ward 6

Parking Restrictions On Nicholson Drive Background Information

ParamedicNat

Hi Everyone,

I have had some questions recently about why there are parking restrictions on Nicholson. City Staff have obtained the following information for me as the investigation surrounding this began before I was City Councillor.

STAFF REPORT RPF003-19 May 6, 2019
GENERAL COMMITTEE
NICHOLSON DRIVE PARKING INVESTIGATION
6
Page: 1 File: T00 Pending #:
TO:
SUBJECT:
WARD:
PREPARED BY AND KEY CONTACT:
SUBMITTED BY:
GENERAL MANAGER APPROVAL:
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER APPROVAL:
RECOMMENDED MOTION
J. MACDONALD, C.E.T., SENIOR TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS TECHNOLOGIST, EXT. 5178
D. FRIARY, DIRECTOR OF ROADS, PARKS AND FLEET
A. BOURRIE, RPP, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT
M. PROWSE, CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. That Traffic By-law 80-138, Schedule ‘D’, “Stopping Prohibited” be amended by adding the following:
“Nicholson Drive
PURPOSE & BACKGROUND
West Side
From Summerset Drive to a point 87m south of Trask Drive
8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, September 1st to July 1st, Excluding Statutory Holidays.”
2. Staff received concerns from both area residents and the Ward Councillor regarding the need to review the current parking situation along Nicholson Drive in the vicinity of the pedestrian walkway located at the rear of Ferndale Woods Elementary School.
3. Nicholson Drive is a two (2) lane local roadway with a pavement width of 8.5 metres and a sidewalk along the east side which provides a pedestrian connection to the walkway at the rear of Ferndale Woods Elementary School, and has a daily traffic volume of approximately 200 vehicles per day. Please refer to Appendix “A”.
4. Currently, parking is permitted along Nicholson Drive between Summerset Drive and Cunningham Drive. Overnight on-street parking is prohibited from December 1st to March 31st, between 12:01 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. for the purpose of winter maintenance.
ANALYSIS
5. A Parking Questionnaire was prepared and mailed to fifty six (56) property owners along Nicholson Street to select a preferred option. Fifteen (15) responses were received and the results of the questionnaire are as follows:

STAFF REPORT RPF003-19 May 6, 2019
Page: 2 File: T00 Pending #:
1 17% 5 83%
NICHOLSON DRIVE ON-STREET PARKING SURVEY
RESPONSES RECEIVED IN FAVOUR
PERCENTAGE OF RESPONSES
Option “A” – Leave the current parking in place on both sides of Nicholson Drive.
Option “B” – Implement “No Stopping 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, September 1 to July 1, excluding Statutory Holidays”
Total (Out of 56)
6
11%
6. Staff issued a comment sheet to the Simcoe County District School Board to gather feedback regarding the proposed parking regulations along Nicholson Drive, staff did not receive any comments or concerns.
7. Staff observations and comments from respondents identified the current parking situation poses operational and safety concerns along Nicholson Drive. Currently, pedestrians are crossing the roadway between parked vehicles to access the pedestrian walkway; vehicles are obstructing residential driveways; and parking on both sides of the roadway greatly impedes traffic flow.
8. Staff also conducted observations during drop off/pick up for Ferndale Woods Elementary School along Ferndale Drive and noted there currently is a Kiss “n” Ride which operates during drop off and pick times. It was noted vehicles do queue momentarily on Ferndale Drive, however this queueing does not pose any operational or safety concerns as it is for a very short duration.
9. Staff observed vehicles were also parking on Ferndale Drive South adjacent to the curb to actively load/unload which does not pose any operational or safety concerns as pedestrians are accessing the vehicles directly adjacent to a sidewalk in front to Ferndale Woods Elementary School.
10. Based on feedback area residents and staff observations it is recommended that Traffic By-law 80- 138 Schedule “D”, “Stopping Prohibited” be amended by adding the following:
“Nicholson Drive West Side From Summerset Drive to a point
87m south of Trask Drive
8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, September 1st to July 1st, Excluding Statutory Holidays.”
11. The proposed stopping prohibition along the west side of Nicholson Drive is recommended to prevent parents/guardians from stopping opposite Ferndale Woods Elementary School walkway and pedestrians crossing between parked cars. This will also ensure motorists do not obstruct the residential driveways along the west side of the roadway and ensure safe and efficient travel width.
12. Barrie Police Service, Barrie Fire and Emergency Service and Municipal Law Enforcement staff do not oppose the recommended motion.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
13. There are no environmental matters related to the recommendation.

