Developers and construction contractors could soon face stiff city penalties for shutting down Coquitlam streets without permission.
Mayor Richard Stewart has asked city staff to look into implementing a $10,000 fine for road closures that occur around developments without the proper civic permits.
"In the event of an emergency, the fire department needs to be aware a road is closed," he said.
"We see all too often, and mostly for convenience, they will park two dump trucks side by side on the road. They expect neighbours to go around."
Most developers are considerate, he said, but two or three have a history of making things difficult for residents in the surrounding area.
And the issues don't just centre around blocking roads. Stewart said he has heard complaints ranging from locating portable toilets on neighbouring boulevards to workers smoking marijuana on private property.
On Monday, he asked engineering staff to report back to council on the options available to the city to mitigate some of these issues.
Stewart's insistence on stiffer penalties stems from several incidents that have occurred around developments in the Burquitlam neighbourhood.
Coun. Mae Reid said disagreements between residents and workers around several developments had reached a boiling point. She noted that people have complained of being sworn at and intimidated by construction crews and tradespeople at one worksite.
Stewart told Monday's council in committee meeting that he had also been sworn at by a construction worker in the area before he identified himself.
Coun. Brent Asmundson said the city needs to do more to manage parking so workers on construction sites do not clutter up the streets with their vehicles.
"How can we better manage the traffic of vehicles in and out of those area?" he asked. "It is an ongoing evolution of reducing the social impacts."
Coun. Craig Hodge said he would like to see signs posted at all large developments with a phone number that residents can call if they have complaints. Both workers and neighbours would then know there is recourse for people who feel they have been disrupted by the construction, he said.
Staff will report back to council at upcoming meeting.
