5619 replies to this topic

[sebberry]

Like bubble machines on the top of our cars?  We don't have that...

 

The flickering red IR illuminators for the cameras...  pretty sure they're not a standard light  

[Ismo07]

The flickering red IR illuminators for the cameras...  pretty sure they're not a standard light

 

Ah, I don't see the cars in action...  I don't think those would need any agreement.. At least I've never heard of one, we aren't the first muni or company to use them...

[sebberry]

Ah, I don't see the cars in action...  I don't think those would need any agreement.. At least I've never heard of one, we aren't the first muni or company to use them...

 

Are parking ticket writers deemed to be peace officers?

 

Flashing lamps

4.28(1) Avehicle on a highway may only be equipped with lamps that are capable of displaying flashes of light if

(a) the lamps are operated in accordance with this Division, or

(b) the director has given written permission and the lamps are lighted in accordance with the conditions specified by the director.

(2) Red, white or amber flashing lamps may be used on the following vehicles:

(a) a fire department vehicle driven by a member of the fire department in the discharge of the member's duties;

(b) an official vehicle driven by a peace officer, constable or member of the police branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the discharge of the officer's duties;

[Ismo07]

Are parking ticket writers deemed to be peace officers?

 

Flashing lamps

4.28(1) Avehicle on a highway may only be equipped with lamps that are capable of displaying flashes of light if

(a) the lamps are operated in accordance with this Division, or

(b) the director has given written permission and the lamps are lighted in accordance with the conditions specified by the director.

(2) Red, white or amber flashing lamps may be used on the following vehicles:

(a) a fire department vehicle driven by a member of the fire department in the discharge of the member's duties;

(b) an official vehicle driven by a peace officer, constable or member of the police branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the discharge of the officer's duties;

 

I don't believe that the lights on the cameras count as flashing lamps...

[sebberry]

Other than the fact that they're flashing. 

 

Ultimately, I don't believe they've been authorized by the regs...

[Ismo07]

Other than the fact that they're flashing. 

 

Ultimately, I don't believe they've been authorized by the regs...

 

Is there a definition for flashing lamps in the regs?

[Victoria Watcher]

Saanich council duo teaming up to try to revolutionize parking minimums

Proposal would reduce minimums to one for single homes, convert them to maximums for apartment buildings

https://www.vicnews....inimums-7330354



Their proposal comes in two parts. First, the councillors want to reduce all parking requirements for any type of residential building with under 12 units to one stall per unit.

Next, the more radical part, they want to take that minimum requirement of 1.5 parking spots in buildings with more than 12 units, and make that the maximum number of spaces allowed.

De Vries said this parking maximum would be a new approach that would be at the forefront of these types of rule changes.

“I believe we’d be the first jurisdiction in North America to be bringing that in,” he said.

Instead of the minimums, planning for those larger structures would need to go through a required transportation study to evaluate the impact of the development on traffic, at which point a minimum number of parking spaces could be set for the project.

In Saanich, de Vries said it is easy enough for a single-family home to meet the requirement to put in two parking spaces per unit, but the 1.5 parking space per unit requirement for apartment buildings is nearly impossible for building with over 12 units.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 16 March 2024 - 02:46 AM.

[Mike K.]

This sort of thing should only be mandated if a building is within 500 meters of a rapid or high-frequency all-day bus line. There are pockets of Saanich, like along Cordova Bay, where bus service is awful. Now you’re building housing density, and some people won’t be able to have on-site cars? It makes no sense.

[Victoria Watcher]

Drop the minimum if you like. But don’t cap the maximum. Let the market decide, then it can provide the broadest range of options. Look at for example the townhouses on Marsett Place off Elk Lake Drive. They could never in a million years be built if they were capped at 1.5 stalls per unit.

[Nparker]

How do such awful people keep getting elected?

[lanforod]

Yeah. Drop the minimum, fine. Developers take the risk on sales. But a cap on maximum makes no sense. We aren’t a transit utopia.

[Nparker]

And based on BC Transit's recent performance we aren't going to be a utopia anytime soon.

Edited by Nparker, 17 March 2024 - 05:32 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

In a bid to speed up new housing projects, address urban sprawl and tackle the environmental impact of housing, Saanich is considering a significant change to its parking requirements for new development.

 

Saanich council has directed staff to work on a bylaw amendment that will reduce the parking requirements for most residential building forms to one stall per unit.

