Report to: General Committee Report Date: May 10th, 2007

SUBJECT: Angus Glen- Overnight Parking Permit Program

PREPARED BY: W. Wiles, Manager, By-law Enforcement & Licensing, x4851

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Angus Glen- Overnight Parking Permit Program” be received;

And that the Parking Control By-law be amended to permit overnight parking within the Angus Glen Subdivision subject to a fee of $30.00 per month for each vehicle;

And that Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

PURPOSE:

To incorporate overnight parking permit regulations for the Angus Glen Subdivision into the Parking Control By-law on a permanent basis and to require payment for all permits.

BACKGROUND:

In 2004, concern with overnight parking on streets within the Angus Glen Subdivision became an issue within the community and with Town staff responsible for the street maintenance and traffic control as well as Fire & Emergency Services. As a result a public meeting was held and a survey of residents was conducted regarding parking regulations. Based on input from residents, the Angus Glen Ratepayers Association, and Town staff, Council approved an amendment to the Parking Control By-law to implement a pilot parking permit program within the Angus Glen Subdivision in 2005.

The pilot permit program was a variation of the existing overnight program format contained within the by-law. The program provided for a “no-charge” permit if the resident obtaining the permit had more vehicles than could be legally parked on his/ her property. Fees for permits were required for a second/third vehicle and could be obtained for properties where the vehicles did not exceed available parking, but only on a payment basis. The permit program was also for a limited time and was to be reviewed based on experience and a second survey being completed.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Overnight parking is prohibited on all Town streets between 2:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The prohibition is in place to:

§ Provide timely access for emergency services

§ Allow safe and efficient movement of traffic

§ Provide unobstructed snow removal and road maintenance

§ Allow for building and street infrastructure access

§ Maintain community design standards

§ Improve community security

There are areas and streets in Markham that are exempt from the overnight parking prohibition. They include designated streets in Thornhill and within the Cornell subdivision. Within these areas, overnight parking is permitted if the vehicle has a paid parking permit displayed.

The new urbanism form of development was originated in two subdivisions- Angus Glen and Cornell within Markham. This new form of development presented parking problems to some residents who were used to having more parking available to them on traditional lots. As a result, a number of residents began parking on the street overnight and were ticketed accordingly. Impacted residents approached the Town for a solution to their problem.

In response, an overnight parking program was introduced within the Cornell and Angus Subdivisions. The program in Cornell differed from the Angus Glen program. In Cornell parking was allowed on all streets with a permit only, while in Angus Glen overnight parking was permitted only on designated streets and no permit was required. Over time, the number of vehicles parking on the streets in Cornell reduced from an initial average of 50 per month to a current average of 30 per month. Conversely, in Angus Glen, the number of vehicles parking on streets overnight increased over time and began to impact the street aesthetics and the situation became a safety and street maintenance concern.

In response to the above concerns with the overnight parking in Angus Glen, public information meetings and a resident survey were undertaken in 2004. The survey asked the following three questions with the survey results noted in the table below:

Survey Questions	Yes	No
Do you support the existing overnight parking situation?	50%	50%
Would you support overnight permit parking?	59%	41%
Would you support a total ban on overnight parking?	23%	77%

The results of the survey were presented at a Public Information Meeting held on November 23, 2004. A resident committee was formed and a modified overnight pilot parking permit program was established. The modified component of the program was the availability of a “free” overnight permit for residents where the number of vehicles at the address exceeded the maximum number of potential parking spaces.

After the 2004 Parking Survey and a trial period of an overnight parking permit program, a second survey of residents was completed in the fall of 2006.

Survey Questions	Yes	No
Do you want to continue the overnight permit parking program on a permanent basis?	70%	30%
Do you prefer a total ban on overnight parking?	16%	84%

The following table is a consolidation of comments submitted by from residents.

For Overnight Permits	Against Overnight Permits
§ Bought house with understanding that on-street is permitted on street	§ Noise from parking vehicles late at night
§ Provides for those with insufficient parking spaces	§ Security concerns with vehicles parked on street
§ Reduces vehicles on street (compared to pre permit period)	§ Impact on snow removal and street maintenance operations
§ Encourages use of garage	§ Has caused persons to park in front of garage blocking laneway
§ Vehicles on street reduces traffic speed	§ Unsightly having cars parked on street
§ Garages (two car) can fit only one car	§ Concerns with emergency services access
§ Controls the number of vehicles being parked on street	§ Streets are safer for children with no parking

In addition to the above comments for and against overnight permits, residents suggested an increase in the limit of the number of overnight exemptions for overnight guests, provision of some visitor parking within the subdivision, the rotation of permit parking to both sides of the street, and improvements to the overnight exemption request system.

The 2006 survey results when compared to the 2004 results shows an 11% increase in the support for overnight parking permits and a 7% decrease in the residents who support a total ban on overnight parking. The results indicate that residents are more supportive of an overnight permit program as the long term parking option for the neighbourhood.

Similar Survey Questions	2004	2006
Support for an overnight parking permit program	59%	70%
Support to a total ban on overnight parking	23%	16%

The overnight parking permit has reduced the number of vehicles parking overnight within the subdivision. The result is consistent with results in other areas of the Town with overnight permits.

While the number of vehicles has decreased, there are still concerns from Operations and Emergency Services regarding the number of vehicles being parked on the street in Angus Glen.

Currently, the Town is averaging 60 permits a month in Angus Glen of which 20 are no charge. Revenues for permits with fee are at $3,190 year-to-date in 2007. In the larger Cornell subdivision, the average is 30 permits per month, with a charge for all permits within Cornell. The comparable increased number of permits in Angus Glen is attributable to the free permit.

The current system both for the review and the issuance of permits in Angus Glen is more costly and time consuming to maintain than the system in other areas. The increased cost is due to site visits required to determine available parking with permit applications. In the future, staff are considering more cost efficient and customer friendly on-line and automated systems which are most effective with a common permit issuance process across the Town. Automated systems will also address the concerns identified through the 2006 survey respecting the current exemption process for overnight guest vehicles.

Another community information meeting was held on May 31, 2007. The Manager of Enforcement and Licensing presented the proposal and the recommended action has been agreed upon by the residents. All of the residents at the meeting, except for one, agreed that there should not be one free parking permit for those residents that have more vehicles than parking spaces. Residents also agreed that the fee for a permit should be $30.00 and that the same fee should apply to all permits, i.e., the first, second and third permits. Further, all of the residents at the meeting asked that the Town provide more enforcement of parking violations. The residents urged that there be more enforcement of parking violations in the laneways especially enforcement of illegal parking on the municipal curbs in the laneways. All of the residents supported the proposition that the Town hire additional parking enforcement officers as the parking fines should cover the additional expenses.

Based on the above, it is recommended that the same overnight parking permit system used elsewhere in the Town with fees paid for all permits be adopted within Angus Glen. A $30.00 fee is recommended for all vehicles, which is consistent with establishing different fees in the different areas of Town based on individual circumstances. This recommendation is based on the residents’ desire to discourage the purchase of permits and eliminate overnight parking as much as possible.

Implementation of the permanent overnight parking program should further reduce the number of vehicles parked overnight on streets within Angus Glen balancing the interests of those opposed to overnight parking and those who require the parking. Staff will monitor the area to ensure that safety due to on-street parking is not compromised. Introduction of a common permit system will also facilitate on-line and electronic permits.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE:

Not applicable

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

An overnight parking permit option may be of assistance to residents with accessibility concerns by providing more direct and unobstructed access at some locations when compared to a rear lane condition.

ENGAGE 21^ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Organizational Excellence- The program uses and will use technology to provide quality services for residents.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Contact Centre

Operations

Fire Department

RECOMMENDED BY:

________________________ ________________________

Sheila Birrell Andy Taylor