Having just read another “letter to the editor” regarding overnight on-street parking, reminded me of my intention to write to you on this topic. My wife and I are very much opposed to any decision that would make overnight street parking a permanently legal situation.
Since the “trial” period began, we have seen the negative results in our neighbourhood. The relatively narrow street in the newer subdivision would be very difficult (if not impossible) to navigate in a fire truck or other emergency vehicle when the street is reduced to resembling “a parking lot at the mall during the Christmas rush”. The night time effect carries over to the day as well with more vehicles parked on the road at all times.
We regularly see (both day and night) all the personal vehicles plus more and more commercial ones. Having a 16-wheeler, advertising “cool, beautiful milk”, or a school bus parked at the side of my property along with commercial vans in nearby driveways are not pleasant “neighbourhood” sights.
With the small lots and high housing density, we have limited curb space (due to the number of driveways). But in many cases, the curb is needed because of the number of vehicles in a household (some as many a four) and the number of garages that are used as storage for everything except a car. This leads to the ongoing practice of parking cars crossways on the city portion of a driveway (is that legal?) as well as the thinking that 24 hour street parking is a “great idea”. Even in the daytime hours, this congestion severely limits parking for any visitors and the previously mentioned safety concerns. And these thoughts don’t even touch on the impact of on-street parking on city-centred activities such as snow removal and garbage collection – which must be high on the agenda of city staff.
I hope you will consider my comments when it comes time to address this topic in council. FB