Changes to the Parking by-law caused considerable debate at both the Committee of the Whole meeting on May 15 and the Regular Council meeting on May 23. Two items were hotly debated: First: The general time limit for Parking on a street – it was proposed to change this from the current 48 hours to 3 hours. Second: Instead of simply banning parking in front of a driveway, it was proposed to require a 2 metre spacing. There were also a number of other changes involving items that had been previously approved by Council such as Waterfront Parking but there was no further debate on those.
Brent Larmer said that the 48 hour limit on street parking was not enforceable and resulted in some residents leaving vehicles on the street all the time. He proposed a limit of 3 hours. He pointed out that enforcement was reactive to complaints so most people would be able to park longer but Councillors were not convinced and initially suggested 24 hours but finally settled on a 12 hour limit. Brent agreed that this was enforceable but would require two officers to work together. By-Law enforcement now work shifts so a 12 hour restriction would be enforceable. Note also that the limit applies to the same street so moving a vehicle a few feet won’t help – you need to move to another street.
When asked whether By-Law enforcement officers were directed to only issue tickets in response to a complaint, Brent said “No, it’s at the discretion of the officer”. He did agree that enforcement is generally reactive – but it seems that we should not count on getting away with something because no-one complained.
Exiting a driveway can be hazardous if someone is parked very close to the driveway so a 2 metre spacing was suggested. But again Councillors thought that was too restrictive and a one metre spacing was agreed.
Notable Changes Approved
- Originally no parking in front of driveways, now “prohibits parking within 1 metre of driveways in those instances where it obstructs or is likely to obstruct the use of a driveway”.
- The Limit on Parking on residential streets was reduced from 48 hours to 12 hours “to avoid areas becoming used as parking lots and be more responsive to resident complaints involving such circumstances”.
- Added the new Council approved Non-Resident Waterfront Parking Pass
- Added New Amherst Community parking amendments
The proposed revised bylaw was attached to the Agenda and is included in Resources below although paragraph 15 (2) shows (incorrectly) 3 hours instead of the 12 hours approved by Council. The remainder of the Bylaw is unchanged.
Brent agreed that he would report at year end on whether the changes were working.
Resources
- Draft ByLaw 048-2023 – paragraph 15 (2) shows (incorrectly) 3 hours instead of the 12 hours approved by Council. The remainder of the Bylaw was approved and is now in effect.
The new 55 page by-law includes these schedules:
Schedule “A” parking prohibited within 15 metres of intersecting street lines – page 20
Schedule “B” no parking anytime – page 21
Schedule “C” no stopping prohibition – page 34
Schedule “D” one hour parking zones – page 36
Schedule “E” two hour parking zones – page 37
Schedule “F” truck loading zones – page 38
Schedule “G” school zones – page 39
Schedule “H” parking meter and pay & display zone – waterfront – enforced – Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm Victoria day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend – page 40
Schedule “I” parking meter/pay & display zones – downtown – page 41
Schedule “J” waterfront pass holder only parking – east beach parking area – page 42
Schedule “K” resident waterfront season pass/east beach waterfront season pass, daily waterfront pass, visitor waterfront season pass and hourly parking by Honk mobile – page 43
Schedule “L” Charles St lot resident waterfront season parking passes only. Enforced: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am – 8:00 pm, holidays included, Victoria day weekend to Thanksgiving weekend – page 45
Schedule “M” no parking between the hours of 2:00 am and 7:00 am from November 1 to March 31st for winter maintenance; and all collector and arterial roads as designated by the Town of Cobourg winter parking map – page 46
Schedule “N” no parking at all times between November 1 to March 31st for winter maintenance on the following cul-de-sacs and wide corners – page 48
Schedule “O” 15 minute parking areas – page 49
Schedule “P” fishing season parking restrictions – page 50
Schedule “Q” Administrative penalties [mostly $40 but some as high as $300] – page 51
Print Article:
It will be interesting to read the final version of Bylaw 048-2023 if the Parking Prohibition time under section 15 (2) – No person shall park on any residential street for a period exceeding __ hours – will be moved to under heading Parking Prohibition section 6 versus where it currently is under section 15 Road Maintenance and Inoperable Vehicles. Interesting that I don’t see where this is mentioned in the 2023 Parking Guide recently received
Could you ‘possibly ‘ make the PARKING regulations any more complicated ??. It boggles my mind why anyone parks and shops in this crazy town !
Wow. The Feel Good Town is starting to not feel very good! When did Cobourg become an “Elitist” destination?
Why is it “elitist” to expect people to purchase their own parking area instead of obstructing public streets?
7 pages of definitions (?!) and 47 pages verbiage – once you read this self-important, pumped up piece of malarkey you can get a flavour for why so many things go unfinished and consultants are hired in Cobourg. How about a little less Government in our lives. How about we stop trying to think of new and creative ways to to reach into the pockets of the citizens. Wouldn’t that be refreshing?
