Title
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKING IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES
Councillor, Doug Shipley provided a brief explanation of Staff Report PLN031-17 concerning Recreational Vehicle Parking in Residential Zones.
Andrea Bourrie, Director of Planning and Building Services and Ryan White, Zoning Administrative Officer provided an overview concerning City staff’s investigation of Recreational Vehicle Parking in Residential Zones and discussed the provisions that City staff were recommending to be implemented.
Mr. White discussed slides concerning the following topics:
• The current regulations as defined in the Zoning By-law 2009-141 associated with recreational vehicles;
• Diagrams illustrating the proposed regulations to prohibit the parking of recreational vehicles in the front yard and side yard abutting a street;
• Pictures demonstrating the potential sightline and safety impacts of recreational vehicle parking in the front and side yard abutting a street;
• A chart showing regulations associated with recreational vehicle parking in residential areas in other municipalities;
• The recommendation to amend the Zoning By-law to prohibit recreational vehicle parking on any street in a residential zone; and
• The suggestion associated with a seasonal Recreational Vehicle parking provision.
Members of the Committee asked several questions and received responses from City staff.
Members of the Committee received the following concerns and suggestions from 26 residents in regards to prohibiting Recreational Vehicle Parking in Residential Zones:
• That safety concerns could be minimized if residents back into their driveways and a minimum set-back is established from the end of trailer to the sightline;
• That Barrie area schools educate children on traffic safety in residential areas;
• That drivers need to slow down in residential areas and parents should educate and watch their children to ensure their safety;
• The concerns of residents who park commercial vehicles in driveway associated with security and possible loss of business;
• The design of new residential neighbourhoods with smaller lot sizes, smaller driveways and that homes are built closer together minimizing storage options for recreational vehicles;
• The lack of affordable and adequate areas to store recreational vehicles;
• That the definition of recreational vehicles is too broad and recreational trailers should have a separate definition;
• That the option of a 72 hour grace period of each calendar month to provide the opportunity to conduct maintenance, load or unload a recreational vehicle is not adequate;
• A suggestion of a permit system for recreational vehicle parking;
• That Barrie is a recreational city and due to its proximity to Northern Ontario and prohibiting the parking of recreational vehicles could potentially limit residents to easy access to their vehicles and cause financial hardship, potentially resulting in moving out of the City; and
• That solution or method be reviewed associated with the process related to residential vehicle parking in a residential area.
Members of the Committee asked several questions and received responses from City staff and residents.