There will be no changes to parking regulations limiting commercial vehicles from parking along Lakeshore Drive, or anywhere else in the community, for the time being.
That comes after a decision made by Cold Lake City Council at a recent meeting.
Officials stated that the decision to maintain the existing parking regulations followed concerns brought forward by a resident about potential safety and aesthetic issues that come with having commercial vehicles parked on the roadways for extended periods.
A municipality can make regulations on street parking, and that includes rules around the types of vehicles that are parked on public roadways, the times of day or time limits for vehicles parked on the road, and whether parking in certain areas is entirely banned.
“There is a tension in the community between people who regularly use commercial vehicles for their work and who prefer the convenience of storing vehicles at their residence, and between people who want to eliminate such vehicles from their neighborhoods,” mayor Bob Mattice said.
“We need to recognize that we are a working town, with tradespeople who require a wide variety of vehicles in their professional life, and we do not want to unduly inconvenience people because of the work they do, or the businesses they conduct.”
The mayor added that the matter might be revisited if the issues grow, as work on major projects in the community ramps up. With additional tradespeople coming to the region to work on projects associated with 4 Wing Cold Lake’s future fighters, and other projects potentially getting the go-ahead, officials said congestion at the sides of residential roadways could reach a point where a change in the regulations is needed.
“For now, we are happy with the status quo and council is cognizant that the very nature of our community means that we will see a variety of types of vehicles stored in front of people’s homes,” Mattice said.
“Later, if this becomes a problem, we will take a deeper look. For now, we are happy to let people get on with their lives and do the important work they’re doing.”
Council passed a motion to keep the status quo on parking regulations along Lakeshore Drive, and throughout the community in general