 

Currently most housing forms require two spots per unit, while it is 1.5 stalls per unit for apartment buildings.

 

Garden suites and basement suites at single-family homes are required to have a designated space.

 

It’s just too much, said Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who co-wrote the policy framework with Coun. Zac de Vries.

 

“Our parking minimums are way too high,” he said, noting the new policy will address housing needs and environmental concerns.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...rojects-8467889

 

 

 

 

 

Bondaroff said he was inspired by a local resident who pointed out at a previous council meeting “we are in a climate and housing crisis not a parking crisis.”

 

The new policy framework passed on Monday with only Coun. Nathalie Chambers in opposition.

 

Chambers said while she agrees with parts of the policy, it doesn’t address reality.

 

“Yes it creates affordability, yes, it creates environmental protection in some regard and stops urban sprawl. But there’s also the reality that a lot of people in Saanich are still driving their cars and that’s not going to change,” she said.

 

“And when we reduce parking minimums, we put more cars on the streets, and when we put more cars on the streets, it’s not safer on residential streets for other people living there.”

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 March 2024 - 03:56 AM.

[Mike K.]

Is there any proof we’ve “stopped” urban sprawl?

More Saanich is now developed in 2024, than in 2023. Where is the urban sprawl stoppage in Sooke? Cowichan is expanding rapidly. Look at all of the new development along the Malahat.

[Victoria Watcher]

The federal government says $1 billion will be available to cities for urgent infrastructure needs, while $5 billion will be allocated for agreements with provinces and territories to support long-term priorities.

 

But the Liberal government is attaching strings to the funding available for provinces and territories, noting the money will only flow if they commit to a series of actions.

They include adopting the recently announced renters’ bill of rights, which would create a national standard lease agreement and require landlords to disclose previous rent prices.

 

Liberals also say future public-transit funding will require municipalities to meet certain criteria, including eliminating all mandatory minimum parking requirements and allowing high-density housing within 800 metres of a high-frequency transit line.

 

 

https://www.cheknews...tached-1197616/

[Nparker]

Nothing is so endearing as political blackmail.

[Tony]

An article from Toronto area on the topic of parking policy.

 

https://nexthome.ca/...bility/1306268/

[Victoria Watcher]

Ucluelet is considering following in Tofino’s footsteps and implementing paid parking for visitors.

 

The district is seeking feedback on a proposal to charge a flat rate to all visitors parking on the district’s streets and municipal parking lots. The survey, available at Ucluelet.ca/parking, is open until April 19.

 

Ucluelet residents would be exempt from parking fees and residents of neighbouring West Coast communities would either be exempt or subject to a small administrative fee.

 

Mayor Marilyn McEwen said the goal of charging for parking is to allow the resort municipality to generate revenue to maintain and upgrade the district’s water and sewer infrastructure, which are heavily used by tourists in the summer.

 

Tourism takes a toll on Ucluelet’s water and sewer infrastructure and paid parking for visitors would help to recoup some of the costs for the district, said McEwen, adding it’s an alternative to increasing property taxes for residents.

 

 

https://www.timescol...isitors-8583660

 

 

 

Tourism takes a toll on Ucluelet’s water and sewer infrastructure and paid parking for visitors would help to recoup some of the costs for the district, said McEwen, adding it’s an alternative to increasing property taxes for residents.

 

 

Why not just increase the user-pay water rates then?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016:

 

Ucluelet is nixing its flat rate water charges and moving to a metered system, starting with local businesses.

 

 

This transition was supposed to be well on its way by now but many businesses aren’t playing ball so the district will double their water rates until they comply.

 

Ucluelet’s district office sent letters to 55 local businesses back in November telling them to install water meters by March 31 but just eight businesses had obliged before a Feb. 23 report submitted to Ucluelet’s municipal council by finance manager David Douglas.

 

“A significant number of our customers have not started the process of changing to water meters,” Douglas wrote adding the best way to speed up the process would be to increase the fees non-metered businesses are paying.

 

“Staff would like to see doubling or tripling of the current fixed water fee,” Douglas wrote.

 

After reviewing Douglas’ report on Feb. 23, council agreed to double the rates though Coun. Sally Mole urged staff to ensure sufficient notice was given before double-sized water bills were sent out.

 

 

https://www.westerly...-meters-1296545

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 11 April 2024 - 07:29 AM.

[Nparker]

Discourage tourism and Ucluelet ceases to have a reason to exist.

[Matt R.]

What? The water district doesn’t do that? Omg.