GUELPH/ERAMOSA – This township is reviewing potential solutions to address ongoing parking concerns at Harris Mill Public School in Rockwood.
On March 9, bylaw enforcement officer Ivan Lunevski presented council’s committee of the whole with a report regarding parking concerns at Harris Mill and Rockwood Centennial public schools.
During 2021 and 2022, Lunevski noted staff have received roughly 15 complaints about illegal and unsafe parking at the two Rockwood schools.
With assistance of the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB), he said site visits have been conducted at both schools during pick-up and drop-off hours.
Lunevski said he has done some enforcement and assessment around the area and determined signage is required to reflect the needs of the individual schools.
“We’re looking to implement a better parking strategy that will ensure students’ and residents’ safety,” he explained.
The strategy would include additional “No parking” and “No stopping” sections on certain roads near each school.
In consultation with the public works department, staff are in the process of identifying which roads are best suited for these restrictions, the report noted.
Mayor Chris White said the township will be working with the schools to try and figure out solutions, but in the meantime, there will be additional signage to help mitigate the situation.
“It’s a matter of safety for the children [and] people going into the schools,” he said.
It has also been brought to the attention of staff that Parkinson Street, which Harris Mill officials have directed parents to utilize as a drop-off location, is partially located on private property.
The report noted staff are also in the process of determining if an easement, in favour of the township, exists at this location.
“Harris [Mill] is going to take some work,” White explained.
“We’re not absolutely clear on what we’re going to do in terms of the Parkinson drop-off at this point so it’s a little foggy.”
White pointed out the school has a bit of property, so it’s a matter of figuring out the logistics of how best to resolve what’s causing the parking issues.
“It seemed to work pretty well before COVID so we’re trying to understand why that’s changed,” he said.
Township staff also want to speak with UGDSB officials about a more permanent solution that may involve infrastructure updates.
“I’m sure there’s a lot more people driving their kids to school now that they’re back in class versus you might have them walk pre-COVID,” White said of parking concerns around the school.
He added, “That may be causing all kinds of issues on the Harris Mill parking lot … so we need to work through what the real issues are and what’s going on here.”
Once changes to the parking bylaw have been adopted by council, staff will work with the school board to communicate the permitted parking and drop-off areas and to implement required signs.
“At the end of the day, they’re all our residents, its one taxpayer; the township and the school board work well together on these issues so we’ll come up with a solution,” White said.
The committee directed staff to investigate potential solutions, in consultation with the UGDSB.
Staff will also bring forward proposed parking bylaw amendments to a subsequent council meeting for consideration.
