Brakes temporarily put on city’s big- vehicle parking plan
Heavy/ oversized vehicle operators in Welland will have to wait a bit longer to find out how they can go about parking in their own driveways or on the street where they live.
Tuesday night, council referred a traffic and parking bylaw report that would have dealt with the issue back to city staff.
It was before council last week and proposed heavy/ oversized vehicles seek a minor variance to park in their driveways or, if unsuccessful in being approved for a variance, seek an exemption to park on city streets.
The report came about after a towtruck operator made a presentation at council last year asking to be allowed to park his vehicle at his home. It was also in response to complaints from residents on the same street about the tow truck.
Last week, council heard from city staff about a loophole in the bylaw that would allow for the tow truck to be on the street as it carries out work on behalf of the city and Niagara Region.
Staff came up with the idea of the minor variance and exemption process as a way to deal with the parking issue and close up the loophole in the bylaw.
Tuesday, Ward 6 Coun. Jim Larouche wanted to see council make an amendment to the bylaw that would only allow those exempted from the bylaw to park in front of their own homes.
Larouche said it is only common sense, and in fairness, that people who are successful with an exemption park in front of their own homes.
Erik Nickel, Welland’s acting general manager of infrastructure services, said the exemption would apply to the whole block, not just in front of the person’s home.
Nickel was sure staff could work a way to apply that restriction to the bylaw as well, but would have to take it back to traffic and bylaw staff.
Larouche withdrew his amendment after asking that someone on council refer the report back to staff to work on what he was proposing.
Ward 4 Coun. Tony DiMarco asked for the report to be referred back to staff.