28.PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-STREET PERMIT PARKING ON KITCHENER AVENUE, BETWEEN CALEDONIA ROAD AND HARVIE AVENUE

 The City Clerk

(February 24, 1998)

 Purpose:

 To provide results following polling of residents to determine majority interest with respect to implementation of on-street permit parking on Kitchener Avenue, between Caledonia Road and Harvie Avenue.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 None.

 Recommendations:

 For consideration and direction of York Community Council.

 Council Reference/Background/History:

 Clause No. 141 embodied in Report No. 16 of the City of York Works and Parks Committee (December 1, 1997) which was adopted by the Council of the City of York at its meeting held on December 9, 1997.

 The City of York Works and Parks Committee, at its meeting held on December 1, 1997, directed that the Director of Council Services and City Clerk conduct a poll of residents on Kitchener Avenue and properties abutting Kitchener Avenue regarding the proposal to implement on-street permit parking on the north side of Kitchener Avenue, between Caledonia Road and Harvie Avenue.

 Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

 The following is a breakdown of residents polled based on the number of replies returned:

  Total No. Polled:46

No. of Replies Received:11 or 24%

No of replies IN FAVOUR5 or 45%

No. of replies NOT IN FAVOUR6 or 55%

 Comments from residents are attached hereto as Appendix 1.

 Conclusions:

 As noted above, the majority of residents, based on the responses received, are not in favour of the proposal to implement on-street permit parking on Kitchener Avenue, between Caledonia Road and Harvie Avenue.

 Contact Name:

 Steve Brown, Operations - Traffic Division

394-2655

394-2758 (fax)

 or

 Valerie D=Alessandro, Assistant Committee Secretary

394-2522

394-2803 (fax)

 APPENDIX 1

 Comments from Residents:

 In Favour:

 a)We are in favour of the proposal to implement on-street permit parking on Kitchener Avenue, between Harvie Ave. and Caledonia Rd. However, we would like to voice our strong opposition to allowing vehicles as large as 3000 kg to park there. We feel that no vehicle larger than 1500 kg should be permitted to park on Kitchener Ave. at any time for the following reasons:

 i)Large vehicles block the view of drivers using driveways on Kitchener Ave. This is, therefore, a traffic hazard.

 ii)Dumping in front of Prospect Cemetery is illegal and a long-standing problem. This problem will continue if large vehicles (i.e. up to 3000 kg) are permitted to park there.

 b)I would like to see Parking Authority on McRoberts Ave. because people park their car on McRoberts Ave. north and south if you issue permit on Kitchener. I would like to see them enforce the law because they have a sign on McRoberts--@Parking one hour - 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.@, but nobody enforces it. What=s the sense of putting the sign up if cars and vans park all night or some all week and nobody tickets? Could you do the same on McRoberts Ave. or could they change side on the street; two months one side and two months the other side so both sides of the street are kept clean.

 c)Having parking permits will help keep illegally parked vehicles off the road here. Many people think Kitchener Ave. is a drag strip. They go through the cemetery section at speeds above 90 km/h. What about speed bumps/radar enforcement? Our children and pets are at risk because of these nuts.

 d)Totally in favour. Our premises lack a driveway.

 Not In Favour:

 a)Speed limit to be 40 km/h. No parking anytime from cemetery gate east to driveway of Harvie apartments driveway on north side.

 The proposed parking scheme for Kitchener Ave. is a BAD idea. Consider the following:

 i)A quick survey of houses on Kitchener Avenue reveals that almost every house has its own driveway and in most cases a garage also. Therefore, the proposal is really to turn Kitchener Avenue into a parking lot for the rest of the neighbourhood, not for the street itself.

 ii)Car theft and car break-ins are a big problem all over Toronto. Cars parked along the cemetery are a great target for criminals. We have had personal experience of a great deal of this kind of activity, both on Kitchener Ave. and in the laneway leading to the Harvie apartments (beside the cemetery). Cars parked by the cemetery will definitely be broken into on a regular basis. The extra policing costs alone will easily offset the estimated $2500 or so the City will make from the parking permits. Also, some neighbours are worried about walking their dogs at night.

 iii)People own too many cars and many repair cars (their own and other people=s), breaking by-laws and disturbing the neighbourhood. On our block alone, there are at least three neighbours who repair cars on a regular basis. They are forever shifting cars around and looking for parking spaces. For example, one of the neighbours has a two-car garage which is filled with two scrap/junk cars waiting for repairs. They have room for two more cars in front of the garage (i.e. they have a total of 4 parking spaces); however, they only park one there and the other on the street. And they complain about getting tickets on the street. This kind of situation is too common. We do have sympathy for people who truly do not have good parking spots, but not for people who try to juggle three or four cars and complain about parking. Extra parking space just encourages people who own and repair multiple vehicles.

 iv)The fact that large trucks are constantly parked by the cemetery illegally is no reason to allow everyone to park there. Those trucks should not be there, period! Why does the City allow these trucks to keep parking there?? Anyway, since they are already illegally parked, permit parking will not stop them from doing the same thing. They need to be towed away and not just ticketed.

 In conclusion, we are very much against parking along the cemetery on Kitchener Ave. Please consider the above points when making your decision.

 b)This would affect the ability of the snow plows and street cleaners in their duties to keep our street clean and clear.

 c)Parking on the north side would encourage dumping of garbage on the cemetery lawn.

 In this area, from McRoberts to Harvie Ave. on north side of Kitchener has always been a problem with large trucks, noise pollution, garbage, etc. Having cars parked there blocks view of trees and green grass which is reason we bought this house in this area. A lot of children walk by themselves to school. Women have to walk alone from Caledonia when it is dark. This is an area that needs to be clear of cars as there are no houses. Anyone could get attacked and nobody would hear them. If left alone, a person has a clear view of the street and can see if anyone is hanging around.

 My main concerns are these. I understand people need places to park, but I really feel safety of people walking and not to encourage cars in that area. Also, on the north side of Kitchener you cannot see cars coming east when cars and trucks are parked there. Children cut down from Fairbank School by the apartment building and will not have view of the road, resulting in accidents, children being hit by cars. Prospect Cemetery is already having problems with people breaking into cars. Once people see there is parking there, I really feel it will encourage people to hang around in cars, make drug deals, etc. as this is an isolated area. From McRoberts to Harvie on the north side should be left a no parking area.

 d)Noise from cars, fumes, garbage, cleaning of street, safety, isolated area, area used as drag racing, etc., people hanging around, dumping garbage between cars--this is already a problem. People park and dump garbage, dead animals, etc.