Port Moody's new parking regulations may keep commuters from clogging up Moody Centre streets while they hop on the Evergreen Extension come Dec. 2 but they may also be shortchanging townhouse residents.
A PoMo resident who contacted The Tri-City News, but asked that her name not be used, discovered the new parking limits would mean she couldn't park on the street during the day and take the SkyTrain to work, even though her employer offers a free transit pass.
"I cannot park blocks and blocks away, I have a small child and this just isn't feasible," she wrote in an email.
She was able to secure a second parking spot in her strata complex but remains unhappy with the new regulations, saying they seem to discourage residents from leaving their vehicles parked and taking SkyTrain instead.
Discussion around potential parking changes began in February, with a public consultation open house in June and an opportunity to submit comments online.
The options were limited to a flat four-hour limit applying to residents and visitors or a licence plate registration system for residents-only unlimited street parking and a three-hour limit for visitors.
In September, council approved the latter system but with some slight alterations.
Residents of single-family homes will have unlimited parking in front of their property but those who live in townhouses will have street parking restricted to four hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though such a measure did not appear as part of the consultation process.
The multi-family restriction applies on several streets between Buller and Queens streets, throughout Klahanie and certain parts of Suter Brook, along the PoMo portion of Dewdney Trunk Road and in parts of Coronation Park.
As well, commercial parking is limited to one to four hours, depending on the location.
Mayor Mike Clay was the only member of council voting against the changes, saying he would have preferred to present the plan to the public to get feedback before finalizing the new regulations.
"We have to balance a lot of different interests," Clay said, noting some form of parking regulation is needed to ensure vehicle turnover and parking availability so that PoMo businesses remain viable.
But he acknowledged the approved plan doesn't take into account the unique situations in different neighbourhoods, such as Coronation Park, where the nature of some streets means residents park on the street behind them and that solutions such as signs designating parking for a particular block, or a resident decal system, were not considered.
Clay also noted that many residents weren't aware of existing parking regulations that limit street parking to three hours unless it's in front of one's own property, and that the new parking management strategy will be an ongoing education process.
"It was a rush to get this in place and we didn't do the amount of consulting we should have," he said, adding he hopes anyone have an issue in their neighbourhood will bring their concerns directly to the city.
Staff will present an interim report on the parking strategy early next spring.
spayne@tricitynews.com
@spayneTC
