One street in the Azure Road area – just west of Richmond Hospital – might get residents-only permit parking.
City staff are recommending a one-year pilot to have resident-only parking on Alta Court, the only street in the area that had majority support to restrict parking.
This recommendation follows a plethora of complaints from area residents who were opposed to a 330-unit rental building that will be built on Azure Drive, replacing 50 townhouses.
Many of the residents were concerned the dense rental complex would bring even more traffic and parked cars into the neighbourhood.
But a survey of the entire neighbourhood – which extends from Westminster Highway to Granville Avenue, and from Gilbert Road to No. 2 Road – didn’t support permit parking in the entire area.
City staff, however, identified Alta Court, a cul-de-sac with 13 homes, as an area that could possibly have permit parking.
The pilot would be implemented if it’s supported by city council and the residents on the street.
It’s suggested residents would have to pay $100 a year for the administration of the resident-only parking.
The pilot project would help staff determine the feasibility of a residents-only parking in the event it’s needed in other neighbourhoods.
Cars are currently allowed to park for three hours on the street – except in front of one’s own residence – unless otherwise indicated by signage.
In an enforcement blitz in the Azure Road neighbourhood, the city’s licence plate recognition vehicle scanned 540 plates over nine patrols.
They ended up issuing eight tickets and gave out 102 warnings.
Thirteen residents, however, called to ask why they got warnings – as it turned out, they hadn’t parked directly in front of their own house.
The residents’ only parking issue will come to next week’s public works and transportation meeting.
