Large commercial vehicles banned from parking on Welland streets
Loopholes that allowed tow trucks to park on Welland streets were closed by city council during a committee meeting Tuesday night.
Staff presented a report recommending the updating of city traffic and parking bylaws by deleting and adding new wording and exemptions.
The report came about after Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche presented a notice of motion earlier this month asking for changes to restrict commercial tow trucks from parking on city streets, unless actively engaged in the towing of an area residence’s vehicle.
One of the changes made is defining heavy vehicles as any commercial motor vehicle having an unloaded vehicle weight in excess of 4,500 kilograms ( 9,925 pounds).
Another change exempts vehicles operated by Niagara Region and any area municipality while attending official meetings, provided appropriate identification is displayed in the front window of the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Ward 6 Coun. Bonnie Fokkens wanted to know if the change would include motorhomes and trailers.
Erik Nickel, Welland’s acting general manager of infrastructure services/ city engineer, said it only applies to commercial vehicles, so those would not be included unless they were used for commercial purposes.
Fokkens said she was in support of the bylaw because it would fix issues in her ward.
Larouche said his intent was not to stop tow trucks from operating, it was just to tidy up the city’s bylaws and to see neighbours’ concerns and lifestyles respected.
“We’re not kicking anyone out for doing business in the city of Welland,” he said.
The report passed and will be before council next week.