A homeowner’s request to allow angle parking in residential areas prompted Turner Valley Town council to crack down on those not obeying the pedestrian vehicle bylaw.
In response to Connie Simmons’ request at the July 15 council meeting that the bylaw be updated to permit angle parking on curved road corners, council took the opposite stance.
It decided to initiate a community-wide education of the bylaw over the next few months before enforcing the rule that vehicles be parked parallel to the curb, particularly in cul-de-sacs.
“Council is in support of a common sense approach,” said Mayor Barry Crane following the meeting. “Right now we have a bylaw in place that has all the criteria available for penalizing residents who don’t abide by the parking bylaw. Right now the bylaw is on a complaint basis and it’s never been enforced.”
Among council’s concerns, said Crane, is that the past few years Town staff has gone ahead of garbage trucks to pull bins within reach of the truck’s mechanical arm due to motorists parking at an angle in some of the Town’s 13 cul-de-sacs and 13 elbow-style streets.
“A vehicle goes ahead and inspects the route prior to the run,” he said. “That’s something council thought was a little much in terms of excessive labour.”
Information provided to council by administration last week revealed there’s a limited turning range for garbage collection in some cul-de-sacs, which vary from 12 to 15 metre radius.
As a result, drivers must perform three-point turns to exit, increasing the opportunity for collisions, according to administration. In addition, the cost to have employees move bins equates to four hours of staff time per week.
Administration also expressed concerns that angle parking limits access for emergency vehicles and causes congestion.
It can also result in partially blocked driveways and reduced pedestrian safety.
Council agreed to establish an awareness campaign before enforcing the bylaw.
“We passed a motion to start an education awareness program for the entire community so that everyone is aware of the policies in terms of garbage pick-up, proper placement of bins and cul-de-sac owners will get some extra attention because this was brought up,” said Crane. “We will start educating cul-de-sac residents as to proper placement of bins, distance and a good neighbor policy. After that’s done we’ll address if there is more needed.”
Monique LeBlanc, Turner Valley community service and business development manager, said the Town is methodically going through all of its bylaws to ensure they’re up-to-date.
Since the pedestrian vehicle bylaw was established in 2008, some components of it were amended over the years, she said.
LeBlanc said an educational campaign for the bylaw will create awareness that cul-de-sacs require parking be parallel throughout the fall months.
“We’ll develop a communication campaign to ensure that residents are provided with information and ample warning prior to enforcing parallel parking in cul-de-sacs,” she said. “We will give every opportunity to provide the information to residents prior to enforcement.”
Those with concerns about the bylaw are invited to contact the Town office at 403-933-4944.
