Parking at St. Aloysius School

located at 80 Queensdale Avenue

The East York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (October28, 1998) from the Director, Transportation Services, District One, subject to adding the following Recommendations Nos. (3) and (4):

"(3)that the agreement allow local residents through permitting, access to the 7 parking spaces between 8:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. year round while St. Aloysius School has access to these 7 spaces for staff parking during the daytime hours and that this be effected through Recommendation Nos. (1) and (2); and

(4)that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services be given the authority to deny permit parking to those residents who are, in his opinion, in consistent violation of the By-law:"

Purpose:

To report to the November 12, 1998 Community Council meeting on the availability of parking at St. Aloysius School during the winter.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

There are no financial implications associated with the recommendations of this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the City of Toronto enter into an agreement to allow the Toronto Catholic School Board to use 7 parking spaces which encroach onto the municipal portion of Sammon Avenue at St.Aloysius School; and

(2)if the Toronto Catholic School Board does not wish to enter into an agreement with the Cityof Toronto for use of the 7 parking spaces which encroach onto the municipal portion of Sammon Avenue that they be requested to cease parking in the 7 parking spaces and restore the parking area within the Sammon Avenue road allowance to landscaping.

Background:

Councillor Case Ootes requested that staff bring forward a report which outlines the history and concerns of the local residents who use the parking lot at St. Aloysius school for overnight parking. In 1997, the school erected a gate to close the parking lot at night to local residents during the winter to ensure that snow removal could occur in the morning unimpeded by parked vehicles. Prior to the gates being erected, residents parked on the school grounds overnight, throughout the year under an informal arrangement with the School Principal. There are 7 parking spaces on the school grounds which encroach onto the Sammon Avenue right-of-way. There is no encroachment agreement between the Toronto Catholic School Board and the City for these 7 spaces.

The purpose of this report is to update the Community Council on the issues and the options available to the City, the residents and the Toronto Catholic School Board in an effort to manage resident parking at the school lot and legalize parking on the municipal boulevard of Sammon Avenue.

Comments:

The demand for on-street parking in the vicinity of St. Aloysius School exceeds the supply. Many residents have used the parking lot at St. Aloysius School when parking spaces on adjacent streets were full and Overnight Parking Permits were sold out.

Residents in the vicinity of St. Aloysius School have had an informal agreement with previous Principals of St. Aloysius school to park in the lot between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. The Toronto Catholic School Board has indicated that they are willing to allow residents to continue to park on school property after school hours and on weekends except during the winter/snow season. The school has set this period to be November 15^th to the beginning of the winter break of each year. Furthermore, the School Board does not want local residents to park on the school property during school hours which are designated as 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Approximately 12 local residents use the St. Aloysius school lot for overnight parking. The overnight permit parking streets in the area, Bonnie Brae Boulevard, Monarch Park Avenue, Linsmore Crescent and Queensdale Avenue consistently sell out each permit parking period. The parking lot at St.Aloysius school offers a convenient alternative to on-street permit parking and is close to the residents homes.

Staff have met with representatives of the Toronto Catholic School Board as well as with staff of St.Aloysius School. The School has expressed concern with residents leaving their vehicles in the lot after 7:30 in the morning which interferes with snow removal and displaces parking spots for teachers. The Principal of the school also expressed a safety concern that the parked cars act as a shield to loitering kids of the neighbourhood.

In order to resolve the concerns of the local residents and the School, staff proposed to provide Permits to residents for the 7 parking spaces which encroach onto the Sammon Avenue. A Permitting system would provide greater control of who is allowed to park at the school, limit the number of parked vehicles and provide for easier removal of vehicles since school staff would know the owner of vehicles parked in the lot. Signs would be posted advising "Permit Parking Only, 8:00p.m. to 7:30 a.m.". A copy of the proposed Permit Parking By-law is attached to this report.

Representatives of St. Aloysius School did not accept the Permit program offered by staff because the system would not ensure that vehicles would be removed by 7:30 a.m.. The Principal was concerned that staff of the school would still need to monitor the parking lot and call tow trucks to remove vehicles. Staff indicated that the Permit Parking By-law would be enforced by the Parking Enforcement Unit of the Toronto Police Service similar to all other parking regulation in the City. School representatives wanted Transportation staff to monitor the lot on a daily basis and be responsible for ensuring that the Permit Parking By-law was adhered to.

There is presently no encroachment agreement between the Toronto Catholic School Board and the City of Toronto with respect to the 7 parking spaces which encroach into the Sammon Avenue right-of-way. The School does not have the authority to restrict access to these spaces by closing the gate. The City should have clear access to these spaces at all times.

If the School wishes to continue to use a portion of the municipal right-of-way of Sammon Avenue for parking purposes, the School Board would be required to enter into an encroachment agreement with the City of Toronto. This agreement could outline the conditions for access for School vehicles, Municipal vehicles and local residents. Access for local residents could also be further controlled in the agreement, potentially in the form of a permit system.

Ultimately, if the school permanently discontinues parking in this area, the boulevard parking area should be restored to landscaping. It should be noted that if parking is occurring entirely on private property, the City has no authority to enter into an agreement with the School Board to provide parking for area residents.

Conclusions:

Staff recommend that an encroachment agreement be negotiated between the Toronto Catholic School Board and the City. The agreement would potentially allow local residents access to the 7encroaching parking spaces between 8:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. year round while the School has access to these 7 spaces for staff parking.

If the School Board does not wish to enter into an encroachment agreement with the City, the SchoolBoard should cease parking in the 7 spaces and restore the portion of the Sammon Avenue boulevard currently used for parking to landscaping.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Peter Bartos, P.Eng.

Transportation Engineer

Transportation Services, District 1

778-2225

pbartos@borough.eastyork.on.ca

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The following persons appeared before the East York Community Council in connection with the foregoing:

-Mr. Emiolio Manini, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Toronto;

-Mr. George Vasilopoulos, East York; and

-Mr. Angelo Coracchia, East York.