After years of lobbying for a solution to his parking problems on Barden Street in Eden Mills, it appears Richard Lay finally got his wish.
On Monday night Guelph-Eramosa council approved parking and encroachment agreements with Lay and Lee Wisener.
The former grants the applicants the “non-exclusive right to parking” on the street for a one-year term beginning on June 1.
And the latter allows two retaining walls and steps, which encroach onto the road, to remain as long as Lay and Wisener take responsibility for them, obtain insurance, and pay the township $200 in administration fees.
For several years Lay had complained of receiving parking tickets, especially in the winter, when there existed no place for residents at his home to park.
He lobbied the OPP, the county, and the township for years, with little success.
All were afraid granting the resident an exemption from the county-wide parking bylaw would set a precedent, causing problems.
Public Works Manager Ken Gagnon told council he has visited the site several times and there “won’t be an issue with snow removal,” regarding the new agreement.
Clerk Janice Sheppard noted that Lay had already signed the agreement, which council unanimously approved (John Scott was absent).
“I’m glad we got this done,” said councillor Doug Breen. Mayor Chris White agreed.
