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Pilot projects explored for parking fix

CLAYTON - Surrey staff have been directed to explore temporary pilot projects ideas to deal with parking havoc in East Clayton.

 

"I would like staff to explore different options in terms of immediately dealing with parking tensions in the neighbourhood of Clayton that was brought about by our zoning of the coach homes in the past," Coun. Barinder Rasode said during Monday's transportation and infrastructure committee meeting.

 

Rasode asked staff to "explore the possibility of what a temporary pilot would look like."

 

"Tensions that exist right now in the neighbourhood need to be dealt with immediately," while the city cracks down on illegal suites in the area, she said.

 

Rasode made a motion asking staff to look at ways to relieve parking tensions in the Clayton neighbourhood, which could include exploring a temporary parking permit program.

 

Coun. Tom Gill didn't second the motion immediately, wanting to hear staff 's reports on the matter, but did so later in the meeting.

 

Staff presented some ideas during the meeting, including area-specific controls, which residents could be exempt to, similar to what's seen near the White Rock waterfront.

 

"White Rock is a great example of this. Each frontage resident is allowed to park in an area that is otherwise a pay parking area," said Dave Harkness, the city's parking services manager.

 

Resident-only parking permits were also discussed at the meeting.

 

"Supply is not changed, abuse is likely and there is a higher level of enforcement required," Harkness said of that option.

 

Another type of control discussed was frontage parking with time limits. Harkness indicated this option would also require a high level of enforcement. Homeowners would provide proof of ownership and a licence plate would be assigned to a lot. Enforcement would be based on that licence plate.

 

Harkness said the city looked at the idea of permit parking program in 2005, and found a variety of things need to be considered, such as the increased bylaw enforcement required to run it and ensuring a high level of neighbourhood support.

 

Jaime Boan, Surrey's transportation manager, said he didn't think a three-hour

 

parking limit option would be successful.

 

"We have issues at Gateway Towers.

 

In that case it's employees going out and they're constantly going out and moving their car and it's then legal. And it's very hard to enforce."

 

Boan also doesn't think resident-only parking will work.

 

"I guess the summary is from our previous review and our look at it now, we really don't think that resident-only parking is going to be a solution," Boan said, adding, "I think it's reasonable for us to continue to look to see if there's other solutions."

 

Cloverdale Community Association president Mike Bola was at the meeting and is confident the city will help resolve the problem.

 

"I still think parking can be under control if we start to push out the illegal suites," he said.

 

Bola would like to see back lane parking eliminated in the area, hoping that will deter some renters living in the neighbourhood.

 

"We may be able to weed some people out that way," Bola said.

 

A staff report that looks at pilot project options is expected in the coming weeks.

 

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