Alternative 1
Alternative 2
General Committee could decide to maintain the current parking on both sides of Nicholson Drive.
This alternative is not recommended as vehicles currently park along both sides of the roadway impeding the residential driveways and two-way travel. As well pedestrians are currently crossing the roadway between parked vehicles which poses operational and safety concerns.
General Committee could decide to implement “No Stopping 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, September 1st to July 1st, Excluding Statutory Holidays” along the east side of Nicholson Drive Summerset Drive to a point 100 metres south of Trask Drive.
This alternative is not recommended as vehicles parking on the east side of Nicholson Drive do not pose any operational and safety concerns as vehicles are actively loading/unloading adjacent to a sidewalk with a direct connection to the walkway to Ferndale Woods Elementary School. Permitting parking only along the east side of Nicholson Drive does not negatively affecting the operation of the roadway.
General Committee could decide to implement the “No Stopping Anytime” along the west side of Nicholson Drive from Summerset Drive to a point 87 metres south of Trask Drive.
This alternative is not recommended as the current operational and safety concerns are directly related to drop off/pick times for Ferndale Woods Elementary School, and the recommended motion would still permit evenings and weekend parking for area residents without impeding the operation and safety of the roadway.
STAFF REPORT RPF003-19 May 6, 2019
Page: 3 File: T00 Pending #:
ALTERNATIVES
14. There are three (3) alternatives available for consideration by General Committee:
Alternative 3
FINANCIAL
15. The cost of implementing the proposed parking regulations is approximately $400 which can be accommodated in the 2019 Business Plan.
LINKAGE TO 2018-2022 STRATEGIC PLAN
16. The recommendation included in this Staff Report support the following goals identified in the 2018- 2022 Strategic Plan:
a) Improving the ability to get around Barrie.
17. The recommended motion will prevent parents/guardians from stopping opposite Ferndale Woods Elementary School walkway and pedestrians crossing between parked cars. This will also ensure motorists do not obstruct the residential driveways along the west side of the roadway and ensure safe and efficient travel width.

STAFF REPORT RPF003-19 May 6, 2019
APPENDIX “A”
Page: 4 File: T00 Pending #:

If you have any further questions, please let me know. I am aware of the on-going difficulty with parking for drop-off and pick-up at Ferndale Woods; I am actively trying to find an improvement to this that will still satisfy the parking investigation findings – which is not easy.

I truly appreciate your patience with this matter.

 

Uncategorized

Catwalk Dog Leash And Clean-Up Concerns

ParamedicNat

Hello Everyone.

I have had a few complaints recently about residents using the catwalk between Cumming Dr. and Hawthorne Dr. as an off-leash dog area and have seen owners not clean up after their dogs.

If you see this occurring, please contact Enforcement Services at 705-739-4241 so that you can report the occurrence and provide information required to do an investigation.

I would love to be the messenger in these circumstances, but these complaints must be filed by the person who witnessed this happening. This will allow for a more in-depth investigation to occur.

Thank you so much!

Natalie Harris

Ward 6 Councillor

Uncategorized

Barrie Fire Department Joins My Call-To-Action

ParamedicNat

People battling addiction deserve get well cards too! Let’s stop the stigma.

All you need to do it create some cards (I went to the Dollar Store to get craft supplies) then take a photo of yourself with them and add the hashtag #addictiongetwellcards and post on Twitter @WellCards or Instagram @Addiction_Get_Well_Cards

Then drop them off to RVH, the RAAM Clinic, or detox centre. OR to anyone you know who would benefit from these cards.

This would be a great project for a classroom or workplace! Challenge your family members and start talking about addiction as what it is – an illness; not a choice. 🙂