Puslinch councillors recently discussed the idea allowing limited parking on Gore Road to provide access to the Fletcher Creek Environmental Protection (FCEP) Area.
However, because of narrow shoulder widths, it seems any new parking areas would have to be built adjacent to the Gore Road access point on Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) property.
Discussion on March 2 followed receipt of a letter from Gord Costie of the HCA, which owns the Fletcher Creek land.
He stated the authority is not opposed to having a small area to allow two vehicles – providing they do not block the FCEP access gateway.
Costie explained the gateway is for emergency and maintenance access for HCA staff. However, he pointed out that allowing parking on Gore Road would be a departure from no-parking rules locals have been comfortable with over the past 10 years.
“It may encourage others to park beyond the new allowable signage with no significant bylaw enforcement capability,” Costie stated, though he added, “parking on the road is a municipal council decision and I leave that direction for your consideration.”
He stated the HCA will continue to offer the free parking on the 7th Sideroad as the FCEP area is not considered a revenue generator.
The difference between parking on Gore Road and at the HCA parking is a shorter distance to the former quarry from the Gore Road access.
Councillor Susan Fielding said, “I have parked in front of the entrance myself to go there.” She said she believes many people do park there and did not consider it a problem – “To me it would be reasonable to allow a few cars to park there.”
Mayor Dennis Lever asked councillor Matthew Bulmer for comments since Bulmer brought the matter up at council a number of months ago.
Bulmer said his comments were based on a few people who were not able to make the full walk from the parking lot and were looking for a shorter walking route – and did not want to risk a parking ticket.
Bulmer suggested the no parking signs could be relocated to provide more room. He noted the township bylaw states no parking anywhere, but there needs to be signs in place for police enforcement.
Bulmer said his idea was not to create full parking on the roadside, nor to block the entrance.
Councillor Ken Roth considered the situation different now that the HCA parking lot is open all the time, noting, “There’s quite a bit of parking area there.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley said, “I pass by that entrance every day, and more often than not there are cars parked in that entrance.”
Stokley said having cars parked there creates problems for the conservation authority if they cannot use the entrance.
He said he believes allowing limited parking on the side of the road would benefit residents, the township and the conservation authority.
Mayor Dennis Lever said if people really want to use the access, he would prefer that they not park in the entranceway. Lever’s main concern about parking on the side of the road was whether or not there is sufficient shoulders to park and to get in and out of vehicles.
His idea would be to clearly delineate one or two spots and have the conservation authority clearly sign that they do not want people parking in the entrance.
He added the parking area provided by the HCA is now open and provides the only fully accessible trail in the township, which could potentially be used by someone in a wheelchair.
At the same time, Lever agreed that it is quite a hike back to the former quarry.
Director of public works Don Creed did not recommend removal of the no parking signs.
He said the signs have been there for years, originally installed at the request of the OPP because of parking issues.
Creed added that section of Gore Road does not provide an adequate shoulder width for parking so at least a portion of the vehicle would be parked over the driven portion of the road.
“To allow parking, you are going to impede the driving lane,” he said.
Fielding wondered if the HCA might be willing to widen the driveway to allow a few cars to park without impeding the gate access.
Creed said he would be more than willing to work with the HCA on that idea.
