Community News

TRAFFIC, PARKING AMONG TOPICS DISCUSSED AT COUNCIL

ABBY GREEN agreen@metroland.com

Aside from the region's Vision Zero program, Grimsby council had other traffic items on the Monday night agenda.

At the Monday, May 2 council meeting, council passed motions to create an all-way stop at Baker Road North and Central Avenue, and to temporarily suspend the two-hour parking limit at the Balsam Lane parking lot.

Coun. Kevin Ritchie had asked staff to review existing traffic control in the area of Baker Road North and Central Avenue, due to concerns with kids playing in the nearby park, and an expected increase in traffic in the with the hospital being built.

While staff admit the area has been a concern for residents for years, they said it doesn't warrant an all-way stop.

"The existing traffic volumes are considered low and do not require additional control to assist with traffic operations or provide priority to pedestrians," reads the report.

However, they did identify the area as a good candidate for a controlled pedestrian crossover (PXO), which staff said they will be doing an assessment for the town this year.

That wasn't enough for Ritchie, who put forward a motion to put an all-stop there anyway.

His motion passed 7-2, with only Coun. Dorothy Bothwell and Mayor Jeff Jordan voting against it.

Coun. Dave Sharpe's issue was with parking downtown.

He said residents, and employees in downtown have been hit with parking tickets for going over the two-hour limit in the Balsam Lane parking lot.

While the town is currently undergoing a parking study, Sharpe didn't think charging these fines in the interim was fair, and proposed the limits be lifted until the new parking strategy is implemented.

Only Bothwell and Coun. Randy Vaine voted against it.

Both decisions still need to be ratified at the next council meeting on May 16.

COUNCIL

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2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281612424008764

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