Some residents who live in the avenues are concerned about the proposed idea of one-side parking on their narrow streets and want to park on adjacent boulevards as an alternative option.
Several homeowners from the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Second Avenue Northwest spoke during the May 24 regular city council meeting about the current parking arrangements, including one-sided parking on streets less than nine metres in width. Instead, homeowners want to park with two wheels on the boulevards until their cast iron water mains are replaced and the roads are widened.
Residents also submitted two petitions with signatures from area property owners requesting the second option.
After the presentations and a lengthy discussion, council voted to refer the issue to city administration for more information.
Specifically, administration will look at whether property owners can park with two wheels on the boulevard and whether city hall can provide a seven-metre curb cut for free to homeowners who do not have driveways. If homeowners chose to install driveways, they would be responsible for costs.
The Moose Jaw Express will have a separate story about council’s discussion.
Plug-in problems
Shelley Hill, who lives on the 1100 block of Second Avenue Northwest, explained that residents understand the fire chief’s concerns about narrow streets and fire trucks safely accessing those roads. However, they measured the roads and found enough room for fire trucks to squeeze past vehicles, including vehicles on the boulevards.
Meanwhile, limiting parking to one side makes it impossible — and illegal — for people to plug in their vehicles in the winter if they live on the opposite side of the street, she continued. Moreover, residents cannot park on nearby Hall or Saskatchewan streets because the city piles snow on those roads.
Research shows narrow streets are safer since motorists drive slowly and pay more attention, she pointed out. Furthermore, cities with historic, narrow streets have successfully allowed parking on both sides. They have even purchased smaller fire trucks to accommodate those roads.
“For young moms with children who can no longer park in front of their home, or who carry in groceries or diaper bags, it’s untenable to think about never being able to park in front of your own home,” Hill said, noting property and re-sale values are affected when people can’t park in front of their homes.
“Just allow us to park with two wheels on the boulevard until it gets fixed … ,” she added.
Neighbourhood conflict
Rosemarie Zaba Stewart, who lives on the 1000 block of Second Avenue Northwest, also understood the fire chief’s concerns but indicated that fire trucks, ambulances, cube vans and city vehicles regularly use her street with little trouble.
She recalled that a fire occurred there years ago and three fire trucks managed to reach the house — in the middle of the block — even with vehicles on both sides.
While some residents have garages and side entrances, many do not, Stewart continued. There are 12 houses without parking and five homes that are multi-use rentals, with many young families and some seniors living there.
“Unfortunately, not all can afford to build a garage on their lot. It seems that this one-sided parking decision unfairly targets the mid- to lower-income families,” Stewart said.
Since there are no parking options on nearby Hall or Oxford streets, imposing one-sided parking on Second Avenue Northwest would create conflict between neighbours since they would jockey to find a place for their vehicles, she added.
Walking the streets
Francis Stewart told council that he walked his street at 3 p.m. recently and counted 17 vehicles, not including those in driveways. He was unsure how many vehicles would be there in the evenings and weekends but figured it would be more since people would be home.
That street’s curbs are crumbling, so one solution could be — when the water mains are replaced — to move the curbs back three feet, he continued. He pointed out that most half-ton trucks are 79 inches in width, while a fire truck is about 100 inches in width, which gives the latter room to squeeze past.
“With 21 houses (on the block) and 17 vehicles parked, I can see the congestion will be much worse if you go with one-sided parking,” Stewart said.
Parking on the boulevard with two wheels is a “very temporary solution to this problem,” he added. Homeowners anticipate that the road will be widened once the water mains are replaced and curbs rebuilt.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, June 13.
