REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: January 21, 2019 Report No. EPW-19-004
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering & Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Fernhill Road Truck Traffic Restriction Petition
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council does not implement a truck traffic restriction on Fernhill Road, as set out in Staff Report EPW-19-004.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2898
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Not applicable
BACKGROUND:
615 Fernhill Road is located at the southern end of Fernhill Road. The Township has zoned the property as a Comprehensive Development District to allow for the construction of a 10-unit structure. Fernhill Road is designated a local road that connects Esquimalt Road and Lampson Street. The southern portion from Esquimalt Road to Fernhill Place is 8.5 metres wide with sidewalk on the west side and partial sidewalk along its length for the east side. The remainder of the road has an asphalt surface that is approximately 5.5 metres wide (some sections are approximately 5 metres wide). It does not have any sidewalks along its length.
In October of 2018, the Township received a petition from the residents of Fernhill Road and Fernhill Place. The purpose of the petition is to request to only allow access to the building site from Esquimalt Road and prohibit heavy vehicle access from the section of Fernhill Road that connects to Lampson Street. See Attachment 1 for petition.
The Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw, 2017, No. 2898 provides direction for this concern. The specific clauses are located in Division 2 - Prohibitions, Section 16 - Prohibition of Extraordinary Traffic and Section 17 - Truck Traffic Prohibited. See Attachment 2 for Bylaw 2898.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The recommendation from staff is that no restriction be imposed on Fernhill Road with respect to heavy truck traffic.
The Streets and Traffic Bylaw Section 17.1 designates which streets are not allowed to have a total gross vehicle weight in excess of 10,000 kg. Fernhill Road is not included on this list. Section 17.2 also provides a list of exceptions to 17.1. Item 17.2.g provides an exception for heavy truck traffic when the trucks are providing materials for construction of structures that require a building permit. It is these sections that allow the usage of the entire length of Fernhill Road for truck traffic in this case.
In reviewing the proposed development, the number of trucks that will be utilizing the road for deliveries will be a small number and over a short duration. Currently, heavy trucks do utilize the road. These vehicles include garbage and recycling trucks, as well as fire trucks. The size of the delivery vehicles will likely be in this size range.
Staff also has concerns with trying to restrict traffic to the southern portion of Fernhill Road. This would then force these vehicles to either back in/back out from Esquimalt Road, or carry out complex three point turns at the intersection of Fernhill Place and Fernhill Road.
2. Organizational Implications
By not imposing a truck restriction there are no organizational implications. If a restriction was instituted, Community Safety Services Department (Bylaw) would have to work with Victoria Police and Commercial Vehicle Inspection Services to carryout enforcement as this type of enforcement is beyond the powers granted the bylaw officer.
3. Financial Implications
There are no financial implications for carrying out the recommendation.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
There are no sustainability or environmental implications for carrying out the recommendation.
5. Communication & Engagement
The organizers of the petition will be notified of when this report will be presented to Council. They will also be informed of Council’s decision on this matter.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council does not implement a truck traffic restriction on Fernhill Road, as set out in Staff Report EPW-19-004.
2. That Council does implement a truck traffic restriction on Fernhill Road.