TOWNSHIP OF ESQUIMALT STAFF REPORT
MEETING DATE: May 26, 2025 Report No. EPW-25-007
TO: Council
FROM: Charles Davie, Manager of Engineering
SUBJECT: West Bay - Limited Time Parking Zone - Two-Hour Parking Only
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
1. That Council approve:
• Traffic Order 1357 - “Two hour limited time parking, Monday to Saturday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm” signage installed on the north side of Lyall Street commencing 9m east of Lyall Street and Gore Street and extending east for 117m;
• Traffic Order 1358 - “Two hour limited time parking, Monday to Saturday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm” signage installed on the south side of Head Street commencing 9m southeast of Head Street and Gore Street and extending southeast for 81m;
• Traffic Order 1359 - “Two hour limited time parking, Monday to Saturday 7:00 am to 5:00 pm” signage installed on the southeast side of Gore Street commencing 23m northeast of Gore Street and Lyall Street and extending northeast for 34m; and,
• Traffic Order 1360 “No Parking” on the northwest side of Gore Street commencing 19m northeast of Gore Street and Lyall Street and extending 73m northeast.
2. That Council rescind:
• Traffic Order 961 for “Parking is Prohibited at all times on the south-westerly side of Head Street from its intersection with Lyall Street to its intersection with Gore Street”;
• Traffic Order 164 for “Parking is Prohibited at all times on either side of Gore Street from Head Street to Lyall Street”; and
• Traffic Order 409 for “Parking is Prohibited at all times on the southerly side of Lyall Street from Peters Street to Head Street”
as detailed in Staff Report EPW-25-007.
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval to implement Two Hour Parking Only in the West Bay area along Head Street, Gore Street and Lyall Street to provide adequate parking access and turnover for residents and businesses. Additional unrestricted parking is also being proposed on the south side of Lyall Street Between Peters Street and Head Street.
BACKGROUND:
Head Street, Gore Street and Lyall Street are local roads with the streetscape being primarily comprised of single-family dwelling, commercial businesses, Department of Defence, marina and multi-family buildings. The existing parking is comprised of a combination of unrestricted parking and no parking.
Redevelopment of the Westbay Quay (completed in 2023) has changed the density and the parking utilization in the area. Engineering staff have received feedback from several residents, strata, customers and businesses that the lack of parking restrictions has limited vehicle turnover and is restricting ease of access to the area. This lack of access restricts residents, visitors and patrons of local businesses, marina and the community laboratory facility.
ANALYSIS:
Staff reviewed the concerns and the parking behaviors onsite, and determined that due to the parking demand, further parking turnover through time restricted parking is warranted adjacent to the mixed-use commercial centre. The addition of a Two-Hour Parking Only restriction is appropriate for this area and is recommended to be implemented to maintain a regular turnover of parked vehicles, allowing more access to the area. This type of parking restriction and enforcement is in other similar mixed use/multiple family use areas in the Township and has shown to help address the identified parking concerns. The proposed Two-Hour Parking Only restriction is reflected in the traffic orders and site maps in Attachment 1.
Staff also recommend the removal of a no stopping traffic order (Traffic Order 409) on the south side of Lyall Street between Peters and Head Street, where there is sufficient space on both sides for parking. This removal will not affect the existing no stopping zones that are in place to allow for crosswalk and intersection clearances and should create 14 parking spaces as shown in Attachment 2. Staff recommend leaving this zone unrestricted to allow for longer term parking that may be displaced due to the proposed time limited zones.
By issuing these traffic orders, the Township can enforce the Two-Hour Parking Only restrictions as per Part IV, Division 1, section 14 (c) of the Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2898.
OPTIONS:
1. That Council approve or rescind the parking restriction Traffic Orders as detailed in Staff Report EPW-25-007.
2. That Council request additional information from staff.
3. That Council provide alternate direction to staff.
COUNCIL PRIORITY:
Engaged and Healthy Community
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Traffic Order implementation, paint changes, and enforcement are relatively low costs and as such, can be accommodated within the current operational budgets for the various departments that will be involved in the issuing of the Traffic Order.
COMMUNICATIONS/ENGAGEMENT:
Once approved, due to the relative effect of this traffic order, no prior general notification will be issued but letters to directly adjacent properties notifying them of the change will be distributed. After the signage has been installed, the users of on-street parking will be given a one-week grace period before tickets will be issued.
TIMELINES & NEXT STEPS:
Once approved, staff will implement signage based on operational availability and send a notification letter to adjacent properties.
REPORT REVIEWED BY:
1. Joel Clary, Director of Engineering & Public Works, Reviewed
2. Ian Irvine, Director of Finance, Reviewed
3. Deb Hopkins, Director of Corporate Services, Reviewed
4. Dan Horan, Chief Administrative Officer, Concurrence
LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:
1. Attachment 1 - Traffic Order 1357, 1358, 1359, 1360
2. Attachment 2 - Unrestricted Parking - Lyall Street