J I I Hy R= . 1 { i 10 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 21, 1999 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" 4 By John B. McClelland Sh Port Perry Star i Still not certain how to deal with ongoing parking problems on Ottawa St. i in Port Perry, Scugog councillors have 4 sent the issue back to committee for fur- ther study. In doing so last week, council skirted a staff recommendation which would have banned vehicles from parking, stopping and standing on both sides of the street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This recommendation would have applied only to that part of Ottawa St. between Queen and Highway 7A. Several weeks ago, council asked municipal staff to survey the residents 3 who live on this section of Ottawa St. to It determine what measures they want to TE eared i TON J = EI a see to reduce the traffic congestion prob- lems on school days. They reject no parking designation A staff report | released to council { last Monday said { that of 21 residents, 13 responded to the { survey. Ten wanted no parking on both { sides of the street { during school hours; three opted for a parking ban on just one side of the Carruthers ~~ street. Councillors got bogged down on the issue when some argued that the recommendation to ban parking, stopping and standing is more restrictive that just a ban on parking. Ward 5 rep Gary Mahony said the ban should be on parking and vehicle standing only. Drivers should be allowed to stop their vehicles to let off a student or pick one up, he said. Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden felt the same way. "To have a no stop- ping zone on both sides of the street is pretty draconian," he said. "A no parking zone would be okay, but this goes too far." But Ward 2 Councillor Ken Carruthers argued that council should approve the full staff recommendation. "Why bother having staff survey the residents if we are going to ignore the recommendation completely?" he asked. He said that from his own observa- tions, the congestion problem along the street before and after school hours is compounded by the fact that some motorists get out their vehicles for what he called a "social visit and chat" while waiting to pick up their children after classes at nearby R.H. Cornish School. Councillors send parking | issue back to committee Council asked for the staff survey after a written complaint was lodged by a resident of the street. The resident said vehicle congestion on school days 1s creating a dangerous safety problem, and parked vehicles are making it difti- cult for residents to safely back out of their own driveways. At one time during the discussion, councillors put part of the blame 1or the problems on the Durham District School Board, which they said has not created enough parking areas at the back of Cornish. They said if the parking area was enlarged, there would be enough room for buses to load and unload students and for parents to let their children off and pick them up in private vehicles without having to use Ottawa St. The issue was eventually referred to the roads committee for another look. Covell: Bacon Ward 1 & The Best Jor 2000 Merry Christmas J ES ET 5) from bl Kom puter Time \ | 20 Water Street, Fort Perry 985-6355 Chvistmons Specials 3.5" Floppy Disks (25 pack) Software Starting at 0 Brett Communications Call For Details (905) 985-8171 *conditions apply Movies make Great Gifts! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE $4. & $10. Hwy. 7A at 1874 Scugog St,, Port Perry 985-4459 www.thevideoimage.com PLUS Barbie s © Sports Collectables s Hockey Cards ® Die-Cast Racing Models Gb Certibicates Beanie Babies 1869 Scugog St., Port Perry 985-7380 er Ocala Orchards NOW OPEN ON MONDAYS GIFT BASKETS AVAILABLE OCALA Winery 67 High Point Rd., Port Perry (905) 985)-9924 Farm Winery Lid