May 13, 1998
To:Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council
From:Gary Welsh, Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works and Environment, Scarborough District
Subject:Allowing Parking on the South Side of McLevin Avenue, Scarborough Malvern
Purpose:
To address the need to allow some on-street parking on McLevin Avenue in the area of the Islamic Foundation of Toronto
Mosque on the southwest corner of Markham Road and Nugget Avenue.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The $1,000.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking/stopping restriction signs are available in
the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72260.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the current parking regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;
(2)the parking and stopping regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted; and
(3)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.
Council Reference/Background/History:
Staff have investigated the parking generated by the mosque on numerous occasions over the past few years. Most
recently, on Friday, March 20, 1998 between 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., we observed that as the mosque parking lot reached
capacity, motorists tended to park in the residential community to the east of Markham Road, as well, some motorists took
advantage of the paid parking provided in Kally=s parking lot on the northwest corner of Markham Road and Nugget
Avenue. Unfortunately, many motorists simply ignored the No Parking Anytime restrictions and parked on both sides of
Nugget Avenue, on the boulevard and on private property.
Discussion:
With motorists parked on the south side of Nugget Avenue, just west of Markham Road, not only did this create
congestion, but it also blocked sightlines for motorists exiting the mosque parking lot and eliminated the area in front of the
mosque which is valuable for dropping-off and picking-up passengers. We do not support permitting motorists to park in
this sensitive area for these reasons.
We also examined the feasibility of allowing parking on the south side of McLevin Avenue, east of Markham Road.
Currently, both sides of McLevin Avenue between Markham Road and Greenspire Road are posted with a No Parking
Anytime prohibition. These signs were installed in 1987 due to occasional on-street parking generated by businesses on the
north side of McLevin Avenue. In an effort to relieve some of the parking congestion in front of the mosque, we can
accommodate some parking on the south side of McLevin Avenue.
Based on our investigations, we are proposing is that the No Parking Anytime restriction remain on the north side but the
parking restriction only apply from Saturday to Thursday on the south side between Markham Road and Greenspire Road.
However, to ensure that no vehicles are parked on the street during the p.m. rush hour on Fridays, or any other days, we are
also recommending a No Stopping, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. restriction on the south side of the street. We will also post No
Standing restrictions in the vicinity of the existing TTC bus stops.
Conclusions:
It is important to keep the area in front of the mosque clear of parked vehicles to maintain safe sight lines and create a
pick-up and drop-off area for mosque patrons. By providing an alternative on McLevin Avenue for the excess parking, it is
our intention to persuade the illegal parked vehicles away from the sensitive area in front of the church.
Contact Name:
Bruce Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Investigations
Road and Traffic Services, Works and Environment, Scarborough District
Telephone: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca
Gary H. Welsh Michael A. Price
Director Commissioner
Road and Traffic ServicesWorks and Environment
Works and EnvironmentScarborough District
Scarborough District
BDC:ca
c:\work\wpwork\reports\mclevin.wpd
(Copies of Appendix 1 and 2, mentioned in the foregoing report are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)