ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Date: December 22, 1997

Author/Local: RGM/7347

CC File No. 5652

TO:	Standing Committee on Transportation and Traffic
FROM:	General Manager of Engineering Services
SUBJECT:	Kitsilano (RM-4 Area) Resident Parking Program

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RECOMMENDATION

A. THAT Council approve a resident parking program in the Kitsilano RM-4 area as detailed in this report and illustrated in Appendix A, and authorize the General Manager of Engineering Services to continue monitoring the program and make necessary adjustments after discussions with local residents.

B. THAT the estimated cost of $40,000 to install signing and the estimated $20,000 annually for ongoing costs be funded from annual permit revenues estimated to be $40,000, and the balance ($20,000) from contingency reserve in 1998.

C.THAT staff continue to work with Kitsilano business groups to explore options to further improve parking accessibility for the area.

COUNCIL POLICY

The City supports the protection of residential areas from overspill parking, and recovers the annual costs to distribute resident permits and to maintain signs by charging a permit fee (now set at $24 for this area including GST).

BACKGROUND

Over the past 20 years the City has developed resident parking programs for many neighbourhoods that experience parking pressures from outside the community. The Kitsilano RM-4 residential area has experienced some parking overspill from a number of sources. However, because of the gradual increase in parking pressures, many of the residents have been tolerant of this situation.

Recently, however, the pressures on the community have increased due to changes that include:

-employee and customer parking from new commercial developments on 4th Avenue, Broadway, and Burrard

-the cost and evening closure of the Kits Beach parking lot

-popularity of the many restaurants along Yew Street

-development of the 1st and Cypress commercial precinct

-increasing numbers of commuters using streets for park and ride

These pressures have made it difficult for many residents and their visitors to find space on their neighbourhood streets, and residents have requested resident parking controls. As an interim step a number of resident parking only (RPO) zones were installed. These have acted as a deterrent to overspill parking; however, they are only enforced on complaint and there is no independent identification of residents’ vehicles.

RESIDENT PARKING PROPOSAL

To deal with the various concerns raised in the community, a resident permit parking proposal was developed. This proposal is one program but divided into geographic quadrants, as there are differing parking problems and pressures in each sub-area. The details are shown on Appendices A-Q1 to A-Q4, and the basic level of protection in each area features:

in Quadrant 1 (Burrard to Arbutus north of 4th to Cornwall):

·100·mostly weekday daytime regulations to deter employee and park-and-ride parking·100

·100·added meters on Cypress to increase parking for business area·100

·100·mid-block parking on several streets to provide added resident parking and as a traffic calming measure·100

in Quadrant 2 (Burrard to Arbutus south of 4th to Broadway):

·100·mostly weekday daytime regulations to deter employee parking·100

·100·some full time regulations to deter overspill from 4th Avenue, and the Burrard Cinema·100

in Quadrant 3 (Arbutus to Balsam North of 4th):

·100·mostly full time regulations to deter overspill from Yew Street and 4th Avenue businesses·100

·100·some seasonal (summertime) parking controls for Kits Park overspill·100

·100·some added mid-block parking to increase the parking supply·100

in Quadrant 4 (West of Arbutus south of 4th):

·100·little parking control proposed at this time·100

·100·two added RPOs (no permits) to deter Side Door Cabaret overspill and ½ block of RPP on Vine street near 4th.·100

PUBLIC CONSULTATION

Staff conducted an area wide telephone survey, held a large public meeting, distributed a draft proposal to community, and held a well attended open house. Our initial survey indicated that the community was divided on the need for resident permit parking. Through the extensive public process, many changes were made to improve the proposed parking program. This included a reduction of the area to be regulated, and specific regulations to deal with each block’s particular problem.

Staff were impressed by the level of interest and concern about the community. Many comments were received and these helped create the proposed plan. The proposal is now generally accepted by the community.

It is recommended that staff continue to monitor the program. This would include; ongoing consultation with the community, and changing the regulations, if supported by the local residents.

BUSINESS CONCERNS

There are several distinct business areas in the community. Mostly these are strongly supported by the community and, while residents do not like the associated degree of overspill parking, they do not want to harm business viability.

Partly in consideration of these concerns the proposed plan continues to allow outside parking. Approximately 40% of the street spaces in the permit area would be unregulated, and 15% of the spaces have time limits for area visitors. The aim of the plan is to reduce all day parking by employees, improve parking opportunities for residents, and provide some added parking to relieve the strain on the community.

There are several specific improvements to the parking in this proposal that will help the individual business areas. It is proposed that 2 blocks of metered parking be added on Cypress from 1st Avenue to Cornwall to increase the parking for the businesses in this commercial area. It is also proposed that six ½ block areas on the side streets adjacent to 4th Avenue, which currently have no restrictions, be time limited, and that better signing be installed for several under-used off-street parking facilities on 4th Avenue (including the Capers complex).

There are a number of other changes that could increase the turnover of parking in the area. These include increased enforcement of the existing regulations and the installation of parking meters in unmetered areas. It is recommended that staff continue to work with the business community on these and other improvements.

KITS BEACH PARKING LOT

There was very strong support in the RM4 area to have the hours in the Kitsilano Beach parking lot extended to 12:00 or 1:00 a.m., particularly on weekends to relieve parking pressures in the residential area south of Cornwall. The hours in the lot were restricted because of concerns about after hour partying in the lot raised by Kits Point residents on Arbutus Street. Staff have initiated discussions with the affected parties, and will meet with further with Kits Point residents and the Park Board to review the hours that the Kits Beach parking facility is open to the public.

COSTS / REVENUES

The costs to install the proposed signing are estimated to be $40,000 and the annual costs to maintain the signs, issue permits and provide continued service on signing issues are estimated to be $20,000. This would include costs for an annual site office in the community for the renewal of permits.

In this area Council has set a resident parking fee of $24. It is estimated that this would generate revenues of $40,000/ year. In 1998 there would be a shortfall of $20,000 that should be funded from contingency reserve.

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(c) 1997 City of Vancouver