4 IRELAND STREET 1 0 0 HENDRY GATE 1 0 0 MARCHWOOD CRES 1 0 2 HOBBS DRIVE 5 3 1 HAILEY COURT 5 2 2 DEERPARK CRES 1 1 0 ELFORD DRIVE 13 7 7 HANNING COURT 1 0 2 FENWlCKAVE 4 0 8 FREELAND AVE 2 0 4 JOLLOW DR 1 1 0 CHAMPINE SQUARE 8 2 7 RICKABY STREET 2 1 2 HOOPER SQUARE 2 0 5 WILKINS CRES 10 5 10 WEAVER STREET 7 4 1 1130 ATTACHMENT NO.: 1 REPORT NO.: WD-28-99 HEARTHSTONE CRS 8 3 1 BROWNSTONE CRS 7 5 0 JOHN WALTER CRES 3 0 2 YORKVILLE DRIVE 22 8 3 BEECHNUT CRES 11 0 7 TURNBERRY CRES 15 2 17 MOYSE DRIVE 9 4 1 STAGEMASTER CRES 5 0 4 SHORT CRES 2 2 0 SANDRINGHAM CRES 18 4 2 STIRLING AVE 9 1 6 STRATHALLAN DR 3 0 1 FAIRCOMB CRES 3 2 2 STEPHEN AVE 3 1 2 KENNEDY DR 4 1 1 McMANN CRES 17 10 4 BUSH FORD STREET 3 0 2 STUART ROAD 15 1 2 HILLHURST CRES 5 1 2 WINDHAM CRES 6 2 1 L YNDALE CRES 5 0 4 CLARET ROAD 2 0 1 KINGSWOOD DRIVE 5 2 3 EDINBOROUGH LANE 2 0 2 FOXHUNT TRAIL 5 0 4 KINGSVIEW COURT 5 0 6 EMPIRE CRES 4 1 1 KINGSWAY GATE 2 2 4 BRIDLE COURT 1 1 1 CECIL FOUND CRES 10 9 1 MERIDITH COURT 3 0 4 GOLDPINE AVE 6 0 4 ALDERBROOK DRIVE 2 0 2 OBAN COURT 2 0 2 DEVON DALE STREET 12 0 3 BROADLANDS CRES 7 3 3 DUNKIN AVE 4 1 4 KINTYRE STREET 10 4 2 VARCOE ROAD 1 0 1 CENTREFIELD DRIVE 10 3 4 SPRINGFIELD LANE 2 0 2 HOMEFIELD SQUARE 8 3 3 HARTSFIELD DRIVE 10 1 6 BIRCHFIELD DRIVE 2 1 0 CLOVERFIELD STREET 4 0 1 0 0 0 93 STREETS 488 142 243 1131