Parking ban to remain on 16th Sideroad
Easing up on ban would not solve illegal parking problem
By Bill Rea

Parking has been banned on the 16th Sideroad, west of Bathurst Street, since January, and residents of the area still don't like what they're seeing.

A Township staff recommendation to partially lift the ban was rejected by King council Monday night. Councillors opted instead to simply receive the staff report, and try to get more enforcement help from York Regional Police.

Residents had complained earlier in the year that people were travelling to the trail at the end of the road (it ends in the middle of the concession), parking their vehicles and walking their dogs, often without leashes.

The problem of illegal parking has not completely gone away, and local resident Ron Boudreau, who just moved to the area in May, told councillors other problems have developed.

He said there have been people parking and having sex in their vehicles in broad daylight. As well, there has been a wide variety of garbage left in the area, including empty bottles and used condoms.

A police officer was on the road on one recent occasion, but refused to ticket illegally parked cars, arguing it was the job of the Township's bylaw enforcement staff. Boudreau said he replied that he used to be a police officer and said police had the authority to hand out tickets.

"The problem with the parking has never really gone away," he told councillors, adding there's insufficient enforcement. If any parking was allowed there, he was sure it would be abused.

But the Township had also heard from the Oak Ridges Trail Association, asking for some relief in the parking restrictions to facilitate hikers from accessing the trail at that point.

Mayor Margaret Black commented council had agreed to review the ban to see if the problems had been resolved. She added one of the bylaw department staff has been out at the site between 2 and 3 p.m. every day, handing out tickets. That officer had also reported police have been issuing tickets too.

"I'm not in favour of opening this up," Black declared. "This has been a problem the whole 12 years I've been mayor."

She added she was sympathetic to the trail users.

Trail Association Executive Director Harold Sellers told councillors the area is used as a gathering place for group hikes. They have also been able to make arrangements with a local church to park on their property (except Sundays). That adds about another kilometre to the walk, but he agreed that's not a big deal for enthusiastic hikers.

Sellers also pointed out there are a number of individuals who use the trail for walking, and it's hard to track their behaviour.

He also observed cars have been illegally parked there, despite the ban, and agreed the problem is not going to be solved without some enforcement.

Councillor Jack Rupke commented the problems have nothing to do with hikers using the trail. He suggested bylaw staff and the police talk about how to improve conditions, including the problems Boudreau had mentioned. He also said he wanted report on enforcement issues before he made a decision about parking.

Councillor Steve Pellegrini agreed with the need for more enforcement. He also wondered if there might be some sort of sign trail association members could put on their vehicles that would allow them to park on the road if they were performing maintenance work there.

Township Clerk Chris Somerville advised against that, commenting temporary permits had been considered

for people living on William Street in King City. Police had opposed it because people seeing a car parked on a street (whether there were permits or not) would assume it was all right for them to park there too.

Sellers added trail maintenance occurs infrequently, and when it does, people enter from Dufferin Street to the west.

Councillor Linda Pabst said she understood a lot of tickets were being issued by both bylaw officers and police. She suggested the police be made to understand that they have the authority to hand out parking tickets. Councillor Bill Cober added the police officer Boudreau encountered may have just been inexperienced.