Stonewall council drove forward with a new traffic bylaw that is now in place after being approved in December.
Discussions began last summer, and members of the public had the opportunity to provide input on the proposed bylaw at an open house event in November as well as through an online survey prior to the bylaw being passed.
Under this bylaw, no one can park any vehicle on Main Street between Second Avenue South and Third Avenue South for more than four hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday. In addition, U-turns are not permitted at any intersection on Main Street. As well, no one can park a vehicle on a street that contravenes the town’s snow-clearing policy.
The bylaw also notes that vehicles longer than six metres aren’t able to park on a public roadway.
CAO Wally Melnyk explained the six-metre standard is in bylaws from other communities that the town referenced as part of its traffic bylaw review.
“Throughout this process, the town has asked for public input and indicated its desire to make changes if needed. The six-metre standard is something that will be looked at as part of that review later this year,” he said.
“This is, however, a balancing act between allowing the greatest number of people to use public parking spaces and accommodating all types, sizes and lengths of vehicles. In a community where sufficient public parking has been identified as a concern, there is irony in allowing one very large vehicle to occupy space that could accommodate a greater number of smaller vehicles.”
Although the bylaw speaks to vehicles greater than six metres not being able to park on public roadways, Melnyk said it doesn’t restrict those vehicles from driving on the streets or parking on private driveways or private property, including parking lots.
Work will begin later this year for signage and road markings in keeping with the bylaw, he added.
“In terms of enforcement, bylaw enforcement has the right to ticket based on the bylaw, but the town has asked that discretion be used based on the need to roll out the signage. Having said that, obvious offences such as parking in front of a fire hydrant will be ticketed,” he said.
“Overall, the new traffic bylaw has a few changes like the parking of vehicles on one side of the street in residential areas, but much of what is in the bylaw existed in the previous version.”
Residents and business owners are encouraged to reach out to town council or administration at any time with questions or concerns.
The Town of Stonewall’s bylaws, including the traffic bylaw, are published in full on the town’s website at www.stonewall.ca under “Town Hall” and “Documents” followed by “Bylaws and Permits.”
