Twelve Hour Parking Limit on Red River Crescent

Ward 18 - Scarborough Malvern

(City Council on March 2, 3 and 4, 1999, deferred consideration of this Clause, to its next regular meeting to be held on April 13, 14 and 15, 1999.)

(Clause No. 16 of Report No. 2 of the Scarborough Community Council)

(City Council on December 16 and 17, 1998, struck out and referred this Clause back to the Scarborough Community Council for further consideration.)

(Clause No. 5 of Report No. 12 of the Scarborough Community Council)

The Scarborough Community Council again recommends:

(1)that the recommendation contained in the following report be struck out; and

(2)that the twelve hour parking limit on Red River Crescent not be approved.

The Scarborough Community Council submits the following report (November 25, 1998) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 4:

Purpose:

To investigate the feasibility of installing a twelve hour parking limit on one side of Red River Crescent.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $1,500.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking restriction signs is available in the Transportation Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72260.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the parking regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted; and

(2)the appropriate by-law be amended accordingly.

Council Reference/Background/History:

A petition was submitted to the Clerk's Department representing 78 of the 103 homes (76percent) on RedRiver Crescent, requesting a twelve hour parking limit on this street.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Red River Crescent is a local residential road located west of Meadowvale Road and south of Sheppard Avenue. Currently, there are no posted parking restrictions on this street, therefore, the unsigned three hour parking limit applies. Each of the homes on this street has sufficient room in the driveway and garage for at least two vehicles to park.

Although we often receive individual requests from residents for an extension of the three hour limit in the Malvern area of District 4, we have never received the support of the majority of homeowners. Typically, we find that the majority of residents object to the allowance of long duration parking on "their" street when off-street spaces are available. The only exception is on certain streets in the south-west end of Scarborough where parking is deficient or non-existent.

Although, in the past, we have only installed a twelve hour limit where off-street parking was deficient, we cannot ignore this request as it does represent over three quarters of the homes on the street. We have also not been contacted by any residents who are opposed to this restriction.

On streets with a twelve hour limit posted on one side of the street, we post a No Parking Anytime restriction on the opposite side. This attempts to allow for effective snow clearing, street sweeping and access for emergency services; however, if the on-street parking is constant, a decrease in our effectiveness to provide street services is inevitable. On Red River Crescent we are proposing a twelvehour limit on the east, south and west side, with a parking prohibition on the west, north and east side. Thirty-one (31) on-street spaces are available on the side proposed for the twelve hour limit with only twenty-six (26) on the other side. Therefore, this proposal provides for the maximum number of on-street spaces.

Conclusions:

Considering the support of the majority of residents of the street, we can recommend that a twelve hour parking limit be posted on one side of Red River Crescent with a No Parking Anytime restriction on the opposite side.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Emergency Services

Telephone: 396-7844 Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca

Appendix 1

"No Parking"

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4

HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days

RedWest,Dean Park RoadDean Park RoadAnytime

RiverNorth and(West Intersection)(East Intersection)

CrescentEast

"Parking for Restricted Periods"

Prohibition to be Enacted

Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5

HighwaySideFromToTimes or DaysMaximum

Period

Permitted

Red River East, Dean Park RoadDean Park RoadAnytime12 Hours

CrescentSouth and(West (East

WestIntersection)Intersection)

The Scarborough Community Council reports, for the information of City Council, having received the following report (February 1, 1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 4:

Purpose:

To explain the long duration on-street parking policy in the Scarborough Community Area.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not Applicable.

Recommendations:

For the information of Community Council.

Council Reference/Background/History:

At the meetings of Community Council on December 16, 1998 and January 20, 1999, the issue of installing a 12 hour parking limit on Red River Crescent was discussed. Staff were instructed to provide a copy of the long duration on-street parking policy to the February 17, 1999, meeting of Scarborough Community Council.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Throughout the amalgamated City of Toronto there is a "default" three-hour parking restriction on all streets which is intended to discourage long duration on-street parking, and to encourage the proper maintenance of off-street parking facilities.

The policy in the former City of Scarborough regarding installing a twelve-hour limit is as follows:

(1)requests must be submitted in the form of a petition signed by the majority of property owners;

(2)off-street parking must be non-existent or deficient, based on the number of driveways versus the number of homes and in accordance with zoning requirements for parking (i.e., less than that of zoning requirements for parking which is at least one off-street space per home); and

(3)long term parking periods will apply to one side of the street only; parking will be prohibited on the opposite side of the street.

With respect to guest parking, the Toronto Police Service, Parking Enforcement Unit, does allow for parking consideration beyond the three hour limit for specific occasions. For example, if residents are aware that they will have overnight guests that will be parking on the street in excess of the three hour limit, they can contact the police and request parking consideration for that occasion. This parking consideration can be initiated by calling 808-6500. The name of the person, licence plate of the vehicle and a phone number can be given to the operator or left on the answering machine if the call is made after work hours.

Conclusions:

The present long duration parking policy is presented for the information of Community Council.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Emergency Services

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca

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

-Mr. Steve Urban, area resident;

-Ms. Shannon Donnelly, area resident;

-Ms. Arlene Brazeau, area resident;

-Ms. Norma Jones, area resident;

-Ms. Melanie Bell, area resident;

-Ms. Gena Donnelly, former area resident;

-Ms. Katherine Manson, area resident;

-Mr. Joseph Di Quattro, area resident;

-Ms. Pauline Bell, area resident; and

-Ms. Sandra Economou, area resident.

The Scarborough Community Council also received:

-a communication from Mr. Steve Urban, objecting to the staff recommendations; and

-a copy of a petition signed by approximately 40 residents of Red River Crescent, supporting the staff recommendations;

a copy of which was provided to all Members of the Community Council and a copy thereof is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, Scarborough Civic Centre.