The contentious Penhold truck route issue found its way to Penhold council one more time and it may have been settled once and for all.
After a presentation on recommended truck routes by Dana Jones, a local community peace officer on June 9, town administration made its own pitch on June 23 and produced a suggested truck route along Fleming Avenue and Highway 2A.
“Parking is not the responsibility of the municipality,” said Penhold Mayor Dennis Cooper during the meeting. “No matter what we decide upon, we will create some kind of contention.”
The lively discussion during the meeting raised the spectre of the recent controversial Custom Bulk Services hearing when community members raised passionate concerns over parking along Fleming Avenue.
Council wrestled with the issue and chose to simplify the appropriate bylaw by breaking the decision into two motions. The first motion dealt with the actual truck route, which has now been defined from Aberdeen Street north to Emma Street, and west/east on Emma and Lucina streets from Fleming Avenue to Highway 2A.
During debate it was suggested that the truck route allow exiting through Grey Street.
“There was enough concern from Grey Street residents that we chose not to allow Grey as a truck route,” said Cooper.
A second motion focused on where no parking zones were to be allowed as well as idling restrictions along the route.
Suggestions ranged from allowing no parking along the west side of Fleming, to only allowing trucks to park between Emma and Lucina streets on the west side, which was not included in the final draft.
“If we don't allow truck parking along Fleming on the west side, then where will the truckers who live in this area park their vehicles,” questioned Coun. Mike Yargeau.
Coun. Cory Kingsfield raised the issue of idling by stating that while he did not care where vehicles parked he did want the issue of trucks idling too long at night addressed.
“If we do put into the bylaw restrictions on time lengths for idling, how can we tell how long they have been running?,” said Kingsfield.
Yargeau raised the issue of local residents parking along Fleming on restricted areas and made a suggestion to permit trucks owned by residents on Grey Street.
“If we say yes to parking, we allow everyone to park. If we say no to parking, then nobody will be able to park,” said Cooper. “There has to be a balance in the area.”
In the end, council decided local truckers would be permitted to park within the area from Emma to Aberdeen streets with a permit only. Residents will be granted permits, and allowed to exit via Grey Street. Idling restrictions are also being included in the amends traffic bylaw, which will soon be finalized.
