With all of the signs going up, banning on-street parking or restricting parking to “residents only” on roads near Lake Simcoe, there’s one area that has been missed, Lisa O’Neill told Innisfil Council in Open Forum on Wednesday night.
Ireton Street, which is close to the beach at Line 10, has not been identified as “Residents Permit Parking” area, and as a result has become a magnet for out-of-town visitors, looking for a way to access Innisfil’s waterfront.
Just this past Sunday, the Line 10 beach was “so crowded, the 6’ social distancing asked for was not possible,” O'Neill said, and there were 23 cars parked on the street – mostly from Woodbridge, Peel, York and Toronto.
“I cannot tell you how many close calls I’ve seen,” she added, inviting councillors to “come on down on any Saturday or Sunday,” to see for themselves.
She asked for 'No Parking' or 'Residents Only' parking signs to be posted along Ireton “as quick as possible,” hopefully before the Canada Day long weekend.
Later in the meeting, Ward Councillor Ken Fowler attempted to have Ireton added to the Parking By-law amendment under consideration by council.
“We need to get a better grip on who parks where,” Coun. Fowler said, noting that the by-law may specify one thing, but inadequate signage has contributed to illegal parking.
He cited Ireton as an example. The Parking By-law already prohibits parking along the east side of the road, for a full 500 metres – but only 100 metres of the road has been signed ‘No Parking.’
Fowler asked that town staff complete the signage on the east side, and that the amendment be further amended to also designate the west side of Ireton as a ‘Resident Permit Parking’ zone.
Without that ‘Residents Only’ restriction, he said, the west side of Ireton becomes that “one sweet spot” where visitors can park legally, creating headaches for residents.
Jason Inwood, Manager of Operations, agreed that it would be appropriate for staff to review the request, and bring back a recommendation to council before the amendment to the by-law is finalized, but pushed back against a request for immediate action, warning of “unintended consequences.”
“If you go down there any weekend, you don’t need a study,” replied Fowler. “This is something that needs to be addressed. If we leave this one spot out, we’re going to create a chokepoint.”
The councillor added, “Personally, I would like to see immediate action… before we have an incident that cannot be taken back.” It would also show residents that they are being listened to, he said.
He agreed to a delay, to allow staff to review the request, but asked for a report "tentatively" by the July 15 meeting of council.
“The concerns are all legitimate, but the workloads are extremely heavy,” said Chief Building Official and Head of By-law, Barrie Vickers. He agreed that staff would try to work towards the July 15 date.
Mayor Lynn Dollin noted that the move to restrict roads to “Resident Permit Parking” was part of an ongoing effort to keep beaches safe, as they gradually reopen during the pandemic.
Innisfil’s beaches are currently open for residents only; the parking restrictions are one of the few tools available to discourage out-of-town visitors.
It’s a problem that all lakeside municipalities share, she said, noting that some have now closed their beaches again.
“We’re getting inundated,” said Dollin. “We’re doing everything we can, including delegating other people to write tickets.”
Council approved the amendment to the Parking By-law, and set a tentative date of July 15, for a report on Ireton.
The Amendment to By-law 028-17 is designed to facilitate the efforts of Enforcement staff, in controlling parking – making the temporary Parking By-law approved last year, a permanent amendment to the Parking By-law.
Resident Permit Only parking zones, in effect on Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays, will include:
. Both sides of 25 SR from Joseph Street to Lakelands Ave.
. Both sides of Leonard St. from Line 9 to Burton Drive, and from Chestnut Street to #2630.
. South side of Chestnut from #641 to 25 SR
. Both sides of Buchanan Street from Line 9 to Hartley Rd.
. Both sides of Tall Tree Lane from Line 9 to Crystal Beach Road.
. Both sides of Crystal Beach Road from Goodfellow Avenue to Hartley Road
. Both sides of Bonsecour Cresc., to Goodfellow Avenue
. Both sides of Goodfellow Avenue from Line 9 to the road end.
. Both sides of Taylorwoods Boulevard from Jane Street to Happy Vale Drive; and both sides of Happy Vale from 25 SR to Taylorwoods.
. Both sides of Hartley Road from Taylorwoods to Crystal Beach Road.
. Both sides of Margs Lane from Roberts Road to Florence.
. Both sides of Florence Road from Merrett Street to Wards Lane; and the east side of Merrett from Roberts Road to Florence.
. Both sides of Lebanon Drive, from Willard Ave. to 25 SR.
. Both sides of Raynor Court from Lebanon to 25 SR.
. South side of Hastings Avenue from 25 SR to Eastern Ave, and the east side of Eastern Ave. from Hastings to Lakelands.
. North side of Lakelands Ave. from 25 SR to Eastern Ave.
. Both sides of Northern Avenue from Hastings to Lakelands.
. Both sides of Western Ave., from 25 SR to Northern Ave.
. Both sides of Centre Avenue from Hastings to Lakelands.
There will be no parking at any time on the north side of Chestnut Street from #641 to 25 Sideroad; or on either side of Roberts Road from 25 SR to Crystal Beach Road.
The amendments will require the addition of 284 Resident Permit Only signs, and 27 No Parking signs, at an estimated total cost of $62,200.
