By Cindy Filipenko
Village of Pemberton council is seeking to change parking regulations that will have a dramatic impact on residential streets.
The concept was raised last month on the heels of Pemberton’s bylaw officer issuing two-dozen $50 tickets to motorists who had ignored existing VOP winter parking regulations.
That particular bylaw, in effect Oct. 21 to March 1, was in place to assure the easy and efficient removal or snow. However, in previous years it had been largely ignored due to a lack of enforcement.
Councillor Jennie Helmer brought up the idea of changing the parking bylaw to be more in line with Whistler’s bylaw. She cited constituent complaints as the impetus for the change.
The new bylaw will allow for the parking of cars overnight, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., on the odd numbered side of streets. No parking will be allowed on the even numbered side of streets, with violators subject to ticketing and towing. Additionally, the new bylaw limits on-street vehicular parking to 72 consecutive hours. The bylaw applies to campers, trailers and other recreational vehicles.
The reworked bylaw also makes a provision to limit vehicle idling.
Sheena Fraser, deputy clerk for the VOP, said limiting idling to 10 minutes was more of a “green principle” than an enforceable bylaw and was separate from residents’ noise issues concerning parked refrigeration trucks.
Council gave the new bylaw, first, second and third reading on Dec. 5. Councillors Helmer and Kirsten McLeod and Mayor Jordan Sturdy voted in favour of the proposed bylaw. Councillor David Mackenzie voted in opposition.
Mayor and council are scheduled to give the bylaw fourth and final reading on Dec. 19.
In the meantime, the fate of the 24 tickets issued by the town’s bylaw officer is in question. Some motorists are disputing their tickets, while others have paid.
“Currently the situation is on hold, pending a decision by council as to whether tickets will be waived,” explained Fraser.
