Transportation Committee
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Alan Brown, Director of Engineering
	PREPARED BY:	David Porretta, Engineering Technician
	DATE OF MEETING:	2004-Jun-21
	SUBJECT:	Church Street Parking Prohibition, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Church Street Parking Prohibition, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue,” be received;

AND THAT Schedule 1 of Parking By-law 336-88, be amended to include a Parking Prohibition on the north and south side of Church Street, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue.

AND THAT the attached by-law be approved.

AND THAT the Operations and Asset Management Department be directed to install the appropriate signs upon approval of the attached by-law.

AND THAT staff report back to Council in Fall 2004, with recommendations concerning the parking conditions on Riverlands Avenue.

PURPOSE:

To review the parking conditions on the streets surrounding Markham-Stouffville Hospital and to recommend a Parking Prohibition on the north and south sides of Church Street, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue.

BACKGROUND:

Church Street, between 9^th line and Country Glen Road, is a four-lane road. The portion of Church Street east of Country Glen Road is a two-lane road, formerly owned by Markham-Stouffville Hospital, and has since been assumed by the Town. A seniors’ residence has been constructed on the north side of Church Street, east of Country Glen Road. Church Street will be extended east to connect to Bur Oak Avenue within the next two to three years.

Riverlands Avenue is a local residential street in the Cornell community, just north of Church Street, as noted on Attachment 1. There are parking bays on both sides of the street.

DISCUSSION:

Parking prohibition signs on the north and south sides of Church Street, between 9^th Line and Country Glen Road, have been in place for many years however no by-law was passed. The intention of the parking prohibition is to ensure that emergency access on Church Street remains unobstructed.

East of Country Glen Road, there are several entrances that need to remain unobstructed. To ensure safe operations of Church Street and to keep the parking regulations consistent, it is recommended that parking be prohibited on both sides of Church Street, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue. Markham-Stouffville Hospital has requested and is supporting the recommendation to prohibit parking on Church Street. Paid parking facilities are available on their property. The hospital is also concerned with parked vehicles reducing visibility for the staff crossing Church Street.

Residents of Riverlands Avenue have expressed concerns that the parking bays on their street are being heavily utilized by hospital visitors and not local residents. Further review of the parking conditions on the streets surrounding the hospital is needed to ensure that the parking needs of the residents are balanced with the prohibitions needed for hospital visitors. The Engineering Department will conduct a parking study on the surrounding streets and report back, as required.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The cost of labour and materials to implement these parking measures are accounted for in the 2004 budget for the Operations and Asset Management Department.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Operations and Asset Management Department have reviewed the report and will install the proper signage for the proposed Parking Prohibition on Church Street, between 9^th Line and Bur Oak Avenue.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Proposed Parking Prohibition Map

Attachment 2 – By-law

Alan Brown, C.E.T. Director of Engineering

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

P:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2004\June\Church Street - PARKING PROHIBITION\Church St Parking Prohibition.doc