When is the last time anyone ever looked at any level of Government and said, “yes…they got it! They listened, they understood and they executed (on time and on budget) and I’m in a better position/place/situation because of it.” That should be their Vision, Mission and the Values Statement.
and the definition for Holiday does not list Family Day, a relatively new holiday in Ontario. Family Day is recognized in the county waste collection calendar and for TOU electricity pricing. By not specifically excluding Family Day I am going to assume it is included as a holiday in the new parking by-law. A minor thing but should this not have been found by a town employee or a councillor?
My thought is people need to clean out their garages and use them to park in instead of just piling stuff in them. Most homes have basements with storage areas.
I totally agree. We’ve never got our road completely plowed because of one owner who has never put the car in the garage in 10 years because the garage is still full of junk, at one time a bathtub. But those owners aren’t all to blame. There are people who have a two car garage and then a truck or camper on the driveway and then complain because they have no room for their relatives or party guests. I’m sure they bought the property for the home not the available street parking, so find your own parking solution.
I totally agree. When driving around I see all kinds of stuff in in garages and cars parked on roads. Up on Carlisle street west of Roger’s road people in the townhouses always leave their cars out on road and not in the garages behind their townhouses.
May be the Planning Dept should stop allowing building to take place with out adequate parking
Ie : the so called Mud hole ,New project that was approved at the south west corner of Division & Albert / Queen st I believe it was 30 +% short on parking spaces and the Planning dept approved Pay in Leu for spaces on lots that don’t exist or controlled by the Town .
And all those new homes going up in the east end off King st have the streets pluged up with on st parking and multiple generations living in single family units .
Re: parking in the east end off King (Stallwood developments), some residents park on the patch of driveway between the sidewalk and road. Aesthetically, it looks awful in a new subdivision but I don’t fault the owners, it is a failure of the planning department to allow it to happen, surely that is against a bylaw as it blocks a sidewalk and impedes traffic?
I’m sure that it is against some Bylaw but more than likely it’s because they have no room in their garage because of “toys”. A boat, riding lawnmower, kids toys or they just have too many cars, trucks, trailers etc. for the allotted parking space.
It’s deadly for the blind and handicapped.
It may also be on Town land ???
Do we still get 2 hours free in the Covert Street & Albert Street parking lots??
Re parking. something needs to be done about snow being piled in snow hills blocking a person’s driveway on Spencer St. E for the winter..
I can get a $40 fine for parking in a turning circle or on a crosswalk. But I can get a $100 fine if I park in front of my own drive way? This does not seem quite right. Schedule “F” needs editing. Frei Street is one area of town with lots of vehicles parked on the street. If somebody parks at 6:00 pm and leaves for work at 7:00 am they risk getting a $50 fine. The fines and parking costs seem excessive compared to the $40 season parking pass for residents.
Ehh – not particularly concerned. As Cobourg grows changes such as this will come in. Larger centre have inadequate overnight parking, one side of the street only, regular ticketing, little behind house parking. Getting a parking permit only worked if you didn’t work shift and when you got home all the spots were taken up.
Here people despite having driveway parking and other parking they had already paid for park over night on the street – some as they don’t want to park in tandem and others because their resident entrance is closer. Many high priced vehicles they should be able to afford an occasional ticket for parking too close to a driveway or corner.
The fines for violations # 61,62,63, 70 + 77 are $160. I am not debating the merit of the violations but the fine amounts seem outrageous for single visitor violations. By comparison, the largest fine in Hamilton is $24; Peterborough $25….World class waterfront cities–Boston for similar offences is $57 and in Miami $36….
Are we looking to set an administrative record to go with the largest municipal tax increase in Ontario?
Well in some neighborhoods this may be a huge issue, not in mine, we all have long driveways. However once again there are such huge issues in Cobourg such as unsanctioned ops, drug addicts, homelessness, mental health, cost overruns on projects, taxpayer subsidized housing, high property tax, huge debt infrastructure costs and town council finally solves minor parking issues. I am left shaking my head.
Considers, not “solves” parking issues.
Well, they haven’t solved my parking issue. Haven’t had my road completely plowed in over 10 years because one person parks on the street, very close to the corner and has never in those 10 years used the garage. When the “no parking” signs went up I actually did the “happy dance”. Finally this year the road was clear. Yippee!!! But, too many complaints, where are my family going to park, where am I going to park my 4th or 5th car because all my two spaces are already in use. Then everything changed back to the way it was, but even worse, you see, now there is “no parking” on one side and parking is allowed on the other side, where I live. So, we have no space in front of our own home to accommodate our own family or guests because we have double the vehicles taking up space on one side only. We park in our garage, so get with it people, clean out your own and park where you should
I live in a rental condo which only has one parking spot per unit. There are 2 adults here, so 2 vehicles. We have no other option but parking on the road. So “clean out your garage and park where you should” only seems to work when you own a home. From experience, there are plenty of rentals here in Cobourg that only come with one parking spot but charge rents that can only be afforded by two working adults. This bylaw is ridiculous.