It looks like residents of Maple Leaf Lane here will have to deal with more traffic on a permanent basis.
Rick Schnurr and Maple Leaf Lane residents were at Puslinch council on June 20 to make an impassioned plea to keep the gates of the community centre closed to ensure the safety of nearby residents. The group had hoped council would change its mind regarding community centre traffic and the use of the rear gates that open onto Maple Leaf Lane.
Maple Leaf Lane lies directly to the south of the community centre grounds, the Puslinch branch of the Wellington County Library and the Optimist Recreation Centre.
“Traffic flow is a concern of the residents on Maple Leaf Lane and has been since 2009,” Schnurr said. “Prior to the construction of the Optimist Recreation Centre, the residents of Maple Leaf Lane had an opportunity to oppose the placement of the recreation centre, which is 12.5 metres closer to our homes than Puslinch zoning bylaws would permit.”
Schnurr said in December 2009, a few weeks before the deadline for voicing opposition, the township organized a meeting to provide information about the recreation centre to residents of Maple Leaf Lane.
He said the decision not to oppose the minor variance and the placement of the centre was based on statements from the township during and after that initial meeting.
“As council has heard on several occasions, the residents of Maple Leaf Lane have been disappointed in what are felt to be material inconsistencies between representations made by the township and the realities of the ORC.”
Schnurr said, “With respect to traffic flow, the residents were assured that there would be no increased access to the facilities from Maple Leaf Lane.”
He said the minor variance stated access would be from Brock Road.
Schnurr said that was reaffirmed in the Jan. 19, 2010 committee of adjustment meeting minutes, which stated “vehicle traffic will be via Puslinch Community Centre parking lot only.”
He said, “Maple Leaf Lane has many children, no sidewalks, and is not a well lit street.”
If traffic was to increase as a result of traffic being encouraged to leave the community centre through the west gates and onto Maple Leaf Lane, “We would certainly be concerned about the speed of the automobile traffic. We request that the [statements] made by the township be honored and that the gates on Maple Leaf Lane be locked with the exception of the Fall Fair and the Santa Claus parade.”
Schnurr said if council decides not to honor those promises, residents wanted a traffic study to consider the safety of residents and traffic calming measures put in place to control traffic speed.
Until then, residents are agreeable to the gate being left open on Saturday mornings to accommodate the farmers’ market and soccer program, as was agreed to last summer during library construction.
He said Mayor Dennis Lever and councillor Ken Roth met with residents on June 18.
“The residents of Maple Leaf Lane feel a little bit duped in terms of what is going on with the construction of the Optimist Recreation Centre.”
Schnurr said there was a window of opportunity to object to the building being placed so close to their homes, and they chose not to object based on township statements.
“The appearance of the building bears little resemblance to the pictures which were shown at that meeting.”
He added the decision to move the mechanical and duct work to face Maple Leaf Lane happened after the original discussions, and while council continues to work on the noise issue, it too, continues to be a source of frustration.
Schnurr understood council has tough decisions, but he does not want a situation that would create a danger for residents – at the community centre or on Maple Leaf Lane.
He said if council decides Maple Leaf Lane should become a main entrance to the community centre, “It will certainly be a disappointment to the residents.”
Councillor Ken Roth said his main concern is safety.
“There are a lot of events happening at the community centre grounds.”
He noted the township’s recent purchase of land may mean even more use there.
“I certainly would be willing to say the township will do anything reasonable to provide traffic calming.”
Roth warned part of that safety concern involves vehicles turning left onto Brock Road coming out the community centre parking lot.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said originally he favoured keeping the gates closed on a regular basis. Things have now changed because of the land purchase. He, too, saw the potential of increased use of the community centre grounds.
Stokley said the seasonal speed bumps is an idea worth pursuing. He suggested installing no parking signs on the south side of Maple Leaf Lane as a safety measure.
He also favoured a seasonal closing of the gate, since there is little use of the back fields at the end of the fall fair and soccer season.
Councillor Susan Fielding said, “I feel the speed limit should be lower than 50km/h on Maple Leaf Lane.”
She said that is not just about safety of residents of Maple Leaf Lane, but those using the community centre grounds as well.
“The safest way to get out is via Maple Leaf Lane (and traffic lights where the street intersects with Brock Road).”
Fielding said she prefers the gates either stay open or closed – rather than being open – sometimes.
“To me that would create an even bigger problem. At least when the gates are open, you can go right through.”
But at this point, Fielding said, “The safest and most efficient way will be going the gates at Maple Leaf Lane.”
She said traffic is not just one or two nights, but whenever there are multiple events at the community centre grounds.
“And the safest way to get back onto Brock Road is to turn with the lights.”
Councillor Jerry Schmidt said, “Unfortunately, there are very limited options for us to resolve this.”
He agreed “that one of those options might be a contradiction of a promise made by a previous council.”
However, Schmidt said, “Sometimes you have to reverse a decision which was made in good faith.”
He said if council takes that route, he wants it to be based on facts generated by a traffic study. “I’d want to make sure the decision was right.”
Lever, too, is concerned with safety. He believes the gates need to remain open to provide access to the traffic lights at Brock Road.
He did support traffic calming measures the municipality would typically install on a residential street.
Lever agreed the gate opening should remain consistent.
He also stated his personal belief most people would be exiting the community centre property off Maple Leaf Lane rather than entering it – unless they were specifically going to the back of the property.
Schmidt’s moved to have studies to review Maple Leaf Lane to compare traffic when the gate is open and closed.
Councillors had concerns with that approach since some times of the year are more busy than others.
Because of that, they were unclear how valid such a study might be. As a result, Schmidt’s motion was defeated.
After further discussion, council passed a motion that the gates at Maple Leaf Lane remain open.
