By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Council for the Town of Essex directed administration to prepare and provide a report regarding potential sightline challenges being experienced when trying to exit the Weston Apartments’ parking lot onto Laird Avenue.
The report would provide recommendations for the area.
Council heard the on-street parking at Laird Avenue is creating sightline challenges when exiting the parking lot.
Essex resident Carolyn Barnett approached Council to ask for additional parking signage along Laird Avenue at the October 19th meeting.
Barnett said she has been residing at the Weston Apartments for the past two-years. She wanted to have Council address the ongoing concern she had regarding exiting the apartment complex’s parking area onto Laird.
Vehicles park on the street, parallel to the building, and they park right up to the driveway entrance. Often, oncoming traffic cannot be seen when trying to exit the parking lot.
“There have been many close calls, and thankfully a serious collision has not yet occurred,” Barnett shared to her knowledge. She suggested one solution to this issue could include not allowing parking starting two car lengths away from the driveway, and to indicate that with a sign.
She believes not allowing parking from the driveway down to two car lengths would give drivers a better view of oncoming traffic and allow them to exit the parking lot safely. This would also ensure on-street parking along the remainder of the street.
This issue has been brought to Council before, Barnett noted. She would like to see the matter revisited and a suitable solution found to alleviate the issue.
“Our building is home to mostly seniors, and I know we would appreciate Council’s input and help with this concern,” Barnett said.
In answering Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley’s question as to if there was a review done with recommendations from Town staff when this issue was brought forward previously, Director of Infrastructure Services, Kevin Girard, believes this was discussed at a Committee of a Whole meeting during the previous Term of Council. There was no decision made at that time.
Concerns surrounded parking availability at Weston Apartments and the surrounding area, and about individuals with accessibility needs needing to be in close proximity to the driveway or the building, however.
As there have been some material changes to the area since that discussion took place previously, Shepley wondered if a review should be done, with administration bringing back a report with any recommendations. He made that a motion, which Council passed.
Mayor Sherry Bondy agreed this has been an issue and is looking forward to a report.
Councillor Kim Verbeek thanked the delegate for bringing this forward, because she believes it can cause a safety risk coming out of the parking lot. Eliminating one or two parking spots would make a big difference.
Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais noted there is a gravel shoulder in the area. She wondered if this road was in the Town’s Five-Year Capital Roads Plan anytime soon for rework, and if the gravel shoulder would be eliminated at that time. Director Girard did not have the Five-Year Capital Roads Plan in front of him, but could follow up with Council on answering that question.
McGuire-Blais noted that with the gravel shoulders, there would be no parking lines and that would make it difficult to police. She believes the signage would have to be a significant distance away from the entrance, because people will park right at the